Issue 5 Summer 2013: Lace and Linus Blanket

You learn how Issue 5 for Summer 2013 pairs light summer crochet with charity crochet, and why a small baby blanket for Project Linus fits that theme. You see how lacy shawls and lightweight throws use open fabric for warm months while a handmade blanket still gives comfort to a child in need.

Why does summer change the blanket plan?

Summer crochet asks for air, drape and easy washing, which is why open stitches suit shawls and light throws. You hold the fabric up to the light and check that air passes through, then you think about weight on a small child during a warm night. The Project Linus page does not publish blanket sizes or yarn requirements.

A baby blanket for charity use needs to stay soft after repeated washing and keep its shape without heavy borders. You test a small square, wash it the way a family would, and watch the edges for curling or stiffness. If the square stays flat and light in your lap, the same approach can be carried over to a larger blanket or a summer throw. You keep notes on hook size and stitch pattern so the fabric stays even from the first row to the last.

How does Project Linus move blankets from maker to child?

Project Linus works through local chapters in all 50 states, and blankets are collected locally. A volunteer maker, called a blanketeer in the mission statement, creates a new handmade blanket or afghan and gives it to a chapter. The chapter then passes blankets on to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere a child might be in need of a big hug.

That local path matters for summer makers because it shortens storage and travel for light fabrics. You finish a baby blanket, contact the nearby chapter, and the blanket stays in the community. You can keep the design simple and washable because the goal described on the page is love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort for children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.

Who guides the chapters across the country?

The National Headquarters is located in Stockton, Missouri. National President Patty Gregory and Vice President Mary Balagna direct and coordinate the activities of chapters across the United States. Patty has been involved with the organization since April 2000, and Mary since late 1998, and both previously served as Chapter Coordinators before serving as directors and officers.

The board also includes members with chapter, business, medical and education experience, and daily work is supported by staff. Chad joined the staff in June 2003 to care for the website and the office network and to assist chapter coordinators with computer-related questions. Dana joined in April 2026 with a background in accounting and bookkeeping, and Dana also serves as Chapter Coordinator of the Cedar County, Missouri chapter. When you measure gauge and make swatches before a charity blanket, you reflect that same steady attention to support behind the scenes.

Where did the blanket idea start?

On Christmas Eve, 1995, Parade Magazine published an article titled "Joy to the World," written by photojournalist Eddie Adams. Part of the article described a three-year-old child named Laura who had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993 and who carried a special blankie through more than two years of intensive chemotherapy. The article described nausea, high fevers, hair loss, and a mother who saw a joyous and curious child.

After reading the article, Karen Loucks decided to provide new handmade security blankets to the Denver Rocky Mountain Children Cancer Center, and Project Linus was born. You can read that history, with national background and leadership detail, on the Project Linus page, which also lists magazine coverage in Parade, People, Reader's Digest, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Quiltmaker, Quilters Newsletter, Guidepost, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Woman's Day. The page notes that rarely a month goes by without a local or national feature, and that viewers may have seen segments on a local newscast.

What does the mission ask from a blanketeer?

The mission has two parts, one for children and one for makers. For children, it calls for new handmade blankets and afghans, created with care by volunteers, to offer comfort and security. For makers, it calls for a rewarding and fun service opportunity for individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

For summer crochet, that mission points to light but complete work. You choose stitches you can repeat evenly, weave in ends so small fingers do not catch, and check that the blanket has no open loops that trap toes. A lacy shawl can teach you to read spaces and keep edges straight, and those habits transfer directly to an airy baby blanket that still covers and comforts.

How do the national goals shape local making?

The goals name steady quality of service and compassion during growth, support for more than 300 chapter coordinators and new chapters through training, communication and appreciation, responsiveness to an estimated 80,000 volunteers nationwide, funding for general operating expenses and program services, and full concentration on the mission. Those points explain why local chapters value blankets that arrive clean, finished, and ready to give.

You help that chain by finishing one blanket at a time and checking each edge before you hand it over. You avoid loose trim, secure the border, and fold the blanket so a coordinator can see size and condition at a glance. When you look at giving crochet for charity, you see the same logic of making for another person and letting the local group handle distribution.

What practical checks help before you give?

Project Linus is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, listed as Linus Project, and contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. The tax identification number is 84-1362696. The page also states a nondiscrimination policy that covers race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in activities and operations, including hiring, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

Project Linus is a national charity with headquarters in Stockton, Missouri, and chapters in all 50 states and blankets distributed locally to hospitals, shelters, and social service agencies. The Project Linus page presents the origin story, the mission for children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need, the goals for coordinators and volunteers, and details on directors and staff. Choose one light yarn from your stash and crochet a small wash test square before you start a charity blanket.