How To Knit A Mitered Square

Not only are mitered squares good for pretty corners, they can stand on their own as a decorative element and really look good when you incorporate a second colour or stripes, the angle of the rows stands out much better.

To create a mitered square you will need to cast-on double the number of stitches you want one side of your square to be plus one stitch. For my square as I want an 8 inch square I am using DK yarn and 4mm needles I cast-on 81 sts.

Row 1: knit

Row 2: decrease row: k39, sl1pwise, k2tog, psso, k39

Row 3: knit

Row 4: dec row: k38, sl1pwise , k2tog, psso, k38

Row 5: knit

Row 6: dec row: k37, sl1 pwise, k2tog, psso, k37 continue in this manner until you have 3 sts left on needle.

sl1, k2tog, psso Cut yarn and pull through last stitch on needle & tie off. You now have a mitered square.

 There are endless opportunities for creativity through the use of yarns in a variety of colors and textures. You can also change your stitch pattern for different looks.

3 Little Squares

Merry Christmas.

But please if you can spare a little of your time knit a square or three for our 3 Square Appeal.
Hundreds of Syrians crossed into Turkey on Monday, a day after an airstrike reportedly targeted a bakery and killed scores of people in a rebel-held Syrian town, 1,100,  refugees mostly women and children arrived on foot or by cars. Turkey is now hosting more than 145,000 refugees from Syria in 13 refugee camps  and soon to be 3 more.

(photo credit: AP/Khalil Hamra)

I realise the cost of sending items by post especially to Turkey can be costly. Therefore I've decided to launch this 3 square appeal. I am asking everyone especially during the season of goodwill even though it's a very busy time, PLEASE spare a thought for the Children of the Syrian refugees and if you could knit just 3 squares they would fit easily into an envelope and postage shouldn't be too great.

Please if you could just knit or crochet 3 x 8inch squares, pop them in an envelope and send them to the address at the bottom of this page, we will sew them together to make blankets and a child with nothing will get a warm and colourful, cover for their bed!

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 8plySize 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. 

leave 1metre of yarn attahed.

We work with reputable, experienced relief agencies to securely transport and distribute our hand-knit and crocheted blankets. 
You can also find us at:  https://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  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.
Address - 'LILY' C/O Dianne Jones
                   Türkmen Mahlesi
                    Ünlü sokak No 10 D4
                    Kuşadası
                    Aydin
                    Turkey.

'Thoughtful Thursday' Helpful Tips When Knitting For Charity

I think one reason we all knit for charity is because the need is literally everywhere. The need for charity knitting is as far away as the other side of the world, and it is as close as our own downtown areas and even our own neighborhoods. 
 Do you find, either occasionally or more often than not, that you would like to touch members of your own community with your charity knitting? I know I do. 
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. 
 I want to offer you some options to consider when you would like to donate your charity knitting projects a little closer to home. 



Stuffed toys: Make stuffed toys such as teddy bears, monkeys, and dolls, and offer them to places such as fire houses, hospitals, social service departments, and police departments. Such toys can be genuine godsends for children in traumatic situations, such as long-term illnesses, fires, and cases of abuse and neglect.

Hats and scarves: Most towns have homeless shelters, and I have yet to hear of one that will turn away a box of knitted hats and scarves. Particularly in areas where winters are extremely cold, these are a tremendous help to shelter residents. Domestic violence shelters will often take them, as well. 

Blankets: Afghans can also be donated to homeless and domestic violence shelters. Lap blankets and baby blankets can be donated to hospitals, where they may be used for babies, especially preemies, and those recovering from amputation surgery. 

Chemo caps: Hospitals of all kinds, especially those with cancer centers, will always be glad to accept donated caps for people who have lost their hair from chemotherapy. 

Premature baby clothing: Any hospital with a labor and delivery floor will likely be thrilled to accept hats, layette items, and blankets sized to fit preemies. 







Remember, before you take a trip to a local shelter, hospital, or fire/police department, be sure to call them ahead of time and ask if they will accept whatever you have to donate. Some may have guidelines; others may not be able to accept the items in question for one reason or another. Most, however, will be very glad to accept whatever you have to offer!

