Guess what? I'm on Etsy

I finally did it. I've been saying for awhile that I was going to. Although I may be selling some handmade items (I would rather do most of my crafting for charity) I will be concentrating mainly on supplies. I come across a lot of stuff when I'm out searching for yarn at all the thrift stores, yard sales and such. Sometimes I pick it up sometimes I don't. From now on I will. LOL

Right now I have some sewing patterns and lace up for sale but there will be much more to come. You need to check out the pattern for the pet carrier. It's really cute!

My Etsy Shop

The Winner for the Red, White and Blue Contest

Wow, thank you all so much for all the squares, I was able to complete 3 RWB lapghans for veterans at my local nursing home! I would have taken a picture but was a little pressed for time. So sorry, no pic of the finished lapghans.

Now to the drawing, I gave everyone a number and wrote that number on slips of paper, 1 slip per square and then had my son draw a number and the winner is #5!!!! You say you want to know who #5 is?? Hold on, let me look at my list. #5 is Suzanne from WA!! Congrats Suzanne, for some rerason I didn't write down your last name so if your reading this could you email it to me at debsstuff5 (at) yahoo (dot) com. I have your address so it probably would get to you anyway but I don't want to take any chances.

Square Makers Unite!! And Other Things to Talk About

The last week has been hectic. I was busy enough trying to get my son moved back in with me after college but then my old faithful car had to be put out to pasture. It's funny how things work out sometimes, on the same day my mechanic told me the bad news I was able to find another car that I could afford. (and it even runs!!)

About the squares, I have enough for now, but I found another great place to send them. Share a Square is collecting squares to make blankets for a summer camp for children with cancer sponsored by The American Cancer Society. For all the FAQs visit This Eclectic Life.

Anyway I have lots of things to take pictures of to show everyone, I'll try to find time to do it later. I did finish 2 RWB lapghans and have another one almost finished. I also received two more envelopes full within the last couple days. I will be doing the drawing in a little while.

I received more chemo caps from the members of Crochetlist, too. There's a drawing involved there also so I need to get on it!

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More Wonderful Chemo Caps

These come from Linda G., another member of the Crochetlist Yahoo group.

Bouncy Ball Baby Blanket Free Crochet Pattern

I had made squares similar to these before to send out to joiners in some of the groups I belong to. It's a seven inch square when finished and the perfect size for what was needed at the time. However, I had never actually made a full blanket out of them. I used two skeins of each color in Red Heart Super Saver but the next one I'm working on is using scraps of pastel colored yarn. It's a great way to use up bits and pieces. Here's the pattern:

Bouncy Ball Baby Blanket

Two skeins of each color in Red Heart Super Saver
J hook

The squares:

Make 24 (for a rectangular blanket 4X6)
or make 25 (for a square blanket 5X5)

Triple Yo Yo
Chain 4 and join to make loop
Rd 1: ch 3 (counts as dc) 11 dc in loop and join to top of ch 3 (12 dc)
Rd 2: ch 3, dc in same space, 2 dc in each dc around and join (24 dc)
Rd 3: ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc around ending with 2 dc, join and end (36 dc)
The count is important, make sure there are 36 stitches

The Border
Using the contrasting color join to top of any dc
Rd 4: Ch 1 and sc in same space, *1 sc in each of next 3 dc, hdc, dc (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc to make corner) dc, hdc, sc, repeat from * around, join to first sc
Rd 5: dc in each stitch making corner (as above) in each ch 2 corner space join and end
Rd 6: repeat round 5

Join squares with your preferred joining method

Border is three rows of single crochet putting sc, ch 2, sc in the corners

More Great Chemo Caps from the Crochetlist!

Another member of the Crochetlist Yahoo Group sent me these lovely chemo caps! Thank you so much Ramona S. from Alabama!

I'm also getting quite a collection of red, white and blue squares for the veterans lapghans. I have one finished, another almost done and I almost have enough squares for the third! Thank you so much Alma, Suzanne and Michele!! Don't forget you can win a $10 Subway Gift Card, go here for details!

