Rebuilding Greensburg - Block by Block

LAST UPDATED: FEBRUARY 27, 2008

save button to your own computer by right clicking on the image above - please link to this post

FEBRUARY 27, 2008 UPDATE:

It's delivery time!  We have scheduled a date to deliver afghans to Greensburg on Saturday, March 8, 2008.  The details are as follows:

DATE:  Saturday, March 8, 2008
TIME:  5:30pm
LOCATION:  First Baptist Church of Greensburg
MAP:  If you are planning to attend please email me for info/directions
OTHER DETAILS:  The afghans will be delivered and presented at the beginning of a community event being held the evening of March 8th from 6-8pm.  They're hosting the Toney Brothers Quartet at First Baptist that evening.  I'll be setting up during the 5:00 hour and doing a very brief presentation prior to the concert.  I'm not finished counting but I believe we have close to 50 afghans to take with us to Greensburg!

OCTOBER 9, 2007 UPDATE:

The seaming party was a lot of fun!  To watch a YouTube video of project photos through the seaming event, click here!

Want to adopt an afghan packet to seam at home, your Local Yarn Shop, or knitting/crochet group??

We completed 11 afghans at the seaming party September 15th and two others were partially completed that day.  Since then we have continued sorting squares into afghan packets and are making them available for seaming by request!  The list of available packets is being continually updated and more packets are being added daily!  If you would like to request a packet but don't see one available on the list please leave a comment or send me an email and you'll be added to the list for the next available packet.  Here is a list of request guidelines:

1.  When requesting an afghan packet please tell what packet number you would like to adopt from this list.  Look for the ones that say AVAILABLE.  You can do this by leaving a comment on this post, leaving a comment on the table/chart page, or by sending me a private email at sugarbunnyblvd@aol.com.  IMPORTANT:  If the packet you would like has already been requested, do you want to be placed on a waiting list?  I will respond to every request.

2.  You will need to pay the postage for the package via PayPal before I can ship it.  To estimate how much the postage will be please consult the USPS Domestic Postage calculation page.  My zip code is 67042.  You'll need to enter your zip code and the weight is 6lbs (small package size).  All packages will be sent PRIORITY MAIL.  This is because 12x12x8 Priority Mail boxes are the best size I could find for the packets and the boxes are FREE.  If we had to buy boxes just for cheaper postage it would end up costing the same anyway.  The farther you live from Kansas the more it will cost. It's about $15 to Maine, about $12 to California, and about $8 to Kansas City.  You will also be responsible for return postage.  When I receive your request and have a packet available for you I will send a PayPal invoice for the cost of shipping the packet to you.  **Requests for multiple packets by one person/entity will be shipped individually because it is less expensive to ship the smaller size boxes.**

3.  Afghans need to be completed ASAP and sent back out by November 1st.  That's a target mailing date of November 1st.  If it's Nov 2nd don't panic.  But do try to get the completed afghan sent out by Nov 1st if you can.

4.  Each packet includes 56 afghan squares (unless otherwise indicated) and coordinating yarn to whip stitch them together.  If you prefer to use a different method of joining the squares (like crochet) please let me know and I can include more seaming yarn.  If you would like to do a single crochet edge around the entire finished afghan please let me know and I can also include yarn for that.  I have received a lot of seaming yarn now.  :) 

**OLD NEWS - NOW OUTDATED**
IT'S TIME FOR THE SEAMING PARTY!!

Saturday, September 15, 2007
10:00am - 4:00pm

El Dorado First Baptist Church
315 West Central
El Dorado, KS  67042
Map to Church Building

REBUILDING GREENSBURG - BLOCK BY BLOCK
What:  8" garter stitch squares
Pattern:  knit from corner to corner on the bias (pattern specs below)
Fiber:  Worsted Weight - wool, superwash wool, wool blends
Color:  Any color - solid or variegated yarn
NEW INFO!  Mailing Deadline:  Inside U.S. August 10th;  Outside U.S. August 5th

Pattern Specs:  cast on 4 stitches, knit into the front and back of the first sitch of each row, knit in garter stitch (knit on every row) until one side measures 8", k2tog at the end of each row until 5 stitches remain, cast off.

ADDED MAY 11, 2007:  Alternate pattern - cast on 2 stitches, *knit into the front and back of the first stitch, knit across.  Repeat from the * until piece measures 8" along one side.  *Knit across to last two stitches, k2tog.  Repeat from the * until 2 stitches remain.  Cast off.  This makes the caston and castoff corners a little pointier.

*the increase stitch that I am using is kfb (knit into the front and back of the first stitch) 

Designs or various stitch patterns or stockinette can be incorporated if you wish but the basic pattern is intended to simplify seaming for the various people who may be helping with seaming.  If we collect more squares than we need for one family we will continue assembling afghans to be given to other families.

If any one would like to include a note or postcard sending good wishes to the family who receives your afghan square we will keep those messages together with the square(s) you send.  We're looking forward to being able to get these afghans and messages to the families!

MAIL BLOCKS TO THIS ADDRESS:

Laura Spradlin
El Dorado First Baptist Church
315 West Central
El Dorado, KS  67042

Please email me at sugarbunnyblvd@aol.com if you have any questions at all.