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. 


Links to other 'Thoughful Thursday' posts you might like:

'Lily' Love In the Language of Yarn
Knit A Square
Military Heros
Sands Stillbirth and Neonatal Death
Cure Caps
Hugs for Homeless Animals
Loving Hands
Teddies for Tragedies
The Mending Hearts Project
Knit With Love
Keeping cancer victims warm
Lisas Stars
Bridge and Beyond
Strickpate
Oxfam
The Pink Slipper Project
Click for Babies
Upon Butterfly Wings
Recovery Buddies
Purple Stitch Project (PSP)

'Thoughful Thursday' Knit Squares For Syrian Refugee Children

More than half a million Syrians have already fled the civil war in their county and made their way to surrounding countries and if the present trend continues, the number of registered refugees is likely to reach 710,000 by the end of the year. Three-quarters of the refugees are women and children. Many arrive with only the clothes on their backs and are traumatized by their experiences. There are around 85,000 reugees in Turkey with around  2,000 to 3,000 arriving every day and an estimated 5,000 waiting at the border. Here in Turkey, the authorities have already built 13 camps and are planning three more, it takes weeks to build these camps, but only days to fill them.

Help 'Lily' Love In the Language of Yarn Knit Squares For Syrian refugees especially the children.

Please consider making a square or two with your odds and ends. 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 a child with nothing gets a warm and colourful, cover for their bed!

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.


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

Please Help If You Can!

Photos of refugees in this post are by getty images.

'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  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.
Address - 'LILY' C/O Dianne Jones
                   Türkmen Mahlesi
                    Ünlü sokak No 10 D4
                    Kuşadası
                    Aydin
                    Turkey.

'Thoughful Thursday' 'LILY' Needs YOUR Help!

Turkey is housing about 80,000 refugees in the camps along the Syrian border, while another 40,000 live in rented houses or apartments in the border area, and there are at least another 10,000 waiting on the border more than 50% are children. In just a few weeks the weather will change and the nights will be cold especially for children living in tents. PLEASE HELP US PROVIDE BLANKETS FOR THESE CHILDREN!
KNIT A SQUARE OR TWO or three or four............

photo by Muhammed Muheisen


Help 'Lily' Love In the Language of Yarn Knit Squares For Syrian refugees especially the children.

Please consider making a square or two with your odds and ends. 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 a child with nothing gets a warm and colourful, cover for their bed!

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.


We work with reputable, experienced relief agencies to securely transport and distribute our hand-knit and crocheted blankets for this project we are working with  Humanitarian Relief Foundation. 
You can also find us at:  https://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  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

'Thoughful Thursday' Knit a Square Project

Knit a square project.

 KasCare

Please knit a square (or more) and send them to Africa to make up blankets for the children.

Crocheting and knitting for charity, especially for children in need, is a meditative act of love. More importantly, it makes a difference. There are many millions of abandoned and vulnerable children and AIDS orphans in southern Africa, who live in dire poverty. Many lack the very basics we take for granted—love, shelter, food, education and warmth.

Your contribution of squares to this crochet and knitting project will add to the many thousands of 8"/20cm squares from around the world, which are joined into blankets and distributed to these children.
The finished blankets add more than warmth to the children’s lives. As co-founder of KasCare, Ronda said in a South African press interview:“ They are a currency we use to tell the children exactly how beloved they are. We tell them they are the future, unique and special.”
You can find the details of how you can donate on the website:
 www.knit-a-square.com and you can aslo subscribe to their newsletter Square Circle. As your squares arrive, they are collected, sorted and bundled into blanket packs by the KasCare Volunteers They then organise sewing and distribution days which are recorded in the Square Circle, so you can see and enjoy the results of your wonderful work.

The September Challenge is - 'South America and Carnival in Rio'

 You will find lots of inspiration for squares with this challenge.... It really has it all - from mountains and rivers, to rainforests and plains and all the way south, almost to Antarctica.

