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CrochetMoms

There is a group of momwriters who are also known as "crochetmoms." Bea and I are the moderators for this group which is under the auspices of the MW Help Fund. There is a site at smartgroups, and Bea has created a web page/picture page of the afghans as we complete them. http://members.tripod.com/~Beawriter/crochetmoms.html
Crochetmoms (part of the MW Help Fund) need your help to complete our list of expecting momwriters. We need to know who they are, what their due dates are, whether they are having a boy or a girl and their mailing address. Yep, we've got our crochet hooks just workin' away when the weather isn't too hot to work with yarn. Crochetmoms is our name and blankets are our game...and bonnets and booties for those moms who don't want blankets. Soooo, please let us know--Bea (email her at bts1ct@aol.com) or me--so we can get those gifts going as soon as possible.
Cathy Brownfield: Email me at cbrownfiel@sbcglobal.net or cathybrownfield@yahoo.com
Crochetmoms Update Special Edition
~~~~~
MomWriter Holiday Clearinghouse

So, the first order of business: Questions and answers.

I want to work with crochetmoms. How do I get started? To see some of our completed projects and to learn more about us, visit the web site at crochetmoms@yahoogroups.com. You can become a member of the group. We don't post a lot, but we do work together as a team. We wouldn't expect anything less from MWs! :) We even try to help each other out with yarn remnants when we just need a little more to finish something.

I want to donate yarn. Where do I send it? If you want to send yarn now, you can send it to Bea (bts1ct@aol.com or me, cbrownfiel@sbcglobal.net or cathybrownfield@yahoo.com. Contact us off-list for our snail mail addresses. We can distribute the yarn. I am trying to devise a plan, however, that would best utilize our postage/shipping costs, which have become an issue. The farther the packages have to travel, the more it costs to send. Everything we have done so far has been at our own personal expense. We aren't complaining because we love doing this, but some of our crochetmoms are also struggling financially. I would like to see donors and crocheters/knitters be paired up in their postage zones or as close as possible to them. The less we have to pay in postage/shipping costs, the more we have to work with in providing yarn for the gifts we make--both for the holiday clearinghouse and the baby blankets.

How can I get yarn to get started? Dej has offered to distribute her supply of yarn which she has generously donated to any crocheters/knitters for this project who attend the July gathering in Virginia Beach. Several MomWriters have contacted me to let me know they will ship yarn wherever I tell them to send it. I'm working on that. I also am working on how to distribute the yarn. Some crocheters/knitters only make scarves or hats or mittens. We want the scarves, hats and mittens to match--you know how fussy kids can be! You know how the older kids are. They want to look kewl! So, I am looking at how we can get trios to work together to provide matching sets. Maybe I'm carrying it a bit too far. I just want our MW kids to love their hats, mittens and gloves. I'd want mine to match. :)

Tenna advised: I just found out Jo-Ann fabric store is having a sale on the baby yarn. It is the Lion brand Jamie yarn and is regularly priced at $1.49. The sale price is 99 cents! I plan on stocking up for the crochet mom projects but even if you don't crochet, you can help out by donating yarn. To find the store nearest you, call 1-877-465-6266

NEED HELP GETTING YARN/EQUIPMENT?
Contact one of these MWs who have graciously offered yarn donations and/or help with monetary donations which can be used to help defray shipping costs.

Brenda Potter Reynolds
Photographer & Writer
Content Editor for www.bestofnys.com
Website: http://go.to/bpr
Portfolio: www.ozimages.com.au/portfolio/bpr.asp

April Schmidt wrote: A friend of mine gave me a Huge box of yarn . If anyone is in need let me know . I can mail it out to ya. postage would be appreciated but not necessary.
Contact April at aschmidt@mound.net.

I have are several of the tiny, crochet needles. The style you might use for making doilies and such. I am still looking at the dictionary part of the patterns where it says, sc = single so I KNOW I am not going to be doing intricate patterns of doilies anytime soon.
