[Ended] Charity Along - Hats!

[HollyM]

Welcome to the first quarter Charity Along!

From January 1st to March 31st we are making hats to donate to the charity of your choosing. If you do not have a particular charity in mind, may we suggest sending a box to <a href="http://www.anysoldier.com/index.cfm" target="_new">www.anysoldier.com</a>? That certainly isn't the only option though! You can make hats for the homeless, Indian Reservations, or even Chemo caps for your local hospital. Whatever you feel drawn to.

Please post when you send/deliver your hats, the number of hats donated & the charity. I'll keep a running total in this first post so we can see the difference we are making!!!

Have fun!
Holly <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/spin.gif" />

[ParchedWhisper]

cool. I have a few rolled brim hats I have been making between projects. They are great for relaxing and "not thinking" lol. Good Idea. Will make a few more and then send them off somewhere...It stays hot here pretty much year around so I think they might be of use somewhere else.

[itch2stitch]

That's great - I'm up for that one - will donate them to one of the homeless organisations here in the UK.:w-lol

[SamplerLady]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/SamplerLady/mmouseplus.gifHere's my first hat going to Cheyenne River Reservation (http://helpinghearts0.tripod.com/)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/SamplerLady/th_hat1.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/SamplerLady/hat1.jpg)

[ParchedWhisper]

wow....that is fast and the first hat of the crochet along...i better get busy to keep up!

I think Dot has her UBW hat pattern up now!:w-lol

I figure I aught to set myself a goal. Maybe two adult and two child hats a week. Something for me to do inbetween my ripple project.

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

I'll get started on some. We have been discussing auctioning off some stuff on ebay to give money for the tsunami victims so this could be a possibility for a little fancier hats to see if they would sell well,and if they don't then they could still go to good use.

[natalie058]

Count me in too, I'm going to start with a couple of the 'Boyfriend Hats' from Cozy Crochet for my local homeless shelter to use up some yarn!! Then I will buy some dark Wool-Ease (do ya think that would be a good choice of yarn for this) and make some hats for any soldier...

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

That's great Natalie:hug2 . I think the only thing I've heard about the hats for the soldiers is they like camo sortof colors browns dk blue green and so forth also they like to wear them under their helmets so not super thick.

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Oh Parchedwhisper I love your idea of a goal that's just great:hug2

[ParchedWhisper]

Yeah me too. I work better with a dead line Luvs. I figure I can always do more, but the four would be the minimum.

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Got a baby hat done I was working on baby gowns allready for a local hospital. I've made 2 gown and hat sets.

[Deb]

I'm in! I have started one of Dot's UBW hats. Super EASY to do, and a great project to take along wherever I go. :thumbsup

I'm gonna work on figuring out a REACHABLE goal for myself, and do one of those progess thingies on my blog.

Do we have a button for this yet?

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

No button yet If anyones offering :wink I'd be very grateful :hug :)h :yes

[mimikj]

I would love to participate in this. My choice is to sent to our local Childrens Hospital. My church can also help. Thank you.
Kathy

[ParchedWhisper]

I am using Dot's UBW pattern also for the adult hats. I am totally loving that pattern. lol

I am thinking of taking them to our local food kitchen and seeing it they will take them.

[Deb]

I spent yesterday being lazy (that means on the couch in front of the TV!) but did manage to finish 4 of Dot's UBW hats. (btw - DOT - I love that pattern! :heart thank YOU!)

It's a great feeling.. making something useful for someone AND getting rid of those bits of unused yarn. :))

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Great job Deb :clap

That pattern sounds great unfortunately I live in :tex and there's not much need here for thick hats:sun :sweat so I have to stick w/ baby ones for hospitals.

Oh by the way I just love your chococat icon I saw all of Daphne's animals and made a few on my own and your kitty is one of them, he's my fav.This was my inspiration.

www.geocities.com/Heartla...cocat.html (http://www.*************************************/chococat.html)

:tex

[Deb]

OMGosh! that is sooo cute! I want one!!!!

Did you create a pattern? or is there one out there somewhere?

[rebeccav]

those are so cute! thanks for that link!!

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

I did it just by looking I have to search around and see if I wrote it down that was a couple of years ago when I didn't understand about writing stuff down.

