A Ripple and Granny Square Blanket to show you!

Good afternoon and welcome!

I am very pleased to be showing you two super Sunshine Blankets received today. They have both been made by Gill. The first is a very colourful ripple Blanket and the second a Granny Square one. Both made in wonderful colours once again these are ideal for Residents in a Care Home.

I love the added Butterfly Gill thanks so much. Your work is amazing! I know these will give a lot of comfort to two Residents.

x Sue x

An exciting day today! We're in Knit Today and plenty of beautiful work to show you!

Good evening!

If you are visiting 'SIBOL' today through 'Knit Today' welcome! 

I'm very pleased to be telling you that we have an article published in issue 103 October 2014. This article describes our work so well and there are some gorgeous photographs of our Sunshine Blankets and Shawls. I can even spot my little piggie ornament on the window sill 'see if you can see it!' :)

We have now made in total 822 'Sunshine Blankets' since January 2010 and  the Homes are always very grateful for our help. 

If you would like to read the article in full please click on the photo and it will take you to Flickr where you can enlarge the text. When the photo comes up go the right where there is an arrow and a line underneath click on it and then click on 'original' size. (It's not that good though sorry).

Details about our work are over on SIBOL CHALLENGES.

I do have to up-date the Blog over there - we are now making 'Christmas Gifts' for the Elderly. This is the first time I've invited Ladies to make smaller items for them especially for Christmas such as Bed Socks, Warm Hats, Fingerless Gloves, Bed Jackets and useful items like that. So if you would like to make something smaller please do. Of course we are still accepting Knitted and Crocheted Blankets and Shawls to keep them warm  too.  If there is anything you would like to suggest please email me Sue on sueatpigsty@talktalk.net. I'd love to read your ideas.

Paula953 has taken this Challenge on and this morning I have received some beautiful Knitted Fingerless Gloves. Just take a look at these.

Aren't they superb! My idea is to collect items for the Elderly and then just before Christmas to take them in as Christmas Gifts from us all. Please join in! I'd love to receive your donations.

Paula953 has a Blog  'The Nutty Knitter' why not pop over and say hello here's the LINK. Thanks so much Paula x

                                                              xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I also received a large parcel today from baw1812. I'm so grateful for everything that was inside. Before we look at what she has sent she'd like to tell us some latest news about 'parcel2go.com' that she read on Martin Lewis's web site. 

1st time users of parcel2go.com can get one free delivery (up to £10) up to the end of September. You need to enter the code OFFERFREE. So if anyone else has anything to send to Sibol HQ (or anywhere else!) in the next few weeks and haven’t already used Parcel2go make sure you remember this offer!

I'm very grateful to you for telling us Bev. Thank you.

Now let's look at what she's made for the Elderly Residents.

The first Shawl has a name it's called 'Banana Split'. Here's the LINK.

I think this is a wonderful name for such a gorgeous Shawl.  I love the edging too.

Then we have 'Spring Fling!' Here's the LINK if you want to check out the pattern. Shawls are a great way to use up your un-wanted yarn and they are certainly very useful to throw over the shoulders to keep those chills away.

These colours are perfect!

Now 'The Amita Shawl' and here's the Link for the details. Love the contrasting colours in this one.  I found a perfect Butterfly in my Butterfly Stash too. This Shawl has been made up in chunky yarn and although it's holey I thought it was very warm. Ideal for someone Elderly.

baw1812 chooses great names for her Shawls this one is 'Splash Shawl' here's the LINK. This is so different I love the colour combinations used. A great Butterfly decorates it too thanks very much for making it.

Next we have a Sunshine Blanket to show you. Squares were sent in and baw1812 very kindly assembled for us. You've made a fantastic job of putting them together in this Blanket. I love the purple joining yarn which you have used for the edging too. Thanks so much for your help. We have called this one 'Patience'. All of our Sunshine Blankets have names and this is perfect.

Thanks to everyone for sending in the Squares for this Blanket too.

Butterflies were also enclosed with the Blanket and Shawls  and we are always in need of them to decorate our Sunshine Blankets so if you would like to try Crocheting some please do here's the LINK to Netties Blog in Australia.

What an exciting day today! First of all I find out that we have an article in 'Knit Today', then I receive beautiful Fingerless Gloves from Paula953 and then a parcel arrives from baw1812 containing a Sunshine Blanket, Shawls and pretty Butterflies. It's been a very busy day here at SIBOL HQ but I've thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed to the 'SIBOL' project in the past. Also to Paula953 and baw1812 for their wonderful donations today and to you too for visiting our 'SIBOL' Blog. I'm very grateful to everyone.

