I love Vintage! Do you?

Hello Everyone!




I am so pleased to be telling you that our 'Flying The Flag' Blanket is on EBAY.
We are trying to raise money for Alzheimer's here in the UK.
Please spread the word on your Blogs, Facebook etc.,

Thank you!

I am extremely happy to be showing you three beautiful Crocheted blankets. These are just amazing.
But before I show you the photos, I am going to let you read what Joanna wrote in her letter to me.

'You asked for the story behind these blankets, well my Husband's Auntie Amy had heard about the granny square blankets that I'd made for SIBOL earlier in the year and said she had some crochet blankets she'd made but had never done anything with them, they were just sitting in a bag and did I want them? Yes please! When they were brought up for me I wasn't sure what had been made but there were two huge blankets.  Well what to do with them as they were too big for SIBOL?  Auntie Amy had said I could do whatever I wanted with them so I counted up the squares 98 in total. They had been joined together with a double crochet chain join as you go method so I decided to undo them and make 6 smaller blankets. I did feel a bit quilty undoing Amy's joining but decided it would be worth it for the blankets that I could make them into.  I then had a lovely stash of squares which I've really enjoyed putting back together to make three smaller blankets. As the squares are all different colours I've kept the border pretty simple.

So that's how these lovely blankets have come to SIBOL. I think Amy would love them. I've taken some photos to show her next time I see her. The squares must have taken her a long time to do and all I've done is join them again - an easier quicker job compared to the time the squares would have taken so I think the credit for them belongs to Auntie Amy!'

These squares are absolutely gorgeous. I think that all three blankets have a vintage, hippy feel to them. I can just imagine folks at a festival with these!

I would love to thank Auntie Amy for giving the blankets  to Joanna for SIBOL, but as Joanna says Amy made them in the first place. It must have took her ages to make these squares, all in wonderful colours.
I do hate to hear of blankets sitting in bag not been used when our Group could put them to a good use., These blankets have now been made into three smaller blankets by Joanna and will be passed on to the next home I visit. I am so pleased that they have a new lease of life!

Joanna a lot of hard work went in to these blankets by Amy and yourself and I would like to thank you very much they really are fantastic.

I think we had better let everyone see them now.

They are SIBOLS 191, 192, 193.





Created with flickr slideshow.

Thank you so much Joanna and Amy they are very much appreciated.

x Sue x

'Flying The Flag' is on EBAY 'Spread the Word' please!

                                             'FLYING THE FLAG'
Good Evening to you all!

I am very happy to be telling you that our 'Flying The Flag' Blanket is now on EBAY. It comprises of 100 World Flags crocheted up into a 63" Square Blanket. I would be very grateful if you could please link the Blanket on your Blogs, Facebook page, or where-ever. We are trying to raise as much money as we can for Alzheimer's here in the UK. The Blanket was made by Group members in the States and UK  and was part of our recent Challenge. A lot of research has been put in to this Blanket and the reserve price reflects the huge amount of work involved in this Blanket. The Blanket is ideal for use on a sofa, or over a single bed.




PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! PLEASE TAKE PHOTOS OFF THIS WEB SITE AND USE THEM TO PUBLICISE FOR ME.

Thank you!

Happy Bidding!

x Sue x

A note of thanks to everyone!

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for popping in to 'SIBOL' this afternoon.


I am always so very grateful to everyone that sends me Squares. We are between us making the most
amazing Blankets. Each one is just so 'unique' no two are the same and I told you a short time ago that
the recent delivery was received just so well.  The Residents  made a point of thanking me
they loved the Blankets such a lot. I walked out so happy knowing that we had done a good job!

I have scanned the Cards for you to see, I want you to read all the lovely words of thanks. It really made my day and I'm sure it will make yours too!

A Thank You card from 'Mrs Astley', her Aunt is in 'Grey Cables'.

These words really mean a lot to me and I would like to thank you all. .

x Sue x

'O' News

Hi Everyone!

I would first of all like to link you to Kathryn's Blog. She has written a wonderful post  called 'Overview of the Olympics, Ravelympics and Trademark Protection Issues in the News'. I'm sure you will find this very interesting because you know what problems I have been experiencing with our Olympic Blanket.
Thank you Kathryn for writing this post. Please pop over and have  a  read.                                             

                                                     


UPDATE 27/O6/2012

I would like to thank Jennifer for sending in a donation of yarn for SIBOL, and also a pretty Crocheted Square. Jennifer is the Lady who I sent the Blanket to for the Lady at theCare Home.

