Somewhere Else

CLICKING AND CONNECTING

CALLING ALL KNITTERS AND CROCHETERS!

(And those keen to learn a new skill during lock-down!)

We have something super exciting for you to get involved in. If you like to knit or crochet then pick up those needles and hooks - we'd love you to start making some 6 inch squares for our community project "Click and Connect"!

It is a great way to keep occupied at home, making something creative, having a sense of achievement and productivity whilst staying connected as a community!

We will be putting these squares together (and possibly adding some applique later on) to make a banner/quilt to commemorate this time and the strength we have had to get through this together. Any squares we have left over we will make into small blankets for the homeless community.

So get your needled "clicking" and "connect" with others. Check out some squares that Heather (knitter) and Laura (crocheter) have already done.

We want you to be as creative as you like! You can chose any pattern you want (there are some simple ones below to get you started), any stitch that you like and any colours you prefer! Rainbow, stripes, half and half, chequered - anything goes!

Need a head start? We've done the hard work for you! We've put together some simple patterns for you to try out as well as the number of stitches and rows to get a 6" square (or as close as possible!) Remember that your tension might differ from ours so have a tape measure handy and check size by folding one corner up to the needle so the sides are flush and forms a double triangle.

For knitting:

Double Knitting wool

1) Size 8 needles - 35 stitches. Work about 62 rows in garter stitch (all knit).

2) Size 9 needles - 38 stitches, about 58 rows in garter stitch.

3) Size 9 needles; start from 1 stitch and increase every other row until you have 51 stitches on the needle, then decrease every other row back down to 1 stitch and cast off!

For crochet:

Double Knitting wool

1) Size 4mm hook - simple granny square. Start with a chain of 5, join with slip stitch. Chain 3 to get up to height of first round. Do groups of 3 treble crochet into centre circle with chain 3 in between each group for the corners. On subsequent rounds, groups of 3 treble crochet into the gaps of the round below, chain one in between groups of treble crochet on the sides and continue to chain 3 for the corners. Make sure to do 2 groups of 3 treble crochet in each corner. 6 rounds in total.

2) Size 4mm hook - solid granny square. First round the same as simple granny square (see above). Chain 3 to get up to next round. Do a treble crochet into the top of each treble crochet stitch in the round below. Two treble crochet in the corner, chain 3 and then another 2 treble crochet in the same corner. (Rounds should increase by 4 treble crochet stitches on the sides each time.) 6 rounds in total.

This is a lot of information, we know! But don't worry, just save this post for later reference or (even easier) all of this info will be on our website - www.somewhere-else.org.uk . We will also be putting up links to some YouTube instructional videos for those who want to learn how to knit or crochet and want to get involved!

When you have finished a few squares, don't join them up - just leave them loose as they are and send them in the post to us!

For the postal address to send your squares, please email Laura at lburtonopp@outlook.com .

We hope you have fun creating something as a community! Happy knitting everyone!

Thanks,

Laura (OPP) - One Programme Participant

If you need some help to get started,

then the following video links are useful.

KNITTING VIDEOS

Cast On:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vm6oaYzHyA

Knit Stitch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egp4NRhlMDg