Chemo Hats for St. Mike's Hospital in Toronto

Although the website has been quiet for a while, the crocheters at Westview have been making hats for the Medical Day Care department at St. Mike's hospital. To date, the crocheters have donated approximately 40 hats to fit all sizes. A typical hat is crocheted and the beanie-style hats similar to the one shown is the most popular.

If you'd like to donate hats, or yarn, please e-mail me. If you'd like a hat donation, we'd be happy to provide you with one.

Still going strong...

It's been a while since our last update and the club is still going strong. Our group has completed several more comfortghans.

We met today after church to discuss future projects and discuss our yarn supply. To the surprise of many, we discovered that (through many generous donations) we have plenty of yarn to keep us going. In fact, there was enough yarn to fill a very large hinged tupperware container. We decided to keep the yarn stash at the church so that anyone who wishes to crochet can do so.

Several members are continuing to make 12" squares. One member has decided to try making some mile-a-minute strips for an afghan. Here's a link to a relatively simple granny square style mile-a-minute pattern.

A few members are learning to make hats and will be donating chemo hats to a local hospital. During a visit to the hospital, a chemo nurse mentioned that there is a real need for hats for men. Particularly when the weather is cold. Here's the formula I use when crocheting hats. I find this works well and fits many head sizes. Here's a neat website with sizing information.

1. I start with a small circle (ring)


2. In that ring you dc around (I'll often start with 6 dc)


3. Next round is 2 dc in each stitch around (you'll end up with double the stitches - e.g. 12 dc)


4. Next round is typically 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next stitch around


5. Next round is 1 dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, around


6. Next round is 1 dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, around


7. Continue this way each round until **and here's the magic**, YOU REACH THE NUMBER OF STITCHES THAT CREATE THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF YOUR HAT!! (Note: If I''m aiming for a 20" circumference, I usually stop decreasing around 18" or so since I'm a loose crocheter and I'll make up the extra 2" as I complete the hat.)


8. Then you crochet in rounds without increasing until the hat is the depth you need. A good fitting adult hat is usually about 8" deep.

This formula produces a nice fitting hat and is pretty mindless crocheting. I can usually crochet a hat in the same amount of time it takes me to knit one 12" granny square.

For a man's hat, I'll often finish the edges with a reverse single crochet stitch. For a woman's hat, I've used a scallop stitch or a picot edge for something more decorative. Here's a website with a large list of stitches.

Here's a photo of one of the comfortghans completed and dedicated last December:

Let's meet next Sunday after church

Shortly after the last post, Phyllis, Rachel and I went to Mary Maxim to purchase yarn for our two new comfortghans. Phyllis gratiously purchased enough yarn to complete both comfortghans. The first one will be in the bright primary shades of red, yellow and blue. The second one will be in pastel shades of green.

Phyllis currently has the yarn in her possession. If you would like to participate, you can purchase two balls of yarn from Phyllis for $10. If we have more people crocheting than anticipated, you may receive a slight refund on your purchase.

So far, I have received 6 completed squares for the primary-coloured afghan. Six more to go and we can start putting the squares together. Way to go crocheters!!

We're planning a time of fellowship after church next Sunday (November 5th). If you'd like to join us, please bring a lunch as we will be meeting after choir practice. You can stay for as little or as long as you like. We usually break up around 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. If you live close by, you can go home, have lunch, then return. We'll still be there!

This would be a great opportunity to receive instruction if you're stuck, learn to crochet if you're new or just enjoy time crocheting with others. I'll bring some spare crochet hooks, instruction sheets and patterns.

Just a reminder about the squares:

• they should be 12" in size (no larger, no smaller)
• you can mix colours that belong in the same colourway (e.g. red and blue or red and yellow) in the same square - that adds some variety
• you can use any pattern you wish as long as the square is exactly 12"
• ensure you don't just "cut off" the ends - leave a length of about 6-8", then sew in the ends so the square doesn't unravel. If you're not sure how to do this, please leave the ends "hanging" when you submit your square and/or ask me for directions.

Feel free to leave me a note in the comments section under this post. Just click on the link below and type your message.

Dave to the Rescue

Dave e-mailed me some photos he took on his cell phone after the dedication service.

We're off and running again...