[TANROET]

i have already made 18 of the UBW hats. They work up so quickly, about 30 mins each. Living in Phoenix, i have decided to save up all the hats i make and send up to the navajo rez next christmas.

Tam:yay2

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

That's just wonderful Tam :clap :hug2 Keep up the great work!!

Deb here's the chococat I made plus I did kerropi too.

img.villagephotos.com/p/2...ococat.jpg (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/857771/chococat.jpg)

img.villagephotos.com/p/2...erropi.jpg (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/857771/smkerropi.jpg)

[itch2stitch]

I've completed one so far- probably won't manage as many as I'd like, but will post progress:bounce Hugs, Jacky

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

That's ok Jacky everything you do helps.I've only made 2 myself.

[SamplerLady]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/SamplerLady/mmouseplus.gifHey, welcome! I'm down in Tucson and it's supposed to get down to freezing tonight. Glad to see another Arizonan here! :D

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

MommaChelle posted a hat pattern perfect for soldiers it's in dc so it works up quick. It at the seeking patterns post.

[Donna]

Okay, just when I thought I didn't have one more button in me, this one came out! :lol I named it kind of generically, Hats for Charity (instead of Charity Along - Hats), so it could potentially be used for other charity hat crocheting efforts in the future. :hug2

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v138/dbelle/crochet/buttons/hatsforcharity.gif

[MommaChelle]

Donna, your buttons are always so cool!! I love the graphics you use in them!

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Thank you Thank you Thank you Donna :hug Love it :)h

You're a sweetie :hug2

[Donna]

Thank you, Chelle and Alisha! :)h

You're very welcome, Alisha! :hug :cloud9

[Julie]

I love that button!! :)h

[Deb]

Great button! (I always :heart LOVE :heart your buttons!)

Update!
I've got 8 hats finished!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/definitelydeb/CraftyStuff/hats-1-2005.jpg

I had to recount them this afternoon, because I understand my 12 year old niece was digging through the box ~ oohhing and aahhing. :wink

[HollyM]

Great work everyone!!!! <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/cheer.gif" />
Deb, that's a herd of hats girl! <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/rowofhearts.gif" />

Donna, love the button <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/heartpump.gif" />

I've got 3 cammo hats done, going to try to do a few more by the end of the week.

Be sure to let me know when you actually send/deliver a group of hats. To keep it from getting confusing, I'll put them in the official count when they are actually sent (rather than completed).

Holly

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

2 baby hats today I've just been slow lately need to get crackin :crochet

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

2 more baby hats done I'm going slow:blush
Here's the pattern I'ts so cute :w-lol

www.bevscountrycottage.co...l-cap.html (http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/carousel-cap.html)

I'm gonna get in gear and do better.

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

4 more done :)) I will post pictures soon promise.

[SamplerLady]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/SamplerLady/mmouseplus.gif These (http://www.members.aol.com/crochetwithdee/TexturedSpiral.html) might be fun to make. Looks like they'd work up quickly and could be done with or without creative inspiration! :D

[maryann3865]

i donated over 40 hats at Christmas time to the cloth the homeless project in my area. its nice to see that others are doing the same. i started making hats at Halloween, as a way to keep me out of the refrigerator. i am trying to diet!! since my first donation i have made another 15 hats. i am hoping to have more to donate, or sell at the next craft fair at our local high school.

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Here's some of my hats I've made. I'm adding 11 more to my total.

img.villagephotos.com/p/2...hatssm.jpg (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/857771/charityhatssm.jpg)

[natalie058]

OKay so I have really been bad. First I was slacking off on making the hats, now the 2 hats I've made I've decided to keep cuz I love them and usually can never make a hat I like.

So, I swear I'm buckling down now and will have progress to report soon.

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

I've been sooo bad I've only finished 1 more since last posting
:( :thumbsdown On the other hand I did find 3 hats that I had allready made to give to charity:yay2

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

I guess I really stink at this crochet along I was in a frenzy making hats for a while now :no I need to just force myself to at least make a couple a week:sweat How's everyone else doing?

[Ro]

Hi everybody! I'm new around here but not new to charity crocheting, and I just wanted to tell you all how great I think your crochet along here is! I hope you won't mind me popping into this thread to comment.