* * * * * * *

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

I don't have any worsted wool but I have acrylic yarn - will that be okay?
If it's yarn that you would feel comfortable using in an afghan for yourself or your family it'll be perfect for this project.  The most important thing is that they're 8" squares.

What if my square is not exactly eight inches - is that okay?
Don't worry - send it anyway!  I have read many other afghan project organizers say that the squares they receive are all over the map in the size range.  This looks like it will be a big project y'all!!  That gives us the luxury to sort squares by size.  If your square is 7" or 7.5" or 8.5" or whatever, it will be sorted with other squares the same size so that when it's time to seam we won't have to worry about stretching or pulling ones into submission to conform with a larger or smaller square next to it.  Send what you have - we can use them all!

What needle size should I use?
Use a needle size that will give you a fairly dense fabric.  With worsted weight yarn that will probably be US 6, 7, or 8.  If your stitches are a little loose you could double the yarn or add something else as a carry-along to add a little bulk.  Two strands of sock yarn = worsted weight in most cases.  A sport or DK + one strand of sock yarn will work well too!

I don't knit but I do crochet.  Will you accept 8" crochet squares?
How could I possibly say no??  Please yes - if you only crochet and would like to send a square we will LOVE to receive your square(s)!  I have been contacted by several people who want to send crochet squares and it appears that we will probably have at least a few afghans made entirely of crochet squares!  Knit On! Crochet On!

Who will be seaming the squares into afghans? 
UPDATED JUNE 22, 2007:  Just like I can't make this many squares alone, I can't seam the afghans alone!!  We're having a Seaming Saturday on September 15, 2007 at El Dorado First Baptist Church.  If you're within reasonable driving distance from here please check your calendar - we would LOVE to have you attend our seaming party!!  The event will be held in the Christian Living Center at the church building from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm with lunch snacks and cookies coffee and tea available to everyone who attends.  We have to keep up your energy level for seaming!  We need at least 80 - 100 people to help with the seaming.  Please let me know if you are interested in attending and if you will be with a group or if you're LOOKING for another person to share the driving with!  We'll be so happy and grateful for everyone that's able to attend this event!! 

Please email me at sugarbunnyblvd@aol.com if you can attend so I can add you to the list or let me know if you need me to check the list for someone you can share a ride with in your area!

Here's a map to the church building:  El Dorado First Baptist Church, 315 W Central, El Dorado, KS  67042

How will you decide who gets the afghans when they're finished?
At this point I know that if the church plan works the way they hope, the family we adopt (as a church, not my husband and I adopting a Greensburg family!) will receive at least one afghan.  Possibly a few small ones too if they have children.  I also hope to give afghans to the famlies of those killed by the storms.  I will learn more from the church and through the internet about agencies that are organizing support for the families of Greensburg and will contact those places to make arrangements for how the afghans will be distributed.  One thing to remember is that we won't necessarily know who receives the afghans we make.  The families in Greensburg deserve privacy and anonymity if they wish.  Due to that fact we probably will not receive a list of family names, etc.  Those lists will be organized and kept by official agencies like the Red Cross and United Way.  The churches of Greensburg will also know what families will benefit the most from the things we can send.  I will try to let you know more about these families as information is available but I don't expect to know too much about them myself. 

How many afghans are you making?
Watch the sidebar on my blog to keep up with the number of squares received and what our goals are.

What is the mailing deadline?
At this moment there is not a firm deadline.  I'm anticipating that it will probably be around August 1st but we'll never turn a square away and all squares that are received will be made into afghans for the families of Greensburg.  If your squares are ready please don't wait for the deadline!  We want to begin seaming afghans as soon as we can!  ADDED JUNE 22, 2007:  Please knit as many squares as you would like until August 1st.  Finish up what's on your needles at that time and get them in the mail by August 10th if you're in the US and August 5th if you're outside the US.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Do you have any color preferences?
There is no color preference. Get wild!  Use something that's not *you* and can't bear to look at in your stash!  It will be BEAUTIFUL paired with the other squares.  Feel free to use yarn scraps and make a stripey square with various colors.  It's a simple pattern and I'm encouraging everyone to get as crazy as they want with their colors!

Should I weave in my yarn tails on the squares?
Definitely YES please!  That way the squares will be ready for seaming when they arrive!  :)

ADDED JUNE 22, 2007

My squares aren't "square" - what am I doing wrong? 
Don't worry - my squares aren't "square" either when I first finish them!  My theory has always been that gravity isn't kind to anyone and always seems to stretch out the second half of my squares.  I repeat - DO NOT WORRY!  After August 15th gets here I will be washing every single square and shaping them into actual squares before sorting them into afghan packets for seaming.  Gravity has the same effect on all bias garter stitch squares.  Plus blocking covers a multitude of sins - I promise to take pictures to prove it in August.  :)

I just learned about the project - is it too late to start knitting squares? 
No!  It's not too late!  Please knit as many squares as you would like until August 1st and get them in the mail by August 10th if you're inside the US, or August 5th if you're outside the US.  We hope to collect MORE than our goal of 2240 squares (40 afghans!) so if you wish to knit or crochet squares please do so!

