Mission Statement

Operations for Bridge and Beyond will cease on Dec 31, 2021, last mailing date should be Dec 24th

GOAL FOR AFGHANS

Afghans
Goal: 30
Start: #24
Current: 26
0.8666%
START
END
Showing posts with label Crafting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crafting. Show all posts

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Meeting the Needs of Homeless

Making items needed vs items we like to make can sometimes be a challenge.  When it comes to warming the homeless, those outside in the elements and or those living temporarily in shelters it's important to make our donations useable by those who receive our gifts.

  • Maybe we have pretty, soft pastels in our yarn stash and like to make quick open lacey style scarves.  While doing that may serve our purpose of using up our stash, and make us feel good to make several items quickly, it doesn't really meet the need and therefore whom are we serving?  Have we really accomplished anything?
  • Maybe we like to make lots of stripes, in whatever we're making.  It's a good way to use up small amounts of yarn left overs in or stash; but it makes the final product bightly colored, perhaps even wild.  Will it blend easily with a variety of coat colors?  Will it blend into the environment where our person in need finds themselves?  Or will it do the opposite, will it call attention to the individual?  Calling attention to the individual can be dangerous for those living outdoors (who often get harassed by police and others).  Calling attention to a child on a playground who's wearing wild stripes/ wild colors when his/her playmates aren't wearing wild colors/stripes is a sure way to single out a child for ridicule...a way for other kids to poke fun.  A way to bully even.  So again, I would ask whom are we serving?  Have we accomplished our goal?
Please read the tabs folks about size, colors, styles, fibers before you take precious time to knit, crochet, or loom an item to be donated.

I've always indicated solids are preferred over stripes, darks over pastels and brights for the above reasons, plus the dirt factor.  Additionally, the fewer stripes generally means fewer ends to work in, to worry about unraveling so we save some headaches that way too.  Stripes for edging or to add some detail are nice...but, it's not the only way to add interest to the item.

Suzanne, has posted some wonderful patterns indicating how we as crafters can add interest with texture that pleases us as we're knitting and or crocheting; but also to the recipant of the donated item.

Please take a look at her blog post where she discusses Bridge and Beyond, HERE http://www.suzannebroadhurst.com/2014/01/06/crochet-for-a-cause-simple-scarf-for-a-homeless-one/.  In fact, take time and look around her blog, as she's focusing on homeless crafting during this moth.



All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.


http://www.suzannebroadhurst.com/

Where are You and Your Yarn From?

I'm trying to identify where everyone is from, partially for fun. Take a look at the map. Also, believe it will aid me in cases where we have several people with the same name. Please look at the lists of bloggers and non bloggers and see if I have the state you hail from. If not, please leave a comment and let me know.

Additionally, we've had help from Scotland, England, Germany Puerto Rico, Canada, and France! They don't appear on the map, but their help is still greatly appreciated.

Where The People Who Donate Come From, is your state represented?