'Thoughful Thursday' The Mending Hearts Project

'Thoughful Thursday'  Featuring today The Mending Hearts Project.

The Mending Hearts Project is a non-profit organization, providing warm apparel, blankets and basic necessities to those who are experiencing traumatic conditions, personal emergencies, and other difficult circumstances.  Gifts are handcrafted by a team of volunteer members, who sew, knit and crochet apparel and blankets for babies and young children.  They also accept new and gently used donations of clothing, outerwear, shoes, and toys that can be shared with those in need.

Located in Riverside, California, they serve many low income districts throughout southern California,  and other surrounding areas.  The primary focus is to assist underprivileged, abused and neglected children and also make every effort to assist the elderly, new mothers, and patients of all ages, who may benefit from small gifts of hope.  Donations to The Mending Hearts Project are distributed to local hospitals, churches, homeless shelters, and other patient care facilities. Gifts are provided at no charge, to any family or child in need.  They are distributed at the discretion of nurses, care givers, and facility administrators. 

Established in March 2010, The Mending Hearts Project has already donated over 2000 gifts to families and children in need.  Gifts from donors have included:
hats, booties, sweaters, and blankets for newborn babies; caps for chemotherapy patients; lap blankets for geriatric patients; and an assortment of blankets, clothing and tiny stuffed toys for abused and neglected children.

Urgent Appeal!

For a second year, The Mending Hearts Project has been asked to help sponsor a baby shower for the young mothers-to-be, at Casa Teresa in Orange, CA.

Casa Terea is a shelter for young, homeless, and abandoned pregnant women.  Many have been forgotten or disowned by their families, and often arrive at the shelter with nothing but the clothes on their back.  The Mending Hearts project will be donating layette gift sets to each new mother.

If you are interested in sewing/knitting/crocheting a "set" as a baby shower gift for one (or more) of the moms, please read and follow our basic guidelines:  

• Each layette set will consist of a baby hat, booties, and a crib size blanket
• You do not have to make all 3 pieces...  matching items can be added  to complete your set
• Please use very soft, sport weight or baby yarns only. (No wool or worsted weight materials)
• Blankets should be no smaller than 32"x32", although 36" x 36" is preferred. 
• Hats should be Newborn size (also called "Going Home" size) for a head circumference of 13-14"
• Booties should be Newborn size with soles measuring at least 3.5" long
• Please refer to Mending Hearts Baby Sizes document to ensure that your hat & booties can be worn at the same time.   

If you would like to commit to making a hat, blanket, booties, or an entire "gift set" of 3 matching pieces, please contact Mending Hearts and let them know how many pieces you wish to donate.  Please also indicate if your donations will be for a boy, girl, or a unisex design.  They will need 5 girl sets, 5 boy sets, and 5 unisex sets.  In order for your gifts to be included in the baby shower, they MUST BE RECEIVED BY JUNE 2, 2012.  There are no restrictions on the pattern or design of these pieces, so feel free to make them as whimsical, ornate, or simple as you wish. 

For more Information on The Mending Hearts Project the web site is:            http://www.atimetomend.org 

 and you can find them on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/ATimetoMend

Please support  their efforts to share a little warmth, hope and kindness with those who need it most.  The Mending Hearts Project's wish is that every broken heart and wounded spirit will begin to heal, and soon find a time to mend...  

Here is a link to free pattern for knitted baby blanket Baby Butterfly Blanket  

Easy Knit Easter Basket

 Easter is just around the corner so it’s time to start looking for Easter Knitting patterns. I wanted to knit something special for my granddaughter Gracie. She is too young for chocolate so I decided to knit an easter basket and fill it with little easter friends for her to play with.

Easter Basket


Materials
Double Knitting type yarn (worsted weight or 8ply)
4mm size needle

Main part: Cast on 96 sts and knit two rows.

 *3rd row: (k4, P4) to end of row. Repeat 3rd row three times.

 7th row: (P4, k4) to end of row. Repeat 7th row three times.**

Repeat from* to ** once more.

 Knit 2 rows. Cast off all sts.

Base: Cast on 18sts and knit 60 rows. Cast off all sts.

Handle: Cast on 60sts and knit 3 rows. Cast off all sts.

MAKING UP:

Main part: Oversew side edges from cast on edge to cast off edge. With right side of work facing  pin the cast on edge of base to cast off edge of main part and oversew edges together.

