Thank you, Melinda! November 15, 2011

I am very sorry to announce that after nearly two years of working with us, Melinda has decided that it is time she step down from the moderator team. Melinda has been a pivotal member of the team and will be missed very much. However, the demands of her job and as the mother of a young child need to come first.

If you are working on squares for a blanket that was formerly supervised by Melinda, please see the widget on the sidebar for the new supervisor. If the blanket is no longer listed, you may contact Tammany, Tracey, or Jenifer regarding your pledge. Please be sure to specify the recipient of the blanket in the subject line of your email.

 

In memory of Anne Marie October 28, 2011

We recently received the following request:

“My son’s s sitter found out she was pregnant and due at the end of November. When she went for her first sonogram they saw something strange and sent her for a another ultrasound. She went to her level II ultrasound and they told her that she would need to terminate her pregancy immediately since they baby would not live. They thought she had a birth defect where the skin does not grow around the front trunk of the body. She refused to terminate and went forward with her pregnancy and asked for a level II ultrasound. At 18 weeks when she went to he level II ultrsound she was told the heartbeat had stopped although Anne Marie did not have the birth defect that they had thought she had, and she delivered Anne Marie on 6/28/11. There were complications after the delivery and she almost lost her life as well. It was a long fight to even be allowed to bury her daughter but she won that battle and laid her to rest on July 1, 2011. Through all of this she was a wonderful provider for my son an the other children that she cares for as if they are her own. I would like to provide this blanket to her family as a comfort when approaching her original due date.”

We are collecting 36 8×8” squares for this blanket. Please use soft, washable fibers in girl colors: pinks and soft neutrals. Squares are due by 11/30/2011. The process for pledging squares is a little different this time. To make your pledge, please go to this spreadsheet and enter the appropriate information. Thank you!

Be Heard October 27, 2011

Pregnancy and infant loss happens more often than most people care to talk about. Recent data indicates that one in four pregnancies end in loss. At my place of employment, which is quite small, there are at least five women who have suffered miscarriage, stillbirth, and/or neonatal loss. Still, no one talks about it and no one knows how to cope with those of us who are trying to cope.

If you’ve suffered pregnancy or neonatal loss, I’d like to present you with an opportunity to be heard. I was recently contacted by a graduate student at Drexel University who is studying how women deal with such tragic loss. Below is more information on her study and how you can become involved. Please take a moment to make sure you meet the parameters of the study. If you do, send an email to the address provided and more information, along with a link to the survey will be sent to you.

Thank you so much for your time.

 

If you lost a pregnancy (to stillbirth or miscarriage) in the past 6 months to 4 years, we want to hear YOUR story. Drexel University is conducting a research study to learn how women healed and moved on from the grief of their loss. You are eligible if you: 

1. Are between the ages of 19 and 50

2. Live in the United States

3. Identify as either White/Caucasian or Black/African American

4. Experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth any time between October, 2007, and April, 2011.

 

The study takes approximately 30-40 minutes to complete, and can be done online or over the phone (you can choose how you want to participate). As a “thank you,” we are offering a choice of a small “care package” (of lotion, chocolate, and tea), or a Dunkin Donuts gift card (both are worth approximately $5) to women who participate. 

 

Please email us at drexel.pregnancy.loss@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering for the study. Thank you- we are looking forward to hearing from you soon.

For Ralph and Linda October 25, 2011

Ralph and Linda lost their daughter and their grandchildren on the same day. They were murdered by their son-in-law. Friends and family were asked to wear purple to the memorial service to show their support for victims of domestic violence. We would like to send Ralph and Linda a purple blanket to show them that we support this important cause as well. Squares should be 8×8″, washable, and purple. Squares are due November 30.

If you would like to contribute to this blanket, please email Tammany. (tammanyATschuylersblanketsDOTorg)

For Becca and Thom October 25, 2011

Becca and Thom lost their little boy, Reilly Lyric, at birth. He was a tiny 3 lbs, 14 oz. There is no known cause of death. Reilly’s grandmother would like us to send some love to Becca and Thom in the form of a blanket. We are collecting 36 8×8″ squares in “little boy” colors such as green and blue. Reilly’s grandmother  would also like some dragonfly squares incorporated into this blanket. Squares are due November 30.

