How to Read Crochet Patterns for Charity Blankets and Afghans
This is an article on crocheting blankets for charity. Most charities will give you some patterns. But they don't emphasize some key points.
You don't need to follow the patterns that the charities give - but please adhere to the basic guidelines given below. This means that you can use charity as an excuse for creating a block to test out a new fancy stitch pattern.
The guidelines in this series of articles have been prompted by my experience as the "joining the blocks together" person, in my role as the crochet instructor for my local Michaels store.
The two charities with which I am familiar are Warm Up America and Blankets for Canada. Most Michaels stores in the US and Canada serve as drop-off points for your blocks.
Where to find the Crochet Patterns for Charity Blankets
Blankets for Canada wants 8" (20 cm) square blocks. Check out the crochet patterns that it suggests. Basically, there are 2 patterns: one is single crochet on every row, and the other is double crochet on every row.
Warm Up America wants 7"x9" blocks. Check out the crochet patterns that it suggests. Like Blankets for Canada, they suggest basic single crochet or basic double crochet. But they also have a few other fancy stitch patterns.
Suggestion: do not use single crochet - it usually has a lot of curl to it, so the resulting blanket doesn't lie flat. Double crochet doesn't have the same curl, so it lies flat.
Yarn for Charity Blankets
Please do not use yarn that requires special laundry and handling. The recipients of these blankets may not be able to launder them properly.
Medium-weight yarn (worsted weight, #4) is probably the best yarn to use - it is the most popular. If you use bulkier or finer yarn, it would be nice to include several blocks, so that the joiner can make blankets out of blocks of similar weight.
Finishing the Blocks for Charity Blankets
One of the challenges with joining the blocks is how to find yarn that matches the blocks being joined.
The first suggestion is to leave long tails at the beginning and end of your block - at least 3-4 inches longer than the longest side of the block. (This also saves you the hassle of weaving the ends in!)
The second suggestion is that if you have a few yards or meters of yarn left over after making your blocks, include that yarn with your donation.
If you follow these suggestions, the joiners will definitely appreciate you!
The KEY point: Make Your Blocks the Correct Size
In an ideal world, all of the blocks are the specified size (7"x9" for Warm Up America, 8" square for Blankets For Canada). That way, we joiners can simply lay the blocks out and start sewing them together, row by row.
But some people march to the beat of their own drummer. Here are some photos showing what I received recently, after I had sorted them. (I do Blankets for Canada, with square blocks.)
Here are some little piles of squares that are all the same size. The paper tells how big the squares are.
Piles of crocheted squares, by size
These are the same piles, but from an angle, to better show how many of each there are.
Piles of crocheted squares, by size
Some close-ups, showing the number of blocks I have of each size:
Two piles of crocheted squares
One pile of crocheted squares - 64 little squares
Two piles of crocheted squares
Two piles of crocheted squares
And then there were what I call the dregs - blocks that are of varying sizes that don't match any of the piles shown above, or blocks that are just a weird shape (straight sides at 90 degrees to the top and bottom are really nice!).
Assorted blocks
So, what can I do with these assorted blocks? Some are really small, some are really big, and some are just wonky.
I can use them in two ways, both of which involving unraveling them:
- As yarn to sew other blocks together
- As yarn to crochet a completely new block of the correct size
The Gallery
Check out the Gallery of finished charity blankets that I (and others) have created. In some cases, you will find ideas for how to deal with blocks that are not the correct size.
Conclusion
Crocheting blocks for charity blankets is an excellent way to eliminate your stash of yarn (thus permitting you to get more yarn, of course!). It doesn't take a lot of yarn - or time. And the recipients of these blankets really appreciate them.
By following the guidelines above, those who volunteer to join the squares will also appreciate your efforts!
