'Blue Jean's.

Good morning!

A wet one again here in the UK!

I am very happy to be showing you a new SIBOL. This one has been assembled by baw1812 (Bev) on RAV. I would like to thank her very much for making a wonderful job. It's called 'Blue Jeans'. I would also like to thank everyone for contributing squares for this blanket.

It's beautiful, I love it.

Butterflies, Butterflies have been fluttering in to 'Two Times' this morning. A great collection from Bev........

Bev also made a square for the 200th blanket. We are making this blanket with inspiration from my Grandmother. I gave the Ladies a short description of my Grandmother and what her favourite colours were and what she liked doing etc., It's been really interesting to see the squares coming in. Bev has made a square with buttons sewn on. The reason for this was because when my Nephew George was little he often played with her buttons and called my Grandmother 'Grandma Buttons'. This square is amazing, I love it. Thank you Bev.

The ribbon too finished the blanket off beautifully, thank you for everything. Here's Bevs' square.

I also received a great collection of Butterflies from Nicola. Fantastic so pretty too! Thank you!

These Butterflies with the tags on will be going to a Craft Group next year. I have been asked to give a talk about our Group. I am terribly nervous  and if anyone can give me any help I would be most grateful. A few tips maybe!

I thought it would be nice to give out a couple each to the Ladies in the Craft Group and I hope to take along some Challenge blankets to show them too. I am looking forward to it but I am nervous already.

If you want to have a go at the Butterflies, it is always great to have them coming in. We do get through them so quickly with the amount of blankets we are making.

I'll give you the link. But of course please your own patterns too, I don't mind.

Here's the link to Netties blog in Australia.

I'll leave you now with a Slide Show I have made for 'Blue Jean's. Thank you for visiting today!

Created with flickr slideshow.

Grandmother's square and Jan Eaton Challenge square arrive!

Hello everyone and welcome to SIBOL!

I am very pleased to be showing you the squares that have come in for our 200th blanket. I can't believe that we have now made 199 already. I asked the 'SIBOLETTES' on RAVELRY if they had any ideas of what we could do to celebrate our 200th blanket and craftymizz suggested that we make a blanket using my Grandmother as inspiration.

Today I received a square from jenn1feranne in Scotland.  My Grandmother was an Aston Villa fan and there were often heated discussions about the matches with my Father. When I was asked to write about my Grandmother's favourite things and what she liked doing I mentioned the Football. 

Today I have received a really pretty square. The Granny square background is in the colours of Aston Villa as you can see and in the centre a red rose one of my Grandmother's favourite flowers.

It really is a wonderful square thank you jenn1feranne. I can't wait to see the squares that we are collecting. There are still places if you want to help make a special 200th blanket please pop over to RAVELRY.
Thank you.

jenn1feranne also helped me out with a Jan Eaton square I needed. This one has turned out lovely too.
I am only waiting for one more and then I can get the blanket made up. This square is called 'Raspberries & Cream' and it's No. 77 in the Jan Eaton book. '200 Crochet Blocks for blankets, throws and afghans'.

Both brilliant squares, thank you jenn1feranne!

The photo at the top of the blog is of our 'Wiggles' Challenge blanket. I do hope you like it

x Sue x

'Flying The Flag' our EBAY auction ends soon! Squares for our 200th SIBOL.

Hi everyone!

Our 'Flying The Flag' Charity blanket is now on EBAY.
We are trying to raise money for Alzheimer's here in the UK.
Let's take a closer look at the Flags in this blanket.










Created with flickr slideshow.

Why not pop over to EBAY now and bid for this gorgeous blanket?
 'Spread the word on your Blogs, Facebook, Friends, etc.,'
Thank you!


I would like to thank bonsall for sending in a square for the special 200th SIBOL blanket. We are making a special blanket to celebrate our 200th SIBOL, and inspiration comes from my Grandmother. If you would like to read more pop over to RAVELRY.

bonsall has very kindly made a square showing my Grandmother's favourite colours. This square is superb bonsall and represents all the colours that she liked. Thank you so much.

Then we have Joannas' square. She has made a square with beautiful knitted socks. How cute is this? What a fantastic idea Joanna. Thank you so much. I love all the stripes in the socks too, and how tiny they are! My Grandmother maked such a lot of socks over the years for her family. My Mother will love these squares. Thank you too.

Let's take a look now.

