Charity Knitting

Charity Knitting at Ewe and I

First Fridays

Join us for First Friday in Narberth. Many of the stores in town will be open until 9, including Ewe and I. Shop, dine and stop in and plan a charity knitting project. We're going to use First Fridays as our time for Charity Knit Ins.

We all know that knitters are generous people who know that by doing one little thing at a time, they can make the world a warmer and better place. Come browse our binders of charity knitting ideas -- from the Red Scarf Project, to chemo caps for area cancer centers, Project Linus, Stump Socks for wounded veterans and more.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday night in Narberth.

The Red Scarf project

Sponsored by Orphans Foundation of America (OFA), a non-profit organization that provides support services to parentless teens; the Red Scarf Project distributes knitted scarves to college-bound foster youth. Last year, over 15,000 scarves were donated!!

OFA accepts hand knitted unisex scarves that are soft and cozy around the neck. The scarves do not have to be red, but should be a color that can be worn by either sex.

OFA has just extended the deadline for accepting scarves to December 15, 2008. Submission information and patterns can be found here

http://orphan.org/index.php?id=40 .

Project Linus

Make blankets for children in need.

Granny Peace Brigade Stump socks for Iraqi war veterans

Knit “stump” covers for our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Any participating knitter will get 20% of needles and yarn. The greatest need is for medium and large "stump" socks.

Pattern directions below:

Small Size*

Materials:

Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn
16" circulate needles in sizes 6 and 8, size 8 double pointed needles for the decrease rows

With a16" size 6 circular needles, cast on 72 stitches and work in K2 P2 ribbing for 3 or 4". Switch to size 8 needles and work in stockinette stitch until piece measures 9" long, including ribbing.

Start decrease rounds:

Round 1: K6, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog to end of round.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: K5, K2 tog, K5, K2 tog to end of round.

Round 4: Knit.

Continue to decrease as set above until 9 stitches remain. Weave stitches together. Weave in ends.

Medium Size:

Same as for small size but use size 8 needle(s) for the ribbing and size 10 needle (s) for the stockinette rows and decreases.

Large Size
Same as "Medium" above but start by casting on 80 stitches. Note: You will end up with 10 stitches to be woven together.

N.B. Please note that the important thing is to work in multiples of 8 stitches. You can make a small size by starting with 64 stitches and follow the instructions for the Medium Size (using sizes 8 and 10 needles) above. You will end up with 8 stitches to weave together. Similarly, you can make an extra large by starting with 88 stitches. You will end up with 11 stitches to weave together.

Colors
Preferred colors would be brown, khaki, black, medium or dark blue, dark red, medium or dark green. The Prosthetics Department at the Veterans Medical Center suggests that knitters avoid using flamboyant colors. Subtle stripes are fine - if you feel up to it!