Earlier in the month, I wrote a post about project 8, and how crafters can help with the work that needs to be done to help clean marine life affected by the oil spill along the Gulf Coast.

So tonight, when I found myself in an interminable meeting, I came prepared. Armed with my trusty 4.5mm Etimo hook and a barely begun washrag made from Peaches ‘n Creme Mod Ombre, I crocheted my way through one committee report after another.

As the meeting wore on, a pattern in the yarn began to reveal itself, and before we adjourned, I had finished my fourth washrag:

The stitch I used has various names, but the one I know it by is the “moss stitch.”

It is easy enough to do. Simply chain an odd number of stitches, crochet a sc into the 2nd chain from the hook, then crochet a dc into the next stitch; repeat until you get to the end (the last stitch of the row should be a dc). Chain 1, turn, and repeat until the meeting ends.

I also heard from Kim Davion who lives in Pensacola and is rounding up cotton washrags and Dawn dishsoap for cleaning animals affected by the oil spill. If you would prefer not to send dishsoap via the postal service, she is also accepting Wal-mart gift cards to purchase the needed dishsoap. Wal-mart is the preferred retailer because they have more stores in the area affected by the oil spill.

Again, if you are able to participate at some level, you can send your contribution to:

Kimberly Davion
c/o IMMS Oil Spill Relief
1700 East La Rua Street
Pensacola, Florida 32501

Working on this washrag made the meeting less tiresome, and when it was finally time to go home, it felt as though I had accomplished something of value.