Crocheted Hats Donated

Our good friend, AnneMarie has done it again! Look at these beautifully made hats. She's crocheted a variety of sizes, colors, and styles with her magic crochet hook. As you know, AnneMarie has been a faithful supporter of our cause and donates regularly from her state of New York. If you missed my previous post show casing her donations from The Empire State, you can read about here.

Many thanks for all you do AnneMarie, we're thrilled to call you our friend. Please keep up the good work.


2012 Donations:
Hats: 382+16=398
Scarves: 247
Slippers: 79
Shawls: 2
Sweaters 3
Vest 1
Afghans: 22
Mittens: 147
Squares: 345
Socks: 116
Rain Poncho's 183
Cotton Washcloths 354
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, facemasks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes etc)

**Sharing stories about why we donate:
My story Here
Wendy H tells here story HERE
Sandie P's story HERE
Diana K's story HERE
Sue F tells her story HERE
next up Sherry K tells her story, please keep checking back.

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!

Why Sue F., donates

A few days ago I posted some of what drives me to donate, and asked you to share why you all do? I've been posting some beautiful stories. I hope you all have been reading them. It's inspiring to see what keeps us all doing this, and it's nice to learn things about each other. My original post is HERE, if you missed it. Wendy H's story is HERE, Sandie P told her story HERE, and Diana K's story is HERE. Please do take time to read, let them inspire you, leave a comment or two. And if you'd like to share your story...please email me at sandycrochet@gmail.com. Thank you to all who've participated.

Here's what Sue F shared.

As with most knitters/crocheters, I had made all the afghans/scarves/hats my family could use (and some of them were sick of getting stuff) so I made some scarves to donate. I had a friend who taught at an elementary school so I gave them to her. When she took them into the teacher's lounge and explained the donation, several teachers were confused. "Why is she doing this?" sort of thing. Apparently being kind to strangers was a mystery to them. Anyway, the school principal took the scarves and wrapped them around the necks of a few of the kids. According to my friend, the kids just lit up. "For me? Someone made this for me?" Many wore them all day.

I made mittens for a friend who teaches special needs kids. The mittens were to stay in the classroom and only be used for going out to recess by those who didn't have any. One day a little boy wanted to wear some of the donated mittens but my friend told him he couldn't because he'd worn his own mittens. The next day the little boy came in, showed my friend his cold red hands and said "Look Teacher, I don't have any mittens. Now I can use the ones in the box, right?"

I know a teenage girl who has spent many years in Foster care. When I told her about how I knit and donate different things she told me that even though she had been adopted she still slept with two small afghans on her bed that were donated to kids in foster care. She said that when she moved from foster home to foster home, the afghans were just about the only thing that were hers and hers alone, to take with her.

For those of us who have so much, it's hard to imagine, but yes, one scarf, one pair of mittens, one afghan can make a difference in the life of someone else.

And that's why I donate.

2012 Donations:
Hats: 382
Scarves: 247
Slippers: 79
Shawls: 2
Sweaters 3
Vest 1
Afghans: 22
Mittens: 147
Squares: 345
Socks: 116
Rain Poncho's 183
Cotton Washcloths 354
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, facemasks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes etc)

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!

Why Diana K. Donates

A few days ago I posted about why I donate, and asked that some of you share your reasons. Not only does it help us get to know each other, I find it very inspiring to see what drive so many goodhearted people. In short order I heard from Sandie P by way of a comment, which I posted yesterday. I've gotten emails from our friend Wendy H, who's post is here.

Here then is Diana K's (from Georgia) incredible story. You might need a hanky for this folks. It's truly heartwarming, inspiring, and sad, all at the same time. Thank you Diana K. for sharing.Why I donate.

As I look back on my 76 years of life I realize I have been so very blessed by our God.

I could have been born in Hungary where my father was born except my widowed grandmother took her three children to America just before WWII. In January 1945, 32,000 ethnic Germans from within Hungary were arrested and transported to the Soviet Union as forced laborers. In some villages, the entire adult population were taken to labor camps in the Donets Basin. Many died there as a result of hardships and ill-treatment. Overall, between 100,000 and 170,000 Hungarian ethnic Germans were transported to the Soviet Union. I was ten in 1945 and could have been there.

