charity knitting

I like knitting for other people. It's somehow harder to knit for myself - like the time is better used if I can give something away!

Each year, I knit things to give to my family members as Christmas gifts, and I like to try to fit something in to give to a charity. This year, I found the Red Scarf Program, which is part of Foster Care to Success. The organization helps college students to feel loved and warm on Valentine's Day each year by sending a red scarf to each student that has been in foster care.

Here's what I came up with:

A squishy, soft infinity scarf!

I happened to have some red acrylic yarn in my stash that was looking for the perfect project. Paired with a reddish brown mohair, it makes a cozy scarf!

I knit in a basic basketweave pattern, using big needles to allow the mohair to stay lofty. It didn't take long to finish because of the bigger needles!

To finish the scarf, I seamed the finished edges together, creating an infinity scarf. It will be so cozy - worn once around the neck, or twisted double for extra warmth. The college student bonus is that both of these yarns are machine washable, and therefore, late-night (or early morning) coffee-run friendly.

I hope and pray that the student who gets the scarf feels cozy and warm! I wish I could hug you and tell you that you truly are loved.

knitting to give away

Every year that I've been at this college, we have done a winter wear drive to clothe the people of Buffalo, NY who don't have the money for coats, hats, mittens, boots, and other winter items. Many of these people are refugees or immigrants, and they receive help from Jericho Road Ministries. I have always wanted to participate by knitting something special for these people and their struggling families. College studies and busyness always got in the way.

This year, I started early. I wanted to be sure that I had time to make at least one thing to give away this winter. So I made a hat. And then a few more!

The first one is an infant size hat - quick and easy - using scraps from my stash, even some self-striping sock yarn. I held two strands together throughout the project, so it's pretty heavy fabric. It should keep its new owner toasty! The colors are not what we see as traditional for infants, but I think it may suit the darker skin of many of the refugee children who take shelter in Buffalo. Do you like it?I made a child-sized hat next, using a creamy yarn with flecks of other colors. It's pretty basic - flexible enough to be for a boy or a girl. It's lightweight and stretchy.The next hat is for an older child, about 12-14, or for a woman. It's brown and burgundy striped, which I think is also flexible for a young man or woman. This last hat is a true work of love. It's the best hat I have ever knitted, I think. It wasn't easy. And it's a little hard for me to give it away. But we're made to be poured out, right? Filled to fill others? And gifted to give away. Blessed to bless others.

But I digress. I knitted using the technique called "fair isle" knitting or "intarsia" - that's using two or more colors to create a design. I used a traditional snowflake pattern, making the "snowflakes" smaller as the hat gets smaller. I'm really proud of this one, and I hope that the new owner - a man or woman - feels loved and cared for when they wear it. It's a navy blue yarn, using the same creamy tweed-like yarn that I used to make the child-sized hat. What do you think? And the view from the top: It reminds me of the Christmas that my grandma made the black and white Kirsten doll sweater for my doll instead of buying it - the sweater was so expensive! And tiny! And detailed! Now that I know how much work it is to knit like this, I am so much more thankful and amazed at the work that my grandma put into that special gift.

I hope that these little contributions help to make a family more at home here, that they'll feel welcome, stay warm and healthy, and learn about the hope we have in Jesus.

the year of no sweater purchases

Except, of course, if it's a navy blue cardigan. I could use one of those lovely classic pieces. (Update: Mommy gave me a navy blue cardigan for Christmas! I love it!)

I resolve to stay strong.

I will not buy another sweater until 2012. Unless it's to replace one I already own - that would mean I have to give one away. (insert mini crisis moment here) I will give some of these sweaters away. I'll try!

My friend N and I were talking about our collections. Hers is an extensive pashmina-style scarf collection. She has so many beautiful scarves, and she loves it that way. My collection: 41(forty-one!) sweaters.

Ahem. This does include a substantial cardigan collection (17), both in 3/4 and long sleeve; cropped, and long length. It includes my three short sleeve sweaters, but not my sweater jackets (one zip up pink hoodie, one belted tan, one zip up turtleneck in gray). It includes sweaters of every color except for orange and yellow (I think I do need a yellow one...), and multiples in black, red, pink, and cream/white. Two green, one navy&green striped, brown cabled, light blue basic, a monogrammed College Choir sweater, and the two uncounted shrunken sweaters that I can't give away because they're so pretty. And the red cashmere pants/cardi lounge set I wear on special holidays with my hubby.

The collection includes a pink sweater with spots of chai tea stain - I'm not ready to give it away, because its graceful scoop neck and cables and lightweight make it perfect for spring. There's also the size-too-big practical white cotton cabled sweater with bright orange tempera paint on the left sleeve. That's where 2-year-old Joshie, one of my babysitting charges, splashed orange tempera paint on me while I was cleaning up his baby brother's spit-up. What a sweet memory.

There's the comfy cotton blue sweater that I wore on our overseas choir tour, the cashmere turtleneck I won on ebay, and my favorite black cardigan topper for my little black dresses. There's the just-a-bit small coral cardigan whose tiny buttons don't quite stay in the holes, the red cardi from my piano student, the tan cardi that my hubby says makes me look like a Reese's peanut butter cup(?), and the blue/aqua striped preppy one from my MIL. There's the set of two pink cardis from my mom for last year's Valentine's day, the cream and iridescent beaded one from a consignment shop, and my classic white one from Target.

And do I wear them all? Yes. Well, I try to. This was more difficult when I had them all stored in a tote box in the closet, which made it difficult to find the one I wanted or to remember that I owned a certain lovely red shawl-collar sweater. I finally decided to use the hanging sweater organizer that I used for shoes in college (this is another collection of mine, though about half the size!). Here are the organized, color coordinated results:

Good news: I just decided to put two in the give-away pile. On my way!

feeling grateful

and overwhelmed. and humbled.

we received a box of Angel Food this past week - it's a ministry that provides low cost food to families that need it. It's only $30 for a box of food that's intended to feed a family of four for a week!
i wasn't anticipating how much food that would be...when i brought it home, it was actually a struggle to fit it all in the freezer and fridge! wow.

it's humbling to be on unemployment, to need other people's help, and to accept charity. But it's really a good thing for us to be in a place where we have to rely on other people. it makes us less proud - or i hope that's what it's doing for me!

still hoping for a job so that we can be self-sufficient. so that we can pay our bills without worry. so that we can be the ones helping others. maybe soon?