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!

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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.

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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!

Our SIBOL Blankets.

Hello Everyone!

Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments about our 'Going For Gold' Blanket. I'll be up-dating with any news on it.

As you can see from the header photo I am in the process now of getting our Blankets ready for deliveries.  My first batch will be once again going to Dorset County Council, Tracy is very happy to receive some for the Elderly out in the Community. She was extremely pleased with the Blankets we sent down before and I will be using a courier to deliver them once again. I  have been sorting out some darker ones for the Men because she found them very useful the last time. These Blankets go out to people in the rural areas of Dorset and I know our Blankets were very well received. It may be a few weeks before I can get them all sent out, but I will be keeping you informed.

The other Blanket I want to show you is called 'Afternoon Tea'. I would like to thank everyone for the Squares that were donated for this Blanket. I have showed you this Blanket before but it has left me now and should be arriving Wednesday at Barley Close Care Home in Axminster. It is a gift for a Lady with severe disabilities. Jennifer over on RAVELRY looks after the Lady and she tells me that the gift will make her day.  Some time ago Tinka sent me some Squares for our SIBOL Stash and I have used these to make a small bag. I tied some purple ribbon through the holes and made a short handle. Inside I enclosed a couple of small gifts a bar of soap and some smellies for the bath. I do hope she likes it. She should do purple is her favourite colour.  I do like to tell you where our Blankets are going.

I would like to thank Ladies over on RAVELRY for offering to 'take a bag' of Squares. After I announced that I wanted to put a stop on Squares until next January I have had offers of help to make Blankets up. This is quite a fun thing to do within our Group and it is indeed a 'Challenge' in itself! It gives our 'SIBOLETTES' the chance to personally have the experience of making a Blanket up. As I have said many times before  I have always felt so priviledged to be able to work with your Squares.
So thanks everyone! Enjoy your Squares!

I think that's all for now. I'm very late going to bed it's early 2.00am! So goodnight, sleep tight!

x Sue x

Update 8.47am.

My 'SIBOL' post continues because I have just had a Blanket arrive from Liztelf here in the UK. Liztelf has just sent in a beautiful 'Giant Granny!'. The combination of colours have worked so well in this Blanket and I think it is really very eye-catching!  As I was saying to Liztelf there is something about just hooking away on a large Granny Square I think it is terribly relaxing! It doesn't need that much concentration and can be done while watching TV!

Liztelf has sent in some Butterflies which are just so...pretty!

Have a go! Here's the link!

Let's take a look now at the beautiful Giant Granny!

Another gorgeous donated Blanket thank you very much Liztelf!

Thank you for visiting today! x

Update on our 'Going For Gold' Olympic Blanket.

Hello Everyone!

Thank you for visiting 'SIBOL' today.

As you know for  around a year I have been collecting Squares to make a massive Blanket with the Olympics London 2012 in mind. Squares have come in from all over the World as far as the States, Europe and of course the UK.

After making The Royal Wedding Blanket back in April last year to celebrate Prince William & Kate Middleton's Charity Gift Fund  where we raised over £100, I thought I would like to make an even bigger Blanket and as the Olympics were coming to London 2012, I thought why not!  So I put this out to our 'SIBOL' Group and soon after Squares started coming in. You really put your thinking caps on with this Challenge and the Squares were a joy to receive! My aim was to raise money for Alzheimer's here in the UK. Dementia affects  800,000 here in the UK alone and I thought it would be wonderful if 'SIBOL' could raise some money for them to carry on their research. 

I received enough Squares to make a few Blankets some smaller and a large 130 one. So I set to work after Christmas working on the Squares. I was really pleased with the finished Blanket and everyone has been very kind telling me how much they love it.

Now the bad news...... I have since found out over the last couple of weeks in fact that it will be illegal to sell our Blanket due to the The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games protecting their Olympic Brand.  In our Blanket we have made Squares which show the Olympic Logo and other words relating to the Olympics. 

I have been terribly upset about this and after numerous telephone calls and emails to the LOCOG I am afraid that we won't be able to go any further with this Blanket. I have just received another phone call from a member of Staff and once again I have tried to 'fight my cause'. Unfortunately, I cannot go any further with it. I really have tried extremely hard for our Group. I want you to know that I have done my very best. I have even written to the PM, (sadly no reply).

