Supporting Families. Saving Lives.
Growing up watching both her grandmothers knit and crochet left a young Alice Smith eager to try her hands at the age-old needle arts.
"I taught myself both because I'm left-handed and they were right-handed. I just kind of picked it up and learned through trial and error," explains the Livonia resident.
Now, after nearly a lifetime of knitting and crocheting, Smith uses her skills to help raise money for Sudden arrhythmia death syndromes (SADS), which killed her 13-year-old son in 1997.
In November of 2010, Smith started what she hopes will become an annual fundraising event for SADS. People who donated $20 received either a knitted or crocheted scarf.
"It was a way to commemorate my son because he had been gone for so long, and I wanted to spread the word about SADS," she remarks. "It was also therapeutic for my whole family. He lived 13 years, and it was the 13th anniversary of his death when I decided to have the event."
Plans for a 2011 fundraiser were canceled after Smith fell and broke two fingers. "I'm going to try very hard to reach my goal this year," she says.
Smith also knits and crochets purses, hats and gloves, selling them, along with her scarves, at local craft shows for the business she started 20 years ago, ArtcSmith Accessories.
Her favorite yarn is baby alpaca, and she loves shopping at the Old Village Yarn Shop in Plymouth. "I think it's a great store. The people are unbelievably friendly. They helped me a lot in making my scarves for SADS. I wanted to raise $5,000 and needed to knit 200 scarves," she recalls about the 2010 fundraiser.
Here, Smith shares the crocheted pattern she designed in memory of her son, Stephen A. Smith.
For more information about SADS, visit www.sads.org.
Level: beginner
Estimated time: two hours
Tools: Crochet hook size US N/10mm
Supplies: 150 yards of yarn (worsted weight or thicker) for main color; 150 yards of yarn (any weight) as contrasting color for ruffle, embellishments of choice (buttons, crocheted flower, etc.)
Gauge: Not important
Abbreviations: ch(s) chain(s), dc double crochet, MC main color, CC contrasting color, shell = 3dc, ch1, 3dc.
Note: This is the basic scarf pattern. Any yarn can be used, or two can be combined together.
Using the MC, chain 126 (or to desired length).
Row 1: Sc in second chain from hook and in each chain across to end.
Rows 2-4: In back loops only, sc in each sc to the end, Ch 1, turn. (Note: body of scarf can be made wider by adding more rows). Fasten off.
With right side facing, attach CC yarn to first sc of last row, (Ch 3 in first sc). In same sc, 2dc, ch1, 3dc (this is the first shell). *Sc in each of the next 3sc, shell in next sc (3dc, ch1, 3dc). Repeat from *, to end. Fasten off.
Turn scarf around so that right sides are facing upward. Now, repeat ruffle technique on opposite end. Embellish and add fringe to both ends, if desired.
Contact ArtcSmith Accessories at Artcsmith23@aol.com.
Detroit News staffer Jocelynn Brown is a longtime Metro Detroit crafter. For more craft news, events and giveaways visit her blog at detnews.com/craftblog. You can reach her at (313) 222-2150 or jbrown@detnews.com.