Crochet Parfait: Warm Up America + $5.00 Yarn Night

Well, the knitting teacher (Stephanie) and I just came into a huge yarn stash and we decided to do something for the community with it, so we are going to participate in Warm Up America. This great charity is sponsored by both Michaels and the Craft Yarn Council, where we teachers receive our certifications.

What is Warm Up America! (WUA!)

The charity that has warmed peoples' lives since 1991. It started in a small Wisconsin town with neighbors knitting and crocheting afghans for neighbors in need. Thanks to the creativity of founder Evie Rosen who came up with the idea of having volunteers knit or crochet small sections and then others join them together, the idea quickly caught on. Today Warm Up America distributes warm afghans, caps and other items to tens of thousands of people, thanks to the generosity of knitters and crocheters around the country. The blankets and caps we make will stay in our community and now is a perfect time to start so they will be ready for winter. Here's their brochure.

If you don't have a current project you're working on for $5.00 Yarn Night, this would be a great thing to work on. We will have tons of yarn for you to work with and patterns. You can make newborn caps or afghans. Here's an advance look at basic patterns for the afghans.

WUA Crochet and Knit Patterns

Following are basic crochet and knit patterns for making individual Warm Up America! afghan sections. Remember, if you want to make an entire afghan, you can knit or crochet your afghan to any size or pattern you wish. You'll find helpful hints on assembling Warm Up America! afghans on another page at this site.

Tip!
To crochet or knit "perfect" Warm Up America! sections, cut a 7" by 9" cardboard template. Use the template as a guide; it's easier to handle than a measuring tape and great for kids.

BASIC CROCHET SECTION PATTERNS
Materials: Worsted-weight acrylic yarns
Gauge: 9 stitches = 2 inches
Finished size: 7" by 9"
Hook: Size G crochet hook or size necessary to obtain gauge

BASIC SINGLE CROCHET
Chain 30 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Single crochet in 2nd chain from hook, and in every chain in the foundation row. Chain 1 and turn your work.
Row 2: Working under the 2 top loops of each stitch in the previous row, single crochet across the row. Chain 1 and turn.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9".
Fasten off.

BASIC DOUBLE CROCHET
Chain 27 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Double crochet in 3rd chain from hook and in each chain of the foundation row. Chain 2 and turn your work.
Row 2: Double crochet in each stitch across the row. Chain 2 and turn.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9".
Fasten off.

SHELL STITCH
Chain 31 for the foundation chain. (This stitch requires multiples of 6 chains plus 1.)
Row 1: Work 3 double crochets in the 4th chain from the hook. *Skip 2 chains. Single crochet in the next chain. Skip 2 chains, then work 5 double crochets in the next chain.* (You've created your first shell.) Repeat the sequence of stitches between the asterisks (*) across the row, ending with skipping 2 chains and 1 single crochet in the last chain. Chain 3 and turn your work.
Row 2: Work 3 double crochets in the 1st single crochet. *Work 1 single crochet in the center double crochet of the next shell, work 1 shell of 5 double crochets in the next single crochet.* Repeat the sequence of stitches between the asterisks (*). End with 1 single crochet on top of the turning chain. Chain 3 and turn your work.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9".
Fasten off.

FLYING "V's"
Chain 33 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Double crochet, chain 2 and single crochet in the 4th chain from the hook. *Skip 2 chains, then work 2 double crochets, chain 2 and single crochet in the next chain.* Repeat the sequence between the asterisks across the row, ending with 1 double crochet in the last chain. Chain 2 and turn.
Row 2: Work 2 double crochets, chain 2 and then work 1 single crochet stitch in the first chain 2 space of the previous row and in each chain 2 space across the row, ending with 1 double crochet in the last chain. Chain 2 and turn.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9".
Fasten off.

LITTLE SCALLOPS
Chain 33 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Skip 2 chains, and double crochet into next chain. *Skip 2 chains and work 1 single crochet and 2 double crochets into the next chain.* Repeat the sequence of stitches between the asterisks until the last 3 chains. Skip 2 chains and single crochet into the last chain. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 2: Work 2 double crochets into the first stitch. *Skip 2 double crochets, then work a single crochet and 2 double crochets into the next single crochet.* Repeat the sequence between the asterisks until the last 3 stitches. Skip 2 double crochets and single crochet into the top of the turning chain. Chain 1 and turn.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9".
Fasten off.

ALTERNATING HALF DOUBLE CROCHETS
Chain 31 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Half double crochet into the 3rd chain from the hook, and into each chain across the row. Chain 2 and turn.
Row 2: Skip 1 stitch. *Work 1 half double in the back loop of the next stitch and 1 half double in the front loop of the next stitch.* Repeat the sequence between the asterisks, ending with 1 half double worked into the top of the turning chain. Chain 2 and turn. Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9".
Fasten off.

BASIC KNIT SECTION PATTERNS
Knitting Patterns Materials:
Worsted-weight acrylic yarns

Gauge: 5 stitches = 1 inch
Finished size: 7" by 9" Needle size: 7 needles or size necessary to obtain gauge

GARTER STITCH
Cast on 35 stitches.
Knit every row until piece measures 9".
Bind off.

STOCKINETTE STITCH
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.

Row 2: Purl all stitches.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 9".
Bind off.

SEED STITCH
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 1 stitch, purl the next stitch, knit the next. Continue alternating stitches across the row.
Repeat this row until piece measures 9".
Bind off.

DOUBLE SEED STITCH
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 1 stitch, purl the next stitch, knit the next. Continue alternating stitches across the row.
Row 2: Purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, alternating stitches across the row.
Row 3: Work the same as Row 2.
Row 4: Work the same as Row 1.
Repeat these 4 rows until piece measures 9".
Bind off.

LINES
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: Purl all stitches.
Row 3: Knit all stitches.
Row 4: Purl all stitches.
Row 5: Knit all stitches.
Row 6: Knit all stitches.
Repeat these 6 rows until the piece measures 9".
Bind off.

CABLE
Cast on 36 stitches.
Row 1: Purl 13 stitches, knit next 2 stitches, purl next 6, knit 2, and purl remaining 13 stitches.
Row 2: Knit 13 stitches, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, and knit 13.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: Knit 13 stitches, purl 2. Slip next 3 stitches onto cable needle, hold in back of work. Knit next 3 stitches, then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle. Purl 2 and knit the remaining 13.
Row 5: Repeat Row 1.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: Repeat Row 1.
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat these 8 rows for 9".
Bind off in pattern.

SQUARES
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 5 stitches, purl 5, knit 5. Alternate knitting 5 and purling 5 stitches across the row.
Row 2: Purl 5 stitches, knit 5, purl 5 and repeat pattern across the row.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: Repeat Row 1.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: Repeat Row 2.
Row 8: Repeat Row 1.
Row 9: Repeat Row 2.
Row 10: Repeat Row 1.
Row 11: Repeat Row 2.
Row 12: Repeat Row 1.
Repeat these 12 rows until piece measures 9".
Bind off in pattern.

SHADOW TRIANGLES
Work in multiples of 5 stitches.
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: *Knit 1, Purl 4, repeat from * to across the row.
Row 3: *Knit 3, Purl 2, repeat from * to across the row.
Row 4: Work the same as Row 3.
Row 5: Work the same as Row 2.
Row 6: Knit all stitches.
Bind off in pattern.

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