I had a stable family. My parents loved each other and through thick and thin stayed together until death in their later years. So many children come from broken homes, unwanted, mistreated.

Although I was born during the Great Depression I never was homeless, never hungry, always had a place to get in out of the cold. I lacked nothing.

I’ve have a long happy marriage of 58 years with two children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Through inevitable trials and testing I have always been surrounded by those I love and who love me - never alone.

As I and look around me and see the hardships and misery of others not so well blessed my heart breaks for them.

Physically I cannot do a great deal any more but I can take up some yarn and create something to make life a little easier for others who have not been as blessed as I have been.

I pray that if disaster happens to me there will be someone out there who cares enough to relieve my suffering.

**This is a marvelous story of the human spirit. The Pink Lilly is the first of it's group to bloom in my backyard.**

2012 Donations:
Hats: 382
Scarves: 247
Slippers: 79
Shawls: 2
Sweaters 3
Vest 1
Afghans: 22
Mittens: 147
Squares: 345
Socks: 116
Rain Poncho's 183
Cotton Washcloths 354
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, facemasks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes etc)

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!

Why Sandie from Louisiana Donates

A few days ago I talked about why I donate, or at least some of the reasons. I also asked if others would share their stories, their reasons. Yesterday I posted a beautiful post from Wendy H. Today, I'm pasting the comment our good friend Sandie from Louisiana made on that first post. She sells herself short. Any of you who know Sandie, have seen her work; certainly know that to be true. Sandie's lists of charities is huge, changed perhaps over time; but she's touched a good many people. She says all she knows how to do is crochet....that's HUGE Sandie. It's a skill, a talent, a gift given to you that you've passed onto others. Your hands are skillful, and I know your heart to be wide open with caring.

Some of you may know how Sandie P from Louisiana and I got to know each other, some may not know. Because of Katrina, she'd been involved in a group that made squares and joined them together to make afghans for those who were so horrible effect. Squares 4 Survivors was the name of the group. I found her through a thread on Crochetville. I helped both with squares and with joining afghans and from there, we've each continued our love of helping others. We've stayed connected through blogging, more recently through Facebook and are also connected on Pinterest....though I've only just joined and am clueless about what I'm doing there.

Here then is Sandie's comment.

Truthfully I cannot remember when I began donating to charity efforts. It's been quite a while. When I first learned to crochet, I made afghan after afghan for my family. That was all I knew how to make. Then they had enough afghans. I did a few things for my home when I got married.

I had two preemie babies so that was my first charity focus, then I had so many family members who suffered with cancer so another focus added, then Katrina and the needs there, then my son went into Army and I focused on the military, and my Dad and two aunts had Alzheimer so.... you see how it goes. There is always a cause to aide and the only thing I know how to do is crochet! LOL

2012 Donations:
Hats: 382
Scarves: 247
Slippers: 79
Shawls: 2
Sweaters 3
Vest 1
Afghans: 22
Mittens: 147
Squares: 345
Socks: 116
Rain Poncho's 183
Cotton Washcloths 354
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, facemasks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes etc)

**I'd like to post at least 5 stories, so please share yours with me via email at sandycrochet@gmail.com. Let's inspire each other, and perhaps convert a few others.**

***above Yucca is one of 16 blooming in my backyard, just thought I'd share some pretty flowers with you***

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!

Please Pay it Forward with your Donations

A few days ago I shared a bit about Why I donate. I asked for others to share their stories too. I think we all encourage each other when we share like this. All of us want to help others, that's the common denominator; but some have a few other reasons about how they got started, or why they got started...some even have stories about how it's changed their lives, or how their donations have changed over the years.

The first person I got an email from was our friend, Wendy H., our good friend from the state of Georgia. You might remember she was one of our winners from the last contest. You can read about her winning HERE. Wendy H. is one of donators who doesn't happen to be a blogger, but her facebook link is listed in the list of non bloggers with Facebook, Crochetville, and or Ravelry pages.

Thank you Wendy H. for your support here with your skillful hands, and thank you for sharing a peace of your heart with your story below about why YOU donate.

