Crochet along with me, the best is yet to be

I have this idea!! There's this really cute pattern (no, it's not mine) for a kitty granny square. Really cute. If you've got some yarn and a hook, and you'd like to crochet along with me, just keep reading.

If you'd like to do some good with a granny square or 2, you could consider sending them to me, and I'll put them together into an afghan to try to raise money for the Lyndhurst Feral Cat Project.

Here's the pattern. It's free. http://www.sewrella.com/2016/07/kitty-cat-crochet-granny-square.html

It's written for worsted weight yarn. I used Bernat Premium and Bernat Satin. Both are classified as #4 Medium. It's acrylic, so it's easy care. If you're making your squares for the LFCP afghan, use any colours you like...... the brighter, the better. I used buttons for the eyes and nose, because I don't intend this for a baby.

Cassie approves!

I'm not a big-time crocheter, so my experience may differ from yours, BUT I think the first ring of the block should ask you to make 9 DC in the magic ring, so you end up with 10 stitches. The first chain 2 is really the first stitch.

Also, the pattern doesn't really tell you where to start the frame around the cat's face. I found it was easier to mark the cat's face like the hours of a clock (an old-fashioned clock). Put a safety pin at each hour of the clock, and start at the 2 o'clock point. I didn't count stitches as the pattern instructs. I just slip-stitched into each hour of my 'clock'.

Oh, and for some reason, my kitty cat granny square measures 8 inches square, not 6 inches as it says in the pattern. No matter. One of the great things about crochet is that it's so 'fudgeable'.

That's it! Have fun! And if you want to send me a block to add to the afghan, please just let me know. Just leave a comment on this post, and I'll get back to you with the address. The cats and I would be very grateful. Thank you!

More boy stuff

Still researching what makes a baby sweater suitable for a boy baby. Babies of either gender are sweet and cute. Do we treat boy babies differently from girl babies? I've never seen even the most rugged of men, slug a baby on the shoulder, and ask, "How's it goin', buddy?".   However, there does seem to be some unwritten rule about how boy babies ought to reflect their 'boy-ness' in their dress.

Blue is the quintessential colour for boys, right?  Turquoise is a member of the blue family, specifically blue-green. Therefore, this is a boy colour, right? Let's push the envelope and add an appliqué patch for decoration. Are cats OK? Lions are pretty man-ly. Is this happy cat face OK?

I'm still not sure I have a handle on all this. What I do know is that it's fun to knit these little sweaters. I've donated this one to the online auction that the Lyndhurst Feral Cat Project is running right now on Facebook. Proceeds from the auction are going to the Gananoque & District Humane Society who help us so much with our cats. In fact, without the G&DHS, we wouldn't be able to do what we do.

If you're in need of a baby sweater for a boy, size 6 to 9 months, made of washable wool/nylon (or over a 100 other items on offer), please check out the auction page. https://www.facebook.com/LFCPAuction2017   Bidding ends Sunday night, March 5, at 9 pm sharp.

The big reveal!

Finally, I can share the big, secret project I've been working on.

It's a quilt! It's a calendar! It'll be both! :)

Here are the 12 quilt blocks I made to illustrate the 2017 calendar that the Lyndhurst Feral Cat Project is putting together to fundraise for the cats in our care.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The Year of the Cat!!  Calendars will be $16 and we are taking pre-orders with payment due upon delivery. There's no delivery charge if we can hand deliver them, but if you live too far away, they can be mailed for $2, maybe a little more if there are several calendars.

Edited November 8, 2016:  According to Canada Post's website, the current postage for a single calendar will  be $3.25. That includes the tax they insist on adding to the posted rate. :)

TO ORDER:
Please just leave a comment on this post. Let us know if you'll need it to be mailed or if it's likely that it could be hand delivered (if you work with/are related to/friends with an LFCP committee member or if you live in Lyndhurst). The deadline for ordering is November 18, 2016. 

PAYMENT:
We can accept cash, cheques or e-transfers sent to stephanie.etherington103@gmail.com.

All funds go toward food, surgeries, vet care and shelter for Lyndhurst and area cats. Thank you for your support!