If you have any enquiries please do not hesitate to contact me.

I'm Sue on sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

We also have a Group on RAVELRY. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Here's the LINK.

Bye for now

x Sue x 

Saturday's delivery.

Good Afternoon,

A busy Saturday here today. I've had two gorgeous Sunshine Blankets arrive from GillyLilly and also Paula.

They are both so lovely and very different designs from what we normally receive.
Let's take a look at them.

GillyLilly has used one of my favourite Squares 'the African Flower Square'. It certainly is a stunning Blanket made in these colours. The Flowers really stand out. What a joy to receive this one today. It's a perfect size too and ideal for someone's lap.

Thanks so much GillyLilly.

The next Sunshine Blanket has arrived from Paula953 over on RAVERLY.

Once again this Blanket is so pretty. 

Made in every colour you can imagine it is so bright and cheerful.

A Knitted Blanket this time and a beautiful Butterfly on a cute pocket.

A Resident in one of the Homes is going to love this one too.

Thanks so much Paula953. Beautifully Knitted.

To make our 'SIBOL' project a little more interesting. I have invited 

Ladies on RAVELRY to make Christmas Gifts for the Elderly.

So if you would like to make a Sunshine Blanket or anything that would keep them warm this winter such as Bed Socks, Wrist Warmers, Fingerless Gloves, Warm Knitted or Crocheted Hats, Shawls, Bed Jackets etc.,

Not Cardigans or Jumpers though.  I'd love you to join in. Please do tell your Knitting Groups about our new idea too.

I have started a new thread on RAVELRY so please pop over.

Here's the LINK

I think that's it for today, thanks to Paula953 and GillyLilly two great

Blankets for the Elderly.

If there is anything at all you would like to ask me please feel free to mail me

I'm Sue on

sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

A Gents Blanket today arrives at HQ!

Good afternoon and welcome.

I do hope you will scroll down and read previous posts there has been a lot going on over the last few weeks. Today I would like to show you a lovely Granny Blanket  arriving from Laura here in the UK. Made in darker colours I think this Blanket will be perfect for a Gent in a Home. It's a good size too. It will keep the chills off someone I am sure.

Let's take a look at it now.

Your Crocheting is lovely thank you Laura x

This morning I went and visited our 90 year old 'SIBOLETTE' Irene. We had a lovely chat once again and she always tells me how she enjoys Knitting. You know I don't collect Squares from anyone else these days because we have such a lot of Blankets come in but I do still collect from
Irene.  She does have her family visit and carers but she gets so bored and Knitting really passes
time away for her. She tells me she finds it difficult to read but she can see to Knit. She's made some beautiful Squares in all sorts of colours and there are some Knitted triangles too for Shawls bless her. So thank  you Irene. I always pass them on to Sally who assembles them into beautiful Blankets for us.

Pat her friend also made some pretty Lilac ones. Thank you Pat.

It was my birthday recently and my 'once penfriend' now 'SIBOLETTE' stricksusi who lives in Austria very kindly sent me a Crocheted Hook Case. I have to show you. Pretty Ribbon ties it up and on the front are two Crocheted Flowers. It's so pretty.

I opened it up and there were a lovely set of coloured Crochet Hooks I can't wait to use them.
You have made it so well stricksusi and I will enjoy using it very much indeed. Thank you for the card too.

stricksusi also sent me some Ribbon for our Blankets how kind thank you!

Things are starting to change within the 'SIBOL' Group we are 'expanding'  into making new items for the Elderly. Please scroll down on the previous post to see what's new.

I think that's it for today. 

Thanks for visiting.

If there is anything you would like to  ask me please feel free to mail me.

I'm Sue on sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

x Sue x 

A Shawl for the Elderly and what else do we need?

Good Morning,

Shawls are always welcomed for our 'SIBOL' project and today I have received a pretty lilac one from GillyLilly over on RAVELRY. This is something I started at the beginning of the year and the idea has really taken off. I have a box full of 20 Shawls upstairs and as soon as I can find some spare time I shall be approaching the Home I have in mind. I have already delivered them  10 and promised to go back with 20 more. Time is a problem for me at the moment with my Daughter not yet 100% with her ankle. She's only working mornings and it means I am having to be 'taxi-mom' once again. Hopefully I will go tomorrow but to be honest it may be next week it all depends whether I can sort them out ready too. I am off to see our 90 year old Irene tomorrow I was hoping to call on the way back we will see. Anyway GillyLilly I shall definitely put yours in with the others.

