Do you have still some red yarn left over from your Christmas Crochet? If yes I’ve got something ideal for this left over. See it as a stashbuster, which at the same time goes to a good cause. I’m talking about Knit one, Save One, which is a campaign by the NHS to raise awareness about blood donation.

Now you might think knit one? Is there knitting involved? Yes there is knitting involved but ONLY for the original patterns. I spoke to the lovely people at NHS and they’re also more than happy to receive crochet items.

So what’s the whole thing about? It involves knitting/crocheting blood drops, which are then sent to the NHS by January 21, 2014 (so not too far away!). They’ve got a secret mission in mind with those blood drops, which will revealed when the whole campaign launches in February but I’m sure it will be something amazing :)

3 NHS Crochet Blood Drops

When you’re done with your blood drop(s) just say hello via an email to get.involved@nhsbt.nhs.uk and they will tell you were you can send your blood drop(s) to. You will also receive a little label, which you can place on your finished blood drop(s).

So where are the crochet patterns? You’ll find three sizes below. And I promise you they all won’t take that long to be done, especially the small one :) (I whipped up the big one on the flight back home from Germany after Christmas so its about 2 hours for that one. ) All of the blood drop patterns are suitable for a beginner crocheter, which is another plus :).
 

Small Blood Drop Pattern

You’ll need:

  • DK yarn in red
  • 3.5 mm hook
  • polyfill
  • tapestry needle

Finished size: ~ 10 cm

The whole project is done in rounds, do not join at the end

hearts

Abbreviations

ch= chain

sc= single crochet (US term); double crochet (dc, UK term)

st= stitch(es)

sc2tog= single crochet decrease (US term); double crochet decrease (dc2tog, UK term)

In my patterns UK terms are always given in brackets.

hearts

Small Crochet Blood Drop

Lets get started:

Make Magic ring, ch 1

Round 1: 6 sc (dc) in magic ring. (6 st)

Round 2: 2 sc (dc) in each st around. (12 st)

Round 3: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next st*,  6 times. (18 st)

Round 4: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 2 st*,  6 times. (24 st)

Round 5: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 3 st*,  6 times. (30 st)

Round 6-12: 1 sc (dc) in each st around. (30 st)

Round 13: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 3 st*,  6 times. (24 st)

Round 14: 1 sc (dc) in each st around. (24 st)

Round 15: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 2 st*,  6 times. (18 st)

Round 16-17: 1 sc (dc) in each st around. (18 st)

Round 18: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 1 st*,  6 times. (12 st)

Round 19-20: 1 sc (dc) in each st around. (12 st)

start stuffing your blood drop here

Round 21: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 1 st*,  4 times. (8 st)

Round 22: 1 sc (dc) in each st around. (8 st)

add a little bit more stuffing if your blood drop needs it

Round 23: sc2tog (dc2tog),  4 times. (4 st)

ch 15, fasten off. Sew hole close with yarn end while forming a hanging loop with the ch’s.

Small Crochet Blood Drop Hand

 

Medium Blood Drop Pattern

You’ll need:

  • DK yarn in red
  • 3.5 mm hook
  • polyfill
  • tapestry needle

Finished size: ~ 13 cm

The whole project is done in rounds, do not join at the end

hearts

Abbreviations

ch= chain

sc= single crochet (US term); double crochet (dc, UK term)

st= stitch(es)

sc2tog= single crochet decrease (US term); double crochet decrease (dc2tog, UK term)

In my patterns UK terms are always given in brackets.

hearts

Medium Crochet Blood Drop

Lets get started:

Make Magic ring, ch 1

Round 1: 6 sc (dc) in magic ring. (6 st)

Round 2: 2 sc (dc) in each st around. (12 st)

Round 3: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next st*,  6 times. (18 st)

Round 4: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 2 st*,  6 times. (24 st)

Round 5: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 3 st*,  6 times. (30 st)

Round 6:*2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 4 st*,  6 times. (36 st)

Round 7:*2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 5st*,  6 times. (42 st)

Round 8-15: sc (dc) in each st around. (42 st)

Round 16: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 5st*,  6 times. (36 st)

Round 17: sc (dc) in each st around. (36 st)

Round 18: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 4st*,  6 times. (30 st)

Round 19: sc (dc) in each st around. (30 st)

Round 20: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 3st*,  6 times. (24 st)

Round 21: sc (dc) in each st around. (24 st)

Round 22: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 2st*,  6 times. (18 st)

Round 23-24: sc (dc) in each st around. (18 st)

Round 25: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 1 st*,  6 times. (12 st)

Round 26-27: 1 sc (dc) in each st around. (12 st)

start stuffing your blood drop here

Round 28: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 1 st*,  4 times. (8 st)

Round 29: 1 sc (dc) in each st around. (8 st)

add a little bit more stuffing if your blood drop needs it

Round 30: sc2tog (dc2tog),  4 times. (4 st)

ch 15, fasten off. Sew hole close with yarn end while forming a hanging loop with the ch’s.