 Handle: Sew the ends of handle, 1cm (1/2") to inside and centre of the main part of basket. (See photo for 

placement) 

Once the basket is complete decorate as desired.

Flower:

Cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 3 (5sts)
Row 2. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, purl 4 (6sts)
Row 3. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 5 (7sts)

Row 4. Knit front & back of 1st stitch purl 6  (8sts). Cut yarn leaving a 4’’ tail and leave on a spare needle.

Repeat 4 more times but do not cut yarn on last petal

Row 5. Join all petals by knitting across (40 sts)Row 6. Purl 2 together across row (20 sts)

Row 7. Knit 2 together across row (10sts)

Row 8. Purl 2 together, purl 3 together, prul 2 together, purl 3 together

Thread yarn through stitches and pull tight and sew into place. Secure all loose ends.


For the smaller flower I used finer yarn (3ply) and size 3mm needles made as flower above but only three petals.


Leaf:

 make as many as you’d like.
Cast on 3 stitches and work 2 rows in stocking stitch.
Row 3 K1, yrn, K1, yrn, K1 (5 sts)
Rows 4, 6, 8 and 10 K1, P to last st, K1
Row 5 K2, yrn, K1, yrn, K2 (7 sts)
Row 7 K3, yrn, K1, yrn, K3 (9 sts)
Row 9 K4, yrn, K1, yrn, K4 (11 sts)
Rows 11, 13, 15, 17 Knit
Row 12 K1, P3, sl1 p-wise, P2tog, psso, P3, K1 (9 sts)
Row 14 K1, P2, sl1 p-wise, P2tog, psso, P2, K1 (7 sts)
Row 16 K1, P1, sl1 p-wise, P2tog, psso, P1, K1 (5 sts)
Row 18 K1, sl1 p-wise, P2 tog, psso, K1 (3 sts)
Row 19 Sl1, K2 tog, psso, fasten off the remaining stitch.




Arrange on the side of the basket in desired design and sew into place.


There’s just something about  Easter chicks, bunnies and baskets that are so cute! These don’t take all that long to make so you still have time!


Free pattern for easter friends to follow.

'Thoughtful Thursday' Knitting For A good Cause

Knitting for charity is a wonderful thing. Not only does it allow you to knit more than you'd ever want to for your friends and family, you also get the good feeling that comes with helping other people. Charity knitting is a great group knitting activity. If you have a group of friends who knit (or who would like to start) a group knitting project for charity is a fun way to get everyone excited about knitting. An afghan made of simple squares is great even for beginners and will keep someone warm even if it isn't fancy. Even if you don't know the person who is to receive your homemade article, knowing that it is out there in the world is a great feeling. Many knitters love to share their skills by knitting for charitable organizations. Whether they're making blankets for kids in the hospital, chemo caps, teddy bears or sweaters for kids in far away countries, there are many ways to knit for charity. 

photo from knit a square

There are  probably organizations in your town that will need knitted goods for people undergoing  chemo therapy, newborn babies, children in protective custody, children involved in accidents, children in hospitals, veterans in VA hospitals, soldiers, homeless animals, and many others.

You can use a national organization as inspiration or even join a national group that provides charitable knitting by taking  the ideas of a larger knitting charity and focus them where you live
.

Knitting for someone else who has a greater need than yourself often helps put your problems in perspective. Many knitters enjoy knitting for charity, but if you've never done it before you may not know where to start. You could check with your local yarn shop, your local hospital, or shelters to see if they have a need for warm items.

Here's a list of some organisations that would benefit from your knitting or crocheting:


1. Lily- Love In the Language of Yarn https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn
Need  Squares  to make blankets blankets for Syrian refugees in Turkey.


2. KasCare  Knit a square  http://www.knit-a-square.com and  https://www.facebook.com/Knitasquare
Need squares to make blankets for Aids orphans of South Africa also Slip-Overs, Hats, KASCuddles Jerseys, cardigans, jumpers and baby clothes.


3. Lisas Stars  http://www.lisasstars.org.uk  and
 http:// www.facebook.com/pages/lisas-stars/159738440713941 Need Blankets Hats Booties Cardigans

Angel Pockets Burial Gowns Buntings Sleeping Sacks.

4. Knit with Love  http://www.knitwithlove.org  need scarves, beanies, blankets and other knitted items.

5. RSPCA www.rspca.org.uk  need blankest for dogs.

6. Loving Hands http://www.lovinghands.org.uk/For the elderly:-Hats, Scarves, Mittens, Gloves

Lap Rugs, Blankets, Bed Socks, Jumpers,Cardigans,Bed Jackets,Hot water bottle covers.

