Red Nose Day Dolls

I don't know if you've seen anything about this project on the internet, but it's a worthwhile cause so I thought I'd help to spread the word.

images courtesy of Silver Pebble

Each doll will be auctioned separately with his or her respective trousseau on Ebay, beginning next Thursday, 7th March and ending on the evening of Sunday 17th March.  All the money raised will go to Comic Relief.

images courtesy of Silver Pebble

You can go here to see the Facebook page for the dolls and visit Silver Pebble's blog post to read all about it.

3 down, millions to go

Good morning ladies.  I had yesterday afternoon off work to go to the hospital to see a consultant neurologist.  I've been asking the doctor for a referal to the migraine clinic for years and finally got one.  Sort of.  This "doctor" has advised me to stop taking painkillers.  Now, I know that painkillers can cause headaches so try not to take them where I can.  That doesn't include migraines.  If you've ever had a migraine, I'm pretty sure your mouth will be hanging open in shock at this suggestion.  If you haven't, forget headaches, migraines are on a completely different spectrum.  Needless to say, I will not be taking his advise.  My actual response to this suggestion was "and have you ever had a migraine yourself"?  He had the decency to look sheepish.

Anyway, you're not here to hear about my broken head, you're hear to see if I've messed up any projects recently (hi Duff!), sorry to disappoint.  I have, however, made more progress on my Wipocalypse Challenge.

WIP #17 - I first posted about wiggly bags in August,  so this is a 5-month WIP.  Wiggly bags are for children in hospital to wear to put their Hickman line in.  I don't know much more than that, but they are needed and I was happy to oblige.

When I first started making these bags, I cut out a load of fabric and was determined to use it all.  This final 4 (above) will, hopefully, be suitable for boys.  I've now finished all the 6" squares I cut.

I made 18 wiggly bags in total, these were asked for back in July by Emily of Strawberry Patch.  She'll get a surprise when I get these posted!

WIP #16 - These napkins first made an appearance in October, so only 3 months for this one!

Having said that, they only needed re-hemming and it took me all of about 10 minutes!

When I made them originally, the first two had terrible corners, the second two had successful corners.  Thinking I'd learnt how to do them properly, I unsewed the first two and put them in a pile for months on end.  When I came back to it, I couldn't remember what I'd done to make the second set so nice, so these look pretty much how they did before I unsewed them!

But never mind, at least it's another WIP crossed off.  So, that's the bathroom curtain, the napkins and the wiggly bags.  I've also finished an embroidered piece which I'll show you at or after the weekend when I'll next see daylight, and I'm pretty close to finishing another project!  4 out of 64 in the first 7 days...

I do hope this momentum lasts.

Wiggly bags

Hiya ladies, I hope you all had a lovely weekend?  Mine was quite nice, though it went so fast.   I didn't get much sewing done as I wasn't feeling great on Saturday, I think I'm run down as I just wanted to sleep.  I did have a small nap on the sofa which is most unlike me, it's hard to sleep whilst crocheting! 

On Saturday I made some wiggly bags for the Olivia Holmes Foundation.  I read a request on the Brit Quilt Flickr group by the lovely lady at Strawberry Patch asking if anyone could help out making a wiggly bag for kids in hospital.  I'm not entirely sure what goes in them, but I think it's their bag of medicine.  Anyway, if it helps sick children, even just a tiny weeny bit, then I'm in.  I have loads of novelty fabrics which I think will work well for younger children. 

If you think you can make some of these, you can find the pattern here and just leave a comment on the post.  You'll get an email with the address to send them to. They really are quick and easy.

I made one to test out the pattern, not that it needed testing, I mean to make sure I understood it correctly.  I did.  This is quite small, I started off with 6" squares and after the french seams it ended up just under 5".

Yep, that's right, french seams!  I had no idea what they were before I started this project so I've learnt something too!  There's a piece of velcro on the inside to hold the bag closed.

I cut out loads of 6" squares, but didn't have enough ribbon to match the bags, I need to go and buy some more, oh how terrible for me!

It was nice to finally use some of these fabrics up.  They started life as fat quarters and I've been using small bits for loads of projects, most of them are now gone or there are just a few scraps left.