The yarn will help me with the Blankets thank you very much Jennifer.

x Sue x

Beautiful Blankets arrive today!

Hi Everyone!

I have had a bumper delivery today of gorgeous Blankets and I'm longing to show you!

I would like to thank Marilyn very much for assembling 'Spring Flowers' for me. She very kindly accepted 25 Squares off me and turned them in to this.

A very pretty Blanket indeed using the 'flat braid' method of assembling Squares together. The Squares certainly stand out. Thanks so much Marilyn, I'm very grateful to you.

The next Blankets were sent in by Sally. Sally once again offered to make some Squares up for me but this time they were Knitted ones. She made a great job of these two Blankets.

A pretty Lilac one and also this one coming up....

which reminds me of fields!

I love both Blankets and thanks so much for giving me a hand Sally.

Glenda contacted me several days ago and asked me whether I was interested in two Blankets which she hadn't a use for. Well today they arrived. They are so beautiful.  The first one a green one has really interesting Squares. They are available on RAVELRY and are free patterns.


1) JulieAnny’s Stained Glass Afghan Square

2) Shield of Honor Ver2 by Melinda Hobgood

Good aren't they?

The next one is

I am very pleased to be able to send them on to the Elderly. Thank you so much everyone!

I have made a Slide Show sit back and enjoy!




Created with flickr slideshow.
Thanks for visiting 'SIBOL' today!

x Sue x

SIBOL 185!

Good Afternoon welcome to SIBOL!

I have another beauty for you today! Isn't it exciting? I still get excited even now after all of these Blankets. All of our Blankets are 'unique' you may have noticed. No two Blankets are the same! It's always lovely to receive the Squares but when they are put in to the Blankets they seem to take on yet another meaning.

Just reminding you I'm not accepting Stash Squares until January 2013, but I do need Challenge Squares. If you are interested please pop to SIBOL CHALLENGES.

If you aren't interested in making Challenge Squares, why not make your own Squares and put them in to a Blanket and donate it to SIBOL for the Elderly? All sizes are over on the Challenge Blog.

Let's have a look at SIBOL 185 now. I would like to thank 'jean nock' for 'taking a bag' and helping me assemble a Blanket. She has made it beautifully and I am very grateful to her. This is called 'Pink Paradise'.
A stunning Blanket.

I would  also like to thank 'jean nock' for sending in Jan Eaton No. 93 'Sequenced Stripes' it's a lovely Square made in beautiful colours.

Thank you very much.

I would also like to thank bonsall very much for sending in a great selection of Butterflies.
I feel like an 'entomologist' showing you my Butterfly collections!

These ones are so...pretty!

!

Thanks for stopping by, I am off to finish my Wiggles Blanket now the Squares are amazing!

x Sue x

'Scappy Blankie'.

Good Morning,

Anothet wet miserable day here in the UK today!

I am very pleased to be showing you our latest SIBOL. If you remember last year Knit Today very kindly put a couple of patterns up in their magazine for 'Simple Squares' and said why not send them to SIBOL, which was really nice of them. The Squares started coming in and I'm very pleased to say that I have just finished the third of these Blankets.

The first one was SIBOL 99 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow!'

The second one was a Blanket made by Joyce (UK) which she very kindly donated to SIBOL.

88 'Lilac Patch'.

Now here's the third and last one. I have got a few Squares over but I shall have to put them in future Blankets.

184 'Scrappy Blankie'.

I would like to thank Knit Today for thinking of us, the pattern certainly generated a few Squares for our Group and I would like to thank everyone that took part!

Just to remind you that I have  a 'SQUARE STOP' on at the moment. This means  I will not be accepting  'STASH SQUARES' until January 2013. I am busy at the moment trying to get Squares made up which I have here at home. This doesn't mean you can't make Squares though. Why not make your own SIBOL Blanket and send it to me ready for the Homes? This really would help me out at the moment. I do need 'CHALLENGE SQUARES' though if you fancy having a go with those.

All details are over on SIBOL Challenges.

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely weekend!

x Sue x

Introducing SIBOLS 182 & 183!

Good Afternoon!

Welcome to 'SIBOL'.

