Warm Up America                                                      

For more information contact:
Kay Murray
Kmurray_arc@digii.net


Warm Up America is made up of volunteers who create handmade afghan blankets to help those in need. These blankets provide warmth and comfort to people who have lost their homes.

How it works...
Volunteers donate their time to crochet or knit a 7" X 9" rectangle (or more). Sections are either joined by individuals or groups.

The beauty of so many different participants is that a WUA afghan resembles a patchwork quilt of many colors and textures, just as the participants and recipients represent the varied faces of America.  

We have lots of yarn available to be checked out and turned into lovely blocks.  We also have a number of blocks waiting to be turned into afghans.  Come by the office to check out your supplies.

Tip!

To crochet or knit "perfect" Warm Up America! sections, cut a 7" by 9" cardboard template. Use the template as a guide; it's easier to handle than a measuring tape and great for kids.
                                                                                                                                                                                                    The following are basic crochet and knit patterns for making individual Warm Up America! afghan sections. Remember, if you want to make an entire afghan, you can knit or crochet your afghan to any size or pattern you wish.

For basic crochet and knitting stitch instructions:

Beginner Crochet Block:                                                                             
The instructions below will show you how to make a foundation row and a single crochet stitch. If you follow them exactly, you’ll complete a 7" by 9" block, which will be great practice and help a good cause: Warm Up America! Learn how your block can be joined with others to create an afghan to warm up someone in need.

What you need:

- Worsted-weight yarn, any color or colors
- Size G crochet hook;
- Yarn needle with big eye
- Small scissors How to begin

Step 1: Hold crochet hook in right hand and make a slip knot on hook.

Step 2: Bring yarn over hook from back to front and grab it with hook.

Step 3: Draw hooked yarn through slip knot and onto hook. This makes one chain stitch.
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 in sequence 28 more times. You should have 29 chain stitches and one loop will remain on hook.

Step 4: Skip the first chain stitch.

Step 5: Insert hook into center of next chain stitch. Draw yarn through the chain stitch and up onto the hook. There are now 2 loops on hook.

Step 6: Bring yarn over hook from back to front, and draw it through both loops on hook. One loop remains on the hook, and you have just made one single crochet stitch.

Repeat Steps 5 and 6 in each of the remaining 27 chains--be sure to work in the very last chain. You have now completed one row of single crochet. Measure your work; it should be about 7" wide. If it is too wide, try again with fewer beginning chains. If it is too narrow, try again with more beginning chains.

Step 7: At the end of the row, make one chain stitch, then turn the work counter-clockwise, leaving the hook in the chain.

Now you can begin another row, working into the stitches of the previous row.

Step 8: Make one single crochet stitch in first stitch and in each remaining stitch of the previous row. Be sure to work into the last stitch. Chain 1, turn.

Repeat Step 8 until the block measures 9" long.

Finishing: Cut the yarn from the skein, leaving a 6" end. Draw the hook straight up, bringing the yarn through the remaining loop on the hook.

Thread yarn into yarn needle and weave back and forth through stitches to secure.

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Knitting a Square                                                                 
The instructions below will show you how to cast on and to make a knit stitch, also known as garter stitch. If you follow them exactly, you’ll complete a 7" by 9" block, which will be great practice and help a good cause: Warm Up America! Learn how your block can be joined with others to create an afghan to warm up someone in need.

Beginner Knit Block

What you need:

- Worsted-weight yarn, any color or colors
- Size 8, 14"-long knitting needles
- Yarn needle with big eye
- Small scissors Casting On

Step 1: Make a slip knot on the shaft of one needle. This counts as your first stitch.

Step 2: Place this needle in left hand. Hold other needle in right hand to control the yarn. Insert point of right needle, from front to back, into the slip knot and under the left needle.

Step 3: Hold left needle still in left hand, and move left fingers over to brace right needle.

Step 4: With right index finger, pick up the yarn from the ball.

Step 5: Release right hand’s grip on the needle, and use index finger to bring yarn under and over the point of right needle.

Step 6: Return right fingers to right needle, and draw yarn through stitch with point of right needle.

Step 7: Slide point of left needle into back of new stitch, then remove right needle.

Step 8: Pull ball yarn gently to make the stitch fit snuggly on needle. You have now made one stitch (called casting on), and there are two stitches on left needle (slip knot is counted as a stitch).

Step 9: Insert point of right needle, from front to back, into stitch just made, and under left needle. Repeat Steps 5 through 9, 26 more times, until you have 28 stitches on the left needle. This completes the cast-on row, which is the way all knitting is begun.

First Knit Row
Step 1: Hold needle with stitches in left hand; insert point of right needle in first stitch, from front to back, just as in casting on.

Step 2: With right index finger, bring yarn from ball under and over point of right needle.

Step 3: Draw yarn through stitch with right needle point.

Step 4: This step now differs from casting on: Slip loop on left needle off, so new stitch is entirely on right needle.

This completes one knit stitch. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 in each stitch still on left needle. When the last stitch is worked, one row of knitting is completed.

Now measure your work. It should be about 7" wide. If it is too wide, start over and cast on fewer stitches; if it is too narrow, start over and cast on more stitches.

When the width is correct, begin next knit row as follows: turn right needle and hold it now in left hand. With free needle in right hand, work Steps 1 through 4 of First Knit Row in each stitch. Again take needle with stitches in left hand, and work another row of knit stitches. Work rows of knit stitches until block measures 9" long.

To complete the block, now bind off all the stitches.

Binding Off

Step 1: Knit the first 2 stitches; insert left needle into stitch you knitted first, and pull it over the second stitch and completely off the needle.

One stitch is now bound off.

Step 2: Knit one more stitch, insert left needle into first stitch on right needle, and pull it over the new stitch and completely off the needle. Another stitch is bound off; don’t work too tightly.

Repeat Step 2 until one stitch remains; now cut yarn from skein, leaving a 6" end. With needle draw end up and through last stitch to secure it. Thread yarn end into yarn needle and weave end into several stitches to secure it.