Gift Giving and Pointed Needles

This is such a busy time of the year, with travel, shopping, special food preparation, baking, and yet we continue to knit and crochet for others, so thought you all could use a little laugh.  Once again, I found this funny on Facebook the other day.

All kidding aside, gift giving is hard work.  That's what we do, we give gifts, gifts from the heart that we've knitted or crocheted specifically for people we don't know......people we know have need.

With that in mind, I'm reminding you all to look at your items and make sure they are gift worthy.  Are they something you're proud of, are they something you would gift?  I don't mean folks should buy high end yarn, as that's not logical for the groups we serve; but I mean is the item finished as it would be if you were gifting to someone you knew?  Are the ends all nicely tucked in?  Is the item you just made to gift free of household and animal odors?  Is it free of your furry friends hair?  Please take a look before you box it up to send.

Folks, when I open boxes and find things needing to be laundered, things that have become unraveled,  ends needing tucked etc it slows down the gift being given to someone in need.  It goes into my look at later pile.  Sadly, that pile is often too large for me to manage quickly.

Apologies, as I know I've said all this before (I don't know who's here to read when) and therefore it needs to be repeated.  Laundering items does several things of importance:

1. It softens often stiff, scratchy or uncomfortable acrylic yarn
2. It gives all items a much more finished look
3. It removes cat and dog and people hair
4. It removes oils from our hands as we knit and crochet
5. It removes dust that gathers not only in houses as we work on the items, but the dust that accumulates while the yarn is shelved at the stores
6. It removes household odors, smoke, pet related, as well as what we've cooked for dinner.

You all might be surprised to know how after items are boxed and I open the boxes the odors roll out.  Please do not spray with Fabreeze, please opt to launder instead.  Additionally, I'm always taken back after spreading items out to count and photograph how dirty my hands are.  Truly after handling lots of items/donations/gifts I'm in need of washing my hands, which tells me things are in need of being laundered.

It's important that the gifts we give represent us all in a very positive light.  Please take time to check your items, launder your items so they can get swiftly into the hands of those in need.

2013 Donations:

Hats: 842
Scarves: 452
Socks: 347
Afghans: 52
Slippers: 195
Rain Ponchos: 208
Mittens: 139
Cotton Wash Clothes: 701
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 17
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators/neckwarners and all meal prep related items, Dolls, associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated

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.