I have been crocheting since I was about 8 years old. I was taught to crochet by my para-professional (teacher’s aide) in grade school who had muscular dystrophy. She is the one who originally sparked my interest.

My mother, when I was in my early thirties, told me she was making bereavement gowns for the premature babies that have passed away at our local hospital and I asked her if they had a need for crocheted items. My mother is the one who sparked my interest in making donations. She would and continues to purchase yarn for me that she finds on sale to further our cause. I have a closet that is practically full thanks to her.

After I started donating to my local hospital, I figured “Hey, I could take this one step further!” So I contacted St. Jude’s Hospital. That is where I started making chemo caps for the cancer patients.

Then, before I knew it, donating my goods became a healthy addiction. I love making people feel better in one form or another.

After making monthly donations to my local hospital and St. Jude’s, I decided to see just how many people I could donate to and searched it on Google. BOY WAS I SURPRIZED AT HOW MANY PLACES TAKE CROCHETED DONATIONS. That is when I decided to sign up with Handmade Especially for You, an organization that makes scarves for battered women’s shelters in California. A few weeks later, I searched Google again and found your charity, Bridge and Beyond. I read the mission statement and I was very pleased with what I read. Now, I have yet another way I can make a difference in someone’s life simply by doing what I love to do!

Here are a few reasons why I donate: I have loads of yarn in my closet that I MUST do something with thanks to my mom. Crocheting/Knitting is said to relieve stress, and goodness knows, I have my share of stress, who doesn’t, right? I do not have much money. I do not have much free time to actually go anywhere to volunteer my time, nor the gas to get there. What I do have is the ability to make something with my hands that will either comfort, warm, or simply put a smile on someone’s face who most assuredly is having a worse day than I am. I am fortunate to have a roof over my head, a full time job, and food on my table. Most people do not know where their next meal is coming from. One simple way I can help is by doing something that I love, crocheting/knitting, to spread the love, and let someone in pain (whichever form it takes) know that there is always someone out there that cares for them. They may not know them personally, but we are all God’s children and we are all to look after one another. Please, Pay It Forward!

2012 Donations:
Hats: 382
Scarves: 247
Slippers: 79
Shawls: 2
Sweaters 3
Vest 1
Afghans: 22
Mittens: 147
Squares: 345
Socks: 116
Rain Poncho's 183
Cotton Washcloths 354
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, facemasks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes etc)

**I'd like to post at least 5 stories, so please share yours with me via email at sandycrochet@gmail.com. Let's inspire each other, and perhaps convert a few others.**

***above daisies have been blooming for several days in my backyard, just thought I'd share with you***

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!

Donations from The Peach Tree State for Ohio's Homeless

Thank you Wendy H from The Peach Tree State of Georgia! Look at this lovely baby blanket (sorry the picture is a bit blurry), cute hats, and squares. I've always like the blue green combination and this looks so fresh and springy! Perfect, I think for little girl or boy to snuggle up with. Thanks for the nice variety in both color and size in your hats, Wendy. Wendy is our newest pair of helping hands, you can visit her on Facebook, link in the blog roll. Please keep up the good work, hope to see you here often.


2012 Donations:
Hats: 205+7=212
Scarves: 104+1=105
Slippers: 48
Shawls: 2
Sweaters 1
Vest 1
Afghans: 16+1=17
Mittens: 120
Squares: 168+3=171
Socks: 102
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 27
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, facemasks, neck warmers, t-shirts etc)

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!

And the Winners

TODAY'S THE DAY TO ANNOUNCE THE 3 WINNERS

1 Boxes of yarn and or yarny things will be mailed to each our three winners! Once you determine if you're winner...please make email contact with me and provide your snail address as well as whether or not you're a knitter, or a crocheter or both....and whether or not you're a sock knitter.


