Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Operation Christmas Child Scarves

I've received some help from some very generous ladies at Crochetville. There is a portion of the site dedicated to charitable crochet, so I put in a word about OCC and several ladies have pledged to send me scarves or hats or leftover yarn. Hopefully this Sunday will have the people of our church being as generous. I know of at least three ladies who crochet besides me and I'm hoping to get them to help make scarves and get the rest of the congregation to donate yarn.

This is what happens when God lays something on your heart. On the flip side, the devil then gets in your way and does things to delay you.

Some simple children's scarf patterns would be:

Materials: WW acrylic yarn such as Red Heart Super Saver and a size K crochet hook. Yarn needle to weave in any ends.

Note: Make scarves about 4-1/2-5 inches wide and between 40-48 inches long. No fringe is needed. Gauge is unimportant.

DC Stripes: Ch 132. Beg in 3rd ch from hook, dc in each ch across. Rows 2-6: ch 2, dc in each dc across. Change color ever row by working half of the last dc in old color and pulling the new color through the last half of st. Or you can simply make this a solid scarf. Leave the ends from the color change dangling for a small fringe if you like and tie them together to secure.

DC Rib: Ch 132. Beg in 3rd ch from hook, dc in each ch across. Rows 2-6: Working in BLO, ch 2, turn, dc in each dc across.

Spiral scarf: Ch 132. Beg in 3rd ch from hook, work 3 dc in each ch and fasten off. Scarf will spiral on its own.

Chevron: Ch 21. Beg in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 4 ch, 3 sc in next ch, sc in next 4 ch, sk 2 ch, sc in next 4 sc, 3 sc in next ch, sc in last 4 ch. Next and all following rows: Working in the BLO, ch 1, turn, sk 1st sc, sc in next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, sk next sc, sc in last sc. Repeat this row until scarf is between 40-48 inches long. It will be about 4-1/2 inches wide. Change colors in the last sc of a row by pulling up a lp in last sc, then pulling the new color through the 2 loops on hook. Cut old color and leave a tail several inches long to work in later. Tie the two yarns together if you wish to secure them.

Monday, January 03, 2011

Operation Christmas Child

What do you do for children who have nothing? Children who are born in poverty in other countries?

Operation Christmas Child

Our church joined this drive several years ago and our donations have steadily increased. This past Christmas we sent off 270 boxes and this year our goal will be 500, almost double.

A funny thing happened in Sunday School this past Sunday. Our teacher handed out bookmarks (His wife oversees this charity). They'll be gathering stuff all year for this and I noticed in March is when they'll be gathering scarves, hats and gloves. I got the idea to start crocheting scarves since it doesn't take long to make a child's scarf, and when I got downstairs after class a lady came up to me and said she was going to bring me some old yarn that evening. I decided I would use that to make the scarves with since I can't afford to buy yarn, and I went to the director and told her about it. She's going to appeal to the congregation next Sunday to donate any scrap yarn that any of the yarn-workers might have (or just donate yarn period if they want to buy some), plus she said she had some in her children's church classroom that I could go through and use. I also just appealed to a crochet BBS for anyone who might want to make a scarf/donate scraps that I would give them my address if they would PM me. I don't know how well that will do, but it never hurts to try, just let God have the reins and see whose heart he touches. Any yarn I receive in this manner will be set aside for this project, even if I don't use it all, I'll have it for the next batch, and the one after that.

Now, I have quite a large number of granny squares to unravel so I can start making scarves.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Booties and a potholder











I made these yesterday, finished the potholder a few minutes ago. I used Bernat Baby Blanket yarn and the booties are so thick and cushy I think I'll make another pair. The potholder was made from the scraps after I finished the booties. It's simply 20 sc wide and 16 rows. I think I'll do some more of them too, the yarn is thick enough that I don't need to make two and sew them together to get enough protection from hot pot handles. For about $3 to get about 3 potholders (just a guess) isn't bad.

The pattern for the booties can be found in my Pattern Blog.