New Challenge for 2015
It’s a new year and therefore time for a new challenge. A couple of years ago I decided I was going to work on busting out some of my stash yarn and make hats for chemo donation. My 2013 Stash Bust Challenge was focused on a box full of Bernat CottonTots yarn. I ended up crocheting 5 pounds, 15.5 ounces of it into 32 hats for Halos of Hope or other charitable donation. I had also crocheted other hats for donation in different yarn that I didn’t include in the count. I was pretty busy with hats that year. Last year’s challenge didn’t focus on any yarn in particular, just random yarn in my stash. Last year I made 24 hats out of 5 pounds, 4.25 ounces! I must have made some pretty heavy hats!
It would seem that most of my stash yarn would be close to gone at this point. Sadly, no. I still have too many boxes of yarn. So 2015 will once again be all about working from stash yarn for charitable causes. This year’s goal will be a minimum of 24 hats and 5 pounds of yarn. I’ve got some funky fun fur that needs to used and a ton of cotton and cotton-blends that will be perfect for chemo hats. I also hope to make a lapghan or two.
Let’s start this challenge off with the first 3 hats of 2015 completed!
The first is called End’s Swell. I won this pattern in the Gift-A-Long on Ravelry last month. It is stitched with slip stitches which was totally new to me. The final result is adorable. The pattern is a great way to use up smaller leftovers without having to work in a million ends. I can see making more of these in random stripes as leftovers come available.
Next is another Divine Hat. This is a great pattern and my third one. I used Caron Simply Soft for this one. It looks great but, going forward, I’ll use thinner yarns when making this pattern. I loved it in Caron Spa.
Last is a Happy Puppy. Last month I re-worked the pattern in Vanna’s Choice by Lion Brand. I also re-formatted the pattern and took new pictures. The pattern was originally written with Bernat Denim Style-a great cotton/acrylic blend. Unfortunately this yarn has been discontinued. I (of course) have a few skeins of it in my stash and found this hat partially finished. Because Denim Style is super soft and perfect for chemo hats, I finished it and will include it in my next batch of hats to Halos of Hope.
This 2015 challenge is on and off for a good start!
The three hats weigh 7 ounces.
Total hats made in the 2015 Stash Bust Challenge to date: 3
Total weight of yarn used in the 2015 Stash Bust Challenge to date: 7 ounces
Two more hats for donation completed in November! Whoo-Hoo! These two cuties will be donated locally. I had an almost full skein of white Red Heart Super Saver in my stash. This isn’t the best yarn for chemo hats so I wasn’t sure what to do with it. Then I received notification that this year’s White Christmas has a Frozen theme. Every year the employees of the local university where I work collect A LOT of food and toys (White Christmas) for those who live in the town and are in need. So, I decided to make an Elsa hat for the collection. I’m pleased to have found a charitable use for this yarn. And because it will be worn by a child who will have hair, this yarn should be OK.
Crocheters (and other crafters too!) are such generous people. We love our craft and want to share it with as many others as possible. How often have you found yourself saying to others “If you’d like to learn, I’ll show you.” Not only do we share our skills, we also share our stuff. Last week, one of my regular pattern testers mentioned she had some cotton yarn she couldn’t use and asked if I’d like it. She said maybe I could make a couple of hats for 
Crochet By Darleen Hopkins 