Alisha, don't beat yourself up for being kinda burned out...it happens! I have seen it happen in just about every drive I've worked on. It's almost impossible to go 110% for an extended period of time. You'll get the wind back in your sails...sometimes I have found the best motivation is a reminder of what you're working so hard to accomplish.

Maybe you can cruise by the website of the hospital you plan to donate to (or the RMHC site, if it's Ronald Mcdonald house) and read up on what they're up to lately. I find that just looking at the faces of the people I want to crochet for is great for lighting a fire under me...and gives me the push I need to get going again when I've slowed down. That or re-reading a couple letters from places I've donated to, that always makes me want to do even more the next year!

I wish you guys the best of luck with this project and I can't wait to see what you all accomplish! You're an inspiration :)

:cheer2

hugs
Ro

:ducky ( man, this is like the cutest emoticon ever!)

[Deb]

I just wanted to share that I have finally found a home for my hats! :spina

My SIL works at a medical billing office - they work specifically with oncology offices. They said they would be happy to take my hats for their cancer patients!

They also wanted lapghans for the patients to use while in the office. I thought of my Grandmother right away. She has a stash of scrapghans that have now gone to a very good home.

I'm going to give my first batch of hats (10?) to my SIL this weekend!

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Thank you soo very much Ro:hug you're micro preemie hats are an inspiration to me, just gave me the kick to get started again:day Join us if you like we even have a button you can use on your blog.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/857771/hatsforcharity.gif


Deb great going Girl :cheer2 :hug Glad you found a good home for your hats:))

[Ro]

I would love to :) Thank you for inviting me!

I want to be sure I understand correctly...it doesn't matter where my hats go, I can still crochet along? :) Cause I have favorite facilities I love to crochet for...

That button is ADORABLE! I can't wait to add it to my blog :)

I guess you can start my count at 5 hats...2 micro preemie and 2 preemie that I did last weekend. One of them still needs trim.

Is there a seperate crochet along for preemie sets like blankets too and such or is that included in this? If there isn't a crochet-along for little blankies for children's hospitals, boy I sure would love to start a thread on that but I know I'm new here and I don't want to upset anybody if there is already one going...

hugs
Ro

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Great and yes just whoever you want to give them to as long as it's for charity. Also each quarter we're doing something diff and starting in April it's little blankets for whatever charity you'd like to give them too. I'll be doing some for animal shelters:cloud9 .

I'm thrilled to have you join us :hug :yay2

[natalie058]

Hi Ro - the categories are pretty broad, so that everyone can donate to charities of their choice... right now it's hats so you can donate hats to whoever... you have your micro preemies, (I FINALLY decided to donate mine to a local shelter), next it's blankets, so your preemie blankets fit right in... then is baby stuff, so there's an obvious connection... and last is afghans... so your goals fit right in to our categories... :blah :blush

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Thanks for saying it so well Natalie:hug

[natalie058]

You're welcome, Alisha!

[Ro]

Thanks guys I want to donate some hats to a shelter, but I haven't researched where to send them, Natalie do you have an address for a shelter in the Detroit area? I live in MI too and so I would like to send locally if possible but I won't rule out sending outside the state either.

You can PM me if you want or drop me an email!

thanks ladies and I'll post more hat pictures soon!

hugs
Ro

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Ro thanks to your pattern I made 16 little darling hats in the last 2 days.Thanks for giving me something to inspire me:))

And I love your chicken pic:)h

[Ro]

holy cow! That's AMAZING Alisha!!!

I just finishes *whew!* putting my other hat patterns up. I hope they're right, I'm bleary eyed from typing and webpage work and testing the hats out in the past couple days (btw I have 3 hats already to count for the CAL going to charity, three of the other hats I made are going to a friend's baby due in April) If there are errors I apologize, I shouldn't type when I'm this tired LOL.