I'm hoping to get time next weekend to sew some more up.  I've got some cut out that I think will suit older boys who I bet are the hardest to sew these for.  If you think you can donate some small scraps of fabric, a length of ribbon and 15 minutes of your time, I urge you to join in and make some!  I'm pretty sure these are required in hospitals in other countries too (this project is UK based of course), try googling it if you'd like to help locally.

Don't forget to enter my Something Old, Something New competition.  The deadline is 31st July and there is a prize!

Just a little hookin'

Good morning ladies.  I hope you're all well.  I think I mentioned that I'd had a blood test to find out if I had food intolerances which were contributing to my migraines and my eczema.  Well, it turns out I do, and they're also making me bloated and feel ill a lot of the time, something I'm so used to, I don't even think about.  I am intolerant to yeast.  Well OK, you might think, so no bread and no beer.  Oh no, it goes MUCH further than that, the list of things that contain yeast is massive and I've still got to talk to the consultant, this is just what I've gleaned from the internet: - bread, cheese, marmite, oxo cubes, soy sauce, bacon, ripe fruit, grapes, plums, wine, beer, most spirits, chocolate, cakes, biscuits - that little list (except the alcohol) is the mainstay of my diet!  Some serious life changes coming up.

Anyway, enough whinging, want to see what I've made?  Back in April I made some baby bear hats, if you want to see, and for a link to the pattern, go here.  My brother's closest friend had his first baby last week - technically his girlfriend had the baby, but you know what I mean.  As he's been around my whole life, I wanted to make something for his little baby son and what better than a panda bear hat?

I'm hoping to get a linen bunny finished this weekend to add to the parcel for baby Sam.  I've also called a stop to the Big Knit crocheting so I can get the parcel in the post.  I managed a total of 39 in the end (I thought it was 40 when I stopped, but then counted them.  Here are the last few:

I had a little tidy up of my beside-sofa stash last night and found loads of WIPs I'd forgotten about:

- a needlepoint bookmark that just needs backing

- my sampler square blanket

- charity 4" crochet squares

- the shopping bag (which I've frogged as I think I'd gone serious wrong)

- my hardanger heart which just needs finishing (how did I forget that, it was only the other week!)

- my teacup and flower embroidery

Add to that my other WIPs

- my Rennie Mackintosh cross stitch

- my giant granny blanket

- my second hardanger attempt

- 4 linen bunnies

- more tissue covers

- Christmas decorations

- my chair cushions

- the pinwheel table topper

- the alphabet chart

I'd better get busy this weekend!  I know it's good to have WIPs so you've got variety and all that, but this many is stressing me out!

Before I go, a link you might be interested in.  I know a lot of you love Mary Englebright and loved her Home Companion.  I never saw it, but I have one of her books and by the sounds of it, I'd like it a lot.  They're thinking of bringing it out again, but they need your vote/comment to see if it's worthwhile.  Go here and say YES!

Not my usual chirpy post - with hats

I don't usually write about personal stuff on my blog, and I'm not convinced that I'm going to start now, but I half think it might make me feel better.  I don't have much to show you, but I have got one or two photos which I thought I'd intersperse between my tale of woe! 

This is my progress so far on Mackintosh.  The magazine says it has a total stitching time of 12 hours.  12 hours my arse!  Maybe with a team of super-fast stitchers!  I've still got a long way to go and I've put in more than 12 hours already.

So, that tale of woe.  Well there isn't really one.  Nothing has happened, there's nothing wrong.  I'm just... down.  Blue.  Call it what you will.  I was fine on Friday but when I woke up on Saturday the world wasn't right.  For no reason.

The thing is, and I wasn't going to tell you this.  I struggled with myself about it but in the end I realised that it's not a secret with my "real life" friends, so why should it be a secret with my online friends who I may not have met, but I count some of you as real friends.  Also, there's a lot of stigma attached and a certain amount of shame, yet this is the 21st century, it's time we faced up to it.

So that thing.  7 years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression.  Not because of some terrible event in my life - I've been very lucky, but because of a chemical imbalance in my brain. For years it was terrible.  I was on meds but they didn't do the trick.  Then last year I changed my meds to see if it would help with the migraines.  It didn't make a blind bit of difference to that, but it did help with the dreaded D word. 