7. Strickpate  http://strickpate.wordpress.com/ and www.facebook.com/strickpate need Socks, Gloves, Hats, Scarves, Fingerless / arm warmers, Leg warmers for childrenof all ages.

8. Bridge and Beyond http://homelessbridge.blogspot.com  need Hats, mittens, scarves, and slippers for homeless men, women, and children .

Another thing to keep in mind is that the need for garments or knitted items is all year round and not just in the winter time. Shelters and hospitals are often overwhelmed with donations at the holidays, but still need items throughout the year. There are nunerous international organisations who require knitted items and may have a local Office near  you or a collection point not too far away. 

How to Make an I Cord

Making an I-cord is one of those things that seems mysterious and difficult until you now how to do it. I waited a long time to sit down and make an I-cord because it always sounded kind of scary to me, probably because it involves double-pointed needles, which I'm not too keen on.
The good news is that making a I-cord is really quick and easy, and you can use them for all sorts of things, from the strap of a bag to hair accessories.













How to make I- Cord

I-cord is a simple knitting technique that creates a very narrow tube of knitting that looks a bit like French knitting.

Cast on the number of stitches desired or called for by a pattern with double pointed needles. Between three and five is normal.

Knit one row. Do not turn the work. 

Slide the stitches to the other end of the needle. 

Knit a second row by bringing the yarn behind the work and starting with the first stitch. Tug the work from the bottom after each first stitch to help it to take shape and to even out the tension. 

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until desired length is achieved. It'll start to take shape after 3/4 rows. 

Uses for I-Cord
I-cords is great because once you've made one, you'll start thinking of all sorts of uses for them. Here are just a few ways you might use them:
Strap or handles for a purse or bag.
Straps for a knitted shirt or dress.
Use it as a belt.                                       




                                                                             Make a headband








Sew the cord together to make a flower, a spiral, or some other shape you can use on another knitted project.
Use as a tie for a hoodie or in place of elastic in a hem.

Necklace, bracelet or broach the list is endless.

Here is a link to a video showing how to make i- cord     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcGj6tpqeJA 

Enjoy!

'Thoughful Thursday' 'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn

The charity featured today on Thoughful Thursday is very close to my heart. I have set up 'Lily'-Love In the Language of Yarn in memory of my grand-daughter Lily Iris Gibson born sleeping 18th July 2010.
Our Mission is To bring love and a smile to all children in need around the world. We provide hand knit and crocheted items for children, mainly orphans but any child in need. We area new organisation and our first assignment is to provide blankets for Syrian refugees in Turkey.




Knit a Square For Syria.
Please consider making a square or two with your odds and ends. It's a great way to bust your stash. The squares will be joined to form blankets and  given to IHH- Humanitarian Relief Foundation to be taken to Syrian refugees in Turkey. Turkey has seven camps housing more than 13,000 Syrians, seeking to protect refugees from President Bashar al-Assad’s intelligence agents as they flee the violence  Turkey has been housing Syrians escaping the violence in tent camps close to the border in Hatay province, where at least 1000 people sought refuge just in the last 24 hrs and has seen an increased influx of Syrians crossing the border in their hundreds every day to flee the violence. 
'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn has been asked to help provide blankets especially for the many children refugees.

It is a lot of fun and immensely satisfying making blankets. It is a good way to use up scraps of wool and different effects can be achieved with colours and by using different stitches. Your gift of a handmade blanket will bring comfort and warmth to Syrian people especially children who continue to suffer from oppression and war. Your lovingly made gift will send a message of concern and hope to these refugees. Your participation is important.!

 Knitters Please Help

Any spare wool you have can be knitted into eight inch squares and then we'll stitch them all together into a blanket. No waste and someone gets a warm and colourful, cover for their bed!

SQUARES
Can be knitted, Can be crocheted or Can be loomed 

Knitting Instructions

FOR ONE 8"/20 cms SQUARE, you will need:
Yarn from a 100 gram (3.5 oz) ball of yarn or scraps of yarn 
 worsted weight , double knit or 8ply
Size 4mm needles  10 (USA)
A yarn sewing needle.
 Cast on 32 stitches (try to make your stitches neither too loose nor too tight to help ensure uniform squares)
 Row 1: knit
 Row 2: knit. These two rows form the 'garter' stitch knitting pattern for your square but you use any stitch you prefer, beascreative as you like. Continue knitting  until you have knitted a square
 To ensure you square is 8"/20cm either use a tape measure .

