Charity Block- Pinwheel

Over the last several weeks I have been doing a lot of work creating new design blocks for charity. These blocks can be used as you see fit to benefit others.

Materials

  • Cascade Yarn Pacific medium weight yarn, 60% acrylic/40% superwash merino wool (100g/3.5oz/213 yrd/195 m)
  • Hook size I/9/5.5mm, unless otherwise specified

Block measures 7″ x7″

Pinwheel Block for Charity

Pinwheel Block for Charity

Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st to first ch to create ring, ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times, 2 dc in ring, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 to join. –12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps

Rnd 2: Sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, ch 3, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 3] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –16 dc, 4 ch-3 sps, 4 ch-2 sps

Rnds 3-5: Ch 3, dc in each st to first ch-2 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, dc in each dc to next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, [dc in each dc across to next ch-2 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, dc in each dc to next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –64 dc, 4 ch-3 sps, 4 ch-2 sps

Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in each st to first ch-2 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, dc in each dc to next ch-3 sp, 3 dc in ch-3 sp, [dc across to next ch-2 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, dc in each dc to next ch-3 sp, 3 dc in ch-3 sp] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –92 dc, 4 ch-2 sps

Fasten off, weave in ends, block.

Charity Block- Royal Stack

Over the last several weeks I have been doing a lot of work creating new design blocks for charity. These blocks can be used as you see fit to benefit others.

Materials

  • Cascade Yarn Pacific medium weight yarn, 60% acrylic/40% superwash merino wool (100g/3.5oz/213 yrd/195 m)
  • Hook size I/9/5.5mm, unless otherwise specified

Block measures 7″ x7″

Royal Stack Block for Charity

Royal Stack Block

Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st to first ch to create ring, ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times, 2 dc in ring, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 to join. –12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps

Rnd 2: Sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, sk 1 dc, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next dc, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, sk 1 dc, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next dc] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –32 dc, 4 ch-2 sps, 4 ch-1 sps

Rnd 3: Sl st to ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, bpdc around next 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 2 dc, bpdc around last 2 dc before ch-2 sp, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, bpdc around next 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 2 dc, bpdc around last 2 dc before ch-2 sp] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –16 bpdc, 28 dc, 8 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-2 sps

Use more posts to make things “pop”

Rnd 4: Sl st to ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, bpdc around next 2 dc, ch 1, sk next (2 dc, ch-1 sp and dc), (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next dc, ch 1, sk next (dc, ch-1 sp and 2 dc), bpdc around next 2 dc, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, bpdc around next 2 dc, ch 1, sk next (2 dc, ch-1 sp and dc), (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next dc, ch 1, sk next (dc, ch-1 sp and 2 dc), bpdc around next 2 dc] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –16 bpdc, 32 dc, 12 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-2 sps

Rnd 5: Sl st to ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, bpdc around next 2 sts, ch 1, sk 1 dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp and 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next 2 dc and ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, bpdc around next 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, bpdc around next 2 sts, ch 1, sk 1 dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp and 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next 2 dc and ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, bpdc around next 2 sts] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –16 bpdc, 40 dc, 4 ch-2 sps, 20 ch-1 sps

Adds a bit of “class” to Charity

Rnd 6: Sl st to ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, bpdc around next 2 sts, ch 1, sk 1 dc, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, hdc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 2 dc, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next 2 dc, hdc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, bpdc around next 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, bpdc around next 2 sts, ch 1, sk 1 dc, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, hdc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 2 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 2 dc, hdc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 dc, bpdc around next 2 dc] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –16 bpdc, 8 ch-2 sps, 20 sc, 8 hdc, 40 dc

Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, [(sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, sc in each st and ch-1 sp across to next ch-2 sp] 3 times, (sc, ch 2, sc) in last ch-2 sp, sc in each st and ch-1 sp to end, sl st in first sc to join. 92 sc

Fasten off, weave in ends, block.

Charity Block- Columns

Over the last several weeks I have been doing a lot of work creating new design blocks for charity. These blocks can be used as you see fit to benefit others.