Have a nice day everyone!

x Sue x

'Flying The Flag' is on EBAY/200th squares and another new SIBOL! (Luna pop in! )

Hi everyone!

Our 'Flying The Flag' Charity blanket is now on EBAY.
We are trying to raise money for Alzheimer's here in the UK.
Let's take a closer look at the Flags in this blanket.







Created with flickr slideshow.

Why not pop over to EBAY now and bid for this gorgeous blanket?
 'Spread the word on your Blogs, Facebook, Friends, etc.,'
Thank you!

Today I receive the first square for our 200th blanket. This came in from 'creativegranny' here in the UK. A beautiful square which is crocheted showing some sweet forget-me-nots. We are making a special 200th blanket and inspiration is taken from my Grandmother who lived to 103 years of age. My SIBOL project was started in her Memory. Thank you 'creativegranny' it's gorgeous. I love it.

I also received a square for our 200th blanket from joyce28. When the 'SIBOLETTES' suggested making a blanket with my Grandmother as inspiration I told them that my Grandmother loved playing cards at the Whist Drive every week. Although she loved playing cards sitting for a couple of hours gave her cramp in her legs but this was her weekly outing for some years, she so enjoyed it. 

joyce 28 has made a square with the game of Whist in mind. Let's take a look at this one.

The four of Diamonds, golly that's fantastic too.

joyce28 also very kindly made a bag of red squares up for me. Today the blanket arrived at 'Two Times'. It is another stunning blanket. You will see now on the photos I'm going to show you. 

'I always manage to get a leg of the chair in on the photos!!!'.

joyce28 would like to call this SIBOL blanket 'Alice May' after her mum. She nearly always wore red, and even carried red roses in her wedding bouquet 66 years ago. Joyce said she thinks her mum would have liked the idea of the blankets and our SIBOL project so yes of course Joyce I will be most happy to name this blanket 'Alice May'.





Created with flickr slideshow.



Our 'SIBOL' blog  moves along quite quickly and I would hate you to miss anything, so please go back previous posts!

We've had another exciting day here at 'SIBOL', beautiful 200th squares and another stunning blanket. I hope you have enjoyed visiting us.

Thanks for visiting today!

x Sue x

I have got lots to show you today! Debi your Wiggles!

                                                      'FLYING THE FLAG' EBAY.
Hello everyone!

This post has taken me a long time to put together because I have a lot to show you. The most amazing blankets!

Where shall we start?

Well before we go any further, our 'Flying The Flag' blanket is on EBAY. All proceeds from this blanket will go to Alzheimer's here in the UK. Why not pop over? Thank you. Please link this blanket on your Blogs, Facebook pages etc., 'Spread the word if you can!' thank you.

It is not very often that I meet one of my SIBOLETTES, but Anne lives quite near to me and on Friday she came round with her Husband to bring me a blanket that she had assembled for me. She was kind enough to 'take a bag' of 25 squares and put them together into a beautiful blanket. When she arrived I took her in to the conservatory where I showed her quite a few of the Knitted and Crocheted blankets that I have here ready for the homes. Tears came to her eyes as soon as she saw them. What touched her most was the kindness of many Ladies who had taken the time and trouble to make their own blankets for my project. I also showed her the 'Going For Gold' which they both loved.

It was really nice to actually speak 'face to face' with one of my virtual friends and I'm only sorry I never asked her Hubby to take a photo of us for the blog.  The blanket that she made up for me was really so pretty and I would like to thank everyone for the squares that they sent for this blanket. Let's take a look at it now.

Thank you Anne.

The next blanket I have to show you is from Jennifer. Jennifer kindly offered to make up another bag of squares and once again we have another stunning blanket!  Jennifer has called this one 'Sunset at the seaside'.

 In Jennifer's letter she wrote, "I loved the colours and textures, and planned it so the one knitted square sits bottom right. It reminded me of my childhood - lovely days on the beach - and as the sun begins to set and the tide goes out, you get lots of rock pools with seaweed,  and the sunset reflected off the water like a golden path. The edging is a version of number 52 from the 'Round the corner' book, and I tried to represent the ripple of wavelets as the tide comes back in. The lovely variegated yarn is James C Brett BABY Marble which I spotted in HAB - A - DASH in Tardebigge. I bought it with SIBOL in mind."

Well Jennifer I think the variegated yarn really finishes it off nicely. Thank you for going to so much trouble for our Group. I think you have got the border just right it definitely looks like ripples of wavelets! It's simply gorgeous thank you so much for making these 25 squares up for me.