The winner from Hat I (a fabulous black wool hat purchased in Charleston on vacation), was drawn from the following participants: (those who donated between Feb 14th and March 14th)
DaMarys
Karen B.
Sherry K.
Bonnie R.
Sandie in Florida
Bonnie B.
Diana K.
Sally B.
Kathryn V.
Patty L.
Gail B.
Otterbein's "Stiches to Share"
Suzy in Ohio
AnneMarie
Cheryl S.
Trudy S.
Wendy H.
Shannon P.
Martha M.
Paula K.
Elizabeth R (I need you to contact me)
Sue F.
Theresa A.
AND THE WINNER IS: Bonnie B! Congrats Bonnie B on your win. We're thrilled to have you and your thoughtful hands and hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond, with your donations, as well as your comments. Please remember to email me within the next 3 days. (after that time a new winner will be announced). **Added link to Bonnie's Rav page if you want to pop over and congratulate her**

The winner from Hat II (a fun hat purchased in Palm Springs to keep the sun off my head), was drawn from the following participants (those who donations included slippers and or scarves, the two highlighted items for the month of February and March):
Bonnie R.
Diana K.
Otterbein's "Stitches to Share"
Sandie in Florida
Gail B.
AnneMarie
Trudy S.
Wendy H.
Paula K.
Karen B.
Damarys
Sherry K.
Kathryn V.
Suzy in Ohio
Cheryl S.
Patty L.
Shannon P.
Elizabeth R (I need you to contact me)
Sue F.
Theresa A.
AND THE WINNER is Wendy H. Wendy be sure and email me your information within 3 days. Congrats to you, hope to see you here often with your comments as well as your wonderful donations. **Added link to Wendy's Facebook Profile, if you want to pop over and congratulate her.** Edited to add, I've already heard back from Wendy and have her address...1 down and 2 to go.

The winner of hat III (The chatty Cathy portion, those who left comments, each comment counted as 1 name in the hat, so the more comments the more times your name was in the hat--one of hubby's golf hats):
SSeger, Sue F, Patty L., Damaris, Allyson, Sally, Sherry, Liz, AnneMarie, Harvest Hill, Yvonne, Sandie P, Joy D., Jessica, Jen, RoseMarie, Sandie in Florida, Kathleen V., Trudy S., Theresa A., Crochet Princess, Kim, Wendy H.

And the winner is........SSegar. Congrats Sue, and please keep visiting and chatting along with your donating!
**Added link to Sue's Rav. profile page if you want to pop over and congratulate her.** Popped back to edit again...have now heard from Sue as well. 2 of the 3 winners have checked in.

All winners need to contact me via email with their snail addresses. Additionally, please indicate whether you knit or crochet, or whether you do both. It could influence the box of goodies you get to make. Contact via email needs to be within 3 days, after the 18th, a new winner will be announced if contact hasn't been received.

THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED WITH KNITTING AND CROCHETING AND DONATING, THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED THE HIGHLIGHTED NEEDED ITEMS OF SCARVES AND OR SLIPPERS, AND THANKS TO OUR CHEERING SECTION OF CHATTERS. I continue to encourage all of you to visit, to chat. There are many of you, we never hear from here on the blog. Remember you do not need to be a blogger to leave a comment. Comments are nice, they show support for each other's skillful work, comments are helpful to the blog with regard to it's SEO (search engine optimization). Placing well in the SEO makes us easier to find for folks looking for some place worthy to donate their knitted and or crocheted items too. If you are not a blogger, type your comment, then click the drop down box that says name and url, type your name...first name and last initial is all that's necessary and leave the url space blank. Then click publish....quick and easy.

As I wait to here from our 3 winner, Bonnie B, Wendy H, and SSegar....I'll be looking through my stash and picking out some goods to get ready to mail.

**Reasons to launder your items: Yarn sits on shelves in stores collecting dust. Yarn gets stored in our various containers...our stash areas, collects dust, sometimes get musty. Yarn picks up smoke and other aroma's from the house like food and perfume. Yarn attracts furry friends, their hair, and their dander. Yarn picks up oils from our crafty hands as we knit and crochet. And, yarn needs to rest, laundering your items, blocking if need be improves the appearance as well as the freshness of your thoughtful donation. It's not possible for me to launder ever item that comes my way; though I do sometimes need to do that when I open boxes etc. All the afghans I make from your donated squares get laundered and blocked, which also helps me make sure things stay put together. Sometimes squares need a bit more attention in terms of tails being appropriately secured. Please avoid spraying your donations with perfume, air-freshner, and or Fabreeze, it really doesn't replace the benefits of it being laundered. I generally wash the afghans in cold water, on delicate, and lay out to dry/block. Even though most of the yarn says washable and dry-able. I find these gives a good result over the long haul.**

2012 Donations:
Hats: 130
Scarves: 56
Slippers: 28
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 9
Mittens: 97
Squares: 128
Socks: 98
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 15
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, etc)

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!

