Warm Winter Wear Drive 2008

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Winter is approaching (NOOOOOOOOO!!!) and it is actually starting to get cold out there. Real cold. I have worn hand warmers while walking. Soon it will be full mittens or gloves. Biking now requires a woolen hat that can cover the ears. The horror. All of this serves as a strong reminder that winter is not going to magically pass us by this year. It’s time to break out the knitting needles and make something fantastic for the 2008 Warm Winter Wear Drive!!

What: Knit or crochet up beautiful, warm winter gear for The Redwood Shelter for Abused Women. While I know many of you are from all over the globe we’ve decided to continue to support a Toronto-based organization again because 1. They are doing fantastic work and 2. I am in Toronto and a Toronto-based organization means I can collect and distribute the items from here. You are of course more than welcome to keep it local and make something for a shelter in your area.

    Knit, Crochet, or Sew (New items made by you):

  • Long Scarves – They have need of thick, warm scarves that can wrap around twice for bundling up.
  • Women’s Mittens – They receive plenty of mittens for children but need for larger, adult-sized mittens.
  • Baby Blankets – For bundling babies inside strollers. It’s can get cold here in Toronto. This is an awfully tall order for hand-knitting. Sewn blankets or simple square block quilts are a great alternative.
  • Larger Items – If you were planning to make a couple of scarves, make one large item instead. They have a need for shawls and ponchos too.

How: A simple ribbed scarf is probably the best place to start for a beginner. Ribbing is simply going back and forth between the knit and purl stitches (i.e. knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches, and so on). It is a stretchy pattern that makes a nice, thick material. This tutorial will lead you through the process. You can also try free pattern websites like Knitty. If you have any particularly excellent resources to recommend please comment below.

Check out what we sent in 2006 and 2007.

Details: Please mail your items by Dec 1, 2008. Email me at gaylaatyougrowgirldotcom for the address.

Gayla Trail
Gayla is a writer, photographer, and former graphic designer with a background in the Fine Arts, cultural criticism, and ecology. She is the author, photographer, and designer of best-selling books on gardening, cooking, and preserving.

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One thought on “Warm Winter Wear Drive 2008”

  1. Hi Gayla! I was wondering if you could send me the address for the winter wear drive. I emailed you but I bet you are bogged down with bogus emails. So….if you could, that would be great as I’d like to send you some stuff from the Southlands, where it never really gets cold!!! :)

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