Getting Ahead of the Game

This fall (I don't have the exact dates) will be the eighth annual "60 Scarves in 60 Days" challenge. Last year (2010) it started in September. The point of the challenge is to knit or crochet 60 scarves and donate them to the local charity of your choice. No postage or distance hauling required. Any color, any pattern will do.

Now maybe this is cheating, but maybe we can save some people from getting carpal tunnel or crocheter's elbow. Summer is a good time to work on smaller projects. Scarves make easy carry-along items. And you could be working toward a worthwhile goal. Maybe we could call this version "60 Scarves by November".

Are you inclined to send your work out of town? Here are some ideas:
Knits from the Heart by Kristin Spurkland includes a list of charities that accept donations.
http://bevscountrycottager.com/charity-links.html has links to charities on more than one continent. Another way to locate a charity after your own heart is to put your favorite charity into a search engine and see what comes up. It would be wise to find out if that charity still needs donations, if it is still in operation, or if there are complaints against it.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Crafty Angels

In my case, I eventually slowed down on the crocheting I was doing, because I didn't need any more things for myself and Christmas only comes once a year. Then Kathy Niccum introduced me to Soldier's Angels, which takes handcrafted items for active-duty or wounded soldiers. Since then, I have found a world of places that take crafts to help those who are hurting in one way or another. There are prayer shawls and red scarves for foster children going into college having been cut loose from their foster families. There are hats and baby blankets for premies and afghans for the elderly in nursing homes.

If you can't find a home for your handiwork, you can get suggestions from Knitting into the Mystery: A Guide to the Shawl-Knitting Ministry by Susan Jorgensen, Knits from the Heart: Quick Projects for Generous Giving by Kristin Spurkland, or Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time by Betty Christiansen. For more inspiration (and to have a place that will distribute your work to needy people), check out www.crafty-angels.blogspot.com. The earliest posts at this website listed the charities that they serve.

On another excursion into Crochetland, I ran across the 60 Scarves in 60 Days Challenge. You'll find it mentioned in several places online, but I found the rules here: http://crochetwithdee.blogspot.com/2009/09/6th-annual-60-scarves-in-60-days.html. No shipping on this one. You pledge your work to a local charity.

Happy crafting,
Kathi Linz