Seth is officially enrolled!

Thank  you, Everyone, for your support! Details to come soon. First, I need to let the dust in my brain settle. I just had to come on to announce that Seth is officially enrolled in the Summer Enrichment Camp (Level 2- Paid in Full) & a deposit has been left to secure his position in Level 3 for next year.

He is so changed since we started him at this school and the Speech Therapists have been the main help in all of this. He has access to 6 Speech Therapists throughout the course of his 4 hour day- not to mention all the teacher's assistants. More to come later! (AND more free patterns!)

To view the free patterns, please go to the left margin and click on the months to get the breakdown of posts in which you will find a few free patterns. Thank you for your support! I do sell some patterns on Etsy & Storenvy, but you can know that all donations (button to the right) and all proceeds go to his therapies. This is all for my family!

A little note about progress with Seth

With deadlines drawing nearer, GOD shows HIMself more & more each day. I spoke to the school admin today & left a deposit. They were not aware that I wanted Seth in summer camp?? Nonetheless, there is one spot left in each class.

I sold a baby afghan, a cat, some patterns... in just 4 days. In faith, I took all the money we had collected with the application and said, "I don't expect you to save his spot, but this goes toward whatever he qualifies for next." They smiled and said, "Don't worry. It will all work out fine."

Next week, Seth evaluates in a class of 10 children with 2 teachers- the lead being a Speech Pathologist. The same week, 4 other children his age- not already enrolled at the school- are evaluating for the summer program & next year. I am not worried at all. GOD has given me so much peace. Whatever happens at this point is HIS will.

Aside from continuing to kick out product, Seth's birthday is coming up. He wants his room decorated in a solar system theme and is excited to be the big 5! I am dumbfounded by the contributions that continue to trickle in from family & friends along with the free patterns I have posted on my blog.

Thank you ALL for your support & prayers. In 15 days, Will gets paid and we are just going on faith to give them everything they need to secure this spot for Seth. I believe in my heart that if he were not in this school, he would be very violent at this point & possibly hurting himself & others.

GOD's mercy has saved us from the lion's den.

If you are looking for the Free Patterns posted on All Free Crochet, please click the Blog Archive to the left and search through the postings. Thank you, all, for your support! (These patterns were being sold to raise money for my son's therapies. If you would like to contribute, there is a donation button to the right. It is not necessary, of course.)

So Close & Yet So Far

Approximately $400 away from summer camp for my sweet boy. His ITP (Individual Treatment Plan) from the school got to me today. It states that he is improving with the one-on-one assistance, but requires outside individual OT. 

The company we evaluated with last, wants $110/hr. There isn't any way possible we can do that. That is why we have him in this school. We cannot afford Speech Therapy and the school is less expensive than the actual Speech Therapy even though classes are taught by Speech Pathologists. For the school, it is $15 an hour. You can't beat that for Speech Therapy!

I meet with his teacher tomorrow. Amazing how nervous we can get about things that are beyond our control. 


If you are looking for the Free Patterns posted on All Free Crochet, please click the Blog Archive to the left and search through the postings. Thank you, all, for your support! (These patterns were being sold to raise money for my son's therapies. If you would like to contribute, there is a donation button to the right. It is not necessary, of course.)

Thank You, Donors!

~My hope is rising~ $620 away from goal for Summer Enrichment Camp! Every penny counts, now. If you are looking for the Free Patterns posted on All Free Crochet, please read the margin to the left for the list. Thank you, all, for your support! (These patterns were being sold to raise money for my son's therapies. If you would like to contribute, there is a donation button to the right. It is not necessary, of course.)

~Thank You for your Donations~

We are $800 away from getting Seth in to the summer school program and we need $3000 to enroll him for next year. This week, he is showing improvement with his peers and actually inviting them to play! THANK YOU!

FREE Teeny Kitty Crochet Pattern- Inspired by Hello Kitty

 

I am delighted to share this pattern with you. It works up easily. There are modifications available for different looks- like my Spanish Dancer & Superhero/Vampire. Please join my Facebook page and message me for those modifications. The original pattern is much longer, so if you have any questions about abbreviations or instructions, feel free to contact me as many times as you need through Facebook.

Hello Kitty Inspired Teeny Ballerina Kitty

You will need:

• F hook, E hook
• Worsted weight- white and another color for outfit
• Embroidery thread- pink/yellow & black
• Black Tool for veil, if necessary
• Felt for any emblem work
• Glue for bows, emblems, etc…

Tips for making amigurumi: When working up amigurumi, the stitches should be tight in order to contain the polyfill. You will stuff the critters pretty tightly by using rolled up, small pieces of polyfill to really get it firm and it doesn’t lose its shape.