I am extremely embarrassed, that I have asked you all to send in Squares for this Challenge and I want you to know that I am really really disappointed too. You have all worked so terribly hard and I'm really really sorry.

But saying that I want us all to be proud of what we have achieved. As a Group we once again rose to the Challenge. Our Blanket is beautiful and I know that it has brought us all a lot of pleasure. We have sat in our homes working away on these Squares for hours on end  and I want us to be proud although we can't sell it.

Thanks  so much everyone for your support with this Challenge, I am terribly grateful to you.

On a  lighter note I am very pleased to be showing you some 'SIBOL' Butterflies which arrived in the post today from Dansnanna on RAVERLY. They are little beauties thanks so much!

Thank you for popping in to 'SIBOL' today!

x Sue x

Your last chance to own SIBOL Blankets!

Hello Everyone,

I have two beautiful Blankets to show you today, but firstly can I remind you that our auction ends shortly today on three SIBOL Blankets we have on EBAY.

The links for EBAY are over to the right of the Blog scroll down 'under favourites' 'Rule Britannia'. 'Jubilation' and 'Mae'. Please support Alzheimer's!


joyce28 here in the UK has very kindly made and donated two gorgeous Blankets. The first a fruit one, just take a look at the fruit Squares Joyce has knitted. She has put them together so well in this Blanket. It is so 'mouth-watering!'.  The border matches the Squares so well and I just love this Blanket.The name will be 'Nice and Fruity!.

Joyce has been so kind because not only has she made the above Blanket she has also designed a beautiful 'Diamond Jubilee' Blanket', called 'Celebrations!'. I can't get over the creativity of the Ladies in our SIBOL Group. Just take a look at the individual Squares in this Blanket they have been made with such a lot of thought. I added some 'SIBOL Butterflies' to both Blankets and some ribbon too.  Joyce has been working so quietly on both of these Blankets and I am so pleased that she thinks our SIBOL project is worthy of her donations.

Golly they both are amazing! I am so grateful to you Joyce. A lot of hard work has gone into these Blankets. I would like to thank Sally too at this point for the beautiful Blankets she sent in to SIBOL yesterday. I would love you to go back a post and have a look at them. Such kindness from the Ladies in our SIBOL Group.

For those who haven't popped in to SIBOL recently I have had to put a hold on accepting 'Stash Squares'. The reason is because I really need to use the Squares up which I have got here. I do hope you understand. I do still need 'Challenge Squares' and details are over on the Challenge Blog. I do still need Blankets too for our Elderly folk. So please join in where-ever you can. Our SIBOL Group is not ending. I do still love it as much as I did before but I have to be realistic in what I can and can't do now.

I will leave you with a Slide Show I have made for the two Blankets received today! Have fun viewing. Thank you very much Joyce and  thanks to you all for popping in to SIBOL!





Created with flickr slideshow.

New SIBOLS today!

Good Evening Everyone!

Thanks for popping in to SIBOL today! I am extremely happy to be showcasing three new SIBOLS!

A few weeks ago Kirsty contacted me and asked if she could help me make a Blanket up. I was only too pleased to send 25 Squares out to her and today I received the Blanket back. I am very grateful for your help Kirsty, now you have had the 'SIBOL' experience! Seriously, you made a wonderful job of assembling the Squares and the border was really nice too. I think this is a really lovely Blanket. I am so pleased you enjoyed working with the Squares, thank you. I would also like to thank everyone who contributed Squares for this particular Blanket.

Let's take a look now.

It was a bumper day for Blankets today finding two large parcels in my porch this morning. The other parcel arrived from Sally here in the UK. Sally has made several Blankets now which she has very kindly donated to SIBOL  and I'm sure you will agree she has made a wonderful job of incorporating both Knitted and Crocheted Squares. They are wonderful Blankets and I know they will give a lot of warmth and comfort to an Elderly person. You are so kind Sally to spend such a lot of time working for our Group, I appreciate it very much. Thank you!

Sally also sent Butterflies and Flower Embellishments I am terribly grateful thank you so much.

Let's take a look now at the Slide Show. Thank you Kirsty for your help. Thank you Sally!