 So most of the time I'm OK.  Happy even.  But sometimes, times like yesterday, I just want to crawl under a rock and die.  For no bloody reason.  I'm not ill, nor are my loved ones.  I have a wonderful family, gorgeous husband, my own house and car (even if it is a clapped out Focus, I love it), 4 lovely bunnies, a good job and tons of friends.  I have my crafting.  So now I feel guilty.  There are so many people out there suffering, really suffering, yet I feel like this.  For no bloody reason.

 Yesterday was a bad day.  I did nothing.  I didn't sew despite having a sewing list as long as my arm, which isn't very long as I'm a short-arse.  So as long as a normal person's arm.  And then I felt guilty about not sewing.  Today is a little better, though I still can't sew and I'm paralysed with a stupid fear I may never sew again. 

But I have been crocheting hats for the Big Knit.  30 so far, which might sound great, but it's only £7.50 for Age Concern UK.  Deadline is 14th October so I'm hoping I can add to this little gathering of tiny pom-pom hats. 

Thanks for reading.  Normal service will be resumed in my next post.

The post without a title

I've just looked at the photos I finally remembered to upload to photobucket last night and I realise I don' t have much to post about at all!  I'm going to have to go on a mad crafting mission this weekend so I have something to post next week.  In the meantime, I think I can just about scrape a post or two together!

So, it's going to be random bits and bobs today.  I thought I'd share some photos of what I'm working on, any maybe a little story or two.  Not a bedtime story, more of a factual story.  That doesn't make sense, does it?  OK, I'm going to tell you what happened to my poor Colin this morning and I might think of some other crap to share along the way, if you're very, very lucky.

I've been seeing a lot of embroideries in hoops around and I wanted to get in on the action.  I really wanted to stitch some flowers in a teacup but couldn't find a pattern, so I had to attempt to draw the cup and I'm making the flowers up as I go along.  I'm hoping it looks weird as I haven't done any embroidery on the cup and saucer to give them depth yet and the flowers don't have stalks or leaves yet either.  But probably it looks weird as I'm crap at embroidery.

The two flowers on the right are done in satin stitch.  I can't think of a single other filling stitch.  I've had my embroidery books out and there's nothing that would be suitable.  I mean, there are probably plenty of stitches that would be suitable, but I'm not seeing them.  I don't think I'm destined to become a master embroideress.

I can cross stitch though.  I found a gorgeous Rennie Mackintosh pattern in an old cross stitch magazine and knew I'd make my mum a pair of cushions.  There are actually two patterns - one to stitch on black Aida and one on white.  These are the colours of thread I'm using:

Yum.  They actually look better in real life, more jewel like.  I've told myself before about taking pictures at night, but do I listen?  No, I don't.

Of course, having taken the picture in the evening, the colours are a bit washed out, they are actually really beautiful and I'm enjoying stitching this. Only about 48 hours worth of stitching to go if the stitching time stated in the magazine is anywhere near accurate!! 

I've been crocheting too.  I'm up to round 31 on the giant granny but completely failed to take a photo.  And I'm up to 10 Big Knit hats.  These are so quick to crochet.  I found a pattern on Ravelry, there's a Big Knit Ravelry Group which I've joined.  It has loads of free knitting patterns linked up and some fab crochet patterns.  No excuse knitting/crocheting UK ladies!

I'm using up odds and sods of yarn, but I had to arrange them in a rainbow formation of course!  Ooh, I haven't told you about Colin yet, sorry, I've got a cracking headache (yet another one) and so I'm finding it hard to concentrate... I'd better hurry up though as I've only got 20 minutes of lunch hour left.

So, Colin.  You all know who Colin is don't you?

Nope, not my husband.  He's the beautiful little bunny about to enter the tunnel there.  Ellis, the white bunny, is his ladyfriend.

Anyway, I went out to feed my buns this morning and all I could see of Colin was his bum sticking out of his bed.  He was scrabbling around and scratching and kicking straw and generally acting very strange.  He's usually such a placid, gentle, wonderful little bunny.  He obviously heard me so came out of his bed.  He had loads of straw in his mouth.  I thought it was a bit odd as I've never seen him, or any of the bunnies, carry anything in their mouths, they usually favour kicking as a moving method.  He ran downstairs and sat next to Ellis, straw still in his mouth, looking very downcast.  I reached in and pulled the straw and it was caught behind his teeth.  The poor little mite!  I don't know how long he'd had that straw in his mouth - I'd fed them about 8:30 the night before and so he could have been like that all night.  I felt so terrible.  Minutes after being freed from the straw he was scoffing his breakfast, so I don't think it caused any lasting trauma to him.

