Time to Get Back to Work

Kids blanket for Project Linus, maybe?? Using the Bouncy Ball Baby Blanket pattern with an extra round,

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