While I am talking 'Shawls' I thought it would be nice to try and get as many made as I can to take in for Christmas Gifts. So.....if anyone would like to make one please 'keep them comin!'  I'm also thinking of inviting you to make Bed Socks too. Our 90 year old Irene was questioned yesterday 'What else do you think we could make Irene?' She suggested Bed Socks. She said her feet get particularly cold.  We also had a suggestion the other day on RAVELRY for 'fingerless gloves'. So I'm throwing the idea out to you in the hope you may be interested. This is something once again that is new and I'm not sure how the idea will go down with you all. 

So what do we need for our 'SIBOL' Project?

RAVELRY LINK.

Sunshine Blankets 

Shawls

Bed Socks

Fingerless Gloves.

If you have spare yarn that you feel you would like to use please feel free to join  us.

Can you think  of anything else the Elderly would like? Let's get our thinking caps on!

I also thought of Blankets within cushions. Wouldn't it be nice to make a cushion maybe out of Squares or one piece with a Blanket enclosed inside. Then it would be useful to use as a Cushion or a Blanket.  

Anyway back to Shawls. Let's take a look now at this wonderful Shawl from GillyLilly. I am very grateful to you,  it's gorgeous!

I told you  it was lovely!

Thank you GillyLilly.

Before closing today. May I remind you to scroll down and have a look at Jenny's Sunshine Blanket  called 'Peppermint Cream.' A great name for this Blanket. Also a visit the two Maria's made with joyce28 to a Home in East Grinstead on my behalf.

There is always a lot to see on the SIBOL Blog and if I don't keep

the Blog up todate I will get behind.

Have a good day everyone!

Thanks for popping in and if there is anything you would like to ask me  please feel free to contact me  on 

sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

I'm Sue x

A 'Sunshine Blanket' from 16 year old Jenny.

Good evening everyone!

A few days ago I received a gorgeous 'Sunshine Blanket' from a young lady called Jenny. Jenny is 16 years of age and she has been making a Blanket for us for two years. I think this is a wonderful achievement for her and I am very grateful indeed to her for donating the Blanket to our 'SIBOL' project.

It's a wonderful Crocheted Blanket made in two shades of green and cream and it would be ideal to fit a single bed.  Very often the Homes like larger Blankets when someone is feeling a little poorly so that they can put an extra layer on to the bed. I know this Blanket is going to be terribly useful to someone and I really appreciate all the effort that has gone in to it. I asked Anne her Mother if she would like to invite Jenny to write a Blog post for us. I'm sure you will find this very interesting.

Here is Jenny’s blog contribution:

---------------------------------------------------------

“Hi!  I’m Jenny and I have been crocheting for SIBOL for about two years now, ever since I was 14 years old.   My mum does crochet and was reading a magazine featuring an article about SIBOL, and she said they were in need of blanket contributions.  Because I had been ill for some months and unable to attend school, mum taught me to crochet and suggested that I might like to contribute a blanket for an elderly person.

We went to the wool shop and I chose the colours for my blanket.  I chose neutral colours since I was not sure whether my blanket would go to a lady or a gentleman and I wanted to make sure that it was suitable for either.  I worked on my blanket over two years because I had to fit it in around my homework.  I took it twice to America on holiday when I went to visit my grandparents, so it has made a few transatlantic trips!  I hope that whomever gets my blanket enjoys it as much as I have enjoyed working on it.  Mum has taught me to make granny squares next, so I hope one day I can make another blanket for SIBOL.”

--------------------------------------------

Thank you so much for your Blog post Jenny I'm so pleased you wrote for us. I'm sure the other 'SIBOLETTE's' and readers of our Blog who visit us from all over the world  will be very interested to read about your Blanket. It's an amazing piece of work for someone so young and it's
great to read why you made the Blanket and why you chose those particular colours.

Whoever receives this Blanket will love the little note you put in an envelope for them. I think this really is a great personal touch and I'm sure it will bring tears to their eyes knowing that you spent
many hours making it for them.

It's been my pleasure to take some photos for you thank you so much for all your hard work.

Thank you also to Anne her Mother for showing Jenny the basic Crochet stitches. Let's hope this is the start of a Craft that will give her many hours of pleasure.

Thank you for popping in to 'SIBOL' today!

x Sue x

A Saturday Delivery Day!

Good Evening,

It's been a very busy day here in 'SIBOL' Land. First of all this morning  I have received two gorgeous 'Sunshine Blankets' and a 'Shawl' from Sally and then later on in the day  joyce28, Maria and Maria-Jesus visited a Care Home in East Grinstead for me. It's so nice that our 'Sunshine Blankets' can be given to those further afield. We have some great photos for you of their visit but first of all let's take a look at Sally's work.