If you would like to contribute to Becca and Thom’s blanket, please email Tracey (traceyATschuylersblanketsDOTorg). Thank you.

An Announcement October 17, 2011

Thank you all so much for the enthusiasm you have shown for this project over the last few months. Our queue has grown as has our list of sponsors and contributors. We’re able to reach out to so many more families because of all of you.

At this time, we are no longer taking requests for blankets. We feel that we will be better able to serve those that are already on our queue by taking the next few months to focus on our outstanding blankets. This will also give our web developer some much needed time to work on our website. We will begin taking requests again in January 2012. In the meantime, if you would like to help, please consider pledging a square or two to the blankets we have in progress.

Thank you for understanding,

Tammany, Tracey, Melinda, and Jenifer

More on making squares September 27, 2011

We’re asked a lot what patterns should be used for Schuyler squares. The sky is really the limit here. We rarely have special requests for any type of pattern, but there are some thoughts that could help you decide which patterns would be appropriate.

1. Garter stitch is not a good choice for these squares. The garter stitch pattern that is knit on the bias and used frequently for dish cloths and baby blankets has proven to be problematic when sewn into a larger blanket. Garter stitch is stretchy enough on its own. When knit on the bias, it becomes even more stretchy. It just doesn’t hold its shape well in a blanket. If you like this pattern, try knitting it in stockinette with a garter stitch border. Also, be sure to knit at a tighter gauge than you normally might.

2. Borders are good. Adding a 3-4 stitch garter or seed stitch border to a square is really helpful for two main reasons. One, it makes it much easier for the sponsor to sew the square to another. Two, it gives a nice polished look to the square. Be sure to take the extra stitches into account when measuring your squares.

3. It’s all about gauge. Gauge is that magical thing that allows us to knit something to the right size. It doesn’t take much time to knit up a little gauge swatch and do some simple math to make sure your square is going to be the right size. If you aren’t sure how to make and measure a gauge swatch, there are plenty of articles and tutorials on-line.

4. Yarn matters. Some yarns are better than others when it comes to knitting blanket squares. Obviously, the most important thing here is that the yarn you choose be soft and washable. In addition to that, however, you should choose a yarn that you can knit to an appropriate gauge. For example, there are many beautiful fingering weight (sock) yarns out there. If a pattern calls for a gauge of 4 sts/inch, that fingering weigh yarn is not going to be the best choice. Could you get 4 stitches to the inch on finger weight yarn? Yes. The problem is that you will have to knit on a needle so large that the square will not be strong enough to maintain its shape. A worsted or bulky weight yarn would be better for the gauge listed.

Another thing to consider when choosing yarn is the fiber content. Acrylic is an obvious choice for washable yarn, but it does not block. If you choose 100% acrylic yarns, be sure to measure your gauge and your square carefully as what you knit is what you will get. Superwash wools and wool blends are good choices because they can be blocked. If your superwash wool square comes out to 7.5″x7.5″, simply pin it out to the right size and give it a good shot of steam from your iron. Let it dry and voila! You have an 8″x8″ square that will stay that size.

Stay tuned for a post on where to find patterns.

FAQs September 21, 2011

We’ve received a lot of emails lately expressing interest in our group and how to get involved. It’s really exciting to see so many people wanting to support this cause. While we hope to keep this blog as informative as possible, we realize that sometimes things slip through the cracks. Please read this post carefully before posting to Facebook or the comments with your questions. Hopefully, you will find the answers you are looking for here. If not, please send an email to questionsATschuylersblanketsDOTorg. Questions left on Facebook or in the comments can easily get lost in the shuffle and we want to make sure that you get all the information that you need!

1. I keep sending emails, but they are getting sent back. First, be sure to change the text “AT” to “@” and “DOT” to an actual dot. We use the text to prevent spam bots from getting a hold of our email addresses. Second, double check your spelling.

