Deadline approaches for granny squares donations

FINDLAY — Time is winding down for crocheters who are interested in helping create a warm, cozy granny squares blanket — a project of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library. "We're hoping to do a community blanket, and everyone is able to donate up to 10 granny squares," said Devin Orpurt, adult services associate at the library. For each granny square, they will receive a raffle ticket to win the blanket they helped donate the squares for, she said. They can donate more than 10, she said. But the maximum is 10 tickets. The deadline is Friday. Orpurt also leads the monthly CrafterWork program at the library. And earlier this year, she taught a month-long Crochet 101 class to teach the basics. Crochet 102 sessions followed to teach beginners how to make granny squares. "When you think about crochet, that's the thing that people usually think of first," she said. "There's so many different patterns you can do with granny squares now like the classic one. Everyone kind of knows what that looks like." Newer squares can include flowers and holiday motifs. Orpurt said the library ordered a book that's features alll Christmas granny squares. "People are very creative with their granny squares these days. And I know there's a lot of crafters in the community so I thought it would be a cool thing," she explained. The old-fashioned craft provides a colorful way to create designs that can be worked into larger items such as blankets, bags, hats and sweaters. Orpurt came up with the idea as a way to connect people and create art. "It's something I thought would be good to have a community of crafters work on together," she said. She hopes that some of the people she taught in the class will donate their squares. They don't have to, of course. Orpurt said she's just glad they learned something during the process. Granny squares were the way some people learned to crochet, she noted. "That's not how I learned crochet. I didn't do a granny square I think for at least a couple of years after I learned. But I think that's how some people learned like if their grandma taught them. I don't know if that's where the name comes from," she said. She made some in the classes that will go into the blanket, she said. Orpurt describes herself as an average crocheter and said it takes her about an hour to make a granny square. "If you're used to it, you can probably whip them out quickly," she said. "It also depends on whether you do a lot of color changes or not because that slows you down." Crocheters have had about a month to make granny squares for the project. Squares should measure 5-inches by 5-inches to 6-inches by 6-inches for a five-row granny square. They can be any color or pattern. Worsted weight yarn, size 4, is preferred, she said, and all squares should be stored in an allergy-free environment to keep them smoke and dander free. "I think the people who have participated (in the class) thought it was a pretty cool idea," she said. She said there are a few people at the library who will be helping to sew the blanket together because it will take a lot of time. Donations may be dropped off at the information desk at the library where volunteer crafters will receive their raffle tickets. If it's ready, Orpurt hopes to put the blanket on display for the Nov. 6 ArtWalk. The winner of the blanket will be announced in November. While the library will make every effort to include all donated squares, inclusion in the final blanket cannot be guaranteed depending on the number received. Orpurt estimated that about 90 squares will be needed for a blanket. To date, she's received about 25. "If I don't get enough squares, I will probably try to make something smaller like a scarf or pillow covers," she said. "I think it will be fun to piece them together and see what comes out of it."