The wildlife offers lots of scope - from the wild colours of the many tropical birds - to the hairy textures of the llamas and alpacas....and even penguins. Even the people are an inspiration - especially the patterns and colours found in the fabulous knitting that comes from Bolivia and Peru.

And if that’s not enough inspiration... consider Carnival in Rio... a veritable riot of colour. and the potential for lots of fun squares

Whether you prefer to try depicting some of the animals and birds, or create wild wonderful Carnival-coloured plain janes.. it all works.!!! And remember, each child will likely have only one "embellished" square in his blanket... and for every one of those,  34 plainer ones are needed to complete it....so for this challenge, everything goes!

 So have some fun, knit a square and  send some love to aids orphans in South Africa.

Every 14 seconds a child will become an orphan!

We all understand how awful it is to be cold, but many of us have not experienced the misery of being cold all night, every night, hungry, and perhaps sick as well. Many of the children are themselves infected by HIV AIDS. As it is an auto immune disease, keeping warm helps their ability to stay well.
Keeping a child with HIV AIDS warm is vital 
Please help if you can.
www.knit-a-square.com
www.facebook.com/knitasquare

'Thoughful Thursday' Knitting Squares For Syrian Children

More than 4,000 people (mostly women and children) fled the violence in Syria and have entered  Turkey in the past three days, bringing the total number of Syrian refugees here to 59,710. 

Help 'Lily' Love In the Language of Yarn Knit Squares For Syrian refugees especially the children.

Please consider making a square or two with your odds and ends. 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 a child with nothing gets a warm and colourful, cover for their bed!

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.


We work with reputable, experienced relief agencies to securely transport and distribute our hand-knit and crocheted blankets for this project we are working with  Humanitarian Relief Foundation. 
You can also find us at:  https://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  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

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

The charity featured today on Thoughful Thursday is 'Lily'-Love In the Language of Yarn set up in memory of my grand-daughter Lily Iris Gibson. 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 need your HELP!
At the end of September  I will be visiting an orphanage in Kayseri Turkey with a group of volunteers.The orphange is home to 115 children at the moment. I hope to take with me a parcel for each child. I am busy knitting a 'Lily' Bear for each child. Knitters and Crocheters I need your help! Age groups are 3-6yrs, 7-10yrs and 12-14yrs. Boys and Girls. Hat, scarf, glove sets for each child. Our volunteers have been wonderful but we are a little low on scarves and gloves (mittens) especially the 7- 10 age group. To help you there is a free knitting pattern  on our facebook page. Please help if you can.




Also  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 48,500 Syrians  the highest number taking shelter in Turkey at one time since the start of the uprising some 17 months ago. 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn has been asked to help provide blankets especially for the many children refugees. In the short time we have been established we have made a staggering 347 blankets - enough to give one to each child in just one of the camps in Turkey near the Syrian border, but WE NEED MORE!. A 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.!  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! Can you help?

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.

And last but by no means least  we have teamed up with several non profit organisations in Turkey helping to raise awareness of premature births, and have been asked to help provide knitted garments for several neonatal intensive care units in Aydin, Izmir and Bodrum.  Premature babies are amazing – they can grow and thrive despite huge obstacles, and catch up to full-term babies in both size and development. Please Help us to knit for premature babies especially hats, bootties and blankets. We have some patterns available for your use on our facebook page.

Please Help If You Can!

You can also find us at:  https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn where I will be adding more knitting and crochet patterns, links to patterns and information updated daily.

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey, whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets and garments 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  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

'Thoughful Thursday' Help 'LILY' Knit Squares

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. 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.

Help us Knit Squares For Syrian refugees especially the children. There are currently more than 43,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey  housed in refugee camps dotting the border.  Most of them fled for their lives in an instant, never imagining their exile would last so long. 




Photo by Tomás Munita for The New York Times


Please consider making a square or two with your odds and ends. 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 a child with nothing gets a warm and colourful, cover for their bed!

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.



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  Humanitarian Relief Foundation. 
You can also find us at:  https://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  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.