Monday, February 11, 2013

while I wait for sock yarn ...



 .... I decided to crochet some squares for SIBOL. Have you heard of SIBOL? It's an acronym for Sunshine International Blankets of Love. Sue (Mrs. Twins) in the UK is the organizer. Every year a list of blanket challenges is drawn up and posted, and crocheters around the world are invited to donate a square or two. Here's more in Sue's own words:

In January 2010 I thought I would like to make Blankets for the Elderly. My own Grandmother lived to the wonderful age of 103 and I thought I would like to do something in her Memory. My Grandmother was very fortunate she was in good health and lived very independently on her own cooking and cleaning for herself. She also had lots of visitors, family and friends throughout the day. I realise there are lots of people who aren’t so lucky. They are often in Nursing Homes and very often sit for hours not having visitors. Family are very busy these days they often lead very busy lives and time for them is limited. It is to these people our ‘Sunshine Blankets’ are aimed at. Let’s hope the gift of a hand-made ‘Sunshine Blanket’ will bring love and warmth and also a smile to their faces knowing that someone has been thinking of them.

When I look at the challenge list I look primarily for those challenges where a specific pattern is recommended. For many challenges participants are asked to design their own squares but my skills aren't up to that. The first one that caught my eye was #8 Butterfly Challenge. I checked out the linked pattern suggestions, decided on this Stained Glass Butterfly Square and worked up three with the colours I had available in my stash. That's every last inch of orange used up.

What's left? A lot of white, a ball of black, a fair bit of yellow, purple and green and some oddments of mustard, light blue and gold. With the yellow, mustard and white, I decided to go ahead and make a few squares for Challenge #7. The Daffodil Square pattern looked difficult, but it's easier than it looks and really well explained with photos. They're really cute aren't they? And look how amazing a Daffodil Square blanket looks assembled. With three Daffodil Squares done that's every inch of mustard and about half the yellow used up.

Now I'm trying to decide whether to stop at that or do more. The thing is that it's likely to be cheapest if I collect up all my squares to post to the UK in one package. Hmm, maybe I have another Daffodil Square or two in me before I get back to the regularly scheduled knitting!



9 comments:

Gracey is not my name.... said...

Those are awesome....I have some squares I need to finish sewing together for blankets...they were donated...

Kim said...

OH! That daffodil blanket is gorgeous and if I was lonely in a nursing home, that is the one I would want and cherish. It just seems so friendly and hopeful and cheery. :) I really think I need to learn to crochet as I see such creative things that just don't seem possible with knitting. Well done!
*smiles*

Wanderingcatstudio said...

I'm having a hard time deciding which square I like better!

Anonymous said...

Love the daffodil! :-)

Ginx Craft said...

They are both really great. I really like the little butterflies, and the daffodil is lovely too. I like the way it is 3D.

Alittlebitsheepish said...

The daffodil is fantastic. Sounds like a great project

* said...

Lovely squares, the butterfly one is really clever and the daffodil is just lovely....I love the set of squares with all different flower centres, can you imagine a blanket made up those.

Blankets really do it for me....I can never fail to be excited about them....especially one like these ones.

Stefanie said...

These squares are awesome! The butterflies look like they happened to take a rest on the squares. The 3-D of the daffodil is really cool.

Papillon Gold said...

Glad you like the pattern your squares look lovely