Some of the most popular movies and television shows in recent memory take a look back at events of the past. Father Brown, Downton Abbey, Foyle's War, of course Call The Midwife, and many others. However, I've been blessed enough to have heard some of the stories of American history from family who lived them first hand. While we face a different sort of holiday season this year, it is made richer by the fact that people are thinking about giving differently than they may have done in the past. In this particular blog series I will to look back at the past patterns, fashions, ideas, and societal expectations with an eye toward looking at our present to find comparable patterns to use right now. (See the parent blog Tabitha's Mountain Rhapsody Family Artists for more Vintage blog posts) From what I remember of the chats I had with the elder members of our family gifting during the holiday was pretty simple. Gifts of food and treats of candy along with necessities. Handmade items were the norm not something to be mocked. People shared what they had (whether wealthy or poor) because rationing during World War II taught them to conserve and share. Some of the original upcycle/recycle ideas came about during this time in history in many countries not just America. The arts and crafts played a huge role in the holiday celebrations. Handmade was a way to share love with family, friends and neighbors. Everyone got involved! From the youngest to the oldest. Generally this had the effect of bonding members of a household and members of the community. From recycling a sweater to make a baby bonnet and coat or creating salt dough Holiday ornaments, handmade was truly appreciated and honored. Here are a few introductory links to give an historic perspective to Christmas during WWII www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/america-goes-war-take-closer-look www.nww2m.com/2016/12/home-front-friday-the-gifts-that-keep-on-giving/ Here's a fantastic pinterest page www.pinterest.com/sarahsundin/christmas-in-world-war-ii/ A Fireside Chat by President Franklin Roosevelt archive.org/details/14December241943FiresideChat27OnTheTehranAndCairoConferencesFDR I know that some won't be interested in the historical pieces of this series. However, please stick around for the patterns and the hat tips to the indie designers and companies that make our craft supplies. Thank you for taking a moment to read this introduction! Photo credit: Tim Mossholder https://unsplash.com/@timmossholder
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Bone marrow donation. I'd heard of it of course, but never realized how vital it was to get the word out about donation. Over the course of a year or so, I watched the journey of an incredible woman go through her battle with Myleofibrosis. I learned about the real need for bone marrow donors. Included in this post will be a free pattern for the Annalise hat. A hat I designed to honor cancer warriors and their families. Myleofibrosis is a rare blood cancer. Treated by various therapies including bone marrow transplantation. I knew next to nothing about bone marrow transplantation. It's incredible how many diseases/cancers are cured by bone marrow transplantation. I found out that 70% of people waiting for a bone marrow transplant DO NOT have a match within their own family! There are thousands of people depending on strangers to sign up to be bone marrow donors. (Just for full disclosure I have some benign cell count issues. Therefore I cannot donate) If you feel you might like to donate your bone marrow to save a life, call your doctor or hospital. Ask about the process and getting registered as a donor. In the span of the last 10 years I've had 3 people in my sphere of influence experience some kind of bone/blood cancer. Here's a general list of conditions that bone marrow donation can successfully treat.
"Approximately every three minutes, a child or adult in the United States is diagnosed with a type of blood cancer. That’s 480 people a day, 175,200 people a year." Source: www.giftoflife.org/page/content/learnmore These are heart wrenching facts however, as an average person you could be someone's superhero!! Now I want to present my pattern for the crocheted convertible Annalise Hat. The Annalise Hat was designed to be a chemo cap originally. It is a surprise of sorts for a friend. However, it would be a great gift for those who have had a successful bone marrow transplant or conversely to honor those who have fought their cancer to the last. Give this hat as gift for a surviving family member, spouse, or friend. This pattern is FREE. Eventually I will add sizes for men and children. However if you follow the instructions you'll find that you can easily adjust the size. Note: The Annalise Hat was tested by Jill Schaefer, my friend and teacher. She also provided me with pictures of her finished project. Annalise Hat: FREE pattern (the pattern is free to use but the photographs are property of myself (Lyn Wilson) and Jill Schaefer. The Annalise hat is so named for friends who fought bone cancer to the death. They did not lose their battle… but like all warriors the end sometimes comes sooner than we expected. I certainly hope that you will use this hat pattern to comfort those who are still soldiering on. Yellow is the color of the bone cancer ribbon, therefore I chose a yellow yarn for my project. This cozy hat might also be a gift for those who have been left behind as a reminder that they are loved, prayed for, and thought of often. The color of the ribbon for cancer survivors is lavender This will be a convertible cap. Switch easily from