Tenna Perry wrote: Tenna has some crochet/knitting needles. Anybody need/want them? Or the knitting needles? Some of the needles have these wires coming off the back of them while others are almost hair thin they are so tiny. For more info about them, contact her at bluemerle1960@ev1.net

Karen Lovett shared this: Thought some of you might be interested in this. RE: Free Crochet Pattern: WOOL-EASE® CHUNKY mittens. I found this great free pattern! Click here to see it: http://www.tias.com/stores/lionbrand/patterns/cwec-mittens.html. It was one of many on the Lion Brand Yarn Website: http://www.lionbrand.com. You can reach Karen at klovett@bellsouth.net.

Valerie Botbyl wrote: I'm in the process of getting rid of some of my massive stash. Since I don't have time to do much crocheting, I'd be happy to donate yarn. I can also send boxes to several different people. I can't remember but I'm pretty sure a skein of 4 ply Red Heart should do up a scarf. val826@austin.rr.com

Tammy Bird advises: All I need is an address, and I will donate some yarn. tbird@visi.net

Linda Bowen says: I'd be happy to help! I don't know much about yarn, so you'll have to tell me what you need :-) Also, let me know where to send it. You can reach Linda at
bowenwriting@comcast.net

.
I have yarn. Where can I find a pattern and how do I know what size to make?

PATTERNED SCARF -- Knitted
Using size 6 or 7 straight needles, cast on about 36 stitches or a multiple of 6).
For the first three rows: K3,P3 straight across.
For the next three rows, P3, K3 straight across. This makes a textured and reversible pattern that works great with a solid color yarn. Knit to desired length; bind off; and add fringe, if you like.

WIZARD SCARF--Crocheted
With Color 1, ch 23.
Row 1: (Right side): Sc in 3rd ch from hook, *ch 1, skip next ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across; turn.
Row 2: Ch 2, skip first sc, *sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip next sc; rep from * to last sp; sc in ch-2 sp; turn.
Rep Row 2 for pattern, working 16 rows or 4" of each color until 17 stripes in all have been completed. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Fringe: Cut 12" strands of Color 2. Knot 5 groups of 4 strands at each end of scarf. Trim.
Fold strands in half to form a loop. Insert hook through the scarf from the wrong side and into the loop. Pull the loop through the fabric. Bring the cut ends through the loop. Pull the ends to tighten. Trim ends.

BERET--Crocheted
No. 3 crochet hook, 1 skein sports yarn.

Ch. 3, join in a ring.
Row 1-6 S.C. in ring.
Row 2-2 S.C. in each st.
Row 3-* 2 S.C. in next st., 1 S.C. in next st. repeat from * around row.
Row 4-* 2 S.C. in next st., 1 S.C. in each of the next 2 sts., repeat from * around row.
Continue to increase in this manner 6 times in each row, until work measures 10 inches in diameter. Work even for 1 inch. Then decrease by skipping every 10th st. in every row to desired head size. Work 2 rows even. Break yarn and fasten.
From Minerva Yarns 1936
SINGLE CROCHET HAT PATTERN
Row 1: Ch3, Join with sl st to form ring.
Ch1, 6 sc in ring, ( do not join), place marker in last sc of each round.
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (12sc)
Row 3: (1sc in next sc, 2sc in next sc) around
Row 4: (1sc in each of next 2sc, 2sc in next sc) around (24sc)
Row 5: (2sc in next sc, 1sc in each of next 3sc) around
Row 6: (1sc in each of next 4 sc, 2sc in next sc) around (36sc)
Row 7: (2sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc) around (42sc) (You can place the marker at the end of this row and keep it there till you do a few more rows. That way, if the hat is too tight or too loose you can rip back to the marker and either add or subtract stitches from round 8 to adjust the size of the hat) :-)
Row 8: (1sc in each of next 6sc, 2sc in next sc) around.
Row 9: Sl st into next sc, ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to ch1 (48sc)
Row 10 - 18: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to ch1. (Try on your hat now and see if it is long enough for you.
Add a row or two if it isn`t long enough. Or take a row off if it`s too long!)
Row 19: ch1, (2sc in next sc, sc in each of next 7sc) around. Join with sl st to ch1

DOUBLE CROCHET HAT PATTERN
Materials: Knitted worsted weight yarn

Size I crochet hook
Quick Tip:H & I hook for children,J & K for adults.
Rather then use another pattern, change hook size.
Gauge: 5 dc = 2 inches
6 rows = 5 inches
Beginning at top with main color, ch 5, sl st in first ch to form ring.