I have two beautiful SIBOL Blankets to show you today. They have been sent from Fiona in the Netherlands. These Blankets are just so pretty, I love them. A great choice of colours has been used in both Blankets and Fiona has even put  her own little cards on which have Flowers and Butterflies! Fiona has incorporated the Wiggles Square in to both Blankets along with other patterns too. A lot of thought has gone in to these Blankets and also in to the parcel that she sent to me. Yarn, Butterflies, Ribbon , Hearts and even a little Lotus Flower a gift for me. Each tag tells me the name of the Blanket and why she called it that.

The first Blanket is called 'Beach Flowers'.
It reminds her of the sea and the beach in the Netherlands.
'I hope that it will bring some sunshine in to somebody's life'.
She says.

The second one which is called 'Jurgen's Sunshine'.

She says, " I called this Blanket ' Jurgen's Sunshine'  in honour of my son Jurgen. (8). A boy full of joy and sunshine with blue eyes and that's why I made this Blanket, blue, orange (nl) and his favourite colour yellow.

I hope that it will bring joy and sunshine in to somebody's life"'.

These two Blankets are just so beautiful. I can tell Fiona is really loving SIBOL. It's giving her a chance to try her Squares out and to make something so worthwhile too.  I'm terribly grateful for the parcel today Fiona and when I make my next delivery these Blankets will go at the top of the pile!.

Now lets' take a look at Fiona's Slide Show!






Created with flickr slideshow.

Today I had a phone call from Jennifer. Jennifer rang my home to tell me that the 'Afternoon Tea' SIBOL had reached it's destination. I am always happy to know that the Blankets have arrived safely if they are ones I can't personally deliver.  This particular Blanket was going to a Lady at Barley Close Care Home, Axminster, Devon. She is unfortunately severely disabled and I have been told that she will love it.

Jennifer very kindly had her photo taken holding the Blanket.

It was so nice to speak to you Jennifer. Jennifer has recently left Barley Close and now works out in the Community but she found time to go back and give the Blanket to the Lady there. Thank you so much.

Well I think that's it for now. Two beautiful Blankets from Fiona 'thank you!' and one Blanket delivered to Devon.

I do hope these Blankets have inspired you to pick up your hook. There are indeed some wonderful Squares in books and the internet and although I have a 'SQUARE STOP' on  at the moment, why not put them into a Blanket for SIBOL? All details are over on SIBOL CHALLENGES.

Thanks for visiting today!

x Sue x

Wiggles Squares from the Netherlands and a new SIBOL!

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for visiting 'SIBOL' today.

I would like to thank Karin in the Netherlands for sending in 5 Wiggles' Squares which I need for the Wiggles Challenge. I am pleased to say I now have enough to make the Blanket. Although we have a 'Square Stop' on at the moment I do still need Challenge Squares. So if you would like to make any please do!  All details are over on SIBOL CHALLENGES.

Karin these Squares are just so pretty! Lovely yarn and really beautiful colours. Thank you so ...much!

Pop over to Karin's Blog and say hello!

I am also very pleased to be showing you SIBOL 181!  This Blanket has been  made with a variety of Granny Squares and it has been so much fun to put together!  Thank you to everyone who contributed Squares for this Blanket!

I can't believe it's 181 now! Thanks everyone!

x Sue X

BY THE WAY THERE IS A NEW CROCHETING MAGAZINE OUT IN THE UK.
'SIMPLY CROCHETING!'. By the 'Simply Knitting' people. It is worth buying!

We hit 180!

Hello Everyone!

First of all may I thank everyone who have left me comments on Facebook.

I don't know whether any of the Ladies who visited Facebook are visiting me, but there are a couple of things I would like to say. I'm so grateful for being sent this link. I don't go on Facebook so I was very surprised to see we were on there. When I was told that there were over 120 comments I somehow had to find out more so this morning when my Daughter came round and logged on, I said could you please find me this link. 'Mom, let me set up an account for you!''. I was on the verge of saying yes, then I panicked and said, 'No,  I'm sorry I can't join Facebook!'.  Anyway I managed to print off all the comments and I would like to go through a few if I could to reply back.

Working through the comments I'm overwhelmed when I see words like 'Awesome, Love it, So beautiful, Gorgeous!, Spectacular!,  Fantastic!, Amazing!, Impressive!, Magnifique, Wow!

I only put the Squares together the Ladies who contributed the Squares are the ones who have put their thinking caps on for this special Challenge designing their own special Square to go into our 'O' Blanket. I suggested 'Google' to see what we could come up with, finding a certain image and then maybe copying in to Crochet or Knit. It was really interesting to see what we came up with. Athletes, Flags, etc., The Ladies who took part in this Blanket deserve all of these wonderful words for their outstanding work.

