Edging Fleece with Crochet

Fleece Blanket using Skip-Stitch blade to crochet edge

Easy-to-follow instructions for making a blanket using a Skip-Stitch blade (blade available at http://skipstitch.com/ )

1. Place fleece on self-healing cutting mat.  Cut fleece into size desired, removing selvages (if necessary). (Rounding corners is optional... use plate or container cover to create rounded corner). 
2. Position see-through ruler over 1/2" - 3/4" edge of fleece.
3. Using a 45mm rotary cutter with the Skip-Stitch blade installed, run cutter along edge of ruler with enough pressure to perforate the fleece.
4. Reposition ruler to continue cutting. Place a blade tooth in the last perforation in the fleece, and continue cutting.
5. With right side facing you, just to the left of a corner, start edging the fleece by putting your hook (size H is favorable) through a hole, from the front, picking up the yarn from the back.  Pull through and continue to work a single crochet.  Chain 1. Continue single crochet, chain 1 around the fleece, completing the round with a slip stitch atop beginning stitch. (Work 3 single crochet stitches in each corner if you did not round the corners).
6. Options: crochet only this initial row, add another row of single crochet, or try anything creative!

Scallop pattern: work this into the foundation row, or after a second row of single crochet, or try something different!

1. From the front side of your project, slip-stitch into the foundation row.
2. Skip a stitch and work 3 double crochet stitches in the next stitch .(or 3 hdc)
3. Skip a stitch and slip stitch into next stitch.  Continue around, finishing the row with a slip stitch into the original slip stitch. (compromise as needed for a neat finish).
4. Finish by weaving in ends. NO KNOTS!

#crochet   #freeCrochetPatterns  #howtocrochet

Blankets, Blankets, Blankets... Thank You, Polartec!

Getting ready to deliver 200 blankets to Z Mansion, Tucson, for the homeless.  Each blanket is a generous 70"x90" size, and they are made of Polartec fleece.  In April, 2010, Polartec donated 750 yards of fleece to Holy Needles.  This gave Holy Needles an opportunity to expand it's ministry, to create more items for more people!  Among the items are blankets.  Blankets for homeless, for chemotherapy patients, for homebound, as well as for newborns. 

 Labels were donated to Holy Needles by Casas Church, and are sewn to the blankets.

Polartec fleece blanket for the homeless, labeled, rolled and held together with a crocheted band.

2500 Items Created & Donated in 18 months of Existence!

So many have been served by such awesome generosity from members of Holy Needles!  After 18 months of existence, Holy Needles has created and donated approximately 2500 items to those in need of what we can give! 

THANK YOU Holy Needlers!

Gorgeous Work by Holy Needles Members!

Polartec's HUGE Donation Has Holy Needles Expanding its Ministry!

We are now cutting fleece for chemo patients... to cover themselves while they are receiving chemo treatments.  We are also cutting fleece to provide blankets for the homeless!  Holy Needles is now helping Tucson region's newborns, homebound, cancer patients, and homeless, as well as Samaritan's Purse programs worldwide!  We are so grateful to be able to give to so many in need!

Jaxie & Pat cut fleece off a roll, while Linda & Amy work on crocheting projects!

several scarves ready to ship to Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child program

Joyce cuts poncho style shawls for homebound.

Kathy cuts yard pieces of fleece to create baby blankets and lap blankets (trimmed with a crocheted border).

 

#grateful

One Trimmed Polartec Fleece Shawl... For the Homebound Ministry...

Another Fleece Blanket...

Video on How to Create a Crocheted Border on Fleece

Consider (Machine) Sewing an Applique

Here's a link on how to sew an applique.  Another idea for blankets!


http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/techniques/applique/machine-applique-tips_ss1.html

Consider Creating an Applique...

link to how to create an applique...


http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/techniques/applique/hand-stitched-needle-turn_1.html

The Blanket Stitch... Perfect For Edging Fleece!

Here's some references to making the blanket stitch... great stitch to edge the shawl/lap blanket, a scarf, or any blanket, or use your imagination!!

Creating a Shawl/Lap Blanket for Casas Homebound

WOW! Holy Needler's are off & running with creating lap blankets for the homebound/elderly!  Holy Needles is involved in a joint venture with the Rohring On Homebound ministry at Casas Church.  When someone visits a 'homebound' Casas member, in a private home, a group home, or an assisted living facility, they can gift the person with a lap blanket. 

Besides lap blankets (as seen in the prior blog entries), Holy Needler's can also create/decorate shawls, which can do double duty as a lap blanket as well. 

Our member, Joyce, has altered a pattern to create a nice looking, functional shawl/blanket!  Thank you Joyce! 

Come join us at a Holy Needles meeting, or work strictly from home if you can't make a meeting... grab a piece of fleece and decorate it as you wish.  Edge with a nice blanket stitch, or create a nice single crochet edge, or bind the edge in fabric, or combine fleece with other fabric, or ??? ... you are free to use your creative mind!  

These items for homebound will also have a Casas Church label sewn on them.  Thank you to Cecilia, who will be machine embroidering Casas Church for us, creating sew-on patches! 

Joyce is busy laying her pattern on a cut piece of fleece.

Joyce is busy, busy, busy working on cutting the fleece.  She cut out at least 10 shawl/blankets, and with the remaining pieces, she will create about 40 scarves for donation to Samaritan's Purse worldwide programs!

Holy Needles can now HELP Casas homebound & beyond!!

Holy Needles is joining forces with another ministry group at Casas Church!

We will now be creating lap blankets... yep, lap blankets.  The same size as the infant blankets, a 1-yard square.  The fleece from Polartec will also be used to create lap blankets for the homebound program at Casas Church, called Rhoring On (named after founder).  (The homebound are in private homes, group homes, and/or assisted nursing facilities.)  Since the fleece is 70" wide, a one yard piece will make 2 blankets.  If you would like to be involved with this project, come to a Holy Needles meeting and cut yourself some fleece! 


We also have knit & cotton blend fabric, as well as yarn, that can be used to create lap blankets.  It's all been donated, for your use, for creating with your busy helping hands! 

Remember, some of the homebound are in wheelchairs, so it's important not to create anything that might get caught on a wheelchair or other medical equipment. 

Please share your ideas & enjoy the joy of giving to others!!

(we are hoping that some generous soul can embroider Casas Church to the lap blankets)

Another Fleece Creation!

single crochet edge on Polartec fleece