Today I sent out two big boxes of yarn to two groups who knit and crochet for charity. One group is in New York and they knit/crochet items for children in treatment centers and domestic violence shelters. The other project that we donated yarn to is as follows...

"My name is Suzann and I am currently a third year student at Boston University studying health sciences. In recent months I have been moved by reports covering the widespread famine in Somalia that has left hundreds of thousands dead and over 12 million at risk of starvation. As a citizen of the world I want to do my part to make an impact and most importantly, save lives. This is where Project Knit for Somalia begins. Our purpose is to bring those that love knitting and knit-lovers across the country together to raise money for hunger relief in Somalia. I'm currently in the early stages of spreading word through social media and inviting Boston University student groups and students across the nation to lend their ears, hearts, and a few hours of their time.

Each person is given the freedom to knit any wearable item, though preferably scarves and hats, and I will take responsibility for selling the finished products and donating 100 percent of the proceeds to an international aid organization stationed in Somalia such as Save the Children, the American Refugee Committee, UNICEF, and Action Against Hunger. In order to mobilize quickly we'll need yarn, and a lot of it. This is where I would appreciate any help in providing yarn that your organization can give. My goal is for Project Knit for Somalia to raise $500 in proceeds, of which every cent will be donated by November 13 or World Kindness Day. Each dollar can keep a Somali child or refugee alive for another day."

We are very happy to support these organizations by supplying them some yarn that they need and we have!!

Also, Lynne from GA stopped by my house today and brought tons of knit items and took a lot of yarn to use for her charity projects.

Thank you so much Lynne for donating 8 scarves, 11 lap robes, 26 hats, and 7 prayer squares! Also, thank you to Myra who donated 7 baby hats, to Cheryl who donated 1 shawl, 1 fingerless mitts, 5 scarves, 3 pairs of socks, and 10 hats, to Karen who donated 10 hats, and to Nancy in Baton Rouge (geaux Tigers!!!) who donated 5 scarves!

Yarn Donation From KFN

Today I'm sending out a huge box of yarn to the charity below.

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Dear Knits for Needs,

You are ANGELS. We really need whatever you donate, especially fun fur.

Please send your donation to:

Handmade Especially for You

30065 Grandpoint Lane

Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

Handmade is a real 501(c)3 so we will send you a receipt for your donation as soon as we receive it. If you're interested, here is an info letter we send to prospective volunteers/donors:

Welcome to Handmade Especially for You (501(c)3). We knit and crochet comfort scarves and distribute them to shelters for abused women. In 2010, we donated 10,000 comfort scarves to 27 shelters in CA. This looks like a lot, but we still need more because there is so much abuse that shelters are always full. Currently we make at least 800 scarves each month and send them to 43 shelters in S. CA. We need 5,000 for the Holidays so we really need YOU!

Here are the specs for making comfort scarves:

big needles (size 15 or 17) or big hooks (K, N, P)
soft yarn (for comfort)
happy color
at least 4 inches wide but no more than 5 inches wide
at least 60 inches long
open stitch (for distribution in a warm climate)
some decoration like fun fur or ribbon to individualize each scarf and make it a personal gift for the recipient

Please send your finished scarves to:

Handmade Especially for You c/o Leslye Borden
30065 Grandpoint Lane
Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

If you would like me to send you free yarn, please send me your address and tell me if you prefer knitting or crocheting. And please make a donation to cover the cost of my shipping the yarn to you. You can donate through PayPal. We have a link on our website: www.handmadeespecially.org

Thanks in advance for your participation.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Leslye Borden, Founder
www.handmadeespecially.org
501(c)3 EIN: 26-3529292

If you need any other info or have other questions, please ask me. I'm easy to reach. 310 547 3673

Yarn, Yarn, and More Yarn!

Hello all!! I need to send out a BIG thank you to Lauren in GA. She donated a ton of yarn to Knits For Needs. Thank you so much, Lauren, your yarn will be put to great use!

On the topic of yarn, do not forget I have TONS of yarn here for the taking. If you plan to use the yarn for charity, I will send you a big box of it. I ask that you in turn make a $10 donation to KFN, which really would just cover the shipping of the box. Also, let me reiterate, the yarn is ONLY for charity projects! In addition, if you know of anyone, maybe an elderly person, who loves to knit or crochet and cannot pay for their yarn, that is also a situation we would love to help out in. Another example would be someone who is recovering from a procedure or accident and would love to be knitting or crocheting. Please let me know if you know anyone like this or if you would like to take advantage of this free yarn for your charity projects. Email us: knitsforneeds@gmail.com

Keep knitting and crocheting!!

Hats For Heads

Many thanks to Lorraine in South Carolina and to Robin for sending in a total of 14 hats and 9 skeins of yarn for Knits For Needs! Aren't the hats gorgeous? And Lorraine actually took the time to tag each one beautifully. I love these hats! And the skeins of yarn are up for grabs for people who need more yarn for their charity projects. I just ask that you pay $10 for shipping (it usually costs more than that but I just pay the rest) and I'll send you a box full of yarn.

With the 1 hat that my daughter knit for KFN and the 7 that I just donated, that means our count for this year is up to 439!

Yarn Galore

Many thanks to Erin and her sister who donated 2 huge boxes and 4 big bags full of yarn! There must be about 150 skeins in there! Check out these pics of the yarn they donated.

Ok folks, this means I have a closet packed FULL of yarn that I'd love to get out to you all who knit for Knits For Needs. Please let me know if you are interested in paying $10 for shipping to receive a box full of yarn. I have plenty to choose from.. just let me know what types/colors you like. Of course, since this yarn has been donated to Knits For Needs, it may only be used for KFN projects. Email me! knitsforneeds@gmail.com

Collection Grows!

Thank you to Catherine and Lorraine for our most recent donation of a total of 17 items for our wonderful charitable group, Knits For Needs! Here is a pic of what they so lovingly knit and donated to those in need. Look at the cute little bear! I wish I could knit something like that. It's on my to-do list :)

Mucho thanks also go out to Myra, Diana, Tracy & her mother, Cheryl, and Michelle for knitting and/or crocheting items and sending them our way. Most of theirs has been donated already to the homeless, food banks, and to chemo patients in the Eastern US.

There are several of our Twitter followers who are working on things for KFN and one person left a comment on this blog letting us know she is working on several blanket squares for us! Another lady emailed me saying she has a bunch of scarves to send and she's crocheting many more items. And can I tell you how much yarn has been donated??? Lisa Marie has sent 5 boxes, yes, 5 boxes FULL of yarn for KFN. Thank you Lisa Marie and several others for your very generous donations of yarn. Because of you we can provide a LOT of warm stuff to people in need! Now, we still have not received any monetary donations, so I cannot pay to send you the yarn as of yet, BUT if you are willing to pay for shipping (you can pay me back after you get it), I will send you a bunch of free yarn. The yarn must be used to knit or crochet items for Knits For Needs, obviously.

And now, last but definitely not least, we have donated/collected 97 items so far (since January)!! That is great! Our goal is to donate 400 items by the end of the year, so keep 'em coming. As you know, we're taking the summer (well it is summer here in the US at least) off from shipments and deliveries, for obvious reasons, but we are collecting and stockpiling as many items as we possibly can for shipments starting in September. 400 here we come!! We can do this! Again, let me know if you want free yarn.

Here is a pic of all we have collected so far. We rock!!

Email me at knitsforneeds@gmail.com any time. I look forward to speaking with you further about this wonderful organization of people coming together for the greater good. Love you guys!