I started suggesting the 'O' Challenge soon after the Royal Wedding Last year. We took part in a competition which was held by 'Great British Yarns' to celebrate the Wedding of Kate and William. We made a large Blanket and we were very fortunate to win first prize.  This spurred me on and I wanted to make an even bigger one. In total we had over 300 Squares. 130 were put in to this 'O' Blanket and the others were made in to smaller Blankets which I have now donated to Nursing Homes. I also have a 100 Square Flag Blanket coming up for auction very soon, trying to raise money for Alzheimer's.

In reply to Tina Simmons Cantrell's  question on Facebook.
Is there a pattern that you used?

In our Blankets for the Elderly we do a lot of 'picture squares'.  This is basically a standard Square of crochet but it may have either a picture crocheted in to it, or crochet pieces added on by sewing. It's amazing what you can make when you use the basic Crochet Stitches to form a picture.

For instance this one,

or this one.

Can you see the Flags  for instance? They are basically rows of trebles or treble groups? Where as the 'N' Square is basically a Granny Square with a Crocheted 'N' sewn on the top.  So you see you don't have to be advanced to do some of the Squares.


In reply to:-
Minal B Shah.
I'm glad you can see your Indian Flag!

Sue Becker-Hargraves.
Thank you so much for your kind comments.

Willena Nanton.
I am pleased you can see your Squares. They fitted really well and I'm glad you sent some from the States!

Marlena Sue Judd.
Thank you so much for your kind comments.

Brenda Facey Simply Beautiful
Your comments are very much appreciated Brenda thank you.

I would like to thank Knit & Crochet Now for featuring our Blanket on Facebook and for also letting me know that we have had such a fantastic response. If you want to pop over please do.

Now our 'Blanket Drive' you could call it.

As you know I have recently delivered our Blankets to Nursing Homes and if you want to read about my visits then please go back a post. The Blankets were accepted so well, the Staff and Residents loved them.

I have in progress a 'SQUARE STOP' which means I am not accepting 'Stash Squares' until January 2013. But I do need 'Challenge Squares' and also 'made-up' Blankets.

Today in the post I have received a beautiful Blanket made up by Pamela here in the UK. Pamela has recently bought herself  a new Knitting Book called 'The Knitting Book"-Yarns, Techniques, Stitches, Patterns by Frederica Patmore & Vikki Haffenden (published by Dorling Kindersley).

 She says, 'It's a thick book but full of great advice from beginner to advanced. I've purchased a few books in my time but this is my favourite. My grandma taught me to knit but she only ever knit and purled so it was great for expanding my repertoire!'

Pamela has been practicising her Squares using this book and she thought it would be a good idea to put them in to a Blanket for 'SIBOL'. This Blanket is so...pretty. I just love it. Pretty Squares and definitely pretty border. Take a look at this!

Wow! That border is something else! I love it. My favorite Square if I should have one, is top middle. I just love the Block effect.

Pamela you have been terribly kind, thank you so much for making such a gorgeous Blanket. I'm sure everyone visiting 'SIBOL' today will just love it. Unfortunately it missed our Nursing Home delivery this week but it will be kept for the next one. I am very grateful to you thank you.

I asked Pamela if she would like to name the Blanket.
"It would be nice to call this blanket "Glady's" in memory of my Grandma who taught me to knit."



Thank you too to everyone that has left comments on Facebook, SIBOL, Flickr, RAVELRY I'm very grateful for them. I am so pleased you enjoy looking at beautiful Squares and Blankets on this Blog and that you find it inspiring to try and make your own.

If there is anything you want to know please drop me a mail Sue on sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

Bye for now

x Sue x

My Nursing Home visits today!

Good Evening everyone!

Thanks so much for visiting 'SIBOL' today.  It's been a busy day but one very rewarding indeed.

As I had got about 58 'Sunshine Blankets' ready to be given out to Nursing Homes I rang up the first one on my list. I have noticed the home  many times while driving in the car so I thought I would give them a ring to see if they would like any Blankets. The Home is 'Grey Cables' in Acocks Green, Birmingham.

I explained all about our Group and our beautiful Blankets and the Lady on the phone was only too pleased to receive them.  I asked if everyone would like a Blanket she was over the moon!