 

2. What yarn/patterns/colors should I use? In general, the only requirement is that the yarn you use be soft and washable. Worsted and heavy worsted weight yarns are the most popular choices, but anything that you feel comfortable working with is fine. There are not general requirements for color and pattern, but please read each posting carefully. Occasionally specific requests are made for certain color schemes.

 

3. Where should I send my squares? Please email the blanket supervisor for this information. Each blanket is sponsored by a different person, which means that squares will be sent to various locations. In order to protect the privacy of the sponsors, we will not be publishing their addresses on the website. Blanket supervisors’ email addresses are listed in the “Blanket Stats” side bar, on the “Contact Us” page, and in each blanket’s original post.

 

4. How many squares should I make? This is entirely up to you. Most contributors make between 1 and 4, but we’ve had a few people make as many as 8 for an individual blanket. Whatever you feel you’re able to commit to is what you should make.

 

5. Can I just make some squares to be used where needed? At this time, we have a surplus of “homeless” squares and will not be accepting anymore. When this changes, we will make an announcement.

 

 

For Mike September 20, 2011

Mike lost his son, Sean, in an accident on June 11, 2011. Sean was 18 years old and had just graduated from high school. He played football and was planning on attending Villanova University. An article about Sean can be found here.

We will collect 42 8×8” squares for this blanket. Please use soft, washable fibers in neutral colors. Patterns should be simple. The due date for this blanket is October 31, 2011. To make a pledge, please email jeniferATschuylersblanketsDOTorg. Thank you.

Get involved! September 12, 2011

We’ve recently had a lot of requests for more information on how to get involved in The Schuyler Blanket Project. There are three main ways to get involved. They are:

1. Request a blanket. Do you know a family who has lost a child? Do you think they could use a tangible reminder that they are being thought of? Often, to a bereaved parent, it seems that the rest of the world has moved on when their world has come to a screeching halt. It can feel as though one is expected to “get over it” in a certain time period. Friends and coworkers stop asking about your well being and start acting as if nothing happened. Worse, some people are so uncomfortable with the loss of a child that they say nothing. A blanket can be a long lasting reminder that their child is not forgotten. It can also remind bereaved parents that they are not alone and that they are thought of, even years after their loss.

To request a blanket for angel parents that you know, please email Tracey. She can be reached at tracey@schuylersblankets.org. Tracey will add your request to our queue and assign a supervisor. If you would like to sponsor the blanket yourself, please let her know. If you do not, your information will be passed on to Jen who will arrange a sponsor for you. The supervisor and sponsor will keep in touch with you about the blanket’s progress. They will also discuss any color, fiber, pattern, or size preferences you might have. (Please keep in mind that all squares and blankets are handmade by volunteers. While we will fulfill all requests for blankets, we cannot guarantee that color or pattern preferences can be met. We’ll certainly do our best, though!)

2. Sponsor a blanket. Do you knit, crochet or sew? Would you like to sponsor a blanket for a family in need? Blanket sponsors are responsible for collecting squares, assembling the blanket, and delivering it to the family. Sponsors will work with supervisors to keep track of the squares pledged and the squares received by the sponsor. You do not need to join Ravelry or Facebook to sponsor a blanket. Your supervisor will collect your contact information and keep it “on  file” for communication purposes.

3. Pledge squares. Each Schuyler blanket is made up of 36-48 squares. Usually, these squares are 8×8 inches. Although some requests come in for specific color schemes, most blankets only require three things. The first is that each square be made with soft, washable fibers. The second is that they be as close to the requested size as possible. (We’re all human. We get that, but a tape measure is definitely your friend here!) Third, please knit or crochet a little bit of love, warmth, and compassion into each stitch. To pledge squares to a particular blanket, simply email the blanket supervisor and let them know how many you’d like to pledge and to which blanket. (Each supervisor is assigned more than one blanket, so please don’t forget to tell us to which you’d like your squares donated!) The supervisor’s name is listed in parenthesis on the “blanket stats” sidebar.

All of this information is also listed on our “Get Involved” page, the link to which can be found in the toolbar at the top of the page. If you don’t see the answers you are looking for, please email us at questionsATschuylersblanketsDOTorg and a supervisor will get back to you as quickly as possible.