 Cast off
 Use your yarn sewing needle to sew in all the yarn ends using a darning method
VERY IMPORTANT 
Leave a one metre length of your yarn attached to your work after you have cast off. This will be used to join the squares together. but if you're changing colors work in your other tails.  DO NOT TIE AND CUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KNOT, THAT IS GUARANTEED TO COME UNDONE.  Knot if you want, but leave a tail and work in your ends.


Non Knitters can also help by donating yarn or needles.
Once you have your squares ready to send please email me at dbjones5559@yahoo.com for postal address.

Syrian refugee children signal to onlooking media, from a camp set up by by Turkish Red Crescent in the town of Yayladagi in Hatay province (Burhan Ozbilici AP).

We work with reputable, experienced relief agencies to securely transport and distribute our hand-knit and crocheted blankets for this progect we are working with IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. You can also find us at  www.facebook.com/lilyloveinthelanguageofyarn 

Please Help If You Can!

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey, whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets to receiving agencies.

'Lily' has no paid employees.  All the good work is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

'Lily' wishes to thank all those private individuals and businesses which support us.  Without you, there would be no 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn.  We work hard for the day when we are no longer needed to help keep Children warm.

Dianne Jones - Founder of  Blankets 'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

Photo's obtained from Reuters

Lucky Shamrock Pin

 If you have ever been to an Irish festival, St. Patrick's Day parade or party, you will know just how proud those folks are of being Irish. I'm not Irish but it sure is fun hanging out with those who are. On St. Patricks's Day you will see t-shirts, hats and all sorts of embellishments to show off those who are Irish. So, if you  want something a little more tame. Show your Irish Spirit by wearing a Shamrock Pin! Quick to knit and fun to share. Wear it on your lapel, or pinned to a hat , headband or as a tie pin! This shamrock pin is nice and simple, not to fussy. It's also quick, easy and inexpensive to make. The kind of thing that's perfect to make for a large group.

Shamrock Pin


Wıth green double knitting type yarn and size 4mm needles Cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 3 (5sts)
Row 2. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, purl 4 (6sts)
Row 3. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 5 (7sts)

Row 4. Knit front & back of 1st stitch purl 6  (8sts). Cut yarn leaving a 4’’ tail and leave on a spare needle.

Repeat 2 more times but do not cut yarn on last petal

Row 5. Join all petals by knitting across (24 sts)
Row 6. Purl 2 together across row (12 sts)

Row 7. Knit 2 together across row (6sts)

Row 8. Purl 2 together, three times

Thread yarn through stitches and pull tight and sew into place. Secure all loose ends. Add stem by crocheting 5 or 6 chain stiches. Sew small safety pin or brooch fastening to the back.

Lucky Shamrock Baby Set.

Give your new baby the luck of the Irish! These Bootie Baby Shoes, mittens and shamrock hat are an easy knitting pattern that you can quickly whip up and celebrate  St. Patrick's day!

Size: New born
Hat measures 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter; length 5 inches (13 cm) from rim to crown.

Materials:
Size 4 mm (5 US) needles
Baby Soft DK weight yarn White,  and small amount of emerald green.
Gauge 21.5 sts= 4 inches (10 cm)

Instructions
Hat
Starting at brim, with  green CO 64 sts change to white and work in K1, p1 8 rows.
Then work in St st for 22 rows

Shape Top Of Hat
Still in white 
Row 1 *k2 tog, k7 rep from* to last 2 sts k2tog- 56 st
Rows 2, 4,6 and 8  Purl
Row 3  K 1, *k 4, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 - 47 sts.
Row 5 K 1, *k 3, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 - 38 sts.
Row 7 K 1, *k 2, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 - 29 sts.
Row 9 K 1, *k2tog; rep from * across - 15 sts.
Row 10 *P2tog; rep from * to last st, p 1 - 8 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing seam. With large-eyed blunt needle, thread tail through remaining sts on needle. Pull tightly and secure. Sew back seam.


Shamrock
Wıth green Cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 3 (5sts)
Row 2. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, purl 4 (6sts)
Row 3. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 5 (7sts)

Row 4. Knit front & back of 1st stitch purl 6  (8sts). Cut yarn leaving a 4’’ tail and leave on a spare needle.