* * * * * * *

By now everyone has heard of the devastation that struck Greensburg, Kansas, USA on Friday, May 4, 2007.  It was a town of 1400 people.  Every church building was destroyed.  Every business on main street was demolished.  Every house was left shattered shredded and splintered.  I know that despite their hopeful outlook at the moment, many of the people and families will eventually feel shattered shredded and splintered because the road to recovery from a total loss like that is long and difficult.

I live in a rural Kansas town a few hours from Greensburg.  It was amazing to realize how many people here have family and friends in Greensburg that lost every last posession and they all lost members of their closeknit community to this horrible storm.

Sunday morning following the tornado our pastor told us that they had a signup sheet ready for volunteers and by the end of the day the signup sheet was full and there was a plan in place to adopt a family to help clean up their property then rebuild their home from the ground up.  We will know in about a week what family we are adopting and what their specific needs are - whether they have children, etc.

I can't go to Greensburg and help them clean up or build a house.  But I can do something that many knitters have done - I'm going to knit squares and assemble an afghan for the family.  I hope that you will help.

My button photo was used with permission from the photographer.  Her original photo and tribute to the families of Greensburg, Kansas can be seen here on flickr.

Comments

[Tracy]

I'm sending you an email now!

[Anne]

Nice. Very very nice. I will try to get a square worked on for you - mostly will depend on the mailing deadline. Good for you for organizing this. They will need all the help they can get.

[Carole]

I think the button is really great, Laura. Did I win yet?

[susan aka cussin' granny]

a great and wonderful thing you do.

did i win yet? ;0)

[Lisa]

I too will try to get a square made. It's good of you to do this!

Also, I am looking forward to your granny squares tutorial. I'm having a little bit of a problem with Row 4 where you chain 5 and then slip stitch into the 5th chain from the hook. It doesn't always look very neat to me.

[Kathy]

I'm happy to knit a square or two.

[Pat K]

Must post comment. Must post comment. Prizes at stake. Must post comment. Then must go wind yarn to knit squares.

[Marisol]

Thanks for posting the details. I will send you two.

[Gwen]

Count on me for at least one square.

[Susie]

I'm in! Thanks for doing this!

[Lana]

It's wonderful of you to do this. I come from a small town too, so it's really a great feeling to be a part of a community effort to help as we can:~D

[Heather Joins The Round]

I had the great pleasure to visit Greensburg several years ago and was very sorry to hear about the detestation there. I will cast on my garter square today.

[Kim]

I am also from a small town in Kansas. I know those tornadoes and how scary and devastating they are. Please count on me for a square or 2.

[Annette Derksen]

Hi I will make a couple of squares also but don't know how long it will take to get to you. Live in Manitoba, Canada
Such a tradety and affects many of us.

Hugs and blessings for your day.
Annette

[jules]

I will definitely knit at least one square! And possibly more, because garter-stitch-on-the-bias is my favorite afghan square. Thanks for doing this!

[April]

Thank you so much for organizing this. I have a million and one odd balls of worsted weight. Now I know how I'm going to spend my weekend. :)

[Jeri]

I'm knitting a block for you too. I will pass this info on to my Sisters Of the Wool and probably get several more squares.

[Karla (threadbndr)]

Fellow Kansas here - casting on.

[Pat]

Thank you so much for this - fellow Kansan and headed to Greensburg (Haviland)tomorrow to help process SBA business disaster loans. These people are wonderful folks who have lost everything. You are so thoughtful! Blessings on all who are knitting for this - and I will as well!

[firefly]

I'll inclide a link to your project on the new Gracious Parcels blog. Hope that is helpful.

Best wishes,
firefly

[Jane George]

Hi, I think this is such a wonderful thing you are organizing. I will start on squares today. Will it be ok for me to copy and paste your post and email it to the groups I belong to, in case they have not seen your blog? One of the stories I saw on tv showed a woman standing in front of the sign for her shop "Stitch and Frame", it was destroyed. I felt a connection, as I was away at a cross stitch weekend, and tried to think of how I could do something for her and the town. Thank you for this effort.

[Densie]

I'm casting on when I get home from work today.
I lived in Kansas for eight years (most of those in Olathe), but my daughter was born in Topeka.
You can count on me for two squares - one from me, and one from my Kansas baby.
I know first hand the devastation that tornadoes bring. Blessings are headed towards Greensburg from southern Indiana.

[Sue]

I would be honored to send a square. Please count me in, too. Thanks for your part in showing grace and love in action.

[Jill]

I'll start knitting tonight and add your link to my blog.
Good luck and THANK YOU for taking the time to get all of us involved in a worthy cause!

[Julie]

After reading Jane's post on the Aran knitlist, I knit my first half-square last night, during "Robin Williams, Live on Broadway!" Eight-inch-squares-on-the-bias is perfect movie knitting, and as th'Mr and I are Netflix junkies I should be able to knit several Wool-Ease squares before the deadline. I'll mention it at my Friday night knit-together and hopefully you'll get more participants from this small town in Kentucky.
Hugs,