Another Donation - 3 Chemo Caps

I received these three chemo caps for my nursing home/hospice project from a Theresa G. in IL.  She is part of the Crochet List Yahoo group who have chosen one of the places I donate to, a cancer resource center as their monthly charity.

One of my readers asked about a pattern for the middle one and Theresa was happy to provide it: Crochet Beret.

Celebrate the Red, White and Blue, Contest for a Subway Gift Card

I was thinking that it would be really nice if I had some red white and blue lapghans to give to the veterans in my local nursing homes for the 4th of July. I started making some squares but it's slow going because of other projects I'm working on, work and other commitments. Alone I might, if I'm lucky, get two or three done. Since so many people have been so generous with their donations, I thought I would make this request into a contest.

So I have a $10 Subway Gift Card for one person who has sent me a RWB 6" granny square that I have received by June 30th. I do have some requirements, they MUST be a traditional granny have 5 rounds and be 6" square for ease and speed of joining. I can join a lapghan like this in one or two evenings. Please keep in mind the American flag when choosing your yarn colors.

I'm getting some questions, here are the answers:

1. You can find the pattern for the classic granny here.
2. Worsted weight acrylic only
3. Variegated is fine, so are solid color squares
4. I use a I hook but I crochet tightly
5. Please don't wait until the last minute if you can, I need to get as many as possible joined by the delivery date which is July 2nd. rd it, send them as you get them done.
Several disclaimers, Subway in no way has sponsored this giveaway, I just happen to have the gift card. On the other hand if they (or anyone else) would like to sponsor a similar giveaway I wouldn't mind.

Although the squares are being asked for a specific use, any leftover or received too late may be used for a different purpose. Be assured though that it will be a charitable donation to some cause (Project Linus being my other main cause but I do contribute to others).

Of course any other donations will still be gladly accepted, click here to read more about it and see what is needed, but it's just the RWB squares that will earn contest entries.

You will get one entry for the gift card for each square you send me. Please take the time to let your friends know about this contest, I will give an entry for posting about this giveaway on their blog, facebook or whatever, a link to check it is required.

Contact me at debsstuff55 (at) yahoo (dot) com for address to send to or any questions.

May 2010 Donations

I'd say I'm going to do this every month but if I do that then I won't. So let's just say for May these are the things that were sent or taken in, not just finished.

Project Linus
Dropped off five blankets I made. Two of them I showed you not too long ago, here. The other three were ones I had hanging around here just needing ends worked in. I also dropped off one made by one of my helpers.

Frederick Memorial Hospital w/Carewear
Seven Newborn Hats
 
Lil'Troopers
Six Newborn Hats

Troy Manor (nursing home)
12 Wheelchair totes, 8 from Lynda and 4 I made

AmHeart Hospice
2 Lapghans made from donated squares

More Great Donations!!

Sandie P. from Crochet Cabana sent me these great squares. She also wrote the tutorial on the continuous join that I've been using (and adapting) to join the squares.

Chris H. sent me a bagful!! Thanks so much Chris!!

Joyce sent in these beautiful 7" squares. I asked for 6" but there's enough there for an lapghan so that's great. (That's a hint!)

{I worded that wrong, Joyce had asked me if I would take these squares before she sent them. I made it sound like she made a mistake, She didn't, I knew they would be 7". The point I was trying to make was that if you have enough for  a full lapghan or blanket, they don't need to be 6"}

I know all three of these ladies from the Bev's Charity Challange Yahoo group. These squares will make some beautiful lapghans!!

And last but far from least Margaret from NJ sent me these great Chemo Caps!! She even donated the yarn she had leftover!! I can always find a use for yarn!

If you would like to join us and help the elderly, ill and disabled in my area you can get more information here or email me at debsstuff55 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Making Progress - Finished Projects

I've been working hard this past week and a half, even with my youngest graduating from college last Saturday. As well as the projects I have pictures of below, I've finished about half of the hug pillows I had cut out, a couple of baby hats, and several squares to add to the ones my great readers have been sending for my nursing home project.

I finished crocheting the borders around the squares Lynda sent. They were several different sizes and I love how the lapghan came out. The different sizes and patterns really adds to it.