Repeat 2 more times but do not cut yarn on last petal

Row 5. Join all petals by knitting across (24 sts)
Row 6. Purl 2 together across row (12 sts)

Row 7. Knit 2 together across row (6sts)

Row 8. Purl 2 together, three times

Thread yarn through stitches and pull tight and sew into place. Secure all loose ends. Add stem by crocheting 5 or 6 chain stiches. Sew into place on hat.


Booties

 In Green Cast on 32st
Change to white  and work 10 rows k1, p1 rib

Next row (RS) eyelets k1,*yo,k2 tog to last yo,k1 - 33sts
Next row purl


Divide for Instep
Knit 22sts turn leaving remaining sts unworked
Next purl 11sts turn and leave remaining sts unworked
Work 12 rows in St st across the 11sts for instep, break yarn


With right side facing rejoin yarn to last st on right hand needle pick up 7sts down righ tside of instep,
knit across 11sts of instep and pick up 7sts down left side then knit 11 sts from left hand needle 47 sts in all.
knit 11 rows garter (every row knit).


Shape Heel and Toe


Row 1 (RS)  k2, k2tog, k17, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k17,k2tog, k2
Row 2 knit
Row 3 k2, k2tog, k15, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k15, k2tog,k2
Row 4 knit
Row 5 k2, k2tog, k13, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k13, k2tog, k2
 Cast off loosely
Sew seam and thread green ribbon or cord through eyelets.


Mittens

With green cast on 28 sts change to white and work in K1, p1 for 8 rows

work in St st for 2 rows.,

Eyelet row: k1,*yo,k2tog, k1, rep from* to end
next row purl

Work 10 more rows in St st.


Shaping

Next row: (k2tog, k11) twice, k2tog - 25 sts

Next row: purl

Next row: k2tog, k10, k2tog, k to last 2 ts, k2tog - 22 sts
Next row: purl


Next row: (k2tog, k8) twice, k2tog - 19 sts
Next row: purl
BO. Cut yarn, leaving a long length of yarn for sewing side seam, Thread green ribbon or cord through eyelets.


Many folk ask the question 'Why is the Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland ?' The reason is that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans.

Shamrock Mug Rug

Here’s a little coaster you can keep your coffee mug on. It's a great opportunity to practice knitting and purling backwards-as well as to use up leftover bits of yarn.They make excellent housewarming and hostess gifts and are easily customized. With St Patrick's Day just around the corner I've decided to knit shamrock mug rugs, these are subtle, not your standard square and the fringe finishes the pattern making it very much like a mini-rug for your mug.

Finished Measurements : Approx. 5½"x5½"

Materials: 1 ball solid cotton yarn
US #3/3.25mm needles*
Tapestry Needle
*I used a smaller needle size to obtain denser fabric and to make the picture stand out more.

Pattern:

With Size 3 needles,
co 29s

row 1: (an all odd numbered rows) k
row 2: k
row 4: k
row 6: k13, p3, k13
row 8: k10, p9, k10
row 10: k8, p13, k8
row 12: k7, p4, k2, p9, k7
row 14: k6, p6, k2, p9, k6
row 16: k5, p8, k2, p9, k5
row 18: k5, p2, k3, p4, k1, p4, k3, p2, k5
row 20: k4, p2, k5, p3, k1, p3, k5, p2, k4
row 22: k4, p2, k6, p2, k1, p2, k6, p2, k4
row 24: k3, p4, k6, p1, k1, p1, k6, p4, k3
row 26: k3, p5, k6, p1, k6, p5, k3
row 28: k3, p4, k15, p4, k3
row 30: k3, p3, k6, p2, k1, p2, k6, p3, k3
row 32: k3, p3, k5, p2, k3, p2, k5, p3, k3
row 34: k3, p4, k3, p2, k5, p2, k3, p4, k3
row 36: k4, p7, k7, p7, k4
row 38: k4, p6, k9, p6, k4
row 40: k5, p5, k9, p5, k5
row 42: k5, p5, k9, p5, k5
row 44: k6, p4, k4, p1, k4, p4, k6
row 46: k7, p4, k2, p3, k2, p4, k7
row 48: k8, p13, k8
row 50: k10, p9, k10
row 52: k13, p3, k13
row 54: k
row 56: k
row 57: Bind Off      
Weave in ends.

To make fringe cut yarn in 3inch strips fold in half and thread the loop through the stitches of the cast on and cast off edge, put the cut ends through the loop and pull tight.
Block and lay flat to dry