Head: (Using F Hook and white yarn)

R1: ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook

R2: 2 sc in each sc around  (12 sts)

R3: *sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (18 sts)

R4: *sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (24 sts)

R5-9: sc 24

R10: dec in every stitch around

Embroider the facial features:

Using black embroidery floss, sew the eyes on to R7 with 4 stitches between them.

Using pink or yellow embroidery floss, sew the nose on to R8.

Use black floss for whiskers.

Stuff the head to shape of an oval

Note: Row 11 helps to retain oval shape of head

R11: dec 1, sc, sk1, sc, dec1, sc, sc, sk1, sc, sl st.

Fasten off. You may sew shut at this point or wait to see

how it will fit on the body.

Ears: (Using E hook and white yarn- Make 2)

R1: ch 2, sc 6 in second ch from hook

R2: sc 6

R3: sc 2 in each sc around. (12 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

                                                           

                                                             

Body: (Using F hook and outfit yarn)

R1: ch 2, 5 sc in second ch from hook.  

R2: 2 sc in each sc around. (10 sts)

R3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times. (15 sts)

R4: sc 15

R5: sc in back loop only.

(This leaves the front loop to add the skirt.)

R6-7: sc 15

R8: *sc 1, dec 1*, rep 5 times (10 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Stuff the body.                                                                                                                        

 

Arms and Legs: 

(Using E hook and white yarn w/ outfit yarn optional- Make 4 total)

Note: If you are going to give her sleeves/bloomers,

change to outfit yarn at row 2 or 3.

R1: ch 2, 3 sc in second ch from hook.

R2: 2 sc in each sc around (6 sts)

R3-4: sc 6

Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing on to body.

It’s not necessary to stuff these.

Bow: (Using E hook and outfit color)

You may do this any way you wish. I’ve chosen to use other items instead of the bow to go with the theme. One bow was a ch 2 and I flipped it over and did 5 sc in the first loop, flipped it again and 4 sc in the other and end with a slip stitch. Then I wrap the tail around and tie it in a knot on the back and sew it on.

Attach all pieces together. If you cannot get the legs and arms perfect, it will look as though Kitty is dancing. For Cheerleader Kitty, set the legs so she is doing the splits, if you wish. I usually end by wrapping the yarn around her neck like a collar and the waist to distract from the joining.

Ballerina/Cheerleader Skirt:

Hold Kitty upside down and sew into loops on body that were left 

in the front. Crochet in the round.

R1: *2 sc in the next sc, 1 sc* (repeat * around)                                           

R2: *2 sc in the next sc, 2 sc* (repeat * around)

R3: *2 sc in the next sc, 3 sc* (repeat * around)

Slip stich and fasten off sewing the end in.

Spanish Dancer

 

Seth is doing so well in school!

Very soon, Seth will be evaluated for a classroom for next year. We are still on qualifying for financial assistance, but we are still looking at $1200 for summer camp- which he very much needs- and the large sum to commit to next year.

Here's the lowdown. The school doesn't go by grades. They go by levels. Seth is in Level A (Low-Ratio of 5 students to 3 teachers with the lead having a Masters in Speech Pathology, Preschool Curriculum). Level B is the Low-Ratio, Kindergarten Curriculum. 

The school wants to evaluate Seth for the Level 3 & Level 4 classrooms which are no longer low-ratio and are on Kindergarten Curriculum. They are 10 students to 2 teachers with the lead having a Masters in Speech Pathology.

This school is amazing. Seth's confidence has shot up and he no longer seems to be exhibiting any signs of anxiety around the other children. He has almost been there 3 weeks and is speaking in complex sentences and able to tell the other children what his needs are. This is nothing short of a miracle! All of the goals set through the evaluation with occupational therapists 2 days before he started school, were met the first week he was in school. 

Spring break sent Seth into a spiral of anxiety and depression. He stopped singing for 4 days and wasn't wanting to communicate very much. He even went back to speaking in fragments. That 9 days was an eternity for all of us. My heart was breaking.

He cannot be out of school for the summer. He just can't. Everything he has accomplished could be seriously compromised. 

If you hear of anyone that can help us, please don't hesitate to contact me. I am desperately trying to work up patterns to sell. Some of my friends don't crochet and want to help so they have clicked the donation button above. I'm not ashamed to ask for help because I help when I can. Can you spare $5 today? 

We are so frugal and have made it so far. With GOD's help, anything can be accomplished!