The Knit Before Christmas

January 30, 2008

A Lenten Knitting Project

Filed under: Patterns, Community, Events, Lent — jeanette @ 4:56 pm

Hello knitters,

I would like to introduce you to our Lenten Knitting & Crochet project: 4,000 Hats in 40 Days.

The idea for this project spun out of a wonderful Episcopal knitters community I found on Ravelry. If you aren’t already a member of Ravelry…well, what are you waiting for?!? It is a great resource for knitters and crocheters; and, you’ll be able to join our 4,000 hats in 40 days group.

Many of the knitters I’ve met on the site are Christmas at Sea knitters, and I was asked to lead a Christmas at Sea knit a long. 

That got me dreaming big…I had been wondering how Christmas at Sea could possibly raise an additional 4,000 hats this year to give as gifts to the mariners working in the Gulf. In previous years our gifts to those mariners have been homemade cookies, cards and bandanas. The KAL and the need for hats seemed like a (challenging!) match made in heaven.

So we started a group. As of today we have 77 knitters committed to knitting for this project, and many of those knitters are taking the project to their parish.

I hope you’ll join us too. Here are the participation guidelines:

  • Hats should be made in colors appropriate for both men and women.
  • Hats should be made from machine washable yarn. If the yarn is not machine washable, please stick a note in it that says "Hand wash only"
  • Hats can be made from our Seafarer’s Cap pattern, but can also be made from any pattern appropriate for both men and women.  You can find lots of great (and free!) patterns on the internet. Here are three suggestions that have been submitted by group members:

Stockinette Seamen’s Cap

Marsan Watchcap

Chunky Ribbed Cap

  • Hats knitted for this project should be received by March 30

Lent begins on Wednesday, February 6. I hope you will join us! Please let me know if you have any questions at all. And please send any pictures of completed hats that you’d like to share.

Let the knitting begin!

 

January 13, 2008

17,651 Gifts distributed!

Filed under: Patterns, Community, Events — jeanette @ 6:38 pm

Look what I found under the Christmas at Sea tree: 17,651 gifts for mariners!

CAS December.jpg 

Take a look at who received your handmade gifts:

8,450 Seafarers (including 40 gifts for retired seafarers)
   750 Cruise Ship Workers
3,461 Gulf Mariners
4,990 Christmas on the River
17,651 Total Gifts Distributed 

It was a banner year for SCI’s Christmas at Sea and Christmas on the River programs. Thank you thank you thank you for all of your knitting, crocheting, wrapping and writing.

I was lucky enough to hand deliver gifts to seafarers and cruise ship workers this year. It was so satisfying give scarves to the crew members of the Queen Victoria as they moved the passengers’ luggage on board the vessel on a cold and blustery day.They opeend up the packages and immediately bundled up in your scarves–what more can a knitter ask for than for their gift to be useful, needed and immediately worn! 

Queen Victoria.JPG

Here’s one crew member from the Phillipines who was so happy to have one more layer. Those are your gifts all boxed up in the background. I don’t know how Santa managed with a sleigh, we use a van and handtruck!