Helping the Homeless Directly

A few months ago when we went through an especially cold spell here in the Las Vegas valley, for 2 or 3 days, I carried some things in my car in case I spotted a homeless person. At that point, I'd gathered a few lightweight but sturdy cloth/canvas/whatever bags, somewhat like duffel bags. They had accumulated in here over the years and I no longer had a need for them and these were ones that did not sell at the previous yard sale.

In each of the bags, I tossed one of our charity crafter hats/caps, scarves, and fingerless gloves. I added some easy-open, non-perishable foods like small cans of beans, a pouch or two of tuna or salmon, even a candy bar, and things like that. It wasn't much. I don't have much. But I watched for specials and deals and also hit the 99-cent store. What I tossed in there didn't even amount to $10 per each of the 3 bags. I think I even tossed in some plastic forks and spoons, pocket packs of tissues, and some things like that. Whatever I found around here.

The first fellow I noticed and pulled up to surprised me by his reaction. He got tears in his eyes. That floored me. He said he had just thrown away his backpack and didn't even have a bag to carry a bottle or two of water in. The other two bags got similar reactions. Then it was over and I moved on in my life.

This morning, in our Neighborhood Wal-Mart Grocery Store parking lot, I ran into a middle aged woman from Central America rolling all her earthly possessions in a folding shopping cart. We talked for a few minutes about the plastic canvas cross I gave her, and about life and life on the streets. I was in a hurry to get home, but she did tell me how to reach her through a woman who has a business stall in a nearby indoor weekend swap meet location.

At home, I remembered she said she probably needed to throw away this Styrofoam container that she was carrying figuring she could protect food in that but that she never had any food to put in it. And then I remembered my winter efforts.

So I'm going to try to remember to put one of my sturdy plastic crates in my car and begin to keep it loaded with plastic grocery bags with some non-perishables like those I gave to the homeless months ago. It won't be much for sure. But whatever it is, hopefully it will carry someone for a few days. Sometimes we give them money, even if it's just a buck or two, and they have no place that will let them inside to buy something with that cash. And the plastic bag can be used afterwards for trash or whatever, until it bites the dust.

Sweet Lord Jesus, thank you for placing that woman on my life's path this morning. It gave me the idea of a way to help, in such a small way, I agree, but if that small effort will help, guide my choices and point out those who need what little I will have on hand. I know it will take me a few days to gather, but I can begin tomorrow by putting the crate in my trunk.

Random Thoughts and Tips on Charity Crafting

I needed to put down my thoughts about some charity crafting facts. Lots of us make things according to a pattern and do not give a thought as to the way in which it will be used.

Scarves for the homeless, are an example. When I created my free pattern for a ribbed, crocheted scarf for the homeless, I had one big thing in mind. It had to be easy, quick, and economical regarding how much yarn it used. Our Friday morning crafters make a lot of these for our local homeless, so the pattern was a big issue.

Then I began thinking about the homeless. We rarely donate any scarves that have fringe. This is one thing we thought about early on. Fringes, we feared, would get caught in any number of ways for those unfortunate folks out there.

We also chose to not use a lot of white or very light colors. We do use the light colors for cheery stripes or things like that. But we realized that these folks do not have access to washing machines and these scarves will get soiled. We didn't want the people wearing them to feel bad if a nice, white or pale yellow scarf became dull and gray. So, a completely solid very-light color is not on our agenda.

The other thing that I personally stick to is a slightly wider scarf. I like them to be able to pull it up over their ears or mouth, if they need to, to protect against the worst weather. If I don't make it wide, I make it long, so that the wrap around will accomplish the same thing.

So, those are my thoughts on scarves for the homeless.

Of course, opinionated as an old woman like me can get, I have other opinions on hats for the homeless, gloves for the homeless, caps for preemies, and chemo caps. I'll probably discuss them very soon. Can't help myself. Part of my nature, as the eldest sister of three kids, and never being blessed with any of my own, is to share what I know, whether or not anyone really wants to hear ;-)

Finding Your Craft Niche

A new cyber friend's email today sparked the idea for this post. She said her DM was trying to teach her to crochet. My friend doesn't think of herself as very patient and keeps ending up choosing only small patterns. I'm thinking maybe she ought to try, just once more, with an easy project.

