Share a Square

Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.
Elizabeth Bibesco

I really have been slow in getting some of these posted, and I apologize. They are so beautiful that they should be shown off to you.

Thanks go out to the following folks for the lovely contributions (which can be viewed by clicking the Flickr badge: Heather, in MA; Jessica S. in Lancaster, OH; Sue G. in Sydney, Australia; Susan S. of Shelton, WA; & Adelina T. of Chelmsford, MA.

www.flickr.com thiseclecticlife’s Squares photoset

We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.
Seneca

Camille, in Illinois, and her cousin Donna are two of my hardest workers. They have contributed squares, rimmed tons of them, and now Camille is putting them together. These two came in last week, but I couldn’t open them because I had so much cement dust flying in the house.

Now, I need to get pictures of them for the afghan gallery. Though only 65 afghans are shown on it, I now have 74 finished afghans here at the house. Whoot!

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
–Anne Frank

I’ve been getting wonderful packages in the mail. More squares (and I’ll show them later in the week or early next week) and rimmed squares! You see, I asked for the squares without the black trim around them, because they all had to be made the same size, using the same stitching, and the same yarn so that the afghans would have continuity. This left a lot of work to be done before an afghan could be stitched together.

Now, I’ve had some people just rimming squares for me (Donna and Camille in Illinois have done wonders, thank you ladies). Recently, I’ve added some more folks to the mix.

Lynda, who is a school principal here in Texas, heard me tell her about the program when I told stories at her school. She sent squares and then rimmed the squares for an afghan. I got her package yesterday, with some ribbon thrown in so I can package the afghans.

I was supposed to give these to my sister, Renice. She doesn’t crochet, but she can stitch and she’s been waiting for another afghan. But, I was so excited that I started stitching it last night, instead of writing the grant proposal which will ensure that I eat next year.

Then, at the post office today I received a package from Mo, of Greatful Livin’
, in Indiana. She also tucked in a check that will cover my postage for the week! Thank you, Mo. Renice, I’ll save these for you. Maybe.

Do you want to rim a set of afghan squares? It’s not a terribly difficult process. Using black Red Heart brand yarn, you simply put a traditional granny square corner (that would be 3 double crochet, chain 2, 3 double crochet) in each corner, and evenly space 19 double crochet down the sides. It’s true that some of the squares are more challenging because they aren’t quite the right size. Sometimes we have to use single crochet. Sometimes we have to add a row of color to the square to make it large enough. But, you get to handle these squares from all over the world!

If you think you would like to try it, leave a comment and tell me how to contact you or e-mail me at

Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.- Helen Keller

I’m so impressed with the amount of giving that has been going on for Share A Square. Sadly, we are entering a new phase of just getting these afghans put together. Making those squares and sending them on was exciting.

Some of you may want to rim the squares, or put together an afghan. If you do, please contact me. I know that some people are still wanting to work, but enjoy making the squares. I know of another project where you can help. It’s not for children with cancer, but for members of our armed forces who have been injured or are ill. Visit my post called “It’s A HAPpening Thing,” at This Eclectic Life to learn more.

Yes, I still have squares to show you. You can see ALL the squares on the Flickr page by clicking the badge below. Thank you to the following:June K. in Denton; Rick C, in PA; (he has been a huge help throughout the project); Lana H. in Mesa, AZ; and Debbie L., in Yukon, OK.

www.flickr.com thiseclecticlife’s Squares photoset

A real post?

Yes, indeed. Y’all, I have been putting off adding pictures because I was expecting this new site. I’m still trying to transfer some of the posts from This Eclectic Life and it may take me awhile. I just wanted everything in one place, so YOU didn’t have to go wading through the archives to see about Share A Square.

I’m also hoping it will be easier for me to do a quick update when it has it’s own site. I promise I will try to do better.

Oops! What is it that Yoda, the Jedi Master said in Star Wars?

Do, or do not. There is no ‘try.’

So here are a few of the squares that have come in lately. I’ll finish them little by little. You can see ALL of the squares I’ve received by visiting my Flickr page. Just click the badge below. BIG THANK YOU’s to the following: Jillian in Austin, TX; Melinda I. in Temple, TX; Paula in Howe, TX.; and Rebecca T. (who just finished putting together 4 afghans! Whoot!) in Denton, TX.

www.flickr.com thiseclecticlife’s Squares photoset

Share A Square now has its own sub-domain, thank to the hard work of Leanne Wildermuth. She is an artist and blog designer who created This Eclectic Life for me. This is just a standard Word Press template (you can see its original version here). Leanne installed it and tweaked it for me. Thank you, thank you, Leanne.

