Share A Square FAQ

{EDITOR’S NOTE: WE HAVE REACHED OUR GOAL OF SQUARES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST, AND MANY THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN}
If you are a crafter with a big heart, the Share A Square Project might be right up your alley! Read on for more information and look for us on Facebook or on Ravelry!

1. What in the world is “Share A Square?
   We blanket kids battling cancer, and their siblings, with love! In 2010-2011, more than 500 crafters from around the world helped crochet afghans to give to these children. They attended three different summer camps (Camp Quality in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas) in the summer of 2011. Each afghan was made up of 80 different squares … each crafted by a different person. You can read more about what we did and about the afghan deliveries for Share A Square 2010 here. We haven’t decided for certain, at this point, which Camp Quality camps will receive our donations this year, but it’s likely that the camp in Illinois will be one of them.
2. What do you want from ME?
   
   Crocheted squares! Each square should be 6″ by 6″, with an 18 inch “tail” of thread on the last row (that tail is very important for stitching the afghans together). And, in this case SIZE MATTERS! Please read number 8 (below).
   If you would like to help, make one square and send it to me (the address is at the bottom of the page), or make 150 squares (but no more than that per person, because only one of your squares will be on each afghan). For each square, send me a tag the size of a business card that includes your name and your location in the world (For instance: “Best wishes from Shelly T. in Denton, Texas”). I will laminate them and affix them to your square. Yes, that tag is important! Read number 11.
3. How many afghans are you making? What size are they?
   We make 150 afghans a year, made of 6″ by 6″ squares. Each afghan will be 8 squares wide by 10 squares long (42″ by 60″).
4. Why so big?
   We want the children to be able to use them when they survive to a happy and healthy adulthood!
5. Can I knit the squares?
   No, please no. We want crocheted squares only. In 2008, we accepted knitted squares and mixed them together, but it makes for a sloppy look because the knit stretches too much.
6. But, I can’t knit or crochet! How can I help?
   TELL PEOPLE about it! I bet you know someone who is a crafter. Send them our way!
   If you are on Facebook or “the Twitter,” please give Share A Square a shout out. If you blog, and allow stuff on your sidebar, feel free to copy one of the badges below and link it to the FAQ.

   

   
   Throughout the year, I might post here on the blog that Share A Square can use certain items. Keep in mind that we do not have 501C3 status, so your donations are not tax deductible (but you will get good karma from it … I promise).
   If you want to donate to the camps, contact the American Cancer Society at the link above.

7. Do I have to use any particular pattern?
   Any pattern you would like to use is acceptable — as long as it is 6″ x 6″! However, I strongly recommend that you NOT use patterns that are lacy, because they just aren’t sturdy enough to survive the wear these kids will give them. Save those holey squares for your own Sunday afghan. Here is a link for an easy pattern from Deb’s Crafts called “The Never Ending Blanket Square.” It works up very quickly! But, please remember to weave the tail to the corner (and leave it 18 inches long!)
8. But, my square is only 6 3/4″ x 6 3/4″ (or 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″)! Why are you so picky about the size?
   The last time we made these afghans, volunteers spent a lot of time re-working many of the squares that were the wrong size. I don’t want the volunteers putting together the afghans to have to think about adding rows or removing stitches. In fact, since we are sewing the afghans together, some of those volunteers might not even know how to crochet! (gasp!) Although I asked people to be particular about size this year, we still spent countless hours re-working squares.Pretend that you are making these squares for your own grandchild … you don’t want it to look sloppy, do you? The easiest way to assure that you get the right size is to make a cardboard template to use as a guide. You might find that you have to adjust the hook size to get the gauge but size matters!

9. Can I use fancy yarns? What about using wool yarns or baby yarns?
   PLEASE do not use wool! We don’t know if the children will have allergies or if they will have sensitive skin due to their cancer treatments. Please do not use baby yarns! It helps if all the yarns are similar. Use a worsted weight yarn, such as Red Heart (or the equivalent). If you want to use those “eyelash” yarns or other fancy ones within the pattern of the square for a little splash of interest, double them so that the thread is the same weight as the worsted weight. Please DO NOT use bulky yarns. It just doesn’t work well. Chenille yarns fall apart, so they aren’t a good choice either.
10. Do I have to tuck in all the ends?
    PLEASE do! Again, we don’t want these to look sloppy. Use a tapestry needle to help you hide them. ABSOLUTELY DO NOT snip the yarn off short … puhleeeze! If you do, then when this is washed it will unravel!
11. Why is that tag so important? I don’t want to give my name and I don’t want a thank you card!
    Those tags, we have discovered, are almost as fascinating as your squares to those children. The kids are excited about the different locations. You don’t have to give your full name … and you don’t have to give your street address. Use your first name (or a “code” name if you want to be anonymous) and the state or country where you live. The kids will save these cards and remember you for years to come! This year, I think we will give them colorful shoestrings so they can thread the cards onto them to save them. I think they will enjoy that.
12. What is your deadline?
    This part is important, because we need to get the afghans assembled in a timely fashion, and there is a LOT of work on this end.
    THE FIRST DEADLINE IS AUGUST 26TH.
    Please don’t start sending me squares until August 5th (I’m still recovering from the last go around). However, by the end of August, I would like to assemble at least FIFTY afghan kits (80 squares from 80 different people in each), so that local volunteers can begin assembling afghans. If you would like, you may send more than 50 squares … and you are more than welcome to send fewer. Don’t think that because you don’t have 50 it won’t help! Every single square is important and appreciated!
    THE SECOND DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 26TH.
    I’d like to assemble another FIFTY kits by that time. Again, you may send more than 50 squares, but remember (if you are late to the party) that I only need a total of 150 per person. If you missed the 1st deadline, then send no more than 100. Any extras are saved to the next year, but I don’t have a lot of storage space (and we do NOT wish to upset Mr. Tucker!).
    THE THIRD DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 15TH.
    I’d love to have all of the kits assembled by the end of the year.

13. I live in Timbuktu. Can I assemble an afghan? You can if you would like to drive to Texas. Seriously, I have had many people offer to assemble afghans, but the postage is insane! I’m searching for folks in the North Texas area who have willing hands … and with luck I’ll find some more of them.

If you have a question that I didn’t answer, feel free to voice it, or join the discussion on Facebook.