Prayer Shawl or Lapghan Pattern

Photo © Copyright 2018, Pam Halbert. All Rights Reserved.
Created for Holy Needles, Tucson AZ
JEAN'S GROUPIE STITCH AFGHAN

MATERIALS:

4-ply yarn

N hook: this is the magic of the pattern.  The large hook gives this afghan a light texture, while providing warmth.  You can adapt the pattern to any weight yarn, and adjust the hook size.

DIRECTIONS:

Chain 100 (or any even number) for the width or length you want.

Turn, and in 2^nd stitch, sc and hdc in the same chain (groupie stitch)

Skip a chain.  Repeat sc and hdc in every other chain to the last chain.

Chain 1, then turn.

Repeat groupie stitch (sc (single crochet), hdc (half double crochet) in between each groupie stitch (the smaller space).  Chain 1, then turn. repeat for the length you want.

Optional border: two rows of sc (single crochet) around the afghan.

40" x 40" recommended for lapghan

average size shawl is approximately 20" x 60"

© Copyright 2017, Jean Rodkey. All Rights Reserved. Created for Holy Needles, Tucson AZ

please do not copy and claim as your own. link to this post. thank you. feel free to create charitable items with this pattern.

Fundraising... 'No Excuses' Fellowship Group @ Casas Held a Fundraiser for Holy Needles November 2011

A HUGE Thank you! to members of 'No Excuses'!!!  Donated were numerous skeins of yarn, and hundreds of dollars to purchase fleece fabric to create blankets for children who are receiving chemotherapy treatments through University of Arizona Medical Center. 

Creating a Crocheted Border on Fleece

Start by inserting hook into fleece, a few inches to the side of a corner.  Grab yarn with your hook, and pull through, leaving a 6" tail. Make a single crochet. Chain 1, then insert hook into next hole, continuing to make a single crochet stitch.

Repeat all around fleece single crochet, chain 1.  In the corners, create 3 single crochet stitches (NO chain inbetween).  When you finish, you will use a tapestry needle to weave in your ends, back and forth nicely.  The original tail will initially finish the V stitch visualized on the back of the fleece, then you can weave.  NEVER use knots... ALWAYS leave tails & WEAVE!

Again... NEVER use knots... ALWAYS leave tails and WEAVE!

Copyright 2010 by Donna Bishop... all rights reserved.

Using the Skip-Stitch Blade to Create Blanket Borders...

This is a great tool for putting holes into fleece edge, to be able to crochet a border.  The tool is a blade for a 45mm rotary cutter. 

It's called a skip stitch blade.  check it out at http://www.skipstitch.com/products.htm

Also, check out a You Tube video on using this blade.  It's not done quite the way we do it... we put holes 3/8" - 1/2" from the edge.  Also, place the clear straight edge over the edge of the fleece, so that you can use the measurements on the straight edge as your guide. (Maybe someday we'll create a video!)

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

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

Flowers!!!

How beautiful!  Pam & her sister created these felt flowers, and they make wonderful decor for the fleece scarves and the fleece blankets!  Thank you, ladies, for your awesome talent!

Applying Wrights Blanket Binding...

http://www.wrights.com/wrights/class/sewing/blanketbinding/blanketbinding.htm

Applying Blanket Binding

Wrights®Blanket Binding has woven edges. That means there is no need to use a zig zag stitch when applying it. Additionally, when washed and dried it will not fray nor loose it's luster.

The thickness of blanket may cause binding to pucker. This can be reduced by loosening stitch tension.

Blanket binding is folded slightly off center for ease of use. Place narrow side up when applying.

What's Great About Blanket Binding?

• It's woven edges won't fray  
• It's completely washable and dryable  
• It's folded to make using it extra easy  
• It's 100% polyester for a beautiful luster

To Apply:

1.With narrow side up, fold blanket binding over edge of fabric, pin in place and stitch as close to the woven edge of the blanket binding as possible.

2. To bind around a corner,sew blanket binding to corner of fabric, as shown. Stop at corner, remove from sewing machine, and clip threads. DO NOT CUT BLANKET BINDING.

3.Fold blanket binding around corner so that a neatly mitered pleat is formed on the top and bottom at the corner and pin.
 
4. Place fabric under pressure foot at the mitered pleat and begin to sew, making sure to backtack at the mitered pleat.

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

Another Fleece Blanket...

Awesome Navajo Design Blankets.... by Pam

Navajo Indian Multi-Colored Baby Afghan



Size: Approximately 40" x 36"


Materials: 1--8 oz. skein of each color, 4-ply yarn #4 worsted

Hook: Size I

Each row is worked separately; do not turn. leave a 4" end of yarn at the start and end of each row for fringe.


All single crochets (sc) are made in the back loops of stitches. All double crochets (dc) are made in the front loops of stitches in second row from one being worked on.


Start with Color A (Baby Blue) for border. Ch 125 and break yarn.


Border:


Rows 1-5: Sc in each stitch across with border color (A).


Afghan:


Row 6: Color A: Sc in 2 sc, 1 dc, (19 sc, 1dc) end with 2 sc. Be sure to skip 1 sc behind each dc.

Color B (Royal Blue):


Row 7: 3 sc, 1 dc, (17 sc, 1 dc, 1 sc, 1 dc), end 3 sc.

Row 8: 4 sc, 1 dc, (15 sc, 1 dc, 3 sc, 1 dc), end 4 sc


Row 9: 5 sc, 1 dc, (13 sc, 1 dc, 5 sc, 1 dc), end 5 sc.

Color C (Baby Blue):


Row 10: 6 sc, 1 dc, (11 sc, 1 dc, 7 sc, 1 dc), end 6 sc.


Row 11: 7 sc, 1 dc, (9 sc, 1 dc, 9 sc, 1 dc), end 7 sc.


Row 12: 8 sc, 1 dc, (7 sc, 1 dc, 11 sc, 1 dc), end 8 sc.


Color D (White):


Row 13: 9 sc, 1 dc, (5 sc, 1 dc, 13 sc, 1 dc), end 9 sc.


Row 14: 10 sc, 1 dc, (3 sc, 1 dc, 15 sc, 1 dc), end 10 sc.


Row 15: 11 sc, 1 dc, (1 sc, 1 dc, 17 sc, 1 dc), end 11 sc.


Color A (Baby Blue):


Row 16: 12 sc, 1 dc, (19 sc, 1 dc), end with 12 sc.

Rep rows 15, 14, and 13.


Rep rows 12, 11, and 10.


Rep rows 9, 8, and 7.


Rep row 6. Begin pattern again with row 7.


When afghan reaches desired size, rep rows 1-5 after row 6 to complete the pattern.


Notes: This afghan was originally designed for Black/Gray/Red/White combination. To make afghan in 3 colors, use Color A for Color C. I changed Row 16 to Color B (Royal Blue) to give more contrast--it is between rows of white. Might do this with Row 6 also.




For a full size afghan, Ch 245 stitches. Or larger Ch 285. (Multiple of 20 + 5).


In 4 color combination: 8-12 oz. of Color A; 12-16 oz. each of Colors B, C, D

In 2010, provided by Pam Halbert of Holy Needles

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

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!

Some Black Fleece Creations!

Using the donated high quality fleece from Polartec!!

a few different colored edged blankets... simple & cozy. these were created by busy Holy Needler's hands, for the elderly as lap blankets... match with a cute beanie, and they'd make a nice newborn blanket as well.

adorable fleece baby blanket with fabric-created balloons

beautiful work for one blessed baby!

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)