Reaching Out With Crochet: Our Readers Share
 I have received many wonderful e-mails from readers letting me know how much they enjoy stories about crocheters who are reaching out to help others with their crochet skills. They have also written to tell me how much they appreciated the information on the Special Olympics scarf project (in our Aug. 26, 2008 issue) and how excited they are to be able to contribute to this worthy cause. As I've said before, crocheters are some of the most caring and compassionate folks around, and they're always ready to lend a hand wherever there is a need.
Here are a few letters from our readers:
Mary Ellen Wilmoth: Our crochet club at the Richard Clark Senior Center in LaPlata, Md., is making afghans and lap robes for the returning wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan. We are located about 20 miles south of the landing strip at Andrews Air Force Base where many of the injured are brought. Finished blankets are given to an American Red Cross representative who distributes one to each returning soldier.
Margaret Older: I was heartened to read about the person crocheting hats for the homeless. No matter who you are crocheting for, the gift is one that is always appreciated. I make hats, lap robes, slippers and more for the chemo center nearest me. I also make and donate items to the local hospital ER for the sick children.
I had cancer in 2006 and began crocheting hats when I was undergoing my own treatments and was too weak and tired to do much else. It's still my way of giving back, and during the past two years, the people in my tiny town of 600 have been very generous with donations of yarn for my projects. I will continue doing this until I can no longer hold a crochet hook.
 Barbara Johnson: As I read others' comments of ways to give crocheted hats to those in need, I wanted to share my mother's way of helping. At age 85, Mom still quilts, crochets, embroiders and sews. Most of her crochet work these days goes into making winter caps. The local hospital is thrilled to see her come every few months with a grocery bag or two full of caps to fit the newborns, and they give each new baby a cap before the baby leaves the nursery. Every once in a while, she will see a newborn with one of her little caps on his or her head, keeping the baby much warmer on cold mornings.
She also sends larger caps to a children's home near here that houses up to 40 children of all ages when their own family lives are badly troubled. She saves these larger-sized caps until September and then sends the home a garbage-size bag full of caps of all colors and sizes. The staff at the home is very grateful, and the kids are glad to have something made with love. Mom has indeed found a way to leave her mark in this world.
Marilyn Sawyer: I never seem to have a problem with extra yarn accumulating! I make caps and mittens for the Salvation Army's church. These are given out to families in November and December. I work on these all year around in the evenings when I watch TV. If there is enough yarn, I make mittens to go with a cap whenever possible. Sometimes I end up with odd color combinations in a set using whatever yarn I have on hand, but the kids don't care as long as they are warm!
Genevieve Moore: I was thrilled to read about the Special Olympics scarf project. I have already made two scarves and have recruited three of my friends to also make some, which I will collect and send before the deadline. I am also making chemo caps for a local cancer center and have made sweaters for the Guideposts Knit for Kids program. I love to crochet, and it keeps my fingers nimble and my mind active.
Shirley Carpenter: I am working on scarves for the Special Olympics project, and I am so excited to be a part of it. I love to do handwork, and when I have a cause to knit or crochet for, it fills my heart. Thank you for bringing all of these great causes to our attention.
Linda Dryer: I am making scarves for the Special Olympics. Every year I pick a special cause to share my crocheting ability. The scarves are my project for this year, and I'm very excited. Thank you for passing the word.
Pat Lehnen: I have been working on scarves for the Special Olympics and have almost completed two each in different patterns. I will be sending these off to Boise and look forward to seeing all of the Special Olympians wearing their blue and white scarves this winter! I know the scarves will be a blessing to these young people. Thanks for the chance to give to this worthy cause.
Thank you to these readers for sharing their charitable crochet experiences. If you have a story to share, please write and tell me about it!
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Crocheting Necklaces for Cancer
With their new crochet skills, these Canadian students are raising awareness and helping a worthwhile cause with their Necklaces of Hope.
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Blanketing Our Country's Disabled Soldiers
After seeing a local TV report about disabled veterans in a community hospital, this dedicated crocheter enlisted the help of other area crocheters and began a grassroots effort to make blankets for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Blanketing Babies: 82-Year-Old Retiree Crochets for Newborns
Octogenarian David Nifong keeps his crochet hooks flying by crocheting blankets and hats for the local chapter of Newborns in Need. His results so far are astounding!
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 Soldiers Send Crochet "Prayers" Back Home
A group of soldiers stationed in Iraq are crocheting prayer shawls and sending them back home to the families of fallen service members and those heading home on emergency leave. It also provides therapy for the difficulties they face in war.
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Plastic-Bag Crochet to the Max!
While many crocheters are familiar with the more commonly made projects crocheted with plastic bags, such as rugs, mats, bags and totes, this disabled nursing home resident has taken plastic-bag crocheting to new heights!
