January 27, 2006--Piecing and crocheting together blankets like madpersons, we're getting requests for blankets weekly. Some of the benefits of this project are meeting new friends (New Mexico and Texas!), seeing the nationwide efforts of citizens like you and me and reading the stories of people living in the Gulf. When they write the Blankets for the Gulf project, they aren't greedy. They simply say something like I am moving back to my town, we're living with my parents, and two families in a small home (usually a trailer) is hard. Can I have a blanket for my family and one for my parents or my dad or my grandmother.
This story is common, so please keep knitting and crocheting. Let's blanket the gulf states one parish, bayou at a time! For those of you wondering, it takes me one evening to piece a blanket together. Stubborn, I won't go to bed until a row is done or a border completed. My sons' bedrooms--since they are away at school--have become packing areas and square sorting rooms--sorted by color and sizes. I bought a steamer, and each blanket is pressed before it is packed off. Once steamed and dry, I take a picture of the blanket, send it to my cousin, she works her magic with retouching, and we're done with the latest round of blankets to be sent. Then it's on to another! Recently, a friend has helped me piece, so I hope our output doubles! When sent to a family directly, I am putting the blankets in plastic tubs, duct-taping them shut. Plastic containers aren't that expensive, and they act as much needed storage containers for Gulf Coast residents--this was a great idea posted on the Lion Brand website (see Supporting Web Sites). Thanks one and all for your work.
JANUARY 15, 2006--We have five blankets completed and plenty more to put together to send to the Blankets for the Gulf project by February 1. This week our post office box has been filled daily with boxes and packages from knitters in Michigan, Missouri, Texas and California. Thanks to all for your hard work. It is so much fun to piece these afghans together with all the squares--their colors, sizes and patterns make each blanket so unique and such a wonderful gift for people who need some color and warmth in their lives.
JANUARY 2006--Happy New Year! I finished a few Christmas knitting projects-- hats and a coat--and am now piecing together blankets from your many kind contributions. Please read the Blankets for the Gulf website about their trip to Louisiana to distribute blankets. There are pictures--one of a woman in a shelter holding one of our blankets over her arm! Blankets for the Gulf says there is a desperate need for more blankets. Since their trip, they have received many requests. So please keep those squares coming! Also check out the great no-sew fleece blanket pattern on the Blankets for the Gulf website. Invite your non-knitting friends over, tell them to bring some fleece, food, great stories and create some blankets! Last night with about eight inches of snow falling on Northern Michigan, I crocheted squares together till midnight enjoying some old movies as well as a few fantastic new ones. See Paper Clips if you haven't already and Edge of America. If these don't inspire you to action, nothing will! I will continue to update the page monthly and when we send blankets. Check out our pictures of Finished Projects--they are beautiful!