I told her that I wished those colored pencils on the sidebar could be crochet hooks, and Voila! They were! I like this very well. Now, it’s going to take me several days to get all moved in, but I’ll try to start showing you pictures of some of the squares that have come in during the last few weeks.

As for squares: STOP! Barring a catastrophe, or another afghan going AWOL, we have enough to do the job. I surely do appreciate all the hard work you have done. NOW, we just have to get them put together! We will. And, I’ll show you the afghans as they come in.

Didja get it, huh? “Chain Gang?” It’s my “hook” to draw you in (I sound like Jay Leno begging for pity laughter).

Some of you may be aware that I have been working on a little charity project on my blog. It’s called Share A Square, and it’s about making crocheted granny afghans for 140 children at Camp Sanguinity next summer. These are children who are battling cancer, and we will give them each an afghan made with the loving handiwork of 48 different people. It was time for an update, and I decided to combine it with Thursday Thirteen, because I have at least thirteen things to tell you.

1:

3:
These seven stacks each have 22 squares in them. I have two more stacks with close to 40 squares in them. Once they all have 48 squares, we have everything we need to make the 140 afghans.
4:

Over the last couple of weeks there have been many packages coming in. I’ll update you fully on where we are in the next day or two with a new post. If you just discovered this site, it may be too late to contribute squares. I’m still counting!

Many, many thanks to the following people (and a Happy New Year to you all!). Visit the Flickr page by clicking on the badge below to see all the squares.

Alice, in Massachusetts (She is Jenny McB’s mom and the last squares said Nova Scotia. hmmm?); Deanna C. in Kingsport, TN; my non-blogging friend Kate (we go waaaay back) in Corpus Christi, TX; Linda M. in Rexburg, ID; Sheila B. in Rochester, NY; Sue W. in Perkasie, PA; Robin S. in Matthews, NC; Mo, in Morgantown, IN; Cindy in Rockford, MI; Nora L, in Brooklyn, NY sent yet another batch of squares;
Hirokomi K. in Japan; Julie V. in Arizona; Brenda W. in NC; Rhena C. in Hughes Springs, TX sent more; Yui in Japan; Barb in Elkhart, IN; Ann T. in WI; An anonymous friend in Crouse, NC; Kazue in Japan sent squares, and also sent a money order to help defray the cost of postage; Saori, in Japan;
and, Sen, also in Japan. Thank you everyone and happy new year!

www.flickr.com thiseclecticlife’s Squares photoset

During the holiday season, many charities report receiving more donations. It is the “Season of Giving,” after all. It just doesn’t occur to some folks to “give” year round, probably because we all lead such hectic lives. Taking the time to give isn’t always easy.

Then, there are some folks who give of themselves (not just money) at the drop of a hat. Back on June 14th, I said I was “Searching For People With Big Hearts.” I tell you what! I found them!

Over the last few months, many people have been sending crocheted squares for the Share A Square Project, and donations of yarn and even money to help defray postage. They have helped spread the word about the project to get more people involved. It’s been the most amazing and heartwarming thing I can imagine. We almost have all the squares we need (I’m trying to put together the last few kits). Then, it’s down to rimming the squares and stitching them together.

Here are a few of the people who have donated to this project. The people who have their names in bold also stitched one or more afghans for the project. You can view them at the Afghan Gallery. Everyone’s name isn’t on the list for several reasons:

1. The program I was using for addresses is not compatible with my new Mac computer. I’m still manually adding names.
2. In the frenzy of the months of October and November, I didn’t get everything entered.
3. Some folks sent squares with no nametags and no return address.
4. OK, I admit that I’m an unorganized mess. That’s the real reason.

So, if you know a name that should be on this list, please tell me! I didn’t mean to leave them out. And, if you would like a link to your website on this page, do not hesitate to tell me that, either! I’ll get my secretary right on it.

I want to thank those of you who helped me win $100 for Share A Square in the Best Blogging Achievement Writing Project that Simonne at All Tips And Tricks hosted. Thanks to non-bloggers Rebecca T. and Annemarie and to bloggers Pearl, Robin, Marcia, Janeywan, Jamie, Barbara, Jenny McB, Jessica The Rock Chick, BeadBabe, Matty, bermudabluez, Susan Helene Gottfried, Vivien, Aaron Stroud.
I have some packages to put together (to mail after the holidays!), and an update to put together.