Attention Quilters

I just received a nice donation of some material so if you want to look through it for material for a Project Linus blanket contact me!

Super Simple Charity blankie

This is a Free pattern from Crochet Today! Magazine.  I love this magazine.  If you click the link and register at their website there are some free patterns you can print.  You can also preview others.  I just made the Super Simple Charity Blankie which is a free printable pattern just for Project Linus!  There is a link on the right side of this page. 

I made a few changes to mine since I always have to add my own touch. 

• I used a larger hook  (size P, 11.50 mm). 
• I added 20 stitches and made it longer.  Make sure you count your stitches because with this chunky, fuzzy yarn it is easy to accidentally lose or gain a stitch.  After you chain 3 and turn you don’t stitch in the closest pace or you will increase one with each row.  The chain 3 is considered the double crochet for that space. 
• I added a very simple border around the top and bottom edges to give in a nice finished edge.  I ended with my top stripe different from my bottom stripe so I used my scrap yarn to make the trim edge in the same color as the stripe.  I didn’t go all the way around with the trim because I didn’t want to box in my stripes.  My trim is just a slip, single, double-chain 2-double in same stitch, single, slip repeat.

My Baby clouds blankie

This is a great pattern to play around with so have some fun!  I used sky blue and seaspray and there are some other cute colors available in Baby clouds!  It would also make a really cute granny square blanket!  Experiment and make your own creation!

~Donna

Journey Christian Church

Journey Christian Church has a group that meets every 2nd Saturday to make blankets for Project Linus.  The last meeting was the 10th of this month and we had a great time.  One lady had heard of a fantastic idea for making a tied fleece quilt.  We tried one and it was a great project to get everyone’s hands involved.  You just cut your “quilt squares” out of fleece leaving room for your fringe all the way around.  You determine how big your would like your quilt squares to be and how long you would like your fringe.  3 inches is usaully a good length for fringe.  Shorter is too hard to tie and too long and it can look messy.  You also need to think about how far apart you want to put your fringe pieces.  I usually go with 1 inch.  So if you want to make your squares 7 inches square with 3 inch fringe then cut 13 inch squares (counting for 3 inches on both sides for fringe).  Cut a 3′ square out of each corner (the size of the corner you cut out should match the lengh of fringe you cut.  If you use 4 inch fringe then cut 4 inch squares out of the corners) of each quilt square and then cut fringe all the way around the square.  Depending on what you’re cutting with you can usually cut multiple squares at a time.  Then if you remember your squares will be 7 inches after tied you’ll need to figure out how many you need to make the size blanket you need.  7 x 6 is 42 and that would make a nice size blanket for a small child.  You can make it square or rectangular just like any quilt.  Lay out your squares until you have a pleasing arrangement and then start tying.  Take a fringe piece from one square and tie to the coordinating fringe on the piece next to it.  Be careful to not get your fringe pieces misaligned because it will look like a mis-buttoned sweater and the fringe can be difficult to untie.  I did find that a crochet hook helps to untie them though.  After your have your “quilt top” finished then you just need a piece of fleece for your backing.  Lay your quilt top out and smooth out the fringe and measure the entire piece counting the fringe.  Usually just doing the math here doesn’t work because with the tying it might not come out accurate.  Cut a  piece of fleece to your measurements and cut the corners out just like your did with the squares.  Cut the fringe to match the fringe from your top.  The top and bottom fringe need to line up.  After you cut the fringe all the way around you just line up the top with the backing and tie one from the top to one from the bottom all the way around until you are finished.  Don’t tie too tightly or you will get a pucker look and your blanket will not lay flat.  This is really fun to do in a group!

Our group ended up with 9 blankets for Project Linus!  Not only are we doing something great for Fairbanks area children that need a little extra TLC but we also had a great time as well.

Easy Crochet Blanket

I just finished making the “Corner-to-Corner Throw” which is a free pattern by Coats and Clark.  The link is on the right side bar.   I found this was a very easy pattern to whip up.   It’s as easy as a granny square blanket without the many holes.  You make little blocks adding one more to each row until you get it the size you want.  I think I went to 152 blocks and started decreasing (which just involves a few slip stitches and not adding anymore boxes).  After you finish the main portion of the blanket you just go around the edges with a simple shell like pattern.  If anyone is interested in learning this pattern I’d be happy to show you in person.  Just contact me and we can set up a time.  Look below to see a picture of my blanket.

Donna's Corner-to-Corner Throw

So far so good

Project Linus Fairbanks is off to a great start.  We donated 11 blankets to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital in the first month.  10 went to the Emergency room and 1 went to a teenaged girl on Peds who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. 

In August we donated 16 blankets to Pediatrics at FMH!  I hope we can keep going strong! 

I am so grateful to Michelle Hoyt with the Mat-Su Valley area for getting me started.  She sent me 14 blankets and other information I needed to get going.  Now hopefully we can keep a steady flow of blankets coming in because there is such a tremendous need here in Fairbanks.  If you are from the Anchorage/Mat-Su Valley area be sure to look up Michelle.  I’ve added her link to the right hand side of this page.

Journey Christian Church

Journey Women’s group got together this Saturday and worked on blankets for Project Linus.  After piecing together quilts, finishing crocheted blankets, and sewing tags on several other blankets that were donated we have a bunch ready to be delievered to Pediatrics at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Monday.  That group will be meeting once a month to keep the blankets coming.  Make sure and tell your church group about Project Linus.  You can always request some flyers from me.

Smiles

This past week I got to personally give a blanket to a young girl with cancer.  When she saw that blanket her face lit up with the biggest smile.  It was the best experience!  I will never forget that smile.  I hope we can bring many more smiles to Fairbanks!

Blanketeer Party

I was invited to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the east side of town to talk about Project Linus.  They had a group of ladies that got together to make blankets.  I met a lot of great people and had a lot of fun.  Plus, we have 7 more blankets!  What a wonderful idea!  It would be great if more church groups could be started around fairbanks!

Our first 10 blankets!

Last week I took the first 10 blankets to the Emergency Room at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.  All of the nurses there were very excited to hear about what we are doing.  One nurse even volunteered to take care of this for her department and she will let me know when they need more.  On one hand I’m excited to hear from her again but on the other hand the longer it takes her to get back to me the better because that means fewer kids are needing the blankets.

Right now I am working on getting some blankets together to take to pediatrics at the hospital.  I would like to have 10 first.  I have 4 plus one in progress.  I’ve heard from some people that are working on some too so hopefully we can take them to PED’s soon.

I have a dear friend that just found out her 16 year old daughter had a cancerous tumor.  The tumor was removed but she is still very sick.  This young girl has been in and out of the hospita for some time nowl.  I am working on her blanket right now.

Thank you all for all you do,

Donna Capps

Blanketeers Needed!

My name is Donna Capps and I’m representing Fairbanks for Project Linus. I’ve got some organizations interested in receiving blankets and now I need some Blanketeers. If you are interested in helping out in any way please contact me at donnaj71@gmail.com