I wanted to make one for a man so I chose squares I thought would work well for that goal. This one is entirely made up of squares that were sent for this project. If you sent me squares see if yours were used! If not, well I have many more lapghans to make. keep checking back! If you would like to contribute to my nursing home/hospice project, email me at debstuff55 (at) yahoo (dot) com

I also finished the eight girls skirts I was making for Kenya, too. I'm just waiting for the address for where to send them.

Another Great Donation!!

Alma from Alma's Blog sent me these beautiful squares and chemo hat! They're a little blurry in the picture, my camera isn't working too well. If you would like to help contact me at debsstuff55 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

What I'm Working On... Stretching Myself Too Thin

I just have way too many things going on, I got tired of taking pictures so I'm only going to show some of them. Lynda from Delaware sent me this squares that she had sitting around in hopes that they would become a lapghan for my local nursing homes. There were several different sizes so I'm putting a border on them to make them all the same size.

These squares are finished, all I have to do is sew them together and make a nice lapghan for the nursing homes. If you would like to donate to the nursing homes see this post for what's needed.

I've been working on this one for awhile, these are Never-Ending-Blanket squares for a never-ending-blanket done in red, blue and purple. I just keep adding to it whenever I feel like it and have enough scraps of yarn. This blanket will end up going to Project Linus.

On to the sewing, I usually sew at home and crochet when I'm staying at my son's apartment. These are going to be skirts for little girls in Kenya. They just need the elastic and hems.

Wheelchair and walker totes, just waiting to be stitched up!

And the hug pillows, lots and lots of hug pillows. These are finished, it just didn't seem right to show a stack of fabric rectangles.

AND There's MORE

Purse Projects - I always carry around yarn in my purse. Lately I've been making baby hats. I'm also doing a never-ending-blanket in baby sport weight yarn. I just add to the squares until they're big enough (5 rounds) as I finish the baby hats.

Small Amount of Yarn projects- I make yo-yo's and grannies daughters, I either keep these for future projects or send them to someone who makes other items with them.

Leftover Fabric- Gets cut up for strip pieced quilts, I make the squares as I go, adding a strip or two to the squares in between other projects. Here's a tutorial I made some time ago about making these quilt blocks.

And Waiting in The Wings- I have some more 6" grannies just waiting for someone to send some that want to play with the others to make more lapghans for the nursing homes.

Little Girl's Skirts for Africa

This is one of the things I've been working on today. The skirts are being made for little girls in Africa but I'm still not sure where exactly, this is the monthly project for one of my charity groups on Yahoo, AC4C. They have been having trouble contacting the charity handling it so we are currently holding off on shipping. I have two skirts finished and 3 more cut out, with fabric for some more set aside.

I've also been working on the walker totes for our local nursing homes and could still use some help with that project (details here). When I'm not sewing I'm busy crocheting lapghans for that project, also.

Sona came over and cut out some more hug pillows today so I have to sew them together, going to be shipping what I done have soon.

Charity Sweatshop #1 Has Been Completed

I conned my daughter Jenny and my friend, Sona into coming over for pizza and put them to work in my charity sweatshop. I've referred to them previously as my neophyte crafters, neither knows how to sew, crochet, knit etc. so I decided to start with a simple project. We made hug pillows for the labor and delivery department of Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ. These are small pillows for those having a C-section to hold over their stitches when they cough.

I had pulled out a bunch of fabric to work on (it hardly made a dent in my mess... I mean stash) and set the girls to work. I had Jenny ironing the fabric and after a quick lesson with the rotary cutter, I had Sona cutting them out. I manned the sewing machine and we got almost 75 of them done. We don't stuff them here, they do that in NJ, but with the 75 or so more we have the fabric for and the 50 I already had done I should have about 200 to send them. This is an ongoing need since they use around 60 every month.

The best news is I have 3 more slaves (I mean volunteers) for the next session!! Next time I'm hoping to get some girls skirts done for Kenya,

Nursing Home Donations

I want to thank all three of these wonderful women for their donations.