Sweet Georgia Brown

I couldn't help but sing, partially because this donation comes to us from our friend, Diana K from Georgia, and partially because ........LOOK! When I started opening boxes, I didn't realize more then one of the boxes was from Diana. Thus separate pictures. This is box 1....17 squares, 3 hats, and 2 scarves...plus personal care items. Awesome. Took photo, made note and moved onto another box or two...had several that day. Then

hit box 2 from our friend, Diana K from Georgia...see why I'm singing? Join me in the chorus. Followed by some lala's K! Box 2 had 6 more scarves, 8 more hats, 2 pairs of slippers.... AND
This rippled afghan!

Many thanks Diana for your thoughtful donation of goodies. So many will benefit. Scroll back up folks...anyone quess what Diana's favorite colors are, lol. Love the red and purples together!!

2012 Donations:
Hats: 119+(3+8)=130
Scarves: 48+(2+6)=56
Slippers: 26+2=28
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 8+1=9
Mittens: 95
Squares: 111+17=128
Socks: 98
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 15
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, etc)

**Donations received and counted in the contest not yet posted from: Patty L, Bonnie B, Gail B, and Otterbeins "Stitches to Share", Suzy from Ohio, AnneMarie, Cheryl S, Shannon P., Trudy S, Wendy H, Sandie in Florida, Paula K. Sue F., Eliz R (need Eliz R to make contact with me)Theresa A. ** (remember posts are written ahead, placed in que...scheduled to be posted and we typically work about 2 wks or so ahead). Announcement of winners tomorrow, everyone be sure and check in, and leave comments so we know you were here.

***Please folks ALWAYS include a note with your donations that includes your name, your email ady and group we're in together (if that's how we know each other). It truly isn't possible for me to know and remember everyone over the number of years Bridge and Beyond has been in existence. I spend lots of HOURS, looking through emails, facebook friends, Rav friend, friends on The Hive and in The Ville; as well as yahoo mailing groups to try and identify donations without the information. I have no way of knowing if you want to be anonymous...if I knew that I could spend the time knitting and crocheting vs searching and searching. I do like to be able to let you know your donations have arrived safely and to be able to thank you. So PLEASE PLEASE, even if you want to be anonymous, include a note for me stating that. I fear when I can't make the identification, people just feel I'm not acknowledging their donations. That's not my choice. I want you to know your donation has been received, and that's it appreciated. There are times when after looking multiple days, and spending lots of hours I book something as unknown, and weeks later, I'll receive an email asking if their donations arrived. They feel bad, and I've wasted time. When your donation comes with a return address label with your husband's name...it's a good possibility, I don't know it's you. Additionally, the people who use nicknames in groups, and or fun names in their emails ady's typically don't come up in search when I plug in your real name (from the label) to find you. Please save the frustration at my end, and YOURS, include a note.


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!

Bountiful Harvest Afghan

Another afghan made from Liz's lovely squares for our project, "Welcome Home". I asked for opinions on the name of this afghan, just couldn't settle on one myself and am thrilled to say hakucho, one of my regular blog visitors to Sandy's Space suggested it's name. Bountiful Harvest. I really liked the name and appreciate her suggesting it. By the time you read this scheduled post I'm onto another one.

There is no end to the afghans that can be made from your creative and thoughtful squares. With what I have in que to assemble, I'll probably not set aside a month to focus on squares for a bit yet; please keep checking though. Many of you go ahead and mail your squares when you're mailing other items, and that's perfectly fine. Makes sense, most cost effective...we just won't be highlighting another month for squares for awhile.

Have you noticed I added a tab for afghans to the top of the blog? Some folks like to make full afghans themselves vs squares, that's fine and dandy. Please though, do read the requirements. I've not yet posted any patterns, but will on down the road. So do check back.