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From Crocheted Pillow Edging to Pendant
In our Sept. 16, 2008 issue, we featured information on an artist who saves vintage crochet pieces in resin. Look at what else Carmi is up to!
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Reader Questions
I received the following inquiries from subscribers, and for the benefit of all our readers who might have wondered about these issues, I'll answer them here.
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Are Cro-Hooks and Afghan Hooks the Same Thing?
For crocheters who are not familiar with afghan-stitch crochet (also known as Tunisian crochet), this is a common question. Although an afghan hook and a cro-hook are both used to work afghan stitch, they are not made the same way and are used differently to produce different results.
The afghan hook has a long shank providing room to hold many stitches. The shank is the same diameter throughout and has no finger grip. The end has a knob to keep stitches from sliding off. The stitch is formed by first picking up one loop through each stitch in the previous row. These loops are stored on the hook shank, much as in knitting. Then, when the end of row is reached, the loops are worked off two at a time just like when a single-crochet stitch is completed. When working afghan stitch with an afghan hook, the work is not turned.
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A cro-hook, also known as a double-ended hook, looks like an afghan hook except that it has a hook on both ends and is used when working afghan stitch in two colors. Whereas the work is not turned when working afghan stitch with an afghan hook, it is turned when working afghan stitch with a cro-hook. Loops are picked up like afghan stitch in the first color; then, the work is turned and the loops are worked off in the second color. New loops are picked up with the second color; then, the work is turned and the loops are worked off in the first color. It forms a rather bulky fabric that is exactly the same on both sides, stitch-wise, usually producing a horizontal-stripe effect.
Click here for illustrations and videos for working regular afghan stitch with an afghan hook, and here to see how the afghan stitch is worked with a double-ended hook.
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Why Does My Yarn Keep "Fuzzing" As I Crochet?
It likely is because you are going against the grain of the yarn as you work. It is important to use your yarn with the grain, not against it. To determine which direction is with the grain, run your fingers along the strand. If they slide smoothly along the strand, you are working with the grain; if they don't and the yarn fuzzes up, you're working against the grain.
The grain of your yarn will affect your finished product. This is an especially good test for balls of yarn you might have obtained from sources other than buying new. The persons who might have wound the yarn might not have realized which direction was with the grain or against it.
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How Do I Tie Off Embroidery Yarn on My Crochet Projects?
When working embroidery accents on your crocheted pieces, such eyes or a mouth on dolls or animals, for example, you don't want to simply tie off the ends of the yarn you are embroidering with and snip them off at the knots. Not only is this not a very secure finishing, but the color of the embroidery yarn is usually in stark contrast to the color of the project, and the knots would be clearly visible.
Always leave a long beginning and ending length of embroidery yarn. When finished stitching, securely knot each yarn end fairly close to the embroidery. Thread one end on a yarn needle, insert the needle into the crocheted piece close to the embroidery and weave the yarn end back and forth inside the crocheted piece several times, pulling the yarn just firmly enough to make sure the knot is pulled inside the crocheted piece. Snip the yarn end and tuck it firmly inside the crocheted piece. Repeat with the other yarn end.
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My Post Stitches Make My Crochet Work Pull. What Am I Doing Wrong?
Post stitches are easy and fun once you get the hang of them. The keys to making uniform post stitches that don't pull your work are keeping a nice, even tension and taking care to pull up the loop of your post stitch to the same height as the other stitches on the row you're working before completing your stitch. Working post stitches with a slightly looser tension should help you pull your loop up to the height of the working row more smoothly and easily. On the other hand, don't work too loosely or your stitches will look sloppy.
Practice the technique with yarn scraps before you attempt your next post-stitch project. Before long, you'll be turning out perfect post-stitch rows!
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Fun Ideas for Christmas Crochet
Christmas is just around the corner, and in this issue as well as the next two issues, we'll be featuring some fun-to-make patterns that will make great gifts or add a festive touch to your holiday home decor.
Our adorable Snowman Stocking is sure to bring a smile to the faces of family and friends. This pattern gives you other options, too. For example, you can decorate a plain sweatshirt with the snowman and snowflake motifs. The motifs could also be sewn to the ends of a cozy winter scarf for a fun holiday look or applied as a decorative accent on a pillow. Stitched in thread, the snowman would make an adorable pin. The snowflake motifs could be stiffened and hung as beautiful Christmas tree ornaments or used as package decorations. The possibilities are endless!
Since we talked about the afghan stitch in this issue, I thought it would be nice to include a very simple afghan-stitch project for those crocheters who have never tried this technique. Our Colorful Coasters pattern uses a double-ended crochet hook and small amounts of two contrasting colors of worsted-weight yarn. For Christmas, make them in either red and white or green and white, and they'll resemble the round peppermint and spearmint candies!
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