Triumph!

I executive'd the hell out of some functions today.

- I made the base rectangle pieces for the over-the-arm protectors for the new-ish recliners
- I cut out the end pieces for the aforementioned arm protectors that will make them fitted, and pinned down the easy hem line
- I edited photos and applied them to the cat charm crochet pattern I'm offering as a donation incentive for Palestine and Israel
- Said crochet pattern now comes in six versions: One each in UK and US stitch names in Atkinson Hyperlegible size 12 font, one each in Atkinson Hyperlegible size 22 font, and one each in Comic Sans size 22 font; that should cover most visual needs (low vision and dyslexia), but I'm prepared to find an alternative if there's a blind crocheter out there who accesses patterns via screenreader
- All six versions are available in password-protected PDF; the plan is for me to upload all of them to a file on probably MediaFire, then email a link plus the PDF password to people in exchange for proof of minimum $3 donation to relevant charities
- I made the same thing for a cute little crocheted flower that I plan to offer as an add-on for anyone who donates $5 or more, but I just realized that using the same password for that is probably not a good idea, so I'll be changing that up tomorrow; my goal is to get everything set up by sometime tomorrow, so anyone who needs to disconnect from devices on Friday evening has a chance to access stuff before then
- I made spaghetti and meatballs for my parents and me to have for dinner tonight, to go with some herbal rolls I brought home from the bakery on Monday, and it was all delicious
- I made a dentist appointment that I've been getting reminders about for over a month

Not all in that order, of course, but still! That's some good productivity there.

Crochet Pattern for Palestine and Israel

At long last, it's done!

This crochet pattern is for small cat heads, of a good size to make into keychains, magnets, or even hair clips! There are six PDF versions available:

- US stitch names in 12 point Atkinson Hyperlegible
- US stitch names in 22 point Atkinson Hyperlegible
- US stitch names in 22 point Comic Sans

- UK stitch names in 12 point Atkinson Hyperlegible
- UK stitch names in 22 point Atkinson Hyperlegible
- UK stitch names in 22 point Comic Sans

Between those six options, that should cover most pattern accessibility needs. If you need something else, though, let me know! I'm prepared to offer a .doc or similar file on an individual basis if you need a screenreader to access crochet patterns, and have a sheet I can use to translate things to German stitch terms (though more in-depth instructions would still be in English). The pattern is worked primarily in (US) single crochet/(UK) double crochet, with the ears in (US) double crochet/(UK) treble crochet popcorn stitches, and is bundled with similar file options of a popcorn stitch tutorial PDF (no stitch names used).

"Socchan," you say, "These cats are super cute! And you said that this pattern is for charity? How does that work exactly?"

I'm glad you asked! Simply donate a minimum of $3 or close-enough local equivalent to a related charity, then take a screencap of your receipt/proof of donation. Block out any information that could doxx you; it's nice if you trust me, but it's not impossible that my email could get hacked, and I want you to be safe! Then email the altered screencap to socchan (at) protonmail (dot) com.

Once I get and check the screencap, I will email you back with a link to a MediaFire folder and the password you'll need to open the PDFs. Yes, it is a bit of a pain to need a password to open these files, but this was the simplest way I could figure out how to do things without needing to upload and send a minimum of six files to every person. Download as many of the variations as you want, keep a copy of the password somewhere safe (and don't delete the email with it), and go to town!

As a bonus, if you take your donation up to at least $5 (or close-enough local equivalent), I'll throw in an additional link and password for a very cute little flower pattern!



"That sounds pretty easy," you go on to say, "but where should I donate? There are so many options to choose from!"

No problem! Here's a couple of short lists of options that can help you narrow things down:

Palestine:
Palestine Children's Relief Fund - Focuses on medical aid to children in Palestine
Medical Aid for Palestine - "[H]elp MAP respond to the ongoing emergency in Gaza, as well as provide medical supplies, support healthcare services and deliver long term development to healthcare in the occupied Palestinian territory and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon." MAP reportedly has a team on the ground in Gaza, providing critical medical aid.
Anera - Providing food, hygiene kits, and medical care in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Palestine Red Crescent - More medical support in Palestine; the rest of the webpage is in Arabic, so be prepared if you want to click around at all. Basically the Palestinian Red Cross.
Gaza Cemetery Project - "Al-Hamdulillah, a ​​5,500 square meters’ piece of land has been secured to create a public cemetery for the city and neighbouring areas." This area still needs a fence to protect the burial plots before it can be used.

Israel:
Zaka - A group of first responders and people who identify bodies and prepare them for burial (sadly, sorely needed right now); they are in need of safety equipment, medical supplies, first aid kits, and more.
Red Magen David - The Israeli/Jewish equivalent of the Red Cross; first responder medical support and similar.
Hatzalah - Similar to Red Magen David, another first responder and emergency medical group.
The Koby Mandell Foundation - Focuses on bereavement aid in Israel for people who have lost loved ones in traumatic circumstances; they've got support hotlines and can arrange for support visits, among other things.
The Refuser Solidarity Network - Providing support for Israeli citizens who refuse government mandatory military service.

I think that's everything, aside from: Please Signal Boost! If I end up having to send out two hundred emails in the next couple of days, that still won't be too many.

Edit: Here's a Tumblr mirror, if you want to reblog over there.