I made this crochet square the day before yesterday, and today I mailed it all the way to the UK.
With many other green crochet squares coming from all over the UK and perhaps other parts of the world, it will be used for making a blanket for a little boy Daniel, who's in an intensive care in the hospital.
I joined this project through a crochet group on Facebook. Two wonderful ladies who announced it, will join the squares into a blanket.
I know, from the economical point of view, it doesn't make sense to send a small crochet square over the seas, all the way from California to the UK. But this is not about that.
This is my way of saying to this family: "I don't know you, I don't know your little boy. I can't help you in any significant, meaningful way. But I am not indifferent to your pain, and to the struggles you are going through."
Several years ago, my oldest son was diagnosed with autism. The doctors who gave the diagnosis were like: "Have you ever heard of autism? Well, your son has it. Here are some Internet links where you can learn more. Good luck."
Back then I felt like I have this tragedy in my life, and nobody cares!
It was such a difficult experience. But with time I learned that my son's diagnosis is not a tragedy, but a challenge. You adapt to it, you make the best out of it, and you go on.
I also learned how important it is to have a network of family and/or friends who can give you support through the difficult times. And it's important to offer your support, no matter how small or insignificant, to other people.
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Cluster: *yarn over, insert hook and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw thorough 2 loops on hook* six times, yarn over and draw through 6 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through two loops on hook.
Ch 8, join with sl st in ring.
Round 1: ch 3 (counts as 1st dc here and in following rounds), 3 dc in ring, cluster in ring, cluster in ring, *4 dc in ring, cluster in ring* three times; join with sl st to first dc.
Round 2: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next cluster, ch 1, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next cluster, ch 1* around.; join.
Round 3: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next dc, (cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, (cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2* around; join.
Round 4: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 dc, (dc in next cluster, dc in next dc) twice, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, (dc in next cluster, dc in next dc) twice, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2* around; join.
Round 5: ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 dc, (cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) three times, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, (cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) three times, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3* around; join..
Round 6: ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in each dc and in each cluster across to next ch-3 space, 5 sc in ch-3 space* around; join.
Round 7: ch 1, *sc in each sc to next corner, 3 sc in corner sc* around; join.
Round 8: same as Round 7.