Speaking of cross stitch, well we were talking about Colin weren't we, but we were talking about cross stitch a while ago.  Well I was.  Anyway, I don't hold much truck with cross stitch magazines.  I'd bought a big bundle from a charity shop last year and although they had some nice motifs in them, they were pretty fuddy duddy.  I was in Melton Mowbray the other weekend and spotted the latest four issues of Cross Stitcher for just a pound each.  I picked them up and spent the weekend devouring them.  Wow, what a change!  The magazine has had a complete overhaul and is fresh and young and full of motifs I want to stitch.  All four magazines have post-its hanging out of them and I'm going to subscribe.  Just what I need, another magazine subscription! 

On that subject, what did you all think of last issue's Mollie Makes?  I think it's going downhill, already.  I'm hoping it was just a bad issue, but it was basically "how to make little things out of felt".  Hmmm, not impressed.

Right, that's it, I have to stop prattling now.  I'll leave you lovely ladies alone and go and hassle my colleague to make me a cup of coffee, just because I think it's a man's job!

Back to the craft!

Thanks for bearing with me whilst I had a couple of non-crafty posts.  Things seem to have calmed down a little now, though we're waiting to see if they flare up again before the bunnies come home.  They're having a fine old time on holiday anyway, being spoilt rotten!  Mum and dad are both retired and whenever the bunnies are with them (when we go away) they seem to spend most of their time outside, talking to the bunnies.  As insomniacs, one of them can often be found in the garden in the middle of the night holding a conversation with their "grandchildren". 

So do you want to see some crafty stuff?  I made a little sewing caddy for my mother-in-law's birthday which is coming up this Saturday.

I used this tutorial on You Sew Girl. It's a good tutorial, but you definitely need a walking foot to attempt it - the last step involves sewing up 12 layers of fabric and it is not easy.  I made so many mistakes when making this.  I wanted to use this lovely sewing themed linen but only had a fat quarter.  I cut the pattern out the wrong way round as it was one of those "place on the fold" patterns and my caddy would have been very tall and thin.  I had enough fabric to start again so I managed to cut it out upside down!  I went back to the first, mis-cut piece and added a bit of the lining fabric as tabs on the edge and I think it works.  You can see on the photo above how hard it was to sew that bottom seam.

Inside is a square of felt for needles - a little flat since I ironed it - and a strip of elastic which I've sewn dividers in to hold her sewing bits and pieces in place.

Here's a picture with some pins and my scissors inside.  I bought her a pair of scissors, a pack of needles, an air-erasable pen and 3 skeins of cotton-a-broder to go in it.  She's not actually a crafter, but she has it in her.  She used to crochet and knit, I've seen her reverse knit her granddaughter's knitting project and I've never seen such speed!, and she did do some embroidery on the cushions on her sofa, so I thought I'd try to encourage her.  I've also bought her an embroidery hoop and a lovely, lovely book that I want to keep for myself to go with it.  It's this book:

And here's the sewing caddy folded up and tied.

She has got a couple more presents, I'll show them in another post as I've got a busy weekend with the mother-in-law's birthday and my brother coming down for the weekend, so I doubt I'll get any crafting done this weekend.  I'll leave you with a picture of my Big Knit crocheted hats so far.

Edited to add:  Ooh!  I've just remembered where I put the tassels!  I'd gone for a wee, must have spurred it on somehow!  Now I can't wait to get home and make sure I'm right...

What's been on the hook?

Hardly an evening goes by when I'm not sitting on the sofa with Mr CA, hooking away, me, not him. I've generally got several crochet WIPs on the go and I like it like that as I can swap and change as I feel like it.  One of my ongoing projects this year will be 4" granny squares.  I also intend to knit some 4" squares.  Cath at Stitchin' Chicken has posted an appeal to help Stitch for Pleasure , Stitch for Charity to collect 4" squares that they can then sew up into clothing or blankets... oh, it doesn't say who for, I assume the homeless.  But anyway, it's a worthy cause, if someone needs to keep warm, who am I to turn down the chance to crochet up a load of grannies and even practice my knitting.

