A story in yesterday's New York Times featured the efforts of the Mosaic Yarn Shop in Blacksburg, Virginia, to heal and help the families of the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting by knitting each of them a hand-knit patchwork blanket.
That means they're looking for 2,100 squares in Hokie colors of
maroon and orange, as well as white and black, to build the blankets.
They're asking for 8-inch squares in "the nicest, softest yarn you can afford" with any fiber, in any pattern and any gauge you like. The deadline for mailing squares to the shop is May 31.
This is a great opportunity for the local community to heal, butalso for people all over to show their support for the people who are living through the tragedy.
Want to help?
To donate to the Hokies Healing blanket project, knit 8-by-8-inch squares by May 31 and bring them to:
the Mosaic Yarn Shop at 880 University City Blvd.
To get more information, call Gina Bonomo at 961-4462 or go to mosaicyarnshop.blogspot.com/
Rebuilding Greensburg- Block by Block
To help the people of Greensburg Kansas who lost everything to the tornado last week. This is a small thing
to do to hopefully comfort some of the people of a small town, please help.
REBUILDING GREENSBURG - BLOCK BY BLOCK
What: 8" garter stitch squares
Pattern: knit from corner to corner on the bias (pattern specs below)
Fiber: Worsted Weight - wool, superwash wool, wool blends
Color: Any color - solid or variegated yarn
Mailing Deadline: to be announced - will update when estimated home
construction completion date is known
Pattern Specs: cast on 4 stitches, increase one stitch* at the
beginning of each row, knit in garter stitch (knit on every row)
until one side measures 8", k2tog at the end of each row until 5
stitches remain, cast off.
*the increase stitch that I am using is kfb (knit into the front and
back of the first stitch)
Designs or various stitch patterns or stockinette can be incorporated
if you wish but the basic pattern is intended to simplify seaming for
the various people who may be helping with seaming. If we collect
more squares than we need for one family we will continue assembling
afghans to be given to other families.
If any one would like to include a note or postcard sending good
wishes to the family who receives your afghan square we will keep
those messages together with the square(s) you send. We're looking
forward to being able to get these afghans and messages to the
families!
MAIL BLOCKS TO THIS ADDRESS:
Laura Spradlin
El Dorado First Baptist Church
315 West Central
El Dorado, KS 67042
Red Scarf Project Rolls Earlier for 2008
http://www.needlelittlelove.com/red_scarf
Donations of red scarves will be accepted September 1 through October 15, 2007.
OFA is laying plans for the 2008 Red Scarf Project, following the incredible success of this year's initiative, which brought in over 15,000 handmade scarves from knitters and crocheters all over the U.S. and abroad.
Submission dates will be September 1 through October 15, 2007 -- enabling us to collect, process, and send out the scarves by early winter (when they will obviously do the most good). Our goal is to receive 7,000 scarves, and donors will be asked to register on the OFA website.
Stay tuned for details, and be sure to check out the Now Norma Knits blog, written by one of our most committed supporters, to get a great take on the Red Scarf Project.
http://nownormaknits2.typepad.com/now_norma_knits_2/
A Charitable Knitting Endeavor Benefitting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Los Angeles County Affiliate
Knit for the Cure™ the cause
Founded in 2004, the Knit for the Cure™ Campaign recruits knitters & crocheters from all over the United States to make handmade scarves, hats, purses, pins, etc., all incorporating the color pink. To date, over 700 items have been collected. The hand-knit and crocheted items have been sold at Komen Foundation events raising over $17,000 to support breast cancer patients and to fund breast cancer research and treatment through the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Los Angeles County Affiliate. Twenty-five percent of the total funds raised is donated to Komen's National Office for research and the remaining 75% stays in the local community and is awarded as grants to treatment centers and hospitals.
The Knit for the Cure Campaign™ re-launched in October 2005 during Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Knit in the City, a knit-out with hip & fresh vibe at Memorial Park in Pasadena, California on Saturday, October 15, 2005 .
Due to the overwhelming response in 2006, the Knit for the Cure is not collecting donations at this time. We are appreciative of everyone's interest in the Campaign and will be selling the surplus items from ther 2006 drive at the 2007 Race for the Cure onSunday, February 25, 2007.
Knit in the City the event
The knitting craze has been building over the past five years-- aided by celebrity knitters such as Julia Roberts, Gwen Stefani, Cameron Diaz and, the list is even rumored to include, Russell Crowe. The evolution of the craft has transformed from fashionable hobby to a cultural phenomenon.
Knit in the City was served up LA style with a hip, fun, and fresh vibe. The event featured the launch of the Knit for the Cure™ Campaign benefitting the Komen Foundation; a Yarn Lounge; free knitting and crochet lessons; fashion shows; competitions; product demonstrations; author's showcase & book signings; yoga for knitters; local yarn stores; knitting guilds and more!
Knit in the City was presented by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Los Angeles County Affiliate, and is sponsored by the Craft Yarn Council of America and The National NeedleArts Association.
Check back in the summer of 2007 for the date of the next Knit in the City. For more information: www.knitforthecure.com/