Charity in Focus: Crochet a Rainbow

It has been well over a year since I have participated in a crochet or knitting charity. This had been nagging at me periodically off and on, but I always seemed to push the feeling aside or get busy with other things.

I managed to keep puttering away with things...then the terrible flooding in Australia was all over the news (and then they were hit with a cyclone on top of everything else!) I felt very badly for the people suffering there as I always do during a tragic event. With this particular event, however, I was also personally worried because my favorite crochet designer/ blogger (Sarah London) lives in Australia; I hoped that she and her family/ friends were not affected.

Fortunately Sarah London was not affected in the way that I had feared. However, she was affected in a charitable way that will hopefully bring a little hope and comfort to the people who are suffering.

Sarah started a crochet group called Crochet a Rainbow. Crocheters can make brightly colored granny squares which she will then sew together to make blankets for the people who are experiencing this tragedy.

I've always admired Sarah's modern crochet designs and brilliant color combinations; looking at her work can't help but brighten your mood. I hope the blankets provide that same feeling to these poor people.

I had never made a granny square like this, which is a traditional square (I have a crochet book that calls it an "Old American Square"). This is also another great way to use up stash yarn. I've made 6 so far and plan to make some more. Then off to Australia they go!

Charity in Focus: Completed Helmet Liner

Here is the completed liner. It's basically like a ski mask. Or a sand mask.

It's now ready to be shipped. I hope the soldier wearing it remains safe and returns to his/ her family quickly.

Charity in Focus: Helmet Liner Project

There are a number of reasons to love knitting/ crochet: the therapeautic aspect to it, its practicality, or the simple aesthetic quality. (Let's not forget the lbs it can help you lose either! )But one more reason I love it is because of the charitable opportunities it provides. I can't really think of another craft that lends itself so completely to giving to others. Most knitters/ crocheters are constantly "toiling" away on items that are going to be given away as gifts. And many consistently work on items for different charities. I'd like to spotlight these organizations on this blog and contribute to them as well. If you know someone who might be interested in helping, please pass this information on to them.

The first Charity in Focus project was brought to my attention by my sister whose husband served a year recently in Afghanistan. When my brother-in-law was called to duty I was surprised to learn that he had to purchase his own body armor. I naively assumed that everything a soldier needed was just military-issued. This plea for help is for helmet liners for the soldiers, which cost considerably less than body armor, but do require some hours to make.

I was definitely struck by the fact that only 100% wool can be used because the "Armed Forces are not allowed to wear synthetic fibers outside the wire. Wool is inherently nonflammable and won’t melt against the skin in the event of an accident and is warm even when wet. " This really made me think about the person who will be wearing my helmet liner and the difficulties/ danger he/she may encounter. Lately my crochet stitches have started feeling more like prayer beads and my pattern has begun to look like this:

Round 12: (sc in next 10 sts, 2 Our Fathers, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Prayer to St. Michael for protection, 2 scs in  next st) 6 times (72 stiches, 12 Our Fathers, 6 Hail Marys, 6 prayers to St. Michael)

I'm almost finished crocheting mine and will be mailing it off shortly. For complete crochet and knitting instructions Read More after the jump...