Back when I developed a free crochet pattern for a scarf for the homeless, our charity crafting group was looking for something very quick and easy. This also is a way to use up scraps. Anyhow, it uses a larger-than-usual hook, a "J" hook, and worsted weight yarn which works up more quickly. Because it repeats the same half-double crochet stitch all the way through, it is not complicated. I also offered another post as a tip for counting rows in a long, monotonous project.

If, however, even this one does not appeal to her, I feel I really need to encourage her to just quit trying with crochet. There are tons and tons of other crafts. Each of us has our own niche.

My DM, bless her heart, when she was alive, she was a master at both crochet and knit. She sewed like a pro, and embroidered, too. Of all those things, the only one that I seem good at, really good at, is crochet. When I knit, it's never smooth. When I embroider, I pull too tight and it puckers. I tried latch hook and I can't pull the knots tight enough. So, I found my "thing" and I really, really love doing it.

My sis, on the other hand, found she loved, and was good at, embroidery and decoupage. My brother made candles for a while did some macramé, and also some painted plaster decorations.

The point is, out of three kids, each of us found our specialty. Nobody should feel badly about what they cannot do. Instead, they should have fun trying everything that appeals to them, until they find what's right for them. Then they can dive in and share it with everyone around them.

Crafting for Local Charities - Inch by Inch...

It is amazing what just 5 ladies have accomplished already in our tiny charity crafting group. Our senior mobile home community has over 400+ homes and probably close to 1,000 residents. We only have 4 of our own ladies, plus 1 sister-in-law from a nearby community, in our Friday morning (10 to Noon) sessions at our clubhouse.

One of our women does not even attend the sessions, due to other commitments, but every other month since we began, she drops off a huge lawn/leaf bag filled with her work for preemies.

We began back on 4/3/09. In the beginning, we worked on preemie hats and sweaters, and little by little, added things for the homeless (fingerless gloves, caps/hats, scarves) and for a local long-term care center (lap throws, shawls, and more).

Sometimes it's hard to believe we have already made several hundred items, and have outgrown the original two totes I designated at home for these items.

Although we began as a knit-and-crochet group, we have expanded. Some residents drop off VCR tapes, decks of cards, and puzzle books, for the long-term care center.

One person who just does not do needlework figured out how to cut scarves out of fleece lap throws, fringe them (again, just cutting them), and ends up with warm scarves for the homeless. She doesn't do one single stitch!

So it does not matter if you do not knit or crochet or sew. There is something each of us can do for those in need, locally. It all begins with just a thought, and then one item, and then one more, and on and on. It's a wonderful feeling.

Santa or Wise Men or Drummer Boy?

Two weeks ago, I dropped off over 100 items (including crocheted hats, scarves, and fingerless gloves) for the homeless in our town. Today, I dropped off 3 trash bags filled with stuffed animals to a haven for children awaiting adoption, plus 3 more trash bags filled with crocheted lap blankets and shawls and capelets to a long-term care facility for its residents.

I didn't make or accumulate these all by myself. I did make a lot of the crocheted items, but three or four other ladies also contributed to the crocheted items. The stuffed animals were given by yet another person. And some ceramic angels (over 60), contributed by yet another woman (they went to the long-term care residents).

My part in all of this was completely accidental. It seems as though the Lord decided he could trust me to find good homes for these items. I guess I am his distributor.

It was a wicked morning, though. The first place, for the children, really wore me out just finding it. The building was easy to find - the first building, that is. I had to walk almost a block through a huge parking lot to get to the front doors. Luckily, I decided to leave the bags in the van for that first walk. It was also chilly this morning with 40 mph wind gusts. I was happy to get to the information desk. For a moment. I was then given a map of the complex, and sent back out to the street (walked back to the van), drove all around the block to a back lot, and then to a trailer. Still, with all of that, it felt so good to see how happy the staff was to receive our offerings.

The next stop was the long-term care center. I had been told that this was a "rear" facility. I had to go past a first rehabilitation center, to the back of the complex. I somehow entered on the wrong side of the buildings, asked an employee for directions, and had to pull a U-turn and go back where I had just been. Again, I was smart enough to not take the bags with me. When I finally got inside, I was sent almost a block away, but inside, to a lady's office. It was locked. I went back to the front desk. This time, she agreed to page someone and said I could pull the van around to the front loading/unloading area. Again, the staff was delighted with what I dropped off.

