Mini stockings for the troops

A woman on ravelry asked if people could knit and fill little 4" christmas stockings for the troops. I had some christmas ombre red heart yarn in my stash (still a mystery to me how and when it got in there) so I started making some of the little stockings. 2 skeins and 33 stockings later I was ready to fill, box and ship.

Diane

Comfort Scarves for Abused Women

Here are a few of the 100 knitted and crocheted scarves we have made for abused women. This is how they looked before our "wrap session."

Here is how they looked afterwards. We wrapped each one in brightly colored tissue paper. The group looks like a huge bouquet to me.

Yesterday I brought a group to Rainbow Services (San Pedro CA). Judy, the Executive Director, just loved them. She says the women they serve appreciate anything anyone does for them, but this gift will be very special since the women almost never receive anything personal, much less anything handmade. She asked if she should wait until Christmas to distribute them. I told her our project is ongoing and she should pass out the scarves as soon as we bring them.

Thursday I will bring another group to Richstone Family Center (Hawthorne CA). Allison, their Director of Volunteers, thinks our idea and the scarves themselves are so beautiful, she will put one in each Thanksgiving basket. I know our contribution is as drop in their bucket, since they serve over 1500 women.

More and more people are participating in our project so we are receiving and giving more and more scarves. But the more we receive, the more we need. We learned about a shelter in Long Beach that would love to receive scarves. And another in Redondo Beach. What about one in your community?

Please. We appreciate whatever you contribute.

Thanks in advance.

Leslye

What I Made This Year for Charity

Since the end of the year is upon us, I figure that I should do a recap of my knitting for charity. As you know, I am the one that started the Oddball Blankets and Shawls last year, and there are lots of those. But, I didn't do those items by myself. They were done by over 100 knitters in the US, Canada and England, with me at the helm of the project.

So, I'm going to list the few things I have made for charity, on my own.

A tiny blanket, hat and booties to be used as a burial set for a lost little one:


Here is another group project, where I collected squares made from Lamb's Pride Bulky yarn. I knit 11 squares myself, and collected 13 squares from some of my crafty friends. I seamed them together, and made two warm wool baby blankets for the Afghans for Afghans project:


A rectangle shawl for the Afghans for Afghans project. I missed the deadline, but I'm holding onto the shawl for when they ask for them again.


A scarf for the Special Olympics (almost complete):


And right now, I'm making a pair of mittens for the Afghans for Afghans project:


Hmmm....maybe I should make a few more things? I think I'll cast on some baby hats for the hospital. ;)

Christmas Stockings

A group of knitters on Knitting Help.com are helping with a service project reported in Heart Strings Fiber Arts newsletter. The coordinator, Becky Washburn (beckyknits@comcast.net) is requesting over 850 mini Christmas Stockings. The stockings will be stuffed with small treats and sent to the troops in Iraq.

I pledged to knit five stockings, but I discovered that they knit quickly and are very addictive. I used this pattern from Heart Strings Fiber Arts.

Handmade with Love

Good morning all charity knitters and crocheters. I need you! I have started Handmade with Love Especially for You, a non-profit association of women who love to knit and crochet. We make comfort scarves for abused women. So far, we have made deliveries to two shelters: 15 scarves to a shelter that houses 15 women (so far so good) but serves over 300; and 20 scarves to a center that serves at minimum 1500 women. THE NEED IS GREAT.

So far, one knit shop in my area promotes this activity with a knitting night once a week. One of the shops yarn suppliers donated yarn for us to use. The yarn is fabulous. Last week was our first meeting and I expect at least 10 scarves by next week.

I have several very easy patterns that we are using and of course you are welcome to use whatever pattern you enjoy.

We wrap each scarf individually when we deliver them. Both centers were impressed and pleased that we provided individual gifts. Each one has a card which you can sign and include your personal message. First names only.

I do have a website name reserved but not created so if you would like more information, please contact me through this blog or through handmade.leslye@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Leslye

Welcome to some New Members

Hello everyone! I know it has been a long time. I have finally caught up with my email box. I have four new ladies who want to be a part of our group. Please welcome them:

Debora C. (former member, back on board)
Sherri Stauffer
Leslye Borden
Barb Lipskie

We welcome you and hope you will post soon with your charity projects and favorite charities.

Cindy