crochet

Shh-hh! It's a secret. I'm halfway finished with my hearts project for the Northern Illinois Chapter of the Crochet Guild of America. It is exciting, and I am excited.
This hearts project is truly a creative journey. It is from my heart and hands and head, in that order. Crocheting and Creating are journeys. Tho I will be delighted with the finished piece, I will be a bit disappointed that this journey is over because it sparked so much inspiration and creativity. It makes me think about Creation and God. Creating just never stops - and watching the growth and progress of our creations is satisfying and fulfilling and totally intriging. I wonder if that is why God created us, and the universe which is still growing. The journey is the goal, not the goal. We must be free to create and to do so to the fullest extent of who we are. But freedom has its costs too. Some made bad choices, or are inattentive to their creation and the creation of themselves. At least we can frog our mistakes and begin again, learning from them. In our life journey, we can't frog, but we can learn from them, and above all we have this wonderful ability to use our mistakes to create anew.

Comfort Caps

These are the Comfort Caps which I am bringing to Dawn at the American Cancer Society in Evanston. If you count down from the left hand column, #1 hat was crocheted by Addie
#2 by Dorothy #3 Addie, #4&5 Dorothy.
Column 2: #1 by Donna, #2,3, and 4 by Dorothy
Column 3: #1 by Addie, #2,3,4,5 by Dorothy.
Each of the caps I crocheted were crocheted with a little prayer in each stitch that the recipient put on Peace of Heart when she puts on the Comfort Cap.
This is an on-going project, so if you crochet and have a bit of time, please crochet a comfort cap. The pattern is listed in the blog below this one. Drop me a line - or a Comfort Cap. www.crochetaway133@sbcglobal.net.

Comfort Cap Pattern

Comfort Caps for Chemotherapy Patients

Each stitch represents an act of compassion which bonds us to each other.

Materials: size I hk. 1 skein of worsted weight yarn. 42 inches of ¼ in wide ribbon. For smaller adult size, use size H hk. The caps in the picture were crocheted with Simply Soft yarn.

Gauge: 8 sc = 2 inches. 10 rows = 2 inches.
Finished size: 21 inches circumference.

Instructions: Join each round with a sl st. Place marker at end of each round. Count sts for first 14 rounds.

Abbreviations: beg=beginning, blp=back loop, ch=chain, dc=double crochet, hk=hook, ins = insert, rep=repeat, rnd=round, sc=single crochet, st=stitch, sl st=slip stitch,

Foundation rnd: Ch 3, sl st in 1st ch to form ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in center of ring, join with sl st into 1st sc, ins marker into sl st, do not turn, continue by inserting hk into 1st sc following sl st (end each round this way in all the following rounds). (6 sc).

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. (12 )

Rnd 3: *SC in one sc, 2 sc in next sc* rep bet * * around. (18 sc)

Rnd 4 *Sc in next 2 scs, 2 sc in third sc* rep bet * * around. (24 sc)

Rnd 5 *Sc in next 3 scs, 2 sc in fourth sc,* rep bet * * around. (30)

Rnd 6. *Sc in 4 scs, 2 sc in fifth st.* rep bet * * around (36)

Rnd 7. *Sc in 5 scs, 2 sc in sixth st.* rep bet * * around (42)

Rn. 8. *Sc in 6 scs, 2sc in seventh st.* rep bet * * around (48)

Rnd 9. *Sc in 7 scs, 2sc in eight st.* rep bet * * around (54)

Rnd 10. *Sc in 8 scs, 2 sc in ninth st,* rep bet * * around (60)

Rn. 11. *Sc in 9 sts, 2 sc in tenth st.* rep bet * * around (66 )

Rnd 12. *Sc in 10 sts, 2 sc in eleventh st.* rep bet * * around (72)

Rnd. 13. *Sc in 11 sts, 2 sc in st.*twelfth st,* rep bet * * around (78)

Rnd. 14. *Sc in 12 sts , 2 sc in thirteenth st.* rep bet * * around (84)

Rnds. 15 - 30. Sc around. (84)

Rnd 31. Using BLP, sc around.

Rnds. 32 - 33. Rep. Rnd 15.

Rnd 34. Ch 4, skip 1 st, dc in next sc, ch1, *skip 1 sc, dc in next sc, ch 1* rep around, join with sl st in ch 3 of beg ch3. (42 dc, 42 ch 1)

Rnd 35. Fold up rnd 34, attach to rnd 31 with a sl st, using the bottom strand of the lp on rnd 34 and the exposed strand exposed st means front loop left when you previously used back loop only on rnd 31). Fasten off.

Weave ribbon through round 34 and tie in a bow.

For added decoration, glue a flower to the hat.


Comfort Caps are donated to the American Cancer Society to be given to cancer patients who cannot afford to purchase a comfortable cap or wig during chemotherapy treatment.

If you want Dorothy to bring the cap to the American Cancer Society office, please mail it to
Dorothy Schmidt
5224 N. Bernard St.
Chicago, IL 60624

NIC Chapter Meeting

The June Northern Illinois Chapter of the Crochet Guild of America was held today at the Rolling Meadows Library. Seemed to be a lot of business to discuss. A bead crochet workshop is scheduled for Sept 29th. It promises to be interesting and a good learning opportunity. The item to be created is a heart made of small beads. It will be at the Rolling Meadows Library. The meeting was not well attended. Show and Tell was the best part for me. Marge crocheted a beautiful shrug? top? wrap? which she did not like because it did not fit her figure. However, Zee modeled it, and it just plain looked gorgeous. Gwen crocheted a unique zig zag scarf. I showed the Comfort Caps I crocheted, including the one from Addie. Dana crocheted a snazzy beaded bag - sparkling and glittering.
I am working on my heart project, and enjoying every minute of it. It has grown beyond the size of my lap -- and that's big. I now have it laid out on the dining room table so I can work on it. Exciting.
The photographer where I work is coming on Tuesday to take photos of those of us who are working on the Comfort Caps. It will be with a little blurb about the project in the employee newsletter. I am hoping the publicity will generate more Comfort Caps to bring to the American Cancer Society in Evanston.