5 new red crocheted scarves

No time to write up patterns.  But here are photos of the 5 scarves I'm sending today to the organization Foster Care to Success - formerly the Orphans Foundation.

Foster Care to Success acts as the college fund for young people who are coming out of foster care.  Scarves are accepted from September 1 through December 15 each year and then sent as part of a Valentine’s Day “care package” to college students who were in foster care.  So I'm going to just barely make the 2011 deadline. 


The only requirement is that scarves be made in some shade of red (contrasting colors are allowed) and be made in a “collegiate unisex” style.  For more information - so you can get going for 2012 - go to: www.tinyurl.com/redscarfproj

If you would like one of these patterns - PLEASE WRITE A COMMENT SAYING SO.  I will be checking the comments.  Sometimes it's easier for me to write up a pattern knowing that someone has already expressed interest.  No commitment to actually make the pattern is required.  :-)  Like all crafters, I have a zillion patterns I'm going to make "some day."

The first three scarves pictured - the "tweedy" ones - are made with Lion Brand Tweed Stripes (Mixed Berry).  It was wonderful to take simple patterns and have the yarn do all the work.  The last two are made with Simply Soft (Autumn Red, with a little bit of white).

It's been SO LONG....but here are 3 dishcloth patterns

Okay...so I been a far-from-dedicated blogger - even though I retired in early 2010.  Where has the time gone?  I often quote the father of a friend, who said of his happy retirement years, "I wake up with nothing to do, and by the time I go to bed, I've got it half done."  Well...at least I've been somewhat active on Facebook since I last blogged.

Anyway...I'm going to try to post more often, but no promises.  I do have three new dishcloth patterns to share.  A few of the many dishclothes I make for family and friends, for the holidays and throughout the year.

If you've never tried hand-knit or crocheted dishcloths made with 100% cotton yarn, I heartily recommend them.  They are both absorbent and great scrubbers - and cheap and fast to make. When I first started making them, some recipients would say, "Oh, it's too pretty; I don't want to get it dirty."  Then they used them and they quickly got over that objection.  They are meant to be used. After all, it's only in our modern, affluent world where we divide beauty and utility.  Our ancestors didn't distinguish between the two - they couldn't afford to.  Think of all those gorgeous old quilts - true works of art. But the women who created them would have scoffed at the sugggestion that they be hung up for decoration only.



Here are the patterns:


Knit ripple - no holes
Pattern (PDF format) - here.

Crochet - single crochet mesh made in rounds

Pattern (PDF format) here.  I call this a single crochet mesh because you make each single crochet in a chain 1 space from the previous round, thus creating a fabric that's a kind of mesh.  (Original, huh?)  As mentioned in the pattern, this is a terrific way to use up small bits of leftover yarn.

Crochet - circle becomes square

Pattern (PDF format) here.   You can make the initial circle in a variety of sizes - the pattern explains how.  You can then make a square as big as you like.  (I.e., you can have a little circle inside a big square.)