By Hook or By Needle

It's getting chilly out there, so that can only mean one thing - (okay, it DOES mean a lot of things to a lot of folks, but...) HERE and NOW, it means it's time to get those needles moving and whip up a scarf or two for the 2012 Special Olympics USA SCARF PROJECT.

Pic from the Project's website. These scarves
have already been submitted by Ardis Roseberry.
Kind'a makes me feel like a slacker!

The scarves, all made in the same colors, are a symbol of unity, community and support within the Special Olympics Movement. Handmade scarves will be given to the athletes, coaches, and where possible, the volunteers and families involved in this year's Winter Games all around the country.

Whether you crochet or knit, we'd love to have you share your skills by turning out a couple of scarves for this truly great endeavor. Special Olympics athletes give their all when participating and it is truly gratifying to be a part of the action.

The official yarn colors (all made by Red Heart yarns) this year are Cherry Red (0319 and 9925) and Soft Navy (0387 and 4604) . This year, for the first time, they are offering the colors in both the Super Saver hanks and in the Soft Yarns. The rules are simple: * You can work with whichever style of yarn you're comfortable with, or combine them all. * Scarves can be knitted or crocheted. * Use any pattern you'd like or go to the website and use one of the free patterns offered there. * Scarves should be between 54" and 60" long and approximately 6" wide. (Include any fringe or trim in these measurements, please.)

Last year, I was a bit late in telling you all about this project and so many of you simply ran out of time but asked me to post sooner this year. Deadlines for all States are still well off so everyone should have a chance to help out. You can find out when the deadline for your State's program is by going to the Scarf Project's website here.

The earliest deadline is in mid-December and the latest is in March. Most States are looking for more than 1000 scarves, so, please help out if you can. Directions for labeling and packaging the scarves (ziploc bags) and where to mail in each State are listed there also.

In case you're wondering, I made about 4 1/2 scarves last year from a pair of the Super Saver hanks of yarn (one in each color). AC Moore last year ran several price promotions on the S.O. colors through out the campaign, too. if they do this year, I'll try to let y'all know.

Well, I'm off to buy my yarn! Hope you will, too.

What a journey!!

Whew!!! I thought I'd never get back!!!

A week or so ago, I set off to visit a few of my Blog Followers, and . . . (WOW !) what a journey it's been!

I tried dropping bread crumbs so I could find my way back, but then, you know, my neighborhood is full of seagulls and geese. Did you ever see the seagulls in Finding Nemo? They're the ones that cry, "Mine! Mine! Mine!..." and snatch every morsel as it hits the ground. So, crumbs weren't a great help. I guess I should take the GPS with me next time.

This time, I traveled far - going back to one of the first Followers to sign on to my blog - Jessica C at The Chickadee Tree. In addition to blogging about her crochet projects and crocheting in general, Jessica creates and sells chainmaille jewelry over on Artfire. Check out her earrings, bracelets and such here.If you like what you see, she's in the middle of a blog Give-Away for some chainmaille earrings. There's lots of ways to enter. Go to her blog for more info on this.

I'm also impressed with a huge crochet project she's taking on - a Tetris Blanket. Using 4" x 4" crocheted squares, Jessica plans to replicate a testris screen! Cool!! This one's gonna take a while but I look forward to seeing the finished project. (I've been a fan - er, "addict" - since the inception of the game.)Oh, yeah, in her "spare" time, Jessica is "Mom" to two little ones. Talk about a busy and creative lady!!!

Of course, before leaving Jessica, I needed to check out some of the sites on her bloglist - and, well . . . time really got away from me. That, and meandering from one to the other kind of headed me off in various directions and wandering around in circles and -- Well, let's just say a "momentary browser failure" helped me find my way out!!

So, if you have a few minutes (or just want to try to win those earrings) check out Jessica's blog. (You can enter for her Give-Away through June 30th.)

Scarves for Special Olympics

Okay, I know most of us are surrounded by snow this week. A great many of us are stuck inside and those that aren't, can truly appreciate the benefits of a good winter scarf. And, on that note, let me tell you about a very special scarf program.As a symbol of unity, community and support within the Special Olympics Movement, handmade scarves will be gifted to the athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and supporters of each participating Special Olympics Program. Thirty-one state programs are participating in this year's Scarf Project. This means every athlete and coach in each of those programs will be given a scarf made of the same two colors. This year's colors are blue and turquoise. All those folks standing together in their scarves should look like a beautiful Caribbean breeze!

A beautiful vision - if only enough scarves are received. The deadlines are approaching fast. (Each participating program has it's own deadline.)


For a crocheter or knitter, producing one simple little scarf does not take a lot of work. If each of my yarn-talented readers made just one scarf, there would be a lot of happy athletes wearing a gift!! The only rules are that you use the specific yarn colors (Red Heart Blue 886 and Red Heart Turqua 512) and they ask that the finished scarf measure 6" x 54"-60". You can use any pattern or design you like or go their website and obtain a free pattern.

For more details and to find where you can send your finished scarf, check out the 2011 Special Olympics USA Scarf Project website or go to their FB page (Scarves for Special Olympics), Twitter (USAScarfProject) or check out their blog at http://ScarvesForSpecialOlympics.wordpress.com

Your help is needed and it is needed now. If you don't knit or crochet, tell those folks you know who do. I have one friend who is all thumbs, but she bought her mom a couple skeins of yarn and Mom's busy turning out a scarf or two a day!!

I hope you will take time to check out the website and the project and, hopefully, you'll whip out a scarf in the next few days. After all, knitting and crocheting are perfect activities for a cold snowy evening.

I'm off to work on another scarf.

So, what have I been up to ?

Sorry, folks. I just wasn't feeling very bloggy the last few days.

I was, however, fairly productive. I spent my week sewing, crocheting, hand-dyeing and painting onesies. Some were for orders, some for gifts (like the Pooh bear) and a few were for new merchandise in the shop. Here's a sample of all that was happening on my little work table:
There are still a few works in progress, too. Like this one: Then there was the "accidental painting" - yep, that's a blotch of black paint on my pajama top. One fact about fabric paint : It's PERMANENT. Which explains why I prefer to paint in my pjs each morning. It also explains why I don't entertain a lot while painting, too!

And, yes, they are flannel jammies. It's gotten quite cool here. The Big Guy actually turned the heat on last night because HE was cold!!! (That doesn't happen often.) Ooooh, it felt sooooo good!!!

It is supposed to warm up again over the weekend. I hope so. I'm not ready for coats and such. I don't DO winter. At least not of my own free will.

Here's hoping you have a happy, creative, productive and warm weekend, wherever you are.

***P.S. Don't forget about the Autumn Harvest Extravaganza over at The Nuthouse. My contribution to this huge give-away event will be awarded to some lucky entrant tomorrow. It's not too late to enter and it's really easy to get in on a chance to win any of a number of Fall items.