Crocheting Washcloths for Project 8 ~ Free Pattern

Today I'm crocheting washcloths for Project 8. What's this you ask? Craft Hope "will be partnering with The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, the Audubon Nature Institute, and the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge to assist them in their efforts in caring for and cleaning oiled marine mammals, mostly dolphins, other marine mammals, birds, and sea turtles. Dolphins are naturally curious and have been swimming toward the oil plumes to investigate… and that curiosity gets them in a lot of trouble against the oil slick. So here is what we are going to do… They need hand towels and wash rags to clean all of the nooks and crannies of the dolphins and sea turtles. They only need small hand towels and wash rags, no large towels please. If you can sew, knit, or crochet this project is for you. We are asking that you create sets of hand towels and/or wash rags to send. Preferably in sets of 10 or 20. These do need to be handmade since we are ‘Craft Hope.’ If you are crocheting or knitting, please send whatever you can."

That quote is directly from the Craft Hope website. No one can put this project into words better the the originators of the idea. So isn't this great? Finally, a physical way to help!

If you are making washcloths, the size they are looking for is 10x10" squares. Cotton is the preferred material so I'm making mine from a cone of Lion Brand cotton. My design is very simple and works up quickly. I chose a larger hook because I thought the looser stitches would really pick up the oil. I also didn't trim my washcloth at all because the reality is, after running this cloth down the back of an oily dolphin a few times, it will have to be disposed of. So Here's my...

Project 8 Quick and Easy Crocheted Washcloth Pattern



With a J Hook and Lion Brand cotton yarn, Ch 32

Row 1: hdc (half double crochet) in third chain from hook and in the next 29 chains (equals 30 hdc)
Rows 2-22: chain 2, turn, hdc across. (30 hdc per row)
At the end of Row 22, finish off and weave in loose ends.

That's all there is to it!




Send your handmade washcloths to:

Kimberly Davion
c/o IMMS Oil Spill Relief
1700 East La Rua Street
Pensacola, Florida 32501
USA

The deadline for sending your contribution is the end of August. I imagine it will take thousands of washcloths (10x10") and hand towels (14x27") to do this important job.

Thank you to Craft Hope for devising a way for the handmade community to help!