Two weeks ago the afghans were dedicated during the Sunday church service. Afterwards the afghans were presented to Meghan and Mary.

I realized I never did post a completed photo of the afghans we made. I know that photos were taken after the dedication service. If anyone has digital copies of these photos, please send them to me so I can post them here.

After church this morning, we had a brief meeting to discuss our next project. Here is a brief outline:

• Phyllis and Cheryl will make a yarn crawl to Mary Maxim at Yonge/Eglinton to purchase the yarn for our next project
• We will purchase two batches of yarn - one in shades of green and the other in cheerful primary colours
• By using the same type of yarn, we will be able to provide some "consistency" amongst the squares - this will also make it easier to join them
• The next time we meet, the total cost of the yarn would be divided amongst the crocheters who wish to participate
• We'll keep balls of yarn "on hand" so that anyone who wishes to participate can do so at any time without the need to go out and purchase yarn on his/her own
• We'll continue to make 12" squares using any pattern. Several links to free patterns on the Internet can be found in the sidebar to the right of this post
• Please use either a 4.5mm or 5mm crochet hook - whichever hook size allows you to work comfortably so your work isn't too tight or too loose
• Those who are able to meet on Sundays can do so after church. If not, and you prefer to work at home, that's okay too!

If you need crochet hooks or help with a pattern, please feel free to e-mail me and let me know. There's no limit to the number of squares you wish to make. Just keep us posted on your progress. Ideally, for two afghans, we'd like 24 squares. Please ensure that the squares are exactly 12" in diameter. It's okay if they're a little "off" but if they're 12 1/4" or 12 1/2" square it makes the completed afghan look "puckery".

A short prayer you can use as you begin each square...

Dear Lord; Bless my hands as I crochet today. May each
twist of the yarn guide me to create a pattern of love and
comfort in my work and remind me of Your ultimate protection.
Wrap me in Your spirit so that I will be more caring towards
those in need.

Grant me patience as I create this blanket. And bless
my handiwork as it travels to bring comfort and peace
to someone in need of Your warming embrace. Amen.

(found at shawlministry.com and modified slightly)

Two afghans (comfortghans) on the way...

Thanks to the hard work and effort by so many in our group, we're now up to a grand total of 24 granny squares. I'm currently in the process of joining the squares and will be making two (3 x 4) afghans with the squares. I'm crocheting the border on the first afghan and it is almost complete.

Due to unforeseen conflicts with my time, I will not be able to run the Crochet group right now. The group decided that they would still meet from time to time to crochet after church. As the church season will be winding up on the next month or so, we'll start again in earnest in September.I'll post completed photos of the afghans as soon as they're done.

Thanks to everyone who came to crochet last Sunday. We've now reached our first goal of 12 completed squares. In fact, I believe we've surpassed our goal by about 4 squares. That just means we can keep on going and make another! I do know that there are many people in the group who are still working on their squares and that's just great. There is no race and everyone should work at his/her own pace!

Here's what we discussed at our last meeting:

• The group decided that we'd take a short break for Easter. We'll meet again this Sunday but we'll take 2 weeks off and resume again on Sunday, April 30th. Continue to crochet at your leisure at home if you wish during the break
• We'd like to go on a "yarn crawl" in the near future. There was interest expressed in visiting a yarn store to see what's available. There's also a Knitter's Frolic coming up on Saturday, April 22nd. Phyllis, Emily S. and myself are planning to go as we went last year and enjoyed it. It's essentially a large "yarn and pattern exibition". Purveyors of yarn from across the country (and probably North America) go to this yearly event to "show off" and sell their goods. Prepare to be amazed but bring money as you'll be tempted to buy. They have yarn and patterns in all price ranges.
• We're also planning to crochet outside when the weather gets warmer. Perhaps even visit someone's home and crochet in the backyard
• Gwen suggested we "lunch" after church one Sunday just before church breaks for the summer. We also discussed briefly whether the crochet club will continue during the summer. We decided to wait and see how the momentum continues

No pics this week although there's plenty to "show off". Watch for photos after next week's post. Martha has chosen some gorgeous green yarn to begin a poncho. Gwen has been experimenting with an assortment of squares that's she's found in the 63 Granny Squares leaflet.

Keep up the good work everyone!!