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.