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.

Crocheting in Virginia Warms Hearts in Ohio

 Look at this sweet afghan, any adult women and or teen will be thrilled to cover up with this.  Such nice work from our good friend and long time supporter, Gail B from Virginia.  Many thanks Gail, this will be used for Project Welcome Home and I know it will be treasured for years to come.

In addition to the above afghan, Gail's kept her hook flying making hats, and scarves to keep those in need warm.  She's also donated much needed and always appreciated personal care items.  Thank you Gail for nicely tagging your hats with the size!

Please keep up the good work.

2013 Donations:

Hats: 836+6=842
Scarves: 448+4=452
Socks: 347
Afghans: 51+1=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.

A State Challenge

Yesterday we added Utah to our state map.  I'm excited because it's the time in a long time we've been able to add another state to the list of those where our donations come from.


visited 42 states (84%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or jurisdische vertaling duits?


visited 40 states (80%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or Free ipad travel guide Do you know a knitter, crocheter, or someone who looms from one of the states?
Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Connecticut
Mississippi
Montana
Nevada
Oregon
Rhode Island

Those states are not represented.  Wouldn't it be nice to have 100% participation?  Since it doesn't get cold in Alabama and Arkansas, I'm surprised we've not had folks there who like to knit or crochet and donate items too warm for their climates.

Throwing out a challenge....need big hearted crafters from those states to step up and represent their states.  Come on...please join us.


 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.

Hats from Utah

28 Loomed hats from our newest pair of helping hands, Brienna M from Utah.  Welcome Brienna, happy to have you join us and always happy to have more helping hands.  Love the browns, they work nicely for males and or females.  And, folks I'm excited to say we're adding another state to our map.......scroll down if you've done that in awhile to see the states represented by our big hearted donators.  Brienna you're our first pair of helping hands from your state of Utah.

With Brienna's help, we're adding Utah which is the 42 state!

Welcome and please keep up the good work.

2013 Donations:

Hats: 808+28=836
Scarves: 448
Socks: 347
Afghans: 51
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.

Knitted Warmth and Caring from the State of Florida

Manly colors!  Manly sized.  Thank you, Thank you Sandra R from Florida for sending some needed sunshine by way of knitted love and warmth for our men folk.  Hats of several styles, scarves, and mittens.  All beautifully made, all warm, all colors appropriate for the men.  Perfect!  She's also sent along some personal care items.

Please keep up the good work!


2013 Donations:

Hats: 793+15=808
Scarves: 444+4=448
Socks: 347
Afghans: 51
Slippers: 195
Rain Ponchos: 208
Mittens: 137+2=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.

Knitting Humor

A little different type of humor perhaps, but this still made me chuckle when I saw it awhile back on Facebook.  However, I do share needles, lol.  Just recently taught someone to knit and um, shared my needles.  When you're learning you sometimes need to try different types of needles to see what feels right in your hand.

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.