For many years now, I’ve been a volunteer for The Linus Connection*, a small local non-profit charity that makes blankets for children in need in Central Texas. I’m a blanket maker, sorter and volunteer Webmistress for linusconnection.org.  I’ve served a term on the Board, and was the newsletter editor for a time.  Suffice it to say, Linus is very important to me!

Just as many other charities are suffering due to the current economy, Linus is suffering, too. Our demand has risen, while the number of blankets has decreased. When our numbers decrease, that means children that need a little extra security in a difficult time are going without. It’s a very hard call to decide who doesn’t get the security of a handmade blanket. If I had my way, every child touched by severe illness, injury, abuse, homelessness or other crisis situations would know the comfort and love of a handmade blanket.

My blog is a place I share my ideas, patterns, recipes and tutorials with the world for no charge, but this time I’d like to ask for a little something back.  Throughout 2010, I will be collecting quilt blocks and yarn squares through my craft blog to assemble into Linus blankets.

If you are a quilter, please consider participating in Log Cabins for Linus!   Make 12″ log cabin blocks (12.5″ unfinished) in 100% quilting cotton of any log cabin pattern, any color, any style you like.

Here are some patterns to get you started:

• Log Cabin pattern from Quilter’s Cache
• Log Cabin Variation pattern from Quilter’s Cache
• Wonky Log Cabin Tutorial from Tallgrass Prairie Studio
• Log Cabin Directions from World Wide Quilting Page

If yarn is your forte, then Go Get Granny is for you! I’ll be accepting 12″ knit or crochet blocks made in acrylic yarns of any color or style and will join those into afghans.

• 12″ Crochet Patterns from Crochet Pattern Central
• Knitted Afghan Squares from Knitting Pattern Central
• If you belong to ravelry, be sure and surf their pattern directory for lots of great ideas!

When you’re ready to send your block, email me for my mailing address and I’ll send it your way. Donations to The Linus Connection are tax deductible, so if you need a receipt, please include a note with your block and I’ll make sure one gets to you.

All blocks donated will be shared here on the sewhooked blog and on Talk To Me Tuesday as completed blankets before being donated to The Linus Connection.

I encourage you to post photos of your blocks to the Go Get Granny & Log Cabins for Linus flickr group.  You can also see blankets I’ve donated since 2002.

Anything you can do is greatly appreciated.

For more information about The Linus Connection, please visit our website or blog or become a fan on Facebook.

Disclaimer: This is my effort to increase blanket numbers for my own favorite blanket making charity, The Linus Connection, located in Austin, Texas.  This effort is not in any way organized by TLC.  All blankets will be donated to The Linus Connection by me, Jennifer Ofenstein.  If you have any questions please contact me or leave a question in the comments.

*The Linus Connection is a small, local non-profit located in Central Texas and is not affiliated with Project Linus.