The deadline isn't until the 27th December, so please, if you can knit or crochet, pop over to Cath's post and get the full details.  A 4" square takes no time to whip up and it's a great way of practicing new stitches and using up yarn scraps, and doing your bit of course.  Above are my first two squares, taken from 200 Crochet Blocks.

I'm also joining in the Giant Granny Challenge with Angie from Le Monde de Sucrette.  Basically, you crochet a granny.  A giant one.  For no reason!  Here's my granny so far:

There's 20 rounds there so far, all in 5 different colours of a wool/silk/alpaca mix yarn that was on sale at £1.50 a ball.  Who could say no. I did these rounds quite quickly, but have stalled this week as I've been so busy.

So, does she ever finish anything?  I can hear you asking yourselves/the dog/the computer.  Oh yes!  I finished this little baby!

So now you're saying "what the bloody hell is it?!", well maybe if you're English.   I'm not sure that Welsh/Scottish/Irish/Canadian/American/Australian/New Zealandish (what is the adjective for New Zealand??)/German/Polish etc, etc, etc, people say bloody hell.  Do you?  And what about other English people?  Is it just me and my dad?  Am I tarring you all with the same brush?  I did think goobies was a real word until I hit about 26 and discovered my dad and Aunty Gwen had made it up years ago.  I think I've digressed a little...

It's a seat belt cosy!  No, I'm not nuts.  I'm very short.  I'm only 5 foot 1 and drive an old car so it doesn't have fancy adjustable seat belts.  I've endured the last 3 years of being able to drive, and more as a passenger, with the seatbelt digging into my neck.  A collar helps, I can tuck it under there, but I don't always have a collar.  When I found this tutorial on Martha Winger's blog I knew I had to make it.

Here it is all buttoned up, but not around the seat belt, I'm not crazy enough to take pictures of my seat belt cosy in-situ!  I used some supersoft Sublime Merino yarn in my favourite colour and finshed it off with a border in white sparkly yarn from my Round the Corner crochet borders book.  This is, quite frankly, one of the best things to have happened to me this year!  Mr CA of course is mortified about it and I often find it shoved in the back of the glove box when he's been driving, but he's 6 foot 2 so what does he know about seatbelt-digging-in-the-neck pain??

hats, knickers and squares

I managed to sew up some more of my underwear hearts last night, and I remembered to take a photo of the backs:

The backs don't match the fronts as I'm using a load of 5" squares I bought which I just loved but didn't know what to do with and there is only one of each pattern in each colourway.

I also finished crocheting another granny square last night.  When I'd finished it and woven in the ends, I realised I'd missed a set of trebles on the very first corner.  I had to unpick the whole round, but then I thought I'd have a go at joining the squares to avoid having to join them later (especially as I have no idea how to join them later!!), so I redid the round and attached it to another one I'd made:

 And here's another one I made earlier!

I found the tutorial for attaching them together on Flickr via someone's blog and I can't remember who it was that pointed me in that direction.  If it was you, thanks!!

Speaking of thanks, 14 followers!  Where did you all come from?  I turned round and there you are...  If I haven't already, I'll be over to check out your blogs later on.

I've been beavering away on my Big Knit hats, and even made some pompoms.  I would have liked to have made more, but with the deadline approaching, I don't think I'll have time.  Here they all are:

I really enjoyed knitting these little fellas and have loads of wool oddments left, so I'm hoping they run the scheme again next year and that I find out sooner!

And finally this week, I've finished sorting out my threads!  I needed 3 boxes in the end.  As you can see, one of them has lots of space left.  It's a good job as I just bought a load of threads to complete the Cross Stitch design I've chosen for my Craft Book Challenge!!  Notice I never did anything with the little bits of floss that didn't match a skein, I just shoved them in one of the compartments!