Alma, who writes Alma's Blog sent these wonderful squares and a pretty yellow chemo cap.

Lynda sent three very nice wheelchair totes and some very pretty squares!

And Robi sent these 12" squares, they look much prettier in person, I couldn't get the color right in the pic.

If you would like to help the list of what we need is on this post.

Readers Projects: Big Old Blocks Afghan

Beth posted this afghan on Ravelry that she made from my Never Ending Blanket Square. I loved it and wrote her begging for permission to use the picture here. On Ravelry she says she just used yarn she had on hand, but the color combination works so well doesn't it? Thanks for letting my other readers see your great work, Beth.

Ummm.... HELP!! (Re: Local Needs)

Oh my, what have I done, what have I done?? LOL I stopped at several more places (it's actually part of my job and while I'm there anyway...) asking about their needs and now I think I'm stretching it a little too thin. You should have seen the administrators and social workers eyes light up when I told them what I wanted to do. So now I and my two neophyte crafters have two nursing homes, a residential care facility and two hospices to craft for. I left my number for the responsible person at another nursing home and another hospice and am waiting to hear from them about their needs.

Anyway the list of needs haven't changed much but it has expanded, if you could please take the time to make a few squares or a tote I would sure appreciate it.

We need:
6" or 12" squares for lapghans (may also be used for Project Linus blankets), if you have some of other sizes I will also take them.

Lapghans, lap robes or blankets A good size for lapghans is about 3' X 4' or somewhere in that vicinity.

**Wheelchair or walker totes** (This is what really made their eyes light up) Here's some links to patterns.

Activity aprons (see this post)

Summer weight Chemo Caps

The residential care facility asked for hats, scarves and mittens for next winter.

One nursing home also asked for items that could be sold in their Country Store, the proceeds go to their activity fund.

Donation of 30 6" Squares

The first donation of squares just arrived for our blankets and lap robes for our local hospice. Linda B. from Virginia sent these 30 lovely squares. Thanks so much Linda!! If you would be interested in helping out see this post for the list of things we need for our local programs.

I just finished my first wheelchair tote and as usual I'm not satisfied with it. I'll post more about them when I get the kinks worked out!

Local Needs, Would You Like to Help??

I made the rounds today and although I didn't get to see everyone on my list I did have several requests, I have two women working with me but we are only three so if you can help I'd appreciate it, here's what we are making and collecting:

Local Hospice: I was told the ladies love the crocheted lap robes and blankets so 6" and 12" squares or the completed items would be great! Also light weight summer chemo caps.

Local Nursing Home: They are overstocked with laprobes and blankets but could really use wheelchair and walker bags. Also activity aprons for their dementia patients. These are aprons that have various "activities" such as buttons, zippers, velcro tabs, laces  etc. for the patient to fiddle with. Use different textures and your imagination to make these as varied as possible. They also said they can use anything handmade that can be sold in their "Country Store", all proceeds go back into the activities fund for the patients.

Project Linus: 6" and 12" squares in pastels and brights. One of the ladies who works with me is a novice crafter but she can whip stitch squares together.

I still have several places to check with so I'm probably going to be adding to this list. If you can help please email me at debsstuff55 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Working on a New Baby Hat Pattern

These baby hats are the start of my next pattern. I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at the research and development stage of making a pattern. It, of course, starts with an idea. I wanted a baby hat with lots of texture. The hat on the left was the first one, I must have ripped out the first couple of rows of pattern a dozen times. Even so, when I finished it, I wasn't real happy with it. It just didn't "pop" the way I wanted it to. If you look at the one on the right you can see the "bubbles" are much more pronounced. But I am still not done. The way I started some of the rows is going to be hard to understand so I have an idea that I want to try in the next hat. I also want to try to change the spacing of the "bubbles" to see if it would look better. So that's at least one more hat and possibly two before I get it the way I want it.

So, that's the usual process, sometimes it comes out the way I want it on the first try but that is rare. Both of the hats I made are good hats, they'll be donated to some organization soon, but they weren't what I was trying for. So I'll be posting the pattern someday when I'm happy with it. I also have a couple of adult hat patterns I'm working on, but I'm not having a lot of luck with them.