Medium Blood Drop Hand

 

Big Blood Drop Pattern

This pattern is a translation/adaption into crochet of the original NHS small blood drop knitting pattern by Granny Willis

You’ll need:

  • DK yarn in red
  • 3.5 mm hook
  • polyfill
  • tapestry needle

Finished size: ~ 20 cm (they’re big :))

The whole project is done in rounds, do not join at the end

hearts

Abbreviations

ch= chain

sc= single crochet (US term); double crochet (dc, UK term)

st= stitch(es)

sc2tog= single crochet decrease (US term); double crochet decrease (dc2tog, UK term)

In my patterns UK terms are always given in brackets.

hearts

Big Crochet Blood Drop

Lets get started:

Make Magic ring, ch 1

Round 1: 6 sc (dc) in magic ring. (6 st)

Round 2: 2 sc (dc) in each st around. (12 st)

Round 3: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next st*,  6 times. (18 st)

Round 4: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 2 st*,  6 times. (24 st)

Round 5: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 3 st*,  6 times. (30 st)

Round 6:*2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 4 st*,  6 times. (36 st)

Round 7:*2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 5st*,  6 times. (42 st)

Round 8: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 6st*,  6 times. (48 st)

Round 9: sc (dc) in each st around. (48 st)

Round 10: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 3 st*,  12 times. (60 st)

Round 11: sc (dc) in each st around. (60 st)

Round 12: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 4 st*,  12 times. (72 st)

Round 13-23: sc (dc) in each st around. (72 st)

Round 24: *2 sc (dc), sc (dc) in next 4 st*,  12 times. (60 st)

Round 25: sc (dc) in each st around. (60 st)

Round 26: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 3 st*,  12 times. (48 st)

Round 27-29: sc (dc) in each st around. (48 st)

Round 30: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 3 st*,  12 times. (36 st)

Round 31-33: sc (dc) in each st around. (36 st)

Round 34: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 2 st*,  12 times. (24 st)

Round 35-37: sc (dc) in each st around. (24 st)

Round 38: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 2 st*,  6 times. (18 st)

Round 39-41: sc (dc) in each st around. (18 st)

start stuffing your blood drop here

Round 42: sc2tog (dc2tog), 9 times. (9 st)

Round 43-45: sc (dc) in each st around. (9 st)

add remaining stuffing

Round 46: *sc2tog (dc2tog), sc (dc) in next 1 st*,  3 times. (6 st)

Round 47: sc (dc) in each st around. (6 st)

Round 48: sc2tog (dc2tog), 3 times. (3 st)

ch 15, fasten off. Sew hole close with yarn end while forming a hanging loop with the ch’s.

Big Crochet Blood Drop on Hand
Big Crochet Blood Drop in Hand
Small and Medium Crochet Blood Drop

I would love to see how your finished blood drops turned out so please feel free to post a picture to my Facebook wall.

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Happy Crocheting!

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Author

I’m San and I’m the voice behind Loopsan. I’m a scientist by day (oh-no nerd alarm ;-)) but at night I turn into a crafter with heart. I love to crochet, bake, travel, keep memories in photographs and love everything DIY.

10 Comments

  1. Thanx for another great distraction. I’ve got tons to do and now I’m not going to do any of it because I will be crocheting blood drops!!!

    I’m shocked that they don’t have posters plastered up at work or something. (I think I told you that I work for the NHS).

    Shared it on my fb page, hope it gets reshared so that we can spread the love :)

    • San Reply

      Thanks Dedri! I spend my Sunday crocheting more blood drops ;)

  2. Pingback: 2014 number 7 – Crochet for a good cause | UK Crochet Patterns

  3. Thank you for the heads up on this very worthwhile campaign and the pattern. Have just sat and made the baby one and have mailed the organisers to get info on posting to them. Again, thank you x

    • San Reply

      You’re welcome! Thanks for participating! Hope you enjoyed the pattern! x

  4. Wish Id seen this earlier would have loved to have helped but they have to be in next week and I wont get them done in time!!

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