Created with flickr slideshow.

I hope you have enjoyed the Slide Show, beautiful work from both Ladies. So kind of  you to help me also!

Thank you for visiting 'SIBOL' this evening!

x Sue x

Jubilee Crocheting!

Hello and welcome to 'SIBOL'.

I am very happy to be showing you four Blankets which I crocheted up during the Bank Holiday Diamond Jubilee celebrations. I would like to thank each and everyone of you for the most beautiful Squares. If you haven't read the previous post then please do go back. Unfortunately due to a high intake of Squares I am unable to accept 'Stash Squares' until January 2013. I do still need 'Challenge Squares' however.  All details are over on the Challenge Blog.

I shall show you now the four Blankets which I have finished.

Although I am not accepting 'Stash Squares' please do not think that my project has ended. I am making the Blankets up with the help of my friends on RAVELRY and I would like to say you can still help me. Please pop over to the Challenge Blog and have a read. 

Our SIBOL Group continues on RAVELRY, with SIBOL SWAPS, SIBOL BUTTERFLY CLUB, SIBOL YARNBOMBING and our threads are always active and each post is read too!

We continue to work for our Elderly in Nursing Homes and each one of our Blankets are 'unique', no two Blankets are the same!

Thanks for visiting today!

x Sue x




Created with flickr slideshow.

Are you making Squares for SIBOL?

Hello Everyone!

This is a quick note to say that  as from 3rd June I am NOT accepting any 'SIBOL STASH SQUARES' until the beginning of January 2013.  Over the past few months I have been concentrating on the Olympic Blankets and I am slightly behind with my 'Sunshine Blankets for the Nursing Homes'.  I have had quite a high intake of Stash Squares and I really want to be concentrating now on getting these made up.

However, I am still accepting 'Challenge Squares' if you would like to pop over to our Challenge Blog maybe there is a Challenge you would like to take part in.

I really want our SIBOL Group to continue and if you pop over to RAVELRY you will see we have lots of fun over there. Why not take part in SIBOL Swaps, our Butterfly Club, or our 'SIBOL Yarnbombing?' You will see it's not all about Squares there is always plenty to chat about and take part in.

Your support over the past two years has been absolutely wonderful and there is no way I want our Group to finish but I feel it's time for me to say that I just need to slow things down a little. I really hope you all understand. SIBOL is hard work and I have to be realistic in what I can and can't do now.  I really appreciate each and every Square that has been sent to me, they have all been made so beautifully and I'm so lucky to have the opportunity of working with them. Between us we have made 169 'Sunshine Blankets' and that really is something to be proud of.

While you are reading this you may feel disappointed. Well I would like to say there is the opportunity of making your own SIBOL Blanket up. Why not visit our Challenge Blog?

I shall be delivering our Blankets to the Homes over the next month or two and I'm sure they are going to love our Blankets. They are all so 'unique' and I would like to thank everyone that has supported me in our SIBOL Project.

'May our SIBOL Butterflies continue to flutter for a long time!



Butterfly, Glitter

Forward this Picture


x Sue x


UPATED 3RD JUNE 2012

SIBOLS 170 & 171 are now finished. I would like to thank everyone for the gorgeous Squares used in these Blankets.  They really are so pretty and I am very grateful to you all! Thank you.






Created with flickr slideshow.




Updated - Wednesday 6th June

Thank you very much to 'creativegranny' for sending some Butterflies in to me today! These are always useful.  She also sent me three Red, Blue and White Jubilee Butterflies which I will hang up for her outside 'somewhere' I don't know where yet!

Thank you 'creativegranny'.

x Sue x

In Memory of Molly.

Hi Everyone!

I am very happy to be introducing SIBOL 169 to you today. This Blanket is in Memory of dear Molly over in the States who passed away sometime ago. The reason why I have called it 'Molly' is because the middle Square in the Blanket was made by Molly. She so enjoyed her Crocheting and her other crafts and she actually made the 'SIBOL' button for me on our Blog. She will always hold a special place in my heart. This Blanket is called 'Molly' and I really think this is one of my favourites! I would like to thank everyone that has contributed Squares for this particular Blanket. Some I've had for quite a while!



Created with flickr slideshow.

Have a good day everyone!

x Sue x