Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Knitting blankets for the needy

I volunteer with a group of ladies who knit blankets and give them to those in need. I do my part in the knitting, stitching together knitted squares, and delivering blankets to shelters, hospitals, and family services where they are distributed accordingly.
I started the group seven years ago. It was going well, but not well enough in my opinion, so I asked a respected member of the community to help out. She took leadership and boy, oh boy, did she ever do a bang up job. Today we have more knitters than we can count because the group has spread into the community. Volunteers at local hospitals have joined us, sending their knitted squares to my Aunt who organized a group in her apartment building. She gives me a bag of enough knitted squares for two or three blankets! We don't even know anymore who is doing the knitting, the process has gone out of our hands.
Note the squares...once the knitted squares are gathered at our monthly meeting, we choose a theme and stitch the squares together. It is time consuming as everyone has an opinion on what color goes with what theme, but it is fun. This blanket was stitched together but only in portions. We had to do some fancy foot work to get a reasonable theme. Given the effort, it turned out OK. We had just enough squares in this color theme to pull it off and then we notice we were shy two squares and tried to match with the pink. It is a challenge. It takes 36 squares to make a blanket.This blanket was made by one person who chose to change the pattern. It satisfies the specifications, however...36" by 36"...or there abouts.

We plan to deliver twenty blankets tomorrow, but I will not be going. I will be busy bringing mom home from the hospital (after an 8 day stay) and settling her in for a cozy weekend at home. Yea!

12 comments:

Paula said...

Good luck to your Mom. That is such a worthwhile cause you are involved in. Good for you Karen.

Alice said...

Karen, I hope you realize what a service to others this is. Many blessings to you and your family, especially your mom now :)........

*Tracy* said...

love the purple one! i really wish i could knit i have all the time in the world during the day! what a wonderful thing you do. glad your moms coming home. hugs

Jeanne said...

This is SOOOO cool!!! I wish I could knit (I do crochet though!) cause I would love to help out. I always wanted to get involved in a group that makes blankets to send to our soldiers overseas. Do you know anything about that??

((hugs))
Jeanne

Missie said...

I love those blankets and I'm sure the ones who receive the blankets love them too!

Jan said...

These are delightful well done to you all ,and what a fun way to get together ,love to Mum ...love Jan xx

Beth said...

That's great, Karen. It's amazing what people can do when they put their minds to it!

Hope all goes well with your Mom's return home. I bet she'll be happy to get home!

Hugs, Beth

Anonymous said...

what a wonderful idea and plan..and the blankets look so warm...just know they will be appreciated...hope Mom does well after her hospital stay...Merry Christmas...God Bless...hugs..Ora in KY

Lucy said...

How great that your mom is getting out of the hospital. I hope she does well. I love the blankets. I can barely sew a button on. Lucy

Lucy said...

Bunches of good wishes for your mom, and a great service with the blankets. Lucy

Kelly said...

The blankets are beautiful. Your are a very talented lady. You do wonderful things Karen. Good to hear your mom is coming home, I know that will be nice. :) Hugs, Kelly

krissy knox said...

Wow! This is something I have always wanted to do, make blankets for those in need. You are one special individual. I am not good at knitting but I could sew. My sister Valerie and I want to do something like this someday. Perhaps you will let me know how to run the organizational part of it.

Oh, and for heaven's sakes, I want a purple one! how much do you charge, LOL? oh, i guess i can't get one from you, that would take time away from you making one for someone who really needed it, LOL. thought i'd try, and ask, anyway. 'caue i'm feeling kind of needy today, LOL. and just want a blankie!...

krissy knox :)
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