2012 Donations:
Hats: 118
Scarves: 47
Slippers: 26
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 7+1=8
Mittens: 88
Squares: 111
Socks: 98
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 14
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, footies etc)

4 more days in the contest....chances in hat 3, Chatty Cathy are as follows:
SSeger 22, Sue 4, Patty L. 5, Damaris 8, Allyson 9, Sally 21, Sherry 14, Liz 1, AnneMarie 2, Harvest Hill 12, Yvonne 8, Sandie P 3, Joy 1, Jessica 1, RoseMarie 2, Sandie in Florida 5, Kathleen 1, Autumngeisha 1, Trudy S 1, Theresa A 1, Crochet Princess 1, Kim 1, Wendy H 2, Emma 1
**Kim and Emma, please make contact I'm not finding you in the donations database

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!

Donated Hat and Slippers

Say hello and welcome please to Bonnie R, fellow Ohioan. She's our newest pair of helping hands. One of these days, I look forward to a face to face meet up with Bonnie, as we live near each other. Though with busy schedules she left this nice donation of crocheted slippers and hat on my porch for me. Many thanks Bonnie for the donation and for taking time to make the delivery. Sorry we didn't catch up with each other.

Look how are donations are growing folks. Keep up the good work. Look how are followers numbers are also growing...very cool, and appreciated. Now if I can get a few more of you to quit being shy and chat with us some here on the blog that would be awesome; come on...it's fun, it's easy, and it really helps the blog. You don't have to be a blogger to post a comment. Just type your comment, click the drop down box that says name and url and leave the url space blank. That's it, hit publish and you're done! Everyone loves comments on their hand crafted goodies, so please give it a go. Let us know you were here.

2012 Donations:
Hats: 117+1=118
Scarves: 45
Slippers: 24+2=26
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 7
Mittens: 88
Squares: 111
Socks: 77
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 14
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, footies etc)

**Contest winners (3 of them), will be posted on March 15th, as the contest runs through the 14th**

Currently those who've donated either slippers or scarves (are 2 highlighted items for the month of February and March) have a chance to win with their names in hat II: Bonnie R., Diana K., Otterbein's Stitches to Share, Sandie in Florida, Gail B., AnneMarie, Trudy S., Wendy H., Paula K., Karen B., Damarys, Sherry K., Kathryn B., Suzy in Ohio, Cheryl S., Patty L., and Shannon P. Remember folks post are written and scheduled to publish in que, so not all names listed here have had their donation yet published...some will show up after the contest; but are included as their items were received before hand. It's not uncommon for us to have a que of a couple of weeks, with a new post each and everyday. Tomorrow the list of those with names in hat III will be posted. Keep checking in.

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!

Chunky Red Scarf to Warm the Homeless

Finished another scarf about 6.5 feet long and 6 inches wide. This one is knitted with Lion Brand Chunky, knit up pretty fast since it's so chunky on size 15 needles. Think this is large enough for men, but looks more ladylike to me? What do you think? I love how thick and plush it feels. Nice tight stitches so it should be super warm.

Though I spend the bulk of my time working on afghans from your donated squares, I do a fair amount of scarves, when I need something that travels, something I can work on at work during lunch etc. I do often edge squares in those settings; but find I really need to be home to assemble them, particularly if I'm working on one where the squares are lots of different sizes, soooooooo scarves are the first thing that comes to mind.

2012 Donations:
Hats: 117
Scarves: 44+1=45
Slippers: 24
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 7
Mittens: 88
Squares: 111
Socks: 77
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 14
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, footies etc)

**Contest winners (3 of them), will be posted on March 15th, as the contest runs through the 14th**

People who've donated thus far and have their name in hat 1 with a chance to win are: DaMarys, Kafren B., Sherry K., Bonnie R., Sandie in Florida, Bonnie B., Diana K., Sally B., Kathryn V., Patty L., Gail B., Otterbein's Stitches to Share, Suzy in Ohio, AnneMarie, Cheryl S., Trudy S., Wendy H., Shannon P., Martha M., and Paula K. Keep those donations coming folks. Even those who's post is scheduled to show after the 14th are listed here and will be included in the drawing. Remember there's a new post each and everyday, and post are written and placed in que...not uncommon for us to work with a 2 week or so list in que. Tomorrow updated list for those with names in hat 2 will be posted.

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!