From One Mother To Another

If I have any readers left, I know you're all wondering what the heck I've been doing....

2009-07-31T11:07:00.003-04:00

So, um, yeah, I'm not good at keeping up with this. I started a quilt for the last project I suggested, and hated it- it's pinned to the batting waiting to be quilted in my sewing room. The Delco Pregnancy Center was not accepting donations, and I haven't found another place to donate yet, so I kind of lost my motivation.

I think I might stick to knitting for this blog because knitting is simple enough to bring with me and work on a little at a time. Some good friends recently had a beautiful new baby girl, and i made this for the baby:

and this for the proud new big brother:

I do know that the Bethlehem Community Church in Delmar, NY is currently accepting donations of newborn items- specifically fall & winter clothes for their program with the Alpha Pregnancy Center...doesn't even need to be handmade- they even said if you had hand me downs from your own babies they'd love that. If you're in the area, it's something to consider. I'll be finding a similiar program in my area for my baby hats. My mom recently gave me a whole stack of knitting magazines & I will be attempting my first baby sweater- if that goes well maybe I'll have more to post here!

march/april project

2009-03-24T11:57:00.003-04:00

For March & April, since I can't seem to stick to a monthly schedule, I have decided to make some baby items to donate to the DELCO pregnancy center, an organization supported by my church. I was perusing a blog my friend linked me to, and I found this quilt in one of their links, and it totally inspired me! I was planning on a quilt, among other things, and I really like this pattern.

If anyone else would like to join me in making baby items, some great patterns for sewing, knitting, AND crochet can be found at Bev's Country Cottage. And lots of great quilting patterns can be found at this site. Please send in your pictures if you decide to play along!

so um, February got away from me...

2009-02-27T15:17:00.003-05:00

I did not get around to figuring out a February project. Maybe this won't exactly be monthly. The program at the church was only accepting money, not actual blankets. The pastor did give me contact info for someone who might have a place I could donate, but I have been busily knitting some other projects. It seems like everyone I know is pregnant right now! So here is the first thing I have finished for a friend's new baby. It may not be a charity project, but it's still something given from 1 mother to another, right?

I got the pattern from bevscountrycottage.com - a great site my mom referred me to- it's full of free patterns. I modified the hat pattern a little bit.

I'm friends with another couple that's pregnant & they aren't finding out what they're having- so I have to make a pink set AND a blue set for them. Luckily that will mean I'll have a set ready the next time someone has a baby not the same gender as theirs!

I will try to be back ASAP with another project idea, but I have a lot going on right now :(

Completed Knit One, Save One, and finally figured out how to make this idea work!

2009-02-04T12:07:00.005-05:00

First here's my idea for this blog- each month I'll post a new charity project idea, with links to patterns or tutorials, or maybe I'll post my own tutorial. Then whoever participates can send pictures of their finished projects to from1mother@hotmail.com

So "knit one, save one" was my January project...did anyone else out there participate? I'd love to see what you came up with.

For February I'm thinking about a program my church is working with to provide blankets to victims of natural disasters. The church's involvement is just sending in $$$ to purchase blankets, but I'm going to see if the organization they're working with will accept handmade blankets also. I also have a friend with a foster child & the organization she got the baby from has a family shelter that accepts donations. Since it's a chilly February, I'm thinking hats, scarves & mittens. I will post more about that soon!

After about a month of knitting furiously, here are all the hats I've finished:

Here are some close ups of what I sent off for the knit one, save one campaign:

And I was so inspired, I made this for my little guy, it's my own pattern:

(yes the pic is super blurry- he does not stand still for anything!)

In the process of making these hats, I learned how to make an i-cord, a pom pom, and a hat that gradually gets smaller near the top instead of gathering all my stitches at the end. And I discovered how to make the pattern on my son's red hat above- knit a row, purl a row, knit a row, and do a row in seed stitch...I think I might make him a sweater vest with the same pattern, I really like the interest it adds.

Knit One, Save One

2009-01-08T10:58:00.003-05:00

My mother sent me this info from Isager Patterns & Yarns:

"Knit One, Save One is Save the Children’s campaign to prevent newborn deaths in developing countries by the simple gift of an insulating knit or crochet hat. The deadline for accepting hats has been extended to January 31st. Participants are also being asked to send an online message to President-elect Obama urging him to “lead the way in reducing newborn deaths globally”. Click here for an Action Kit and for suggested hat patterns. And click here if you wish to use our free newborn hat pattern."

more info here:

http://www.savethechildren.org/programs/health/child-survival/survive-to-5/knit-one-save-one.html

If anyone decides to do this, please send pics of what you make so I can post them here!

a quick post

2008-12-30T18:57:00.002-05:00

First I want to say, I am so excited to have 4 followers! I'm so happy that people are supporting this idea, even though I haven't worked everything out yet...which leads me to repeat, if you have any input, comments, questions, or ideas for projects or places that accept donations to help families, please leave a comment or email me- from1mother@hotmail.com.

Anyway, my mom printed out a really cute knitting pattern tonight & I saw it & was like "wow, that doesn't look so hard, I want to make it! Well, it took me my entire pregnancy to make my baby's blanket, so I know it would take me years to make a whole item, but I thought I could make little squares & piece them all together like a quilt. So that's my project idea for today. My mom referred me to this great site that has free patterns- bevscountrycottage.com. Check it out, there's some great stuff (and not just knitting, sewing patterns too). Maybe some of the patterns could be done in small squares to be pieced together.

I know I promised some how to's & pictures, but I'm still at my mom's house. I'll have something posted sometime this week.

a project idea

2008-12-20T13:51:00.003-05:00

I'm still really busy finishing some Christmas presents, but I wanted to share this idea in case there is anyone out there who isn't completely overwhelmed right now! I will come back later with pictures, but here is an idea...

Fleece scarves- so simple- no sewing required! Just cut a long piece & cut into each end to create fringe. Polar fleece doesn't fray, so that's all you need to do. You can make matching mittens & hats too. I'd like to make up hat & mittens patterns, but I don't know when I can get it done. It will eventually be up here. (I also know of a really great no-sew fleece blanket project that I'll do a tutorial for if I can't find one)

Also, check the link list on the side for some donation sites I've already listed. No Mother Left Behind is an organization that distributes slings & other baby wearing items to moms, and Miracle Diapers distributes cloth diapers. There are even links on their sites to tutorials for slings, diapers, and other baby items.

If you know of any organizations that accept donations, or a great site with crafty tutorials or patterns, please email from1mother@hotmail.com so I can add them to the link list!

Happy Crafting!
Mandy

so i had this great idea...

2008-12-08T23:48:00.000-05:00

A missionary family came to our church on Sunday to tell us about their work in Congo. The wife was talking about how breastfeeding has really increased the survival rate of the children there, but because the women have to work, they can't stay home to nurse. (A topic very close to my heart since I still nurse my toddler.) I immediately heard God telling me to make some slings & send them back with this family. I made up a little gift tag that says "from one mother to another" with a picture of my little guy in his sling, and I thought that would be a great name for a charity group. I could connect with other crafty moms, and we could make baby items & donate them to mothers in need. I have friends who can help me find organizations to donate to, and my mother already does this with her knitting group- chicks with sticks (see her blog in my link list).

So I started out with baby slings, because it's something I already make, but I have a ton more ideas- quilts, fleece blankets, hats, scarves...just look at my sewing room:

(That's just one side of the room!) Anyway, I will post ideas, patterns, links, and tutorials here so anyone who wants to can join in making donations in their own community.

Here are the slings: