DIY Quick to Crochet Child's Beanie Hat Pattern

When crafting for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes I look for quality and speed (since I make over a hundred of each item each year).  This quick to crochet child's beanie hat was designed with ease and speed in mind.  I used simple stitches, double and single crochet, and a large hook with medium weight yarn [size 4].  Simply Soft yarn is a lighter weight size 4 yarn so it took more stitches to make each hat, but it is my favorite yarn to work with as it glides easily thru my fingers, is soft and has a nice sheen.

I also like Simply Soft made up with an I hook as it makes for a looser, more open finished design.  Since I don't know what countries my hats will be sent to, I like lighter weight, less "warm" hats.  That way if they go to a cold climate and the child has nothing, it will still provide more warmth than they had or they can wear it under a hooded coat for added warmth.  But in a warm climate with, what to the

July Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Clothing

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for July that is clothing.  Here in the USA, we can send any article of clothing we want, as long as it doesn't make the child look like a soldier (so, a green camouflage shirt is out).  I think the UK is only allowed to send certain things, so be sure to check your country's regulations before you send something!

“One of my favorites in my shoebox was white socks because in the orphanage you get bad quality socks that always stink and have holes in them.”

–Timur, Central Asia (OCC website)
Clothing can be quite useful, often these children don't have shoes or only torn clothes.  While this may be one of the more useful/practical items sent, it can also

January Item of the Month for OCC Shoeboxes ~ Hats, Gloves & Scarves

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child, and for January that is Hats, gloves and scarves.

Now, many people are concerned about sending these items as they aren't sure if their boxes will be going to a country that seems cold to us like the Ukraine, or one that seems hot to us like Uganda.  There's a couple things to keep in mind about this:

1. There are times of year in most countries that feel cold to those who live there.  We knew people who were missionaries in Chad, Africa, and the nationals sometimes got cold/sick in the "winter" season.
2. I remember a story my dad tells about an exchange student who was visiting Ohio in summer from the Caribbean.  They were at a church softball

Girl's Skirt Sizing Chart Sizes 2 to 14

I have been wanting to design some skirts for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes but had no idea what sizes to make them.  I went searching the web and after checking dozens of sources, from blogs to pattern companies, I compiled what I think is an average sizing chart for making girl's skirts.  I am sharing it in

Involving Mom in My Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing

My elderly mother lives with us and is virtually home bound.  We purchased this house with her in mind because it has a mother-in-law suite (fancy words for two little connecting rooms and a bath).  At that time she could no longer cook or drive but otherwise could care for herself.  This has changed greatly.

Each day she seems weaker and more confused.  She never receives visitors and rarely does mail arrive for her.   Finding things to keep her interested is a challenge because of the confusion and weakness.

I always keep her abreast of what I am doing with my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  Since it is all in the basement and she can't go down the stairs she can't see what I am doing.  Each time I sew a dress or apron I take it for her to see.  I kept wishing she could help me sew somehow, as she sewed much in her younger

Button Up Crochet Scarf & Hat Pattern ~ Designed for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

My daughter designed and crocheted this toddler hat and scarf set for an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. The same design can be made larger by increasing the crochet hook size and using 3-ply worsted weight yarn. She chose the lightweight yarn and a semi-open design to take up less room in the shoebox while still giving

Pillow Case Style Dress Instructions ~ How To Sew A Pillowcase Dress from Fabric to Include in an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

Like I shared in the earlier post, Basic Pillowcase Style Dress Instructions ~ And My Passion for Sewing Them, I have had a ball sewing hundreds of these simple pillowcase dresses for both Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts and Dress A Girl Around the World.  When searching for illustrated how-to instructions to share

No-Sew, Woven Heart Fleece Scarf Tutorial ~ Great Project for Children and OCC Shoeboxes

This fun scarf is perfect to brighten a child's day and keep a neck warm.  As I've shared in the past, I am not very good at repeating the same thing over and over again, so I am always looking for new ideas or designing my own to tuck into my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and that is how I stumbled upon this blog

Double Crochet Front Post Crochet Scarf for OCC Shoebox ~ Pattern (With Link to Hat Pattern)

Crocheting is one of my favorite crafting techniques for donating in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and to other charities.  It is easy and portable.  I learned to crochet as a young child, I can't remember when, I just remember always being able to.  The first thing I distinctly remember crocheting was a baby afghan for my first nephew when I was 11.  My grandmother learned from her teacher in a one room schoolhouse during her lunch break and my mother and

Child's Fleece & Cotton Fabric Scarf w/Pocket for an OCC Shoebox ~ Tutorial

Another fun scarf I found while searching for ideas for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes was a Fleece Scarf with Pockets.  As always, I simplified the

Curly Fringe, No-Sew Fleece Scarf Tutorial ~ Great for OCC Shoebox Packing

I have been finding some great, simple scarf tutorials online for my Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing and I wanted to share some of them that I have been  making. Currently my goal is to make warm clothing to send to a Reservation in SD as well as for my OCC shoeboxes.  This first scarf is super simple, but my fringe didn't curl as well as the original poster's.  My test on scraps of another piece of fleece worked fine, I think it depends on the stretch, so yours

Simple Hand Towel Apron for a Child ~ How to Instructions: Perfect for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

When my mother in law passed away she had a stash of brand new, nice hand towels stored away for gifts for her children and grandchildren.  My father in law brought us a bunch of them and my mind recently has been spinning on what I can make for the Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.

I remember when my girls were young I would make them aprons to wear as they helped out in the kitchen.  My youngest daughter remembers my making them one