Traveling Blanket Idea and Poll Results

Thanks to the 30 readers for voting in the recent poll. A member on Ravelry in The Oddballs asked if people might want to do the traveling/continuous blankets here. I was unsure how you all felt. Each blanket would get passed around alot before being finished. Postage is an issue as it's mailed repeatedly.

The results indicated 14 people would be interested if it weren't for the postage and that was the largest group for a 56%. The second largest group of 8 voters (26%) felt it wasn't a good idea, too much to keep track of. There were 5 people for knitting and 5 for crocheting who liked the idea each of those groups were 16%. The final group, 3 people (10%) liked the idea feeling it would feel like they were more involved vs making squares.

James, passed his thoughts along having been involved in this type of venture in the past. He pointed out some of the pitfalls of keeping tracking, the possible need to bug people to keep it moving. People sign on with wonderful intentions, but sometimes when it's their turn they're swamped and it's laid aside for an extended period of time. I've had some good and some bad experiences with this type of traveling blanket too.

If I add the 5 knitters and 5 crocheters and 3 who thought they'd feel more involved together I get 13 interested people (though I don't know whom they are). Since the 13 is less than half those that votes (somewhere around 43%), I believe for now we'll pass on this idea and continue collecting squares (at the designated times) that I'll join to make a ghan. Perhaps down the road, we'll revisit this idea. Thank you Panther for the idea.

Always up to explore something new, so please.........everyone feel free to sing out if you have a idea for Bridge and Beyond.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 304
Hats 611
Mitts 136
Socks 124
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 309
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.


TIP, please avoid white when possible, it shows the dirt so easily and many of our recipients don't have the ability to launder their hats, scarves, mittens, etc.

**Would the unknown knitter in Seattle Washington from this POST, Please make contact so I know who you are for record keeping AND the unknown knitter from Idaho from this post too please and thanks**

MITTENS........Mittens will be October's focus, and we never get enough of those. I know they're not the easiest things to make. We do have a few patterns posted folks. As you think about making mittens and or reviewing patterns...think about adding length to the cuff; helps make them warmer. Thanks!

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

This is not for The Red Hat Ladies

**Tomorrow's post will discuss the poll results**

Took this photo before tucking in my last end. Straight knitting except for the details on the ends. I used Plymouth Encore Washable Wool and love the feel of this. This scarf has a rather sorted past, lol. It couldn't decide what it was going to be. First it was going be solid red (I was going to donate it to The Red Scarf Project), but ran out of yarn. Had had the red for eons and eons and didn't even attempt matching it. Grabbed the purple I had on hand for fun and decided I loved the fun and funky half and half scarf. In fact, I might make a few more this way. Now it looks like it should go to someone in The Red Hat Society; but it's close to 7 inches wide, it's washable wool and therefore very warm, and it's 6 foot long so will keep someone warm.....went in the last bag for a family shelter along with many of your wonderful items.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 303+1=304
Hats 611
Mitts 136
Socks 124
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 309
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

Please remember to leave tails when changing yarn/colors etc of several inches and work those ends in, DO NOT TIE A KNOT A CUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KNOT.

**Would the unknown knitter in Seattle Washington from this POST, Please make contact so I know who you are for record keeping AND the unknown knitter from Idaho from this post too please and thanks**

MITTENS........Mittens will be October's focus, and we never get enough of those. I know they're not the easiest things to make. We do have a few patterns posted folks. As you think about making mittens and or reviewing patterns...think about adding length to the cuff; helps make them warmer. Thanks!

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Idaho oophs No Colorado! Donation

This donation of 3 small scarves, and 6 small hats for the younger set came awhile back. I've been searching trying to identify the Idaho knitter with no success through old emails, Ravelry, and Facebook. Believe the sizing will work for preschool age children so this thoughtful donation will go with the next delivery to The Homeless Families Foundation, or one of the free clinics we supply with donations of warm items.

Though I do have a last name on the envelope these were mailed in, often people don't use their real names as part of their email ady, so I'm at a loss to easily find who this knitter is. With our on line personalities we often use nick names on forums that don't match emails, that don't match our real names, so please folks remember to include a note letting me know who you are with your donations.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 300+3=303
Hats 605+6=611
Mitts 136
Socks 124
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 309
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

Please remember to leave tails when changing yarn/colors etc of several inches and work those ends in, DO NOT TIE A KNOT A CUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KNOT.

