One of the groups I belong to on Ravelry is Malabrigo Junkie's. For the month of June we are participating in a charity KAL. One of the charities is Warm Woolies. This vest is my first item that I am donating to Warm Woolies. It's also my very first vest I have knitted. You can find the vest pattern here. Warm Woolies knit warm wool items for deserving children living in orphanages in Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. The organization also donates to Native American Reservations in the United States.
Do you remember a quite a few years back when Diane Sawyer reported on the state-run orphanages in Russia? It's a story that has stuck with me since it first aired in 1989. I know that many children were rescued from the horrible conditions and continue to be adopted to loving homes. The winter conditions in these nations are brutal. They don't have the luxury of well heated buildings. About 8 years ago a very dear friend and I made several baby quilts for hospitals in Romania. I quilted the fabric together and Ann Marie sat at the serger sewing the edges together. I'm not sure how many we made but it was a lot. Any little way I can try and help some little child that needs to be kept warm is well worth the effort.
Part of the requirements for the knitted items are they must be made with animal fiber. Also you must knit in bulky weight. I used worsted Patons doubled for the vest. It's knit on large needles size 10 1/2. I used 2.25 skeins for this size 6-8 project. The great thing about knitting with bulky yarn is instant gratification. It knits up super fast too. I'm going to knit a hat to match next. I wanted to start today but I got caught up in mulching the flower beds.
A very good friend of mine gave me a whole case of vintage natural wool. I am planning on making more 100% wool items for Warm Woolies. I plan on dyeing the vintage wool in bright colors. I have experimented with Kool Aid and will share that with you later in the week. If you would like to join me in a charity KAL for Warm Woolies please check out the link at the top of this post.
10 comments:
What child wouldn't love that! So pretty!
I love it! It's rewarding to knit for others.
The vest looks nice and warm. May the blessings of heaven rain down on you for knitting to warm a child's world.
Can't wait to see your wool-dyeing experiment!
Oh Barbara, Your work is incredible. Your heart is too...
I love your quilt too-it's lovely.
Just a note-I have dyed with koolaide and food coloring, and regular dye of course. I found food coloring to be the best. That's all the koolaide is anyway. I think cake frosting colors are used too(in the cake dec. aisles at craft stores) and they are supposed to be the best. At any rate-have fun, and let us see your results!
Love, Debra
Thank you for sharing the Ravelry group with us. I love knitting for children like that - I guess I feel like if there is one child in the world who is a little less cold because of really a small effort on my part then I've done some good.
And I love the color yarn and pattern you used. :)
Thank you for visiting my blog. Your little vest and the felted bowls are really cute. My mom and I knit for CIC (Children in Common) which also donate warm clothes to orphanages in Russia and Eastern Europe. We've done Koolaid dyeing a few times and the result is lovely. Enjoy!
I think this is a wondeful idea. We can't give them a home but at least we can keep them warm.
This is a great idea. Way to give back B!
I have a non profit that works with children around the world, I would love to have some people that would volunteer in making some great things for the kids, any suggestions?
You have great thoughts of charity.And it sounds like a wonderful project also.Woolen for the needy is a great act of kindness.
blankets
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