It’s been a week since Crochet for Kidney Research UK took place (read about it here), yet I’m still receiving crocheted squares for the blankets. You lot are the greatest! I’m not “officially” accepting any more squares but these three ladies either posted their squares before 9 November, couldn’t attend the event in person or just desperately wanted to be involved.

I met Maureen a couple of months ago at one of my crochet demos at Tudor Williams. She asked me to explain working in the round, and now look at her: ten beautifully made granny squares with perfect tension, neat and lovely colour combinations.

Rochsane found out about the chairty blankets through Haekelmonster’s blog. John immediately fell in love with the white spiral square – please give me the name of that pattern Rochsane! Rochsane also wrote the most beautiful note. John and I both had chills when we read it.

Gill dropped off her pretty squares at my house on Friday. She works on the admin side for the Renal & Transplant Unit at Imperial NHS Trust. To quote her email: “….so I am only too well aware of what goes on and the need to make patients’ time with us more comfortable and fulfilling.”  Having someone who works with renal patients every day, confirm exactely why I took on this charity project really means a lot to me and Gill’s email popped into my inbox when I needed it most.

I’m definitely going to incorporate these 24 squares into the blankets. In fact, I think some of them may already be part of Blanket No. 2. Yes, two….. Last night I finished crocheting the edging on Blanket No. 1 and laid out the squares for Blanket No. 2. Whoo-hoo!

I’ve been keeping track of the dates, names, places and numbers involved in Crochet for Kidney Research. There’s some impressive numbers! I’ll be using all of that information to make tags for the blankets. I have to make tags anyway to give the care instructions, so I might as well use the opportunity to tell the recipient of a bit more about each blanket. Right?

I will keep you all updated as to the when, where and how of handing over the seven blankets.

Its the day before the big event and another three parcels of squares arrived. Between these three I received enough for another blanket! Can you believe it? Three strangers from England, Scotland and Berlin basically crocheted a blanket! I can’t tell you how touching that is for me. Crocheters simply are the best.

Rita said sorry for “only” sending four squares as she ran out of time. Rita, without your four squares we wouldn’t have had enough for another blanket. Each square counts, so thank you very much.

These eight squares sent by Linda, they are the first crocheted squares she has ever made. As in, ever! She only learned to crochet on 9 October. I was amazed that she would say in her note to me, that she didn’t like the look of them. What!? Even for an expert crocheter, these are great. Well done Linda. I am proud to include these in the blankets.

Carina, who blogs over on haekelmonster, sent me a box of 34 squares from Berlin, Germany! Carina was afraid they wouldn’t arrive in time, but they did and each square is so perfectly made. Thank you so much Carina!

While I was typing this post FedEx rang the doorbell with this delivery. 68 Squares sent by Jennifer Lewis and Carol Cicotelli from the USA. I was so excited I didn’t even photograph the squares on a white background. I’m totally blown away by their generosity. 68 Squares are almost one and a half blanket, and they took the trouble to send it by courier so that it would arrive in time. I honestly have no words.

The total square count is now 50 cotton squares and 232 acrylic squares making the grand total 282 squares! And that’s without the squares from the people who will be attending tomorrow’s event! We will definitely be able to give six people a blanket each, maybe even seven. Wow, wow, wow.

I am now officially more excited than nervous about tomorrow 🙂

I received a second batch of crochet squares from Nicky Sutton yesterday. Thanks so much Nicky!

This brings our total up to 152, with two more packets on it’s way from ladies in Germany. You guys are really the best!

I can’t believe that next week this time I’ll be doing my “thank you for coming” speech in the Vera Fletcher Hall. It’s crazy to think that it will all be over next week, but between you and me, I already think I want to do this all again next year…. 🙂

Another four packets of squares for the blankets for the Crochet For Kidney Research UK event arrived this week.  These four packages contained 43 squares – that’s just five short of one whole blanket made up of 8 rows of 6 squares! That’s fantastic!

A huge shout-out to Cathy who sent 24 squares all the way from the USA. I don’t know why, but whenever I receive squares from as far afield as the USA it really touches my heart. Speaking of hearts. Those purple hearts on the white squares were sewed on my hand! Can anyone say “fiddly job”? Thanks again Cathy, your hard work is very much appreciated.

I also have to mention Jacky who has sent a second batch of squares. Jacky = twice as nice.

The total square count is now 144 – that’s exactly three blankets. Last week I was still hoping for three, and now we’ve done it!! Your kindness and generosity is amazing to me.

I read all the notes and postcards that I receive with the squares. Everyone’s kind words and support means the world to me – especially now that we have less than two weeks to go to The Event (!) Thank you.

While I was on holiday last week, four more packets of squares for the blankets for the Crochet For Kidney Research UK event arrived! These four packaged contained 48 squares – that’s enough for one blanket made up of 8 rows of 6 squares! Ladies, between the four of you, you’ve crocheted a whole blanket! Whoo-hoo!!!!

A huge shout-out to Helen who single-handedly crocheted 30 squares.  That’s two-thirds of the blanket. You’re a rockstar Helen.

Jane Czaya also tweeted me a picture of squares made by her crochet students. Jane has even been selling raffle tickets to the ladies of her crochet group in Lewes who cannot be at our event on the 9th of November. How great is that?!

I’ve received a total of 99 squares, so that’s enough for two blankets without counting Jane’s crochet student’s squares or the squares of those coming in person. I’m soooo happy! Thank you to everyone who has sent squares so far.

We still have 20 days to go. Maybe we can have three blankets by then? Wouldn’t that be amazing?