What a wonderful welcome. Although I am halfway through my 4th jumper I just couldn't resist starting on the wool/alpaca mix.
It is so easy to knit so I've decided to make a blanket. I don't know what size I'm aiming for yet. I'll just keep knitting.
Bye for now, Barbara x
You need to be a member of Square Circle Forum to add comments!
Barbara I hear nothing but good things about alpaca. :) A wool/alpaca mix is a super warm mix that some child will greatly benefit from. Is it an easy yarn to work with? I've had wool that is smooth and flows easily and rougher stuff that I had to keep picking the hay out of as I worked! The blanket sizes are listed on the Forum but here they are:
Large blanket = 35 eight inch squares, so 7x5 squares, or 56"x40" without a border
Medium blanket = 24 squares, 6x4, or 48"x32" without a border
small blanket, or baby blanket = 12 squares, or 3x4, 24"x32" (we seem to have enough baby items except Cuddles for the moment though, so a one piece blanket in a larger size would be MUCH appreciated, many thanks in advance!)
I can only add that the sizes most needed, in all items at present, is for children 3-10 years in age. Thank you for joining us in warming up the Aids orphans. :) Our caring knitting and hooking warms their hearts too.
(p.s. if my math calculations on blanket size are incorrect, DO correct them, math is NOT my strong suit) :P
Barbara Hawkins > P. Jeanne HaesslerNovember 28, 2010 at 3:08am
Hi P. Jeanne. Yes it is very easy to knit and very warm too. I only managed to buy 13 x 50g balls, so I will continue to knit it all up in squares and then make up maybe one large or two smaller blankets.
I couldn't believe that the shop had reduced each ball by £2. It's a shop I will continue to use in future.
Yesterday I did the rounds of the local charity shops and bought more needles, patterns (20p each) and 6 balls of chunky wool, which I will knit into another blanket.
Thanks for your advice on blanket sizes. Bye for now, Barbara x
Enid Mary Shaw > Barbara HawkinsNovember 28, 2010 at 3:14am
Hi Barbara, we usually send packs of squares to Soweto, and volunteers there sew up into blankets. A complete blanket can work out expensive to mail. But whatever you prefer, all will be acceptable. Just remember to put on the customs notice: ''charity knitting, no commercial value''. if you put the actual items (blankets/scarves/cardis) a tax may be charged at receiving end
Hi Enid
Many thanks for the advice. I don't mind too much about the cost because no matter what it is it will be less than the great sense of purpose and pride I will have in making my first ever blanket.
Regards
Barbara x
Excellent deal on the yarn price Barbara. I wouldn't mind shopping there myself! Wrong country but even from here I can sniff a bargain, lol. I've seen photos of quite a few complete blankets arrive in Soweto so as long as the package is marked "knitting for charity, no commercial value" as Enid said, it should arrive just fine and won't it get exclaimed over at the other end...if it need special laundering instructions, do tuck a note about that in with the blanket alright? Thanks and enjoy making the blanket, believe me, it will be loved!
Jeanne :)
Barbara Hawkins > P. Jeanne HaesslerNovember 29, 2010 at 3:48am
Well if you ever cross the Atlantic and visit Leicester I will take you to the shop. In the meantime like you I will continue to search for bargains. On Saturday I did the local charity shops. Oxfam and Age UK had the best bargains, 6 balls (50g) of chunky wool for £3 and a variety of soft toys from 50p to £1.49.
The girl in the Oxfam shop gave me a free pattern. She said she would save whatever wool came into the shop for me. As Clare also crochets I will take her the info on KAS on my next visit with the hope that she may wish to join.
I thought it maybe useful to send a ball band from the wool attached to the garment. What do you think?
Bye for now, Barbara X
I think that is a SUPER idea, Barbara, to send the ball band with the item as it gives precise laundering and care instructions.
If I don't spot any small stuffed animals/toys shortly I'm going to go and buy some small socks and make stuffed animals out of them. I've got a lot of stuffing just sitting here and there's some incredibly simple patterns out there on how to make easy stuffed animals from socks. I can remember the one for the owl in my head and THAT is saying something, lol. ;)
Replies
Large blanket = 35 eight inch squares, so 7x5 squares, or 56"x40" without a border
Medium blanket = 24 squares, 6x4, or 48"x32" without a border
small blanket, or baby blanket = 12 squares, or 3x4, 24"x32" (we seem to have enough baby items except Cuddles for the moment though, so a one piece blanket in a larger size would be MUCH appreciated, many thanks in advance!)
I can only add that the sizes most needed, in all items at present, is for children 3-10 years in age. Thank you for joining us in warming up the Aids orphans. :) Our caring knitting and hooking warms their hearts too.
(p.s. if my math calculations on blanket size are incorrect, DO correct them, math is NOT my strong suit) :P
I couldn't believe that the shop had reduced each ball by £2. It's a shop I will continue to use in future.
Yesterday I did the rounds of the local charity shops and bought more needles, patterns (20p each) and 6 balls of chunky wool, which I will knit into another blanket.
Thanks for your advice on blanket sizes. Bye for now, Barbara x
Many thanks for the advice. I don't mind too much about the cost because no matter what it is it will be less than the great sense of purpose and pride I will have in making my first ever blanket.
Regards
Barbara x
Jeanne :)
The girl in the Oxfam shop gave me a free pattern. She said she would save whatever wool came into the shop for me. As Clare also crochets I will take her the info on KAS on my next visit with the hope that she may wish to join.
I thought it maybe useful to send a ball band from the wool attached to the garment. What do you think?
Bye for now, Barbara X
If I don't spot any small stuffed animals/toys shortly I'm going to go and buy some small socks and make stuffed animals out of them. I've got a lot of stuffing just sitting here and there's some incredibly simple patterns out there on how to make easy stuffed animals from socks. I can remember the one for the owl in my head and THAT is saying something, lol. ;)
xx