Pumpkin Face Throw Adapted

getting started

I started making this Pumpkin Face Throw (a free pattern from Red Heart) because I had a lot of vehicle passenger time when my husband and I recently took a quick trip to visit my BFF from high school. I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to do with it when I got finished, but the squares were very easy to make and worked up quickly enough, so it was perfect for working on while traveling.

Somewhere around hour number four of our trip, it dawned on me that I was making these squares up so quickly, I could probably crank one of these throws out every month or so just working on them in my spare time. That got me to thinking about who would love to receive a piece of handmade love and my mind instantly went to our deployed servicemen and women.

weaving in the yarn ends

I finished my throw last night and am sending it out tomorrow to a soldier who can use a little pick me up.

the finished throw!

As a military mom myself (my youngest son is active in the U.S. Army) and a member of the Military Mama Network, I know how important it is to our troops that they know we support them and appreciate their sacrifice for our country. The very least I can do is send them something to remind them of that while they are so far away from home. That is why I've decided to coordinate an effort to gather squares from around the country - or even the world! - and put these throws together, working with the Military Mama Network to identify servicemen and women who are needing some love.

If you'd like to contribute squares for future throws, please click here for instructions.

Groovy Loops Lapghan

Many years ago, when the Crochet Dude came out with his free Groovy Loops square pattern, I made up a few squares because I thought the pattern was totally cool. Then I got busy with some other life thing and I put them away with the rest of my UFOs.

About a month ago, I pulled the few finished squares back out and decided I would make a lapghan with them to donate to the annual Stride to Save Lives event in my hometown which raises money for SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education), an organization that is personally close to my heart since the loss of my dad to suicide almost five years ago.

So I'm back making Groovy Loop squares. I had about half the number I needed sitting in my UFO stash made from yellow Red Heart Kids yarn, so I crocheted up the other half in a couple of other colors using the same yarn.

Once I had the squares completed, I decided to join them with a variegated color that included the colors I had used for the squares. Settling on the variegated Crayon in Red Heart Kids and using the rounds of the patterns, I continued around the squares in the variegated color.

Joining the squares

I joined the squares using the single crochet method from the back to give it a little personality on the back since the front was very busy with all of the groovy loops and the back was looking rather plain.

Reverse side of lapghan

Around the border, I added one more round of groovy loops, and continued the pattern around until I finished up with the double crochet round. Once finished, it measured about 29 x 38½" and it's very heavy. It makes a really nice throw to keep you warm on a chilly evening!

Close up of corner of finished lapghan corner