The two drop-offs wore this 70-yr-old lady out, at first. Then, after I knew I was done, I started to feel joy, like Santa and his sack of presents. I quickly changed that to think of myself more like one of the Wise Men giving gifts to the child Jesus, and from there, humbly, I agreed to myself that our offerings were more in tune with that of the mythical Little Drummer Boy.

Father, thank you for trusting me to distribute these offerings to the right places, and thanks for the stamina to get through the confusion; help me to be always willing to go where you send me.

Travel Projects

I must take two bus rides in the next 48 hours, each of 6-7 hrs duration. I plan to take a small project or two with me for the ride and for some waiting-around time while I am at my destination.

On this type of trip, I try to take only minor projects. I can't afford to take something good, or an order from my Etsy shop. If the bus lurches and someone spills something on my project, I would be crushed.

For this trip, squares would be good. Fingerless gloves or hats or scarves for the homeless, would be fine, too. They must also be uncomplicated projects.

I used to try to read on bus trips, but there is something about me that encourages people to interrupt my reading and start chatting. At least with crochet, I can still work while they talk at me. And, in the end, I will at least have completed a small project or two.

Gifting the Homeless

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since my last Craft blog post (11/07). I never even managed to share how our Craft Fair went. I'll cover that tomorrow. For now, I am very excited because I finally found a contact who will ensure that the things we have made for the homeless will really reach those in need.

I've been stung by people who say they are giving things to the needy when I want to donate items, and then staff members divide the "loot" and take it to their own homes. It's not nice; it's downright mean and selfish. Not all staff members are like that. Unfortunately, though, it does happen and it has happened to me.

Our very small group of charity crafters (varies between 1 and 5) has managed to accumulate over 60 prs of fingerless gloves, dozens of caps/hats, and about a dozen or more scarves. I know that it's only a small number in contrast to how many homeless are on our local streets out here. But we'll make a start.

I tried the Salvation Army. You wouldn't believe how complicated their departmental structure is. It took me quite a few phone calls, many minutes on hold, and finally I gained the name of the Director of our local group. I made it very plain that we did not want any of these to go into stores. We want them around the cold heads, necks, and wrists/hands of those on the street. She was very much in tune with our wishes. In fact, she is as thrilled to get these as we are to finally find a home for them.

I think by mid-week, next week, we'll have them in the hands of those who need them. If this goes well, we can make a drop once a month and keep the goodies flowing.

My Choice for Gloves for Homeless

A comment from Crochet Pattern Beth asked if I would share my pattern for easy gloves for the homeless. I do not have one that I have made myself. What our group has been using is a "fingerless glove" pattern, which I'll give you in a moment.

The reason we use this is that we are in the desert southwest area and our nights rarely get below 30, although wind-chill can make it feel like 20 at times. The fingerless gloves we make are very easy and very quick. We can use several colors in each pair, if we are using scraps. If the wind is bad, they can slide over real gloves, as extra protection. If I can work up an easy pair of "real" gloves, or find one, I'll post as soon as that happens.

They can also be made with cotton yarn for wheelchair use in long-term care homes.

That said, here is a link to the one we use. We use a G hook for average; I have gone down a size for teens, and up a size for men and larger women's sizes. I found this one on Crochet Pattern Central (see my sidebar for a link to them and their free patterns) about a year ago.
http://melaniebug.tripod.com/suzetta's_fingerless_mittens.htm

I have made two or three pair a day, on a really good day, but as we all know, life does not always allow that type of day to happen (sigh).

Aside from loving these for the homeless, etc., I make these for my Etsy shop with fake fur trim and they are just gorgeous and so ultra-feminine and frilly.

Tip for Marking Rows Worked in Large/Long Projects

When I began making the Simple Scarf for Homeless pattern, the one thing that drove me nuts was always going back and re-counting the rows to be sure I knew how far I had gone. I wanted the scarves to be between 3 and 4 feet. The pattern is a simple one and repeats the same row over and over. Counting can be a pain.

Using strokes in groups of five was not easy, either, because I always kept thinking I missed one or two, so I'd re-count, yet again.