Round 1: Ch 3, 12 dc in ring. Join with a sl st in top of ch 3. Turn.
Round 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in each dc around - 24 dc. Join; turn each round.
Round 3: Ch 3 (dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc) 12 times - 36 dc.
TIP: Make row 4, twice, to make a larger hat.
Round 4: Ch 3 (dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc) 12 times - 48 dc.
Rounds 5-12: Ch 3, dc in each dc around. Drop main color. Work the
next 3 rows with contrasting colors for striping pattern.
QUICK TIP. I often keep using the same color.
Round 13: With first contrasting color, sc in each st around.
Round 14: With second contrasting color, sc in each st around.
Round 15: With third contrasting color, sc in each st around.
Round 16: With main color, dc in each st around. Join and end off.
Fold last 5 rows to right side for cuff.

STRETCHY KNIT HAT PATTERN
2 oz worsted weight yarn
size 10 needles
Pattern- all rows: *K3, P1, repeat from * across, end K1.
Cast on 69 stitches and work in pattern until
piece measures 9 inches from beginning.

Top shaping: Row 1: (Right side row) K2 tog across ending K1
Rows 2&4: P each stitch
Row 3: Same as row 1
Row 5: K2 tog across.
Leave a length of yarn long enough to sew seam.
Using a yarn needle, draw yarn through remaining stitches on the needle and pull up tight. Fasten well to prevent gathered stitches from loosening, then sew back seam. Turn 2" up at bottom edge for cuff. A pompom can be added to the top if you wish.

Crochetmoms Reports:

Bea writes: I've just updated our first page in the crochet moms web. Take a look. I put up a couple of patterns for hats and Cathy's pattern for a zig zag afghan.
http://members.tripod.com/~Beawriter/crochetmoms.html Momwriters crochet page with patterns.

Lily writes: I'll simplify things on my end -- I have lots of yarn, and I can make hats, mittens, and scarves! Just need to know girl/boy and age. Does that help at all? :)

Bea writes: Okay so let's simplify this then. Whoever volunteers to make the hats, scarfs and gloves for the teens must be able to match the set. Everyone else who makes the items for the little kids just do your best. Frankly, I've seen it the other way around. The teens didn't even want to wear ANY hats, especially the girls. When they did they chose something very simple. I've given my niece ear muffs several years just so she'd have something on her head. What some of them do is wrap the scarf around their head so I make the scarfs extra long for that purpose. Mothers of the little kids seemed to prefer matching sets.

Hilary Evans wrote: I'd like to help, but all I can knit or crochet is in a straight line. My scarves tend to be as wide as my needles are long lol and well, what can you use one never-ending crocheted strand for? Are there any online resources for learning how to knit hats or scarves? This is something I would really love to do, seeing as I got a beautiful afghan after our baby was born :) Also, are there any places online that have tremendous deals on yarn and where would I ship it to?

Sandra Rees-Bowen writes: About the hats, if you are talking about stocking caps for older kiddo's, those are very easy and a breeze to make. Just knit knit/purl the first line, connect to beginning so have circle and then continue about, decreasing stitches after about three inches of knitting (could do same type of thing with crocheting.)

Do you know someone who is: Pregnant? Adopting? Have a child going to the hospital? Let the crochet moms know and we'll add you to the list. We can make hats and blankets. Some moms can make other things. We are part of the momwriters helpfund and we are here for you. Just let us know as well as the colors you prefer. Contact me (Bea,bts1ct@aol.com ) or Cathy Brownfield (cbrownfiel@sbcglobal.net or cathybrownfield@yahoo.com).

EDITOR'S NOTE: I am not the most organized person as far as e-mail posts are concerned. I have hundreds of posts in my inbox and in designated files like MW posts, etc. And I'm always afraid I've overlooked something or missed something. I don't want ANYONE to think I've not included them for whatever reason. If you responded to me when I requested help for crochetmoms and I have not included it here, please, PLEASE, post to me. I'll set up another storage file in Outlook Express for those posts. I will send out another special edition as needed. We appreciate so much everyone's support in this project. It's hard to imagine today, when the temperature in NE Ohio is in the 90s, that snow and cold weather are just a few months down the road. This is everything as I know it right now, I THINK. LOL.

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