Now sometime ago I set a 'Wiggles Challenge'. Debi in the States very kindly sent me the 'Wiggles Square' pattern and I invited you to make the square and send it in to me. If you would like the pattern please go to SIBOL - The Archive blog where I have left details for you.

The Wiggles' squares that came in were just so pretty and now I would like to thank everyone for taking part. It really has come out so lovely. I had great fun assembling this blanket.

Thank you so much Debi for allowing us the pattern, I'm sure you will agree we've had some fantastic squares, the  Challenge certainly was very popular.


As  you know I do have a 'SQUARE STOP' on at the moment until January 2013. I am working hard at the moment along with some of the other SIBOLETTES over on RAVELRY making the bags of squares up and I would like to thank them for helping me. I have 37 bags of squares here to be made up. I am determined to get these made up before the end of the year. Then we can start fresh with our Challenges.

However, today I had around 100 squares come in from Mari and her Craft Group in Inverness. Even though we have a stop on, I shall be accepting them. Mari was telling me that she has a Lady in her Group who is over 80 making squares for our Group, she says, "One of our Lady's is over 80 and she knitted most of these she said she feels good that she could do something useful again!'.

Those words mean such a lot to me, because not only are we working hard for our Nursing homes, but our Group is also important to the individual. I have had quite a few 'more mature' Ladies shall we say joining our Group and they tell me that they wish they had joined us before as it gives them so much pleasure and they feel as though they are doing something really worthwhile!'. Of course the friendship is really important too why not join us on RAVELRY?

Thank you Mari and to all the Ladies in her Craft Group for these squares.

What's next? I'm working through my loading up today over on Flickr. 

sistersestina (RAV) thank you very much for the Jan Eaton squares I needed for the Challenge. Butterflies were gorgeous and the stash squares too that you sent.

Thanks for helping me out with the Challenge, it's very  much appreciated.

I would like to show you now a very pretty pastel coloured blanket that 'jean nock' has very kindly made up. She also accepted a 'take a bag' and this blanket too has worked out really good. I love pastels.  The squares match beautifully together.

A few of the squares were smaller than 6". It is quite important that the squares are as near as 6" as you can possibly get them. It is so much easier to make them up. Do you like it? I love it. Thank you 'jean nock' for giving me a hand.

I had a bumper delivery today, I looked out in to the porch and the parcels were stacked up on top of each other. To my surprise I had a parcel from Kianie (RAV) Ann.  Inside was a gorgeous blanket which she had made herself. I had no idea she had been making this since February time. As well as the pretty blanket she also enclosed a card which had a Butterfly on the front.

Ann had very kindly made some Butterflies too and attached to the blanket. I think this blanket has wonderful Spring colours, it is so delicate I just love it. It is called 'Lazy Daisy Days'. Thank you so much for making this blanket 'quietly' and donating it to SIBOL. I am truly grateful to you. You are terribly kind and I'm sure the Residents are going to love this one too.

We are fast approaching our 200th SIBOL! Our SIBOLETTES are making squares for a special 200th blanket. When I asked if they had any special thoughts on what we could do to celebrate, Craftymizz came up with the idea of making a blanket inspired by my Grandmother. As you know my SIBOL project was started in her Memory. If you are interested in taking part please pop over to the RAVELRY thread and put your name down. I wrote down her favourite flowers and things she liked and the Ladies are busy with their squares now.

Today I took part in a telephone interview with one of the freelance editors on Knit Today magazine. My interview will be in Issue 77 of Knit Today. She wanted to know all about our SIBOL project and I gave her as many photos and information as I could.

I hope you like everything you have read and seen on our SIBOL Blog today. I certainly had a lot to show you and I'm only sorry I couldn't share some of these blankets over the weekend, but I have been busy with my family.

As you can see it's been all go on the SIBOL front. Thank you to everyone that has helped me make the blankets up whether they be 'take a bag' squares or in Kianie's case her own donated blanket. Of course my thanks to sistersestina and Mari's Craft group too.

As I have a lot of new work to show you I hope you dont mind I have put them all in to one Slide Show. Sit back now with a cup of tea and I hope you find something that will inspire you to have a go yourself!



Created with flickr slideshow.

Have a lovely evening everyone!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget EBAY!!!
Please spread the word.

x Sue x

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