Does anyone knit or crochet rectangles for the Warm up America program? There are chapters all over the country - supposedly Michaels craft stores participate. They already had the knitting part of it in some Michaels, but the sew up of the afghans is coming up. We have a very new Michaels store here - just a few weeks opened - I am going to call tomorrow to see if they are participating, and if it's too late to knit up some pieces.
Just wondering if anyone has ever done this?
I have never heard of that one Lynne. Will have to look into it.
The thing I'm wondering, Triss, is that they've already had the knitting/crocheting part of it in October, and the next thing is supposed to be the sewing up of the blankets. But I was wondering if this is an "on-going" project elsewhere, that one might be able to participate in - it doesn't really say on the website.
Warm Up America Every knitter and crocheter most likely has yarn leftover to make at least 1 or 2 rectangles for a blanket, right? What better use for it than something to keep a needy person warm?!?
I decided to go to the store today while I'm out - hopefully SOMEONE there will know what I'm talking about! I'm going to print out the page that I found involving Michaels stores and bring it with me. I'll let you know what they say.
I sent an email off to see if there is a group working in my area.
I went into Michael's this morning and met the young woman who is in charge of store activities. She was excited to see my interest, and said they are definitely doing it. They will have the "sewing day" sometime in November - she wasn't sure of the date yet, but took my name, number and email address.
Of course I bought a skein of yarn while I was there, to start! I chose the one that loz had mentioned a few months ago - Blueberry Pie - it has such pretty colors. I'm about 3 inches done on my first piece - it needs to be 9 inches long. Can't wait to meet up with other people there who are also intersted in doing this!
You will have to let me know how it goes. I hope there is a group in my area. I have all kinds of yarn I can use to a project like that and it will be a good thing to do once I am done with my current project.
Here's the first rectangle that I finished last night.
I keep wanting to call it a square, but it's not!
Hey, that looks pretty cool, Lynne! (Oops... I mean "warm"!) How many are you planning to make?
(I don't know anything about knitting... but I don't see any "purls" there... are they blueberry pie colored?)
Looks good Lynne!!! 1 down ??? to go.
Patty - aren't you just the jokester!
Not sure how many I'll make - I'm 1/3 done with #2.
Here are my first 4 squares.
Those are REALLY nice, Triss!
What stitch are you doing there? I really need to find out how to crochet, and I really like that stitch.
What yarn is the lighter one with white?
I don't think I've seen that around here - such pretty colors!
It is what I call a triple crochet. I have no idea if that is its true name or not. The multi color is an old yarn from my box. I am shocked I still have the holder. Keepsake Sayelle Peach Ombre. It is a multi color yard with the peaches and white colors. The others are BRIGHT orange but do not look so bright with the peaches against them. I just decided to start these with my scraps so I can empty out my yarn bin.
It is a pretty mutli color.
I just did a google search and only 3 sites on ebay came up - guess it's been discontinued.
Thought I'd update with my latest rectangles.
These are numbers 10-18. I've already dropped off 1-9.
The first 3 on the right are crocheted, and I had to place the scissors on them because they won't stop curling. The rest are knit if different stitches.
Anyone else besides Triss joining in?
Triss, have you been able to make any more?
Lynne, I have a total of 16. Have not been working on any this week.
That's great, Triss - they will surely help keep someone warm!
Triss, or anyone else who crochets...
why did my edges come out scalloped?
When I look at Triss' the edges are all nice and straight and even.
Should I not have chained 3 at the end of each row?
The chain 3 is what gives you the height leading up to the next row and counts as the first stitch of that row. I think that is what the difference is Lynne.
I'm not sure I'm following you, Triss.
I DID do the chain 3, so why are my edges scalloped and yours are not?
The next stitch does not go into the last stitch of the last row, but one in from that. It looks like your 1dc of that next row is in the last dc of the row before when the 3 chains should be counted for that stitch.
Does that make any sense at all?
uhhhhhhhhhhh... not sure?
Ok let me try this again.
Say you end your row at 36
chain 3 and that is 1 of the next rows 36 so #2 would go into 35.
wow - still not sure, but I'll check it out tomorrow when I start a new one - too brain dead right now...
but thanks for helping me - I know it must be frustrating. :rolleyes:
Trying to find the right words is difficult. I will try setting up the web cam in the morning and if you cannot get it, I can SHOW you! OK?
wow - you are too kind, Triss!
I hope it doesn't come to that - let me see what I can work out tomorrow.
Ok sounds good! Either way works for me though and it would give me a chance to try out my webcam over MSN!
Ok Triss - I get the idea now, but it's still not lining up neatly along the edges like yours does - could you please post a close up picture of one of your edges so I can see if I am doing it right?
I had a really hard time getting a good pic. Hope this helps.
I LOVE that color!!!
It is hard to see though.
I was reading some websites, and they said you are supposed to do a stitch in the loop of the chain below it at the end? Do you do that? They have great videos for going straight across, but I haven't found one yet for turning the piece.
No I do not think I do that. I do the last DC and then 3 chains, turn and do the next DC in the 2nd to last DC of the row before.
interesting - two of the websites I saw said to do that. When I do it your way, I still do not get a straight edge?
Hmmm, I dunno then Lynne. Maybe tightening up the chains?
I think I've got it worked out now - it was the picking up the last chain in the previous row and making that the last stitch that was hanging me up - at least I hope!
The bottom few rows are after I figured it out.
Looks great Lynne! Awesome!!
We are starting a knitting class at church in Jan. to teach us 'how-to'. I will look into this Warm Up America and suggest 'strongly' that we be part of this. Thanks for the info.
Shirley - that would be terrific!
I hope you enjoy learning how to knit.
It's really pretty easy, once you get the hang of it, and there's soooooooo much info online about it too! If you have any questions, I can try to help you find the answers online if I don't know them - I have bookmarked several "how to" sites.
Thanks a lot! I appreciate that