cap to cowl/neck warmer. Cancer fighters have told me their body goes through a lot of temperature changes during treatment. A hat that turns to a cowl seemed like a good way to allow for flexibility in an accessory. Despite the name the stitches used are totally unisex and reversible. The hat pattern is pretty flexible on length so you can create a brim if you wish. It is also flexible in width to fit any size head! Note: While the pattern is pretty basic I might call this an intermediate beginner pattern because there are special stitches. However, thanks to tutorials online the stitches are simple to learn! The hat is crocheted flat, back and forth, then stitched up the back to form a tube. (vertically just to create a different look. See photo below) Also, The hat will have stretch vertically but not a lot of stretch horizontally. You’ll want to take this into consideration when choosing a material to create the hat. Note: Video on the foundation stitches from Christine of Sweet Potato 3 dot com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZcKVI-NTRs https://yarnandchai.com/tutorial-chainless-foundation-no-more-chains/ Photo tutorial. The Ribbed Half Double Crochet (RHDC) will be used throughout: https://yarnandchai.com/tutorial-ribbed-half-double-crochet-stitch-ribhdc/ Keep these stitches an even tension or the work will have a tendency to bow. NOTE: I used less than a skein of Herrschners Worsted 8 yarn that I had on hand and a size “H” (if you tend to crochet tightly you might want to go up a size hook AFTER the foundation row). If you use this pattern as a chemo cap please use a cozy and soft worsted weight yarn. Note: If you choose to use something like a DK weight yarn you will need to adjust the pattern to accommodate a lighter weight yarn. TO BEGIN: Foundation row: Create a chainless half-double crochet foundation row of 12 to 13” (or the length of your liking) I ended up with 29 stitches at the end of my foundation row. Chain 2 turn. (if you would like a wider brim simply crochet a longer chainless half-double crochet) Row 2: Starting with the first stitch in your Foundation Row, Begin the RHDC straight across your foundation row. Chain ONE then turn (if you have another turning method ie: chainless starting stitch. Feel free to use this method.) Continue row 2 until you’ve reached the desired width/circumference of the hat. To make sure you get the right size you can try placing the hat around your head to check the fit Remember you are working flat and vertically. This may look a bit different in RHDC. My head is about 22 inches in circumference give or take therefore, I will work the hat pattern back and forth until the width equals 21 1/2 inches. (I like a snug fit) When your hat has reached the desired width to fit the circumference of the head (in my case 21 ½ inches) it’s time to sew up the back of your hat. Simply slip stitch or whipstitch the row you just completed to the foundation row. (If you slip stitch the hat closed, there's no need to cut the yarn at the end of your last row. Carry on slip stitching the last row to the foundation row) Finish off, cut the yarn, and weave in the ends securely) Remember you are working vertically to form an open tube. To whip stitch simply thread yarn on to a yarn needle and sew the last row to the Foundation row. SEE GALLERY BELOW FOR PHOTOGRAPHS Once the hat is sewn closed run a long crochet chain, a foundationless single crochet chain, a ribbon, or contrasting yarn doubled to act as a closure woven through the hat fabric. I started my closure about an inch from the top of the hat. (In reality there’s no top or bottom of the hat therefore you can run your closure through either end) I used a basic bow made of double strands of wool. Be creative about the type of closure you want to use as long as it’s easy to open. The hat becomes a cowl/neck warmer by loosening the closure and pulling the hat down over the head. My hat is pictured below. The hat can be embellished several ways as the situation allows. Appliques, buttons, flowers, patches from a favorite football team. Even using a cake type yarn like Caron Cakes or Premier Sweet Roll (my current favorite) would give this hat a completely different look. Foundationless single crochet as a closure tie: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/foundation-single-crochet-fsc/ Excellent photo tutorial here Appliques: https://mariasbluecrayon.com/free-crochet-patterns Maria offers a lot of various applique patterns and very cute ideas. Flower appliques: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/easy-crochet-flower-patterns-978611 Buttons of various sizes and shapes can be obtained at your local craft store or for some really unique buttons check out Etsy sellers! Premier Sweet Roll yarn: https://www.premieryarns.com/collections/premier-yarns/products/psweetroll I’ve just used this yarn for 2 large projects. I thought it was worth every penny! NOTE: This hat can be made longer or shorter simply by increasing or decreasing the length of the Chainless Foundation Half Double Crochet. For a more slouchy look make the Foundation row longer. To create a hat for a child simply shorten the Foundation row. To make the hat smaller in circumference stop working the RHDC when the hat reaches the desired width. (i.e. the average 5 year old's head is 20.5 inches. Therefore you'd stop crocheting when the width of your fabric reaches 20.5 inches). The average adult male head is about 23 inches. To make this hat larger simply work the RHDC until the width of the fabric reaches about 23 inches. |
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