Materials

  • Cascade Yarn Pacific medium weight yarn, 60% acrylic/40% superwash merino wool (100g/3.5oz/213 yrd/195 m)
  • Hook size I/9/5.5mm, unless otherwise specified

Block measures 7″ x7″

Columns Block for Charity

Columns Block

Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st to first ch to create ring, ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times, 2 dc in ring, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 to join. –12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps

Rnd 2: Sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, fpdc around next st, bpdc around next st, fpdc around next st, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, fpdc around next st, bpdc around next st, fpdc around next st] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –16 dc, 4 ch-2 sps, 8 fpdc, 4 bpdc

Rnds 3-8: Sl st to ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, fpdc around next st, (bpdc around next st, fpdc around next st) across to next ch-2 sp, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, fpdc around next st, (bpdc around next st, fpdc around next st) across to ch-2 sp] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –16 dc, 4 ch-2 sps, 56 fpdc, 52 bpdc

Fasten off, weave in ends, block.

Charity Blocks- Stacked Squares and Shell Corner

Over the last several weeks I have been doing a lot of work creating new design blocks for charity. These blocks can be used as you see fit to benefit others.

Materials

  • Cascade Yarn Pacific medium weight yarn, 60% acrylic/40% superwash merino wool (100g/3.5oz/213 yrd/195 m)
  • Hook size I/9/5.5mm, unless otherwise specified

Block measures 7″ x7″

Stacked Squares Block for Charity

Stacked Squares Block

Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st to first ch to create ring, ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times, 2 dc in ring, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 to join. –12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps

Rnd 2: Sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, bpdc around each dc across to ch-2 sp, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, bpdc around each dc across to next ch-2 sp] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –16 dc, 12 bpdc, 4 ch-2 sps

Rnds 3-7: Rep Row 2. –16 dc, 92 bpdc, 4 ch-2 sps

Fasten off, weave in ends, block.

Shell Corner Block for Charity

Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st to first ch to create ring, ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), [3 dc in ring, ch 2] 3 times, 2 dc in ring, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5 to join. –12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps

Rnd 2: Sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 st, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 st] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –20 dc, 4 ch-2 sps, 8 ch-1 sps

Rnds 3-6: Sl st to ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc across to next ch-1 sp, dc in ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 st, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc across to next ch-1 sp, dc in ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1 st] 3 times, sl st in top of beg ch-3 to join. –84 dc, 4 ch-2 sps, 8 ch-1 sps

Fasten off, weave in ends, block.

Hiding Behind Crochet- Crochet Together

Sometimes I feel like I am hiding behind my crochet, but crochet together with others can make a difference. Crochet can be an ice breaker, and open up discussions with new people. Yet crochet can be a shield to avoid difficult situations.

It might seems a bit odd to think that this simple hobby/craft/art can be used in emotional ways. I have secretly been doing it for years.

I feel a bit naked talking about it, showing more vulnerability and such. However I think crochet is an avenue for bringing people together, and in that train of thought honestly works best.

Found some crochet in Istanbul….my daughter pulls out some crochet while waiting in line to enter the Hagia Sophia

I seek out crochet when I travel to help build bridges and feel a connection to the places I visit. Fortunately crochet is everywhere, and even if we don’t speak the same language the language of crochet is the same. These are tricks I use as ice breakers. I find out that we have more in common then we have as differences.

I am always amazed by the art that I find. Everyone is quick to point out their mistakes and reluctant to take the compliment. This must be a universal trait. It is fun to see the different way they put their stitches together, and get inspired by their work.

On the other hand, I bring my crochet to events that I might feel uncomfortable in. Situations that might be awkward or difficult are perfect for crochet. In these cases I might still be trying to find a new friend by putting forth my flag to find others that share the craft. Almost like a little passcode to a fellow member of an underground organization.

Hopefully I can find someone that will help make the situation less anxious.  

I guess I am trying to say that crochet is my way of finding my people and adding feeling of belonging when I need it. I am sure that this works for others as well. Hopefully, they can see me crocheting at the table in the coffee shop and feel that their people are there too. Making them feel welcome. (If you need some new tips on different crochet techniques, check out some of these.)

I always advocate for crochet world dominance. Maybe it is because I want to feel like I can always belong.