I finally came up with a method that works for me, and maybe it will work for you.

I'm sure every long-time, experienced knitter/crocheter already does this, but since I only just figured it out, thought I'd share with those of us who didn't already know.



Mark every so many rows, at the outside edge, with a wee scrap of different colored yarn, something that stands out in the piece you are working on (light on dark, dark on light, etc.), and attach it like a piece of fringe. Just pull a loop through, and pull the ends through the loop. It is easily detached later.

For my scarf, I found that 23 rows equal 1 foot. Because I want them between 3 and 4 feet long, I ended up putting a single "fringe" piece every 23 rows. All I had to do was glance at the edge of my scarf every so often, and count, 1 foot, 2 feet, etc.

You could easily mark every 10 rows, or every 30 rows, whatever works with the piece you are making.

Crochet Pattern Central Accepted My Pattern For Their Directory!

I am so excited I cannot even think. Crochet Pattern Central, a site whose Directory lists a dizzying selection of free patterns, accepted my Simple Scarf for the Homeless and it is now in their Directory, under Scarves.



I had emailed their site, explaining why I developed this very simple pattern (see my blog page for the pattern and the background), and offered it for their site. I never, not ever, in a hundred million years, expected such a simple pattern to be accepted. I worked this one up because our charity crafting group honestly needed a workable pattern for the homeless. It also had to be quick and easy.

It's not just for the homeless, by any means. I am currently making one for a friend who really needs a soft, flexible, but lovely scarf for the cold desert mornings when she waits for the bus at 3am. The desert chill goes through you. I'm making it in turquoise and adding fringe for her. The soft ribbing will be great. I like that this pattern is equally suitable for men, women, teens, and kids.

Anyhow, please forgive me for going on about this, but I truly am overjoyed. I plan to do a post about Crochet Pattern Central within the next few days, and I will be adding their button to my blog site. They are a great resource for not only patterns, but tips and more, as you will see when I post about them.
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory.php
http://prayersncrafts.blogspot.com/2009/09/free-crochet-scarf-pattern-for-homeless.html

Free Crochet Scarf Pattern for Homeless

We have a charity crafting group in our senior mobile home community and among other things, we are trying to accumulate some items for the homeless. My climate is very hot in the summer and a rather mild winter - rarely below 30 at night except when desert breezes can make the wind chill 25 or so. So, fingerless gloves are sufficient and very easy to make. We have dozens of those. Hats and caps are also easy.

The biggest problem we've had is finding a decent, quick-and-easy, but suitable, scarf for the homeless. Their needs are different from ours. They cannot launder them often. They must be able to use them for neck protection, or have them wide enough to also pull up around the ears against the wind, possibly wind them up over their heads, and/or tuck them into a jacket. So, I figured we need at least 3 to 4 foot long scarves. Longer than that, and they'll get caught in things. Complicated patterns take forever to make. We also did not want fringe just to make the length because the fringes are too easily tangled out on the street.

I finally took a stitch idea from the fingerless gloves we make, and adapted it, hook size and all, and started making these. They end up lightweight but cozy and nice looking, a ribbed look. The slightly airy feel acts as a thermal barrier against the cold, and they are soft and flexible because of the large hook size.

I realize there are tons of sites and patterns for the homeless but I just didn't have time to test every one of them, although I'll pass some along when I find some.

This pattern is free for you to use for the homeless. If you use it to sell the item(s) you make, you must give credit to me (Pattern by Evelyn Mayfield). It is a very simple pattern.

Hook - J
Yarn: Knitting Worsted
Amount of yarn: about 5 oz. for a 36" scarf.
Width: 8-1/2" (gauge isn't terribly important)

R 1 - Ch 32, turn
R 2 - HDC in "back loop" of each chain across; ch 2, turn.
R 3 onward - Repeat R 2 in each stitch across for 36 to 48 inches; fasten off.

This is a great way to use up scraps, also. Tomorrow, I'll post a quick and easy way to keep track of how long the scarf is, as you move along.

If you find it difficult to print from a blog post, you can now get a .pdf file for only $.99 by clicking here.

Feel free to share your thoughts on this pattern or to suggest other patterns you'd like to see. I tend to specialize in quick and easy projects.