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 Access Services

About
Access Services Logo.png

Access Services is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1976 that serves 13 counties in eastern Pennsylvania. It is their mission to empower and serve individuals and families in need of support through innovative services that improve their ability to live fulfilling lives in the community. They do this through three distinct services: behavioral health, children and family services, and services focused on those with disabilities and autism. 

 what are we crafting? 

Item Requested
Craft Type
Quantity Requested
Quantity Still Needed

 project must-knows 

We will be working with different divisions of Access Services at different times of the year. During the winter we helped provide warm winter items for their program for unsheltered individuals. Now they have asked us for help with their program servicing children in foster care and backpacks for their street outreach program. 

1) Snuggle Blankets -   

  • These can be sewn, knit, crochet or no-sew fleece.

  • We are looking for 3 sizes:

    • Receiving 40”x40”

    • Crib: 42”x52” (approximately width of fabric x 52”)

    • Lapghan 36x48” (PREFERRED)

  • If sewing, please avoid using fabrics that use words mom, dad or family. These blankets are not for babies or toddlers, primarily for kids ages 5-12. 

  • Check out our board on Pinterest for lots of ideas for all crafting methods: https://www.pinterest.com/crafting_change/snuggle-blankets/

2) Adult sized drawstring backpacks - Sewn drawstring backpacks for their street mission. These can be made in a variety of fabrics. This location requests canvas, denim, upholstery, duck, etc but not quilting cotton. Please watch our video tutorials for choosing fabric and cording along with our video for sewing it put together by sewing advisor Kathy Lawrence. 

3) Warm Winter Hats from your ADDI!  - Addi Machine Double Thick hats have been requested again. They want to get an early start collecting their warm winter hats so they can hit the ground running when the weather turns cold. This location is ONLY collecting hats made on the Addi knitting machine that are double walled.

  • They request darker colors as these hats will be distributed to unsheltered persons.

  • We recommend 120-140 rows on your Addi depending on your yarn and tension. 

  • They need them for primarily men, so please make them in larger sizes.

  • Yarns: Acrylic (4) or washable wool.

Must Knows
Patterns

 Addi Winter Hat 

Addi
Knitting Machine

Make a 2 Layer Hat on the Addi

Make a 2 Layer Hat on the Addi

Blankets

 snuggle blankets 

Sew/Knit/Crochet

Project Overview Sheet Access Services

Our Project Overview Sheet is THE resource for your projects. Start here!

Sew

Easy Sewn Blanket Techniques with Martha Richmond

Video Tutorial with Craftivist Martha Richmond showing a variety of simple techniques to quickly sew up and bind off blankets for charity!

Sew

Minky Blanket with Bias Tape

Easy Minky blanket you simply edge with bias tape (homemade or store bought)!

Knit

Tumbling Blocks Blanket

This pattern for beginners with knits and purls is also a reversible blanket, too. It calls for aran weight yarn but you can use worsted weight yarn, just check your gauge.

Knit/Crochet

Recommended & Tested Yarns

Crafting Change recommended and tested yarn list sorted by project type.

Crochet

Cross Double Hatch Blanket

You will get a beautiful texture from the crossed double crochet stitch in an easy two row repeat.

Crochet

Quiet Ripple Crochet Lapghan

This lovely textured blanket has been amended to use a lighter DK weight yarn.

Crochet

Mixed Stripes Throw

Lovely blanket with easy to create stripes. Leave the tassels off if creating for small children or babies.

Sew

Self Binding Blanket

Easy peasy self binding flannel blanket!

Sew

Crafting Change Flip & Sew Lapghan

Easy quilt as you go lap size blanket using fabric strips

Knit

38 Knit Blanket Patterns

This link will connect you to 38 great knit blankets, all approved patterns for our charity partners requesting knit blankets!

Knit

Colts Foot Blanket by Hobbii

Easy for beginners, the knit purl pattern works up with DK weight acrylic yarn. You could also try a yarn substitute like Sport. The knitting pattern calls for circular knitting needles to accommodate all your stitches.

 adult drawstring backpacks 

Bacpack
Sew

Adult Drawstring Backpack Sewing Instructions

Project Overview Sheet & PATTERN for ADULT drawstring backpack

Sew

Adult Backpack Fabric & Cord Selection

Short video on how to choose fabric and cording for the adult drawstring backpack

Sew

Adult Drawstring Backpack Quick Class

Adult Drawstring Backpack Quick Video with Kathy Lawrence

 shipping guidelines 

Access Services is happy to receive your shipment whenever you are able to send it.

Access Services
Attn: Colleen
4070 Butler Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

If your box will cost you more than $15 to ship, please get a $15 UPS label from Give Back Box and ship up to 50 pounds and 108" in girth to Access Services here 

Shipping
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