I would LOVE to see a picture of the pile of your little darling hats if you have a chance to post one :)h

here's the link to the pattern pages:

Ro's Hat Patterns (http://psf.homestead.com/patterns.html)

hugs and more soon! :ducky
Ro

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Here's a pic of the hats I didn't decorate them yet :garden

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/857771/littcharityhats.jpg

:h-val :f-1

[Ro]

They came out so adorable, great job! Thanks for the picture, I love seeing little hats made with such love :)h

hugs
Ro

[natalie058]

Question for those with small kids - what's the best way to secure earflaps? With ties, or a button, or... :? i have two made, but I'm not sure how to finish them...

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

I would say ties but I don't have little children only big kids and little furbabies.

:h-val :f-1

[Ro]

Hmmm, that's a good question Natalie! I've never made a hat with flaps, and I'd be reluctant to put anything that ties for a really small child. Is there a way to leave the flaps without anything holding them down, then if the parent feels their kid can handle it they can add ties???

I'm always really reluctant to put any trim that could be pulled off on charity hats. It's just too scary to me as a mom. I made one tiara beanie and trimmed the crown with the bedazzler jewels and it looks so gorgeous but I won't do that unless I know the child, that they are old enough to not pull them off. I don't use buttons to trim hats, I'm just too nervous about it myself!

I'd love to see what your hats look like, I bet they're gorgeous.

I'm hoping to crank out some more preemie hats before the week is over, so many projects going, will let you guys know as my count goes up!

hugs
Ro

hugs
Ro

[GinaLaughed]

:hi Hi Everyone!

I'm new to Crochetville and I'm so glad I found you! I especially love the crochet-along section! It seems to be a motivator to me. I'm joining the crochet-alongs that will help me finish my projects.

I know this hats charity along is due to end 3/31 but I'd like to join you and do as many hats as I can by then. I was in an online group (I am no longer in it now) and our focus was hats, so I have plenty of yarn to use. I'm so excited that I already added the button to my blog. :yay

I've been reading through this thread, and as I type, I am on round 10 of Ro's Little Flower hat. It's just so precious! I can't wait to finish it! Thanks for sharing the pattern for that Ro!

I plan to donate my hats to a local charity when I am finished. It's a pregnancy resource center for women dealing unplanned pregnancies. I thought that would be the perfect place so I can help encourage the mommies that do decide to go through with their pregnancies. I just want them to know that someone cares.

[Ro]

Hi Gina, welcome to Crochetville, I'm so glad you're enjoying the hat pattern! I don't know why but I especially like it in the second version now, without the tie and with the brim flipped up. I made one for a baby gift and I cannot wait to give it!

I'm so glad that you found the CAL section, I find that it really inspires me too and allows me the joy and fun of working with others on projects without all the administrative duties that running my own group came with in the past! I spent so much time answering email and questions back then that I hardly had time to make any hats myself! LOL. Thats just another reason Crochetville is so wonderful!

I just found out that Children's Hospital in Detroit needs clothing donations for their Clothes Closet which helps needy kids that come to them. They'll even take gently used clothing, I found out! So I want to send them some hats. I am also hoping to send some preemie hats to Hutzel Hospital in Detroit, I was born there and so were all my siblings and my own daughter too!

Again, welcome! :)

hugs
Ro

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Welcome Gina :hi There's just a small group of us here so we're thrilled to have you join us :hug Happy hat making and giving :garden

[Ro]

Hey guys, I have 10 charity hats done now!

Pictures to come soon, though some you've already seen (the 2 preemie ones) I made one to go with my blankie for the little blankie CAL and whipped up three others yesterday. They range in size all the way from preemie up to one that could fit a teen or adult woman and they are going to various places. Most of the hats this round will go to a hospital in CA and some others to Children's Hospital of Michigan (plan to make many more for them in the days to come) and I had gotten so wrapped up in blankies (no pun intended!) that I forgot how much I totally :)h making hats! Each one has a little personality...just like the little person who will wear it.

How is everybody else doing?

hugs
Ro

[natalie058]

Actually, I'm making a cute little hat right now that matches the star blankie I made for the other CAL!

This is the first I've made in awhile, I've been liking blankie making too!

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Fabulous Girls you're doing great:clap I'm not doing so well but I plan to get it together as soon as I finish a few other things. Oh Natalie I love your star blanket the starfish design is awesome it's inspired me to make 1 for my daughter,her birthday is this week.