Lots to get done this week, and I accidentally bought another 3 books to fill me with plans and inspiration.  My task list at the moment looks like this:
 - Cut out and sew patchwork pig from patchwork I made
 - Make cushion to go with stitched angel friends
 - Cut out material for a bag, then cross stitch for my challenge
 - Make a few birthday cards
 - Finish embroidering and sewing my hearts
 - Make the bag from Sew!
 - Get started on Christmas cards
 - Carry on with the alphabet chart I've all but abandonned
 - Practice my crochet, something other than granny squares!
 - Try out the new lace knitting patterns in the book I bought - get started on the squares for a blanket
 - Work on my weekly SAL embroidery
 - Make a list of Christmas presents needed!
 - Start working on Sharon B's TAST 2010, several months late, but very excited to join in.

That should keep me busy for a while!

Crafting for Charity

I've been blogging about my involvement in The Big Knit, knitting mini hats to go on Innocent Smoothie bottles - when they are sold, the company donates 25p to Age Concern.  The closing date is 15th October, with this in mind, I've been scouting around for other charities to get involved in crafting for.  Here are what I found (and I've included overseas charities too).  Please comment if you're going to get involved in one of these projects as I've got a little seed growing in my head about a blogland-wide charity push.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COPY AND PASTE THIS INFORMATION ON YOUR OWN BLOG (AND ADD TO IT IF YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER CHARITIES) - IN FACT, PLEASE DO!

First up is Loving Hands, a fantastic charity campaign run by Lou.  They are involved in a variety of charities (including some of these listed below) and take requests for charities.  They have a regularly updated wish list of items needed, and seasonal charities where there's a drive for particular items.  Sign up for this one and get knitting! (Knitting / crochet, UK)

Smile International  are looking for donations of knitted or crocheted garments, e.g. jumpers, hats, gloves, socks, scarves, baby clothes/shawls and blankets.  There are some free patterns to download to help with this. (Knitting / crochet, UK)

Cuddles is a charity which supports families dealing with the loss of their baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. They supply gowns, blankets and wraps to maternity units all over the UK.  They particularly need donations of blankets, gowns and wraps but are also grateful for donations of clothes.  There are some free patterns available along with guidelines of what to make. (Knitting / crochet / sewing, UK)

Bonnie Babies makes and sends tiny premature clothes, blankets and, sadly, burial outfits to special baby care units in the UK.  They set a quarterly challenge of items that are particularly needed.  Check out the website for more details.  (Knitting / crochet / sewing, UK)

Algerian Action provides help for children and babies living in poverty in Algeria.  The website has tons of information, Emily Waller runs the appeal and is looking for various items including children/baby clothes (either handmade or used), baby items, and squares to make blankets.  She's got patterns and loads of links.  Check out the "most wanted" page to find out how you can help most. (Knitting / crochet / sewing, International)

Stitches of Love and Kindness send quilts and cushions to children and adults with long term illnesses.  This charity is based in both the UK and the USA so most of you can help.   They are asking for cross stitched squares to be made up into quilts and cushions, help with finishing quilts, stitch cards to be sent with their gifts and donations of fabric, wadding and other supplies.  Patterns are available.  (Cross stitch / quilting / sewing, UK)

Teddies for Tragedies is a fantastic website which gives patterns and guidelines to knit or crochet teddies for children in many disaster areas or war zones around the world.  If you can't knit or crochet, you can sew a teddy bag.  Check out the website to find out where the teddies are needed as and when you finish them.  (Knitting / crochet / sewing, International)

 The Children's Society is asking people to get sponsered to knit little hearts.  The hearts can then be made into magnets or brooches and sold to raise more money.  A good one for the kids.  (Knitting, UK)

Knit a Square is a South African charity looking for knitted squares to make into blankets for orphans throughout Africa. (Knitting / crochet, International)

Knit on the Net is selling a hand knitted poppy pattern for £2.  All proceeds go to The Poppy Appeal and you can wear your knitted poppy with pride.  (Knitting, UK)

The Wrap Up a Kiddie for Winter Appeal is asking for donations of fabric, wool, etc, or you can make cushions or quilts, scarves, hats, cardigans, mittens or stitched pictures.  (Sewing / knitting / crochet / embroidery / cross stitch, International)

Angel Bear aims to send a teddy to every single child in need throughout the world.  Help them out by knitting a bear.  Full patterns on the website, including a crochet version. (Knitting / crochet, International)