**Would the unknown knitter in Seattle Washington who from this POST, Please make contact so I know who you are for record keeping** Happy to say this one mystery has been solved. It's not Idaho, but Colorado and it's Nola who's on our list. Thanks for solving the mystery!

MITTENS........Mittens will be October's focus, and we never get enough of those. I know they're not the easiest things to make. We do have a few patterns posted folks. As you think about making mittens and or reviewing patterns...think about adding length to the cuff; helps make them warmer. Thanks!

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

James Donated all This Jazz!

Thank you James for all this jazz. James has been a long time supporter and I always look forward to the jazz that comes off his knitting needles. Above we have quite a variety pack of donated lovelies, hats, mittens, socks, washcloth, neckwarmer, Baclava...and a darling sweater and shirt for a little one.

You may remember if you were with us this time last year, the James supplied us with a nice knitted pattern for making mitttens. It's in the pattern section of the blog. Click on the tab marked patterns on the top of the blog.

Thank you James, keep up the good work!

2011 Donations:

Scarves 300
Hats 602+3=605
Mitts 133+3=136
Socks 121+3=124
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308+1=309
Sweaters/Poncho's 6+1=7
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

Helpful hint: when making slippers, please use double yarn, or a nice tight stitch for more durability.

**Would the unknown knitter in Seattle Washington who from this POST, Please make contact so I know who you are for record keeping**

I launched a program called Welcome Home a couple of days ago. This is in connection our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about The Foundation, please do, HERE.

MITTENS........Mittens will be October's focus, and we never get enough of those. I know they're not the easiest things to make. We do have a few patterns posted folks. As you think about making mittens and or reviewing patterns...think about adding length to the cuff; helps make them warmer. Thanks!

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Help from New York for Ohio's Homeless

Thank you AnneMarie. AnneMarie has helped our Ohio Homeless again with this lovely donation of hand crocheted hats and scarves. She's donated 6 matches sets of hats and scarves, 2 additional hats, and wonderful warm and much needed socks! Many thanks AnneMarie, your skilled hands and on going support are very much appreciated. Please keep up the good work!

2011 Donations:

Scarves 294+6=300
Hats 594+8=602
Mitts 133
Socks 115+6=121
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

I launched a program called Welcome Home a couple of days ago. This is in connection our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about The Foundation, please do, HERE.

MITTENS........Mittens will be October's focus, and we never get enough of those. I know they're not the easiest things to make. We do have a few patterns posted folks. As you think about making mittens and or reviewing patterns...think about adding length to the cuff; helps make them warmer. Thanks!

Helpful hint: when making slippers, please use double yarn, or a nice tight stitch for more durability.

**Unknown knitter in Seattle Washington, please scroll to previous post. Please make contact so I know who you are for record keeping**

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Awesome Knitted Hats donated by Unknown

These are fabulous hats, super soft, nice and stretching, warm and extremely well made, knitted hats. They come from an unknown knitter in Seattle, Washington. There was no note with the hats and no last name on return label, just Seattle, Washington. Yoo Whoooo, they are lovely, and very much appreciated. Please sing out so we know who you are.

Folks, if you wish to be anonymous with your donation; no problem but please for record keeping please include your name and email with your donations and state you'd like to be anonymous and I'll list it that way. When I get things unidentified I don't know if it's an over-site, or anonymous, and I'm not able to email someone to let them know their package arrived.

Many thanks for your thoughtful donation.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 294
Hats 592+2=594
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

I launched a program called Welcome Home a couple of days ago. This is in connection our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about The Foundation, please do, HERE.

**A Few more days in September for our scarf focus, I'll go back and recheck to see if we have anyone for the drawing for the scarf contest**

MITTENS........Mittens will be October's focus, and we never get enough of those. I know they're not the easiest things to make. We do have a few patterns posted folks. As you think about making mittens and or reviewing patterns...think about adding length to the cuff; helps make them warmer. Thanks!

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!