Keep up the great work:))

[natalie058]

:ty Alisha! I saw your comment on my blog and was going to reply on my next post, but who knows when that will be! I was going to say that I didn't mean to make it starfishy, but I think it's cuz one side of each point I ended up being crocheted a little looser than the other. I suspect it began at the skip two sts, does that make sense?

Anyways, I finished up last night and I love the way it turned out, can't wait to start on the next. I'm sure your daughter is going to love it too, I've already had two requests for larger, adult sized ones!

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Oh thanks Natalie I will see if I can repeat that :ty :hug

[Deb]

Holly.. I'm wondering what our HAT :garden total is?

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

(This message was left blank)

[HollyM]

Hi!
Sorry gang, I've been lax in this thread. It has been hard to count because I'm not sure when the numbers are overall totals or if they've been donated yet. I have to admit, I've gotten sidetracked myself and haven't sent off my hats yet <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/blush.gif" />

What I'd like everyone to do is make a post saying how many hats you have actually donated (not just completed) since January 1st and what charity you donated them to. If you aren't comfortable stating the specific charity (don't want to post where you live or any other reason) it's ok to say something generic like "Local Homeless shelter" or "local hospital premie unit"

I'll count from those posts and edit the first post in the thread with the totals. Plus I'll get my own butt in gear and get my hats in the mail so I can count them!!! <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/toothygrin.gif" />

Holly

[Ro]

My hats went into the mail today: 10 for Loma Linda University Children's Hospital in California (someone I know out there is doing a drive) and one hat (went with a blankie) to Children's Hospital of Michigan. So that's 11 total mailed out for me so far!

hugs
Ro

[GinaLaughed]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the welcomes Ro and Chris! :)

I wanted to stop by and give an update on my hats. I've not been doing as good as I thought I would. I did join this CAL late but I had planned on doing 1 hat a day till the end of March. That would have been around 45 hats. I only have 3 whole hats to show for it. I don't know where the time went.:think It seems that since I discovered Crochetville I've been so busy and haven't had time to crochet. Now I've been sick for the past week and a half with the worst cought I've ever had. Hopefully I can pick things up for the next few days.

I'm looking for a new local charity to donate to. The one I had planned on donating to is very frustrating. They are never there and the lady takes forever to return any calls. I guess I'll have to look around the community and see what else is out there.

In the mean time...I posted a pic of one of my completed hats on my blog if you want to check it out. It's Ro's Little Flower Hat pattern and It is so adorable! Thanks again for the pattern Ro!

I wanted to add the direct link to my blog entry with the pic:
http://aftergodsownheart.com/crafts/crochet/2005/03/cal-update-hats-for-charity.html

[Deb]

My doctor put me off work for a few days (two weeks ago) for my bad cold (turned into bronchitis - bleah) and so I did a lot of crocheting (and napping) on the couch. Between my Grandma and I (she's helping too), we have a shopping bag of 25 hats finished to give to the Oncology Unit my SIL works for. :manyheart (we donated 10 in February)

Grandma has made half a dozen lapghans as well. :cheer

I'll take a picture of our hats (and post it) this weekend. How's everyone else doing?

[InStitches52]

I only just discovered this thread today so I had not been part of this crochet along, but I have made seven hats and a scarf that I plan to donate to a local homeless shelter and am currently working on a preemie hat so I guess I'm in. :D

I noticed that the hat CAL was to end March 31. Has anyone decided on a project fot the second quarter? :think

[Chiscrochetcrazy]

Yes Institches it's blankets for whatever charity you chose.

[InStitches52]

I finished these baby hats over the weekend. I plan to donate them to a local hospital.

http://www.deardiary.net/cgi-bin/viewer.pl?diary=119970&entry=1112572800&comments=off

[Deb]

I know this charity-along is long over... but I'm just finally posting a picture of what our final donation looked like. Thirty three hats in all... Grandma and I feel good about what we accomplished. The oncology unit has asked for MORE!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/definitelydeb/CraftyStuff/HATS.jpg

[SassyThreads]

Deb, you and Grandma did an awesome Job on the Hats:yay And the neat thing is the oncology unit has asked for more:cheer So you know that they are being used and needed. Way to go:clap

What part of CA are you in? I am in Redding:D