The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon are looking for volunteers to knit donkeys that they can sell in their gift shop.  (Knitting, UK)

Knitting for Charity is a website listing various charities which require knitted items in the USA and Canada - have a look and follow the links to see which charities you'd like to get involved with.  (Knitting, USA, Canada)

Binky Patrol gives blanket to children in need and homeless children.  There's plenty of information on the website and you can sew the blankets if you're not a knitter.  (Knitting / sewing / crochet, USA)

Blankets 4 Canada takes donations of knitted, crocheted and quilted blankets for homeless Canadians.  (Knitting / crocheting / sewing / quilting, Canada)

Soldier's Angels organises the Blanket For Hope campaign, asking you to make blankets for injured servicemen and women.  (Sewing, USA)

Chemo Caps distributes knitted caps to cancer sufferers.  This one is a very local campaign as they ask you to donate the caps to your local cancer ward - more information and patterns available on the website.  (Knitting, USA, International)

Cubs for Kids provides teddy bears which generous volunteers then make hats, scarves and jumpers for.  The knitting effort goes on throughout the year and in December the bears are dressed and given to homeless children for Christmas.  (Knitting, USA)

Lion Brand Yarn has a database of charities which need items which you can search.  They also provide patterns.  (Knitting / crochet, International)

I know that the majority of these projects are knitting, but that's what I was searching for.  I'd love it if you added to this list and posted it on your own blog.  If I found there was enough interest, I could set up a Crafting for Charity blog to keep everyone updated.

I can crochet!

Well, sort of!  I went to a crochet class with my mum on Sunday at Yarn which is a fab little wool shop in Beeston, Nottingham.  Neither of us had ever crocheted before, only a couple of the other 8 ladies there had, so it was a real beginners class.  We started with a chain, then moved on to double crochet.  I really struggled with that and need to practice.  Then on to trebles, I like them!  Here's my practice "square":

Rubbish, eh?  It's all wonky and wobbly!  We then moved onto making Afghan squares or Granny squares.  This worked out a lot better:

Much better!  I was quite pleased with this and it only took me about 3 hours!!  We've signed up for the next course they run - improvers, so I have to get my double crochet stitch up to speed and practice my trebles a bit more.  I was so enthusiastic about it when I got home, I made a full Granny square towards the blanket I'm going to make:

It only took me 3 hours, so a big improvement!  I just have to make sure I don't get hooked on making these and neglect practicing double crochet.

Apart from our materials, the teaching, a fantastic lunch, hundreds of mugs of coffee, biscuits and cake, we were also given a 10% discount on yarn on the day.  I managed to buy a bag full.  I bought 8 balls of different shades of blue for the blanket I indend to knit using squares, each a different pattern.  The shop also stocks some gorgeous Amy Butler fabric and I just had to treat myself!  The shop owner had made up some knitting bags, one small, one large, from the fabric and you got the pattern free if you bought the material.  Well how could I resist... I have to make one for mum and one for me.  Here's the material, watch this space for the bags!:

I also managed to find time to knit a few more hats for the Big Knit.  Arghh, closing date 15th October, running out of time...  I had some lovely chenille yarn that I'd bought on sale, I decided to make a hat out of it.  It didn't quite work out - see how big it is compared to the others!

Oh dear.  I'm hoping I can felt it in the washing machine to make it the right size, but the yarn didn't have a label (hence it being on sale) and so I don't know if it's Superwash.  Fingers crossed.

I finally got down to some of my crewel embroidery in time to post for the 2010 Stitch Along (not that I have posted yet as I can't figure out how!!).  I didn't get much done as it's so hard!  I end up unpicking most rows and starting again.  Not looking very neat:

So, a lot to do this week.  I want to make some more hats, practice my double crochet, make another Granny square or two, I also need to whip up some Christmas presents for Cathy's Christmas Countdown which I have to post about on Friday, arghh!  Why can't I get my arse into gear??  It means that I will be starting on my Craft Book Challenge tonight - I'll post pictures of the books I chose tomorrow and hopefully get started.  I do want to make a couple of hanging scented hearts for some people, so that might be a way to get me started.  There's also the cushion I'm making that needs turning into a cushion, not sure if I've got the confidence to try that one yet.