Yesterday brought to mind that old saying, “Be careful what you wish for … you might get it!” I’ve been wishing for crochet squares so that I could finish assembling a blanket for a child with cancer for Share A Square 2010. Yesterday, the mail box was full! I only need donations from eight more people to finish the first afghan.
As I carried these boxes to the car, a woman at the Post Office exclaimed, “That’s a Class A juggling act!” Yes, I’m getting good at juggling, but I promise that this clown won’t run away and join the circus … until this project is finished.
Speaking of juggling, I thought I’d show you what goes on in my kitchen each week. I juggle a lot of tasks besides cooking! Hundreds of volunteers are busy at home with their crochet hooks in hand and they might be wondering what the heck I do for this project, besides exhort them to hurry up and send squares. Here it is.
With each donation of squares, there are tags to be attached to the squares. These give the name of the person who made the square and their location. This way, the child who receives the blanket knows the names of his new-found friends. I laminate those tags, so that they will last as long as the blanket. Yesterday, I got 217 squares, so that is 217 tags to laminate.
To laminate them, I lay them out on the double-sided laminating pouch, with a dab of glue from a glue stick on the back side (to keep them from shifting). Sometimes that is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, because I don’t want to waste any of that expensive laminating pouch.
After laminating them, I cut them apart. If I’m lucky (and very careful), I can use my paper cutter to divide them instead of cutting them up with scissors.
[NOTE TO PARTICIPANTS: This is why I ask that the tags be the size of a business card or credit card. I can then lay out twelve to a sheet and easily cut them apart. It's also why I ask that you do not attach your tags before you send them. That just makes more work for the both of us.]
After that, I punch holes in each tag and attach it with bright curling ribbon to a square.
Finished? Not by a long shot. I then have to divvy up the squares into stacks so that I can put them into the “afghan kits” I have started.
Only one square per person goes with each afghan, so I have to keep a running list of whose squares are in each bag. Some people are sending their squares in batches, and I have to be careful not to duplicate.
When I get 80 squares in a kit, I can put together an afghan.
That is only part of the work. There are thank you notes to send, an address book to update, and LOTS of begging for more squares until I’ve begun to sound like the Pledge Drive for National Public Radio. To date, the process above has been repeated for 2,268 squares — but I’m looking for a total of 12,000 squares (let me repeat, TWELVE THOUSAND).
It’s going to be awhile before my kitchen gets back to normal. But, don’t feel sorry for me. Heck no! Keep me busy! After all, it is what I wished for …
Why did I wish it? Because next summer we will give out 150 afghans to kids with cancer, and their sibling at three different summer camps. I can’t wait to see their faces when we blanket them with love.
Can you help? Darned tootin’! Visit the FAQ to find out all you need to make the squares and send them to me. Join our Facebook group to keep abreast of what’s happening. Or, you could send some frozen dinners, so my husband won’t feel so neglected while I’m busy re-purposing the kitchen!
The Share A Square Project is an ongoing one! You can see posts about what we did in 2010-2011 at this category link. Join us at Facebook or Ravelry. We would love to have your help. Visit the FAQ for more information.
Other posts you might enjoy:
- Share A Square — Wrapping It Up
- A Chance To Help Share A Square Without Crocheting A Stitch
- It All Starts With A Little Heart
- Riot Of Ribbon
- Share A Square 2010 Begins
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{ 13 comments }
I’m packing up my squares next week. I need to add the long tails as I totally forgot and snipped them short. *sigh* And the card info too.
You are a “good ‘un” Elizabeth. I forget the tails, too, so don’t feel bad. Just match the yarn, if you can! Thank you.
Wow…Shelly…that is a great way to get others to help…seeing the step by step on your part really brings the crafter behind the scenes and see the importance of the squares and the amount of time that goes into ONE afghan…awesome job with the photos and I am so glad that you were able to “juggle” home from the Post Office yesterday! You will see mine in a few days and I hope you can “juggle” a few with mine too…
Thanks, Dana. I really want folks to understand the significance of the tags. This is how you’ll be represented to that kid for years to come (the child will forget which square you made). I’m looking forward to getting your squares (and believe me I can juggle them). Thanks for all your help in getting out the word about the project. You do so many charitable projects! I’m proud to “know” you.
Well I’d be happy to send frozen dinners – don’t know what they’ll be like when they get there though! ;D
Maybe send freeze dried
Just kidding. We’ll survive and one day I will cook again 
… or not.
Shelly, Thanks for the tutorial and the wonderful pictures. It was very informative and interesting to see all the work that goes into making these wonderful blankets.
Ah, Cheryl. But, this is only for getting them tagged. The real work happens in hundreds of homes at the hands of the marvelous volunteers making squares!
Kudos to you and a job well done! It’s a lot of work to run a project of this scope and do it well – and you’re certainly doing that. It’s lovely that you send the thank you notes. We do not do charity work for the thanks, but it’s nice all the same. So thanks for the thanks!
Thanks, Sandie. Some days I’m not sure I’m doing it so well. I’m hoping that I keep current with the thank you notes. I’ve got two that I’ve been supposed to send for several weeks now (didn’t have the addresses right) and I’m feeling guilty. Then, I have to catch up daily. But, I want folks to KNOW that their contributions are what makes this whole thing go around. It cannot be done without everyone working together.
Lovely colourful photos.
That’s a huge amount of work you’re involved in there. Some lovely squares too.
The volunteers (I like to call them “my” volunteers, because I’d claim every dadgum one of them) are making some fantastic squares for these afghans. I want those laminated tags to last as long as the afghans. I think the kids are going to be fascinated by them.
Thanks for dropping in to visit!
Hi Shelly,
Sending you 10 today. What a wonderful cause and I feel honored to be part of this. I put it on my facebook page to encourage people to go to your site to get all the information they need.
Blessings to you today and always.
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