This Blanket I think is perfect for an Elderly Gent, beautifully Knitted it is so warm. I don't know about you but I think the days are starting to get chilly now. A Blanket for someone Elderly is a wonderful Gift.

Sally has also Crocheted a Blanket using the Good ol' Granny Square.
Made in yarn from her Stash once again this Blanket is a good size and is so colourful. This one too could be ideal for a Gent - why not?

All  of our 'Sunshine Blankets' are decorated with Ribbon and 'SIBOL' Butterflies. The Butterflies are rather like our 'trade-mark' if you like. Butterflies were attached from around Blanket 7 or 8.

Not only did Sally make Blankets but she also made a colourful Shawl. We have now made over 60 Shawls for the Elderly. Take a look at this beauty!

This one reminds me of 'Harlequin'. I suppose if we did name our Shawls it would be perfect.

Gorgeous Knitted Squares Sally thank you.  Butterflies were also enclosed in Sally's parcel.

Once again perfect! 

Sally has sent us numerous Blankets over the months and has also helped me assemble Irenes' Squares too who is 90 years of age.  I'm very grateful for your help Sally thank you so much.

xxxxxxxx

Now I'm very grateful to Maria and Maria-Jesus who have teamed up today with joyce28  to visit a Home on my behalf. As joyce28 lives near to Brendoncare Stildon Care Home in East Grinstead she got in touch with them to ask if they would be happy to accept our 'Sunshine Blankets'. I am very pleased to be telling you that they loved our Blankets and joyce28 has very kindly written a report for us and she has also enclosed some photographs.

Ladies in the 'SIBOL' Group sent Blankets this time directly to joyce28 and on receipt she very kindly tied them up with pretty Ribbon and added some 'SIBOL' Butterflies.

Let's have a look at the photos now.

                                           Sunshine Blankets all piled up ready to go.

                                        

                                                             The car loaded up.

                             

Then off they go to Brendoncare Stildon Care Home in East Grinstead.

A lovely photo of the Home. It looks really nice.

                           

A report about the visit now.

"Well here we are back from Team London’s first delivery on behalf of SIBOL.

On Saturday Maria, Maria-Jesus and Joyce28 delivered a selection of blankets and shawls (approx 28 in total) to Brendoncare Stildon Care Home in East Grinstead.

We were greeted by Jo the events co-ordinator and had the joy of meeting some of the residents in the lounge, before Jo took us round a few of the rooms to offer blankets and shawls to other residents. All were able to choose a blanket or shawl that they took a fancy to. Some were happy to chat about their knitting endeavours and one lady was keen to tell us how she made socks for the soldiers during the war!

The blankets “sold” better than the shawls, but maybe when someone models one, others will want one too! Everyone seemed very happy with their choice.

It was an amazing experience for all three of us, yes it was a bit daunting to begin with but we were soon chatting to some of the residents and Jo made us feel right at home with a cuppa!

Thanks to all the ladies who supplied squares, blankets, and shawls to make this visit possible."

A wonderful report Ladies thank you and now for some more photos.

Wonderful photos of the Residents choosing a Blanket. I'm sure they will be talking points for many days to come.

I would like to thank joyce28, Maria and Maria-Jesus for doing this on behalf of the 'SIBOL' Group. It really is lovely of the three of you to take time out of your weekend to visit the Home.

As you know I live in Birmingham in the West Midlands so mainly our Blankets are delivered locally to where I live so it is really nice that our 'Sunshine Blankets' can be given further afield and that more Elderly Residents can benefit from our work. Many of the Residents do not have visitors and to know that Ladies in the Crafting  Community  have made a Gift for them really does make a difference.

In closing may I thank Jo - the Events Co-Ordinator at Brendoncare Stildon Care Home in East Grinstead for the hospitality shown to our 'SIBOLETTE's' and for accepting our Blankets. It has been a pleasure to pop in today.

                                                                                xxxxxxx

I will be showing you Jenny's Blanket  very soon. Jenny is 16 years of age and over the last two years she has been Crocheting for the 'SIBOL' project. She has made a wonderful 'Sunshine Blanket' for the Elderly and I am going to devote a whole post to her so please keep popping in to the Blog. She deserves a post to herself I think.

Thanks to you all for visiting the Blog today and taking an interest in our work for the Elderly.

If there is anything you would like to ask me please feel free to mail me.

I'm Sue on sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

                                                 and more details are on SIBOL CHALLENGES

                                                            x Sue x