I first of all went in with our leaflets to introduce myself and then went back out to the car. As you can imagine there were a lot of boxes to carry. I had 40  Blankets in total to give out which I had got ready earlier.

 When the first box was put down on the floor the members of Staff including the Manager  gathered around. They just couldn't get over such wonderful Blankets. I took a couple out of the box to show them one was the 'Diamond Jubilee' Blanket and the other was 'Radiating Rainbow!'. Absolutely amazed at all your fantastic work. I explained all about my Grandmother living to 103 and why I started the project and they found the story behind the Blankets really interesting. They all loved the cards and ribbons too!

I was invited to have a look around and meet some of the Residents which was lovely. In particular a Lady called Vera. She was sitting with her friends at a table waiting for their lunch. Dawn the Lady who was showing me around gave them a Blanket each. They absolutely loved them! They wanted me to thank you all and they kept saying how much they liked them. Vera herself enjoys making knitted squares and she asked Dawn if she would pop up to her room and fetch down a bag full of knitted squares which she wanted to give me for our Blankets. She wanted me to put them to good use. I know I have put a stop on squares until January next year, but I couldn't  resist taking these off Vera.

Vera had the 'Fruits' Blanket. Her friends had 'Butterfly Bush' and also 'Target'.  They kept saying how terribly kind it was of you all!

I was invited to look around the Home and afterwards I had a cup of tea with Dawn. I was telling her all about our work and the Olympic Blanket and I have promised her some photos of it.

Vera is going to make some more squares now and they will be ringing me to go and collect them. As I said to Dawn making little squares is something for Vera to do and it keeps her mind active and I know she thoroughly enjoys making them. At one time a Lady came in to pick the squares up but she hadn't been in for a long time. So now she can give them to me. It's an interest for her isn't it?

I thanked them very much for accepting the blankets on your behalf they loved them! Thanks everyone!

                             ------------------------------------------------------------------------                              

                                                    

After lunch  I rang up 'The Green Nursing Home' in Kings Norton, Birmingham. This one once again is very near to my home.

I asked the Member of Staff if they would allow me a photo as I explained it's very important to me to show you where your Blankets end up! She was only too pleased.

Once again the Lady on the telephone was very pleased indeed that we wanted to donate some Blankets and I said I would go straight up to take them. I took 10 Blankets on this occasion but I said we could do some more for them. Once again a great selection of Blankets were given to them. As soon as I walked in the Lady said how lovely there were! She was very happy indeed to accept them and didn't mind having her photo taken either which was lovely!

She has got my contact details and I'll be contacting them again when we have some more ready.

                                --------------------------------------------------------------------
When I came home I decided to get the last Blankets ready for the courier on Friday. These 8 Blankets are ready for the off.

Our Blankets have been very well received once again. I would like to thank everyone that has sent me in squares and indeed for the beautiful donations of Blankets that have come in to my home. We have a lovely Knitting and Crocheting Group and it has brought us all so many hours of pleasure, but when like today I have been out and visited these lovely homes it makes me extremely proud of you all to know that we are making a difference to an Elderly person's life. Very often a Blanket can give such a lot of comfort whether it's used while sitting in a room or indeed outside and I can't tell you how much everyone liked them! So thank you all very much and shall we carry on the good work? I think so. Today has 'personally' done me the world of good and I am determined now to get these bags made up so we can start a fresh collecting squares in the New Year.

I would like to thank the homes for their hospitality and good wishes.
My room is practically empty upstairs, I only have two Blankets one is  'Mae' to find a home for as I promised I would raise some money for that one. If anyone is interested 'Mae' is a beautifully knitted blanket made by a Lady in her eighties. Her own Mother had Alzheimer's and I would like to raise £20.00 for that one for her. All proceeds will go to Alzheimer's. It's a smaller Blanket made in Red, Blue and White. If anyone is interested then please mail me. Sue on sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

The other one 'One Heart From Around The World' is a Challenge Blanket and I want to keep this one to show to the Craft Group next year. Along with the other Challenge Blankets that we are hopefully going to finish making off sometime.  But now as our 'Sunshine Blankets' all 58 of them have found a home I will continue to work hard making the squares up so that we can start a fresh next year. I would like to thank 'SIBOLETTES' for helping me out with them.

Thanks everyone!

x Sue x

UPDATE Friday 15th.

I would like to thank SnazzyB (RAV) for the donation of yarn this morning. Very kind of you!