Finished Blankets for Project Linus

I decided to try to finish up some of my (many) unfinished projects. The peach and white one wasn't too hard to finish, I was close to being done, but the pink and white one had to be frogged and started over so I pretty much did it from scratch! In case you didn't know Project Linus is a nationwide organization that provides security blankets to ill and traumatised children. It's a great way to become involved in charity crafting so check them out and find a chapter near you. Both blankets were made with the Never Ending Blanket Square pattern.

Readers Projects: 4th of July Sweater!

Isn't this great?? My facebook friend Denyse made this for her grandson. I love the way she used the colors in this Baby Bumpy Sweater. Especially the white band where the "bumps" are. I love seeing all the projects everyone makes from my patterns so maybe I should have another contest? I'll tell you what - I'll do it for the month of April. I'm working on another baby hat pattern, still have a few kinks to work out. I'm also working on a few more baby blankets for Project Linus and have talked a friend into joining me.

We Have a Winner!!!

Using a random number generator I have chosen the winner and it is Cindy who made the beautiful baby blanket I had posted earlier this week. Congratulations Cindy!

I still would like pictures of projects you have made with my patterns, so please send them in at debsstuff55 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Reader's Projects: Beautiful Baby Blanket

My reader Cindy made this gorgeous baby blanket using my Never Ending Blanket Square. She has another picture on her blog Gardner's Ramblings. She donated it to her local pregnancy resource center.

Readers Projects - Manly Man Slippers

The first two entries for my contest were both the same pattern! Both readers had made my Manly Man Slippers for the men in their lives.




Tanya made these and says "I have used your Manly Man Slipper pattern to make my hubby's slippers. Loved the pattern It was quick and easy. He wears them all the time too, and he is picky"

This pair was made by Marie in NJ who says "I made another pair of your manly man slippers for Josh...he loves them because they are so warm. I used 1 strand of worsted weight charcoal gray, one strand black, gray, white variegated, and one strand of Symphony, I think the color was persimmon...kind of the colors of his favorite hockey team (Go Flyers!!). This is a fantastic pattern!!

To find out how to enter my contest for some beautiful cotton yarn go here.

Have You Made One of My Patterns? Do you have a picture? Contest!

I would love to feature pictures of my readers projects and have asked for them before. I got some and showed them off, but I need more!! I also have more of this yarn to give away. I have 8 skeins of this 100% Mercerized Cotton from Greece. It says Tahki Imports on it. Each hank is 50 grams (74 yards) and it says it's machine washable. The colors are deeper and richer than the photo shows, must have been the lighting when I took the picture. So send me a picture at debsstuff55 (at) Yahoo (dot) com for an entry! If you post your project on your blog (with a link to the pattern) and then comment on this post with the link it will count as 2 extra entries. Contest ends February 28th so if you haven't checked out my patterns you can try one and send me the pic! I will probably start showing off the pics before that but the winner will be drawn from a hat (actually it will probably be a plastic container) on March 1st.

Mittens to Go with the Baby's Hexie Hat

A reader, Candace, posted this pattern in the comments section so I am making a post so everyone can find it. These mittens were meant to go with my Baby's Hexie Hat. I haven't tried it yet so someone tell me how it worked out.

G hook

chain 4 join to form a loop, chain 3, counts as 1st dc, 15 dc in loop, join (16 dc)
row 1 starting v, dc in each of the next 3 stitches, *v in next stitch, dc in each of the next 3 stitches,* around, join
row 2 -4 sl in v-hole, starting v, dc, dc dec, dc, *v stitch in v hole, dc in next stitch, dc dec, dc next stitch,* around join
row 5 ch 3 only this one does not count as first stitch, do V-stitch dec, dc in next 3 stitches around and join
row 6 and 7 ch 3 dc around join

girl
row 8 ch 2 hd around join
row 9 4 dc in each stitch around join and end

boy
row 8 and 9 ch 2, 1 dc, 2dc, around join end

run a ribbon through row 7 and tie in a bow