Finding Free Yarn for Charity Crafting Projects

I can't believe that I've so badly neglected my Charity Crafting posts. This part of my life is a big part of my life. Although our little group of 8 ladies only meets for 2 hours each Friday morning, almost all of us work on charity projects throughout the week. Slowly and steadily, like the tortoise in the fable, we manage to achieve good things.

Back in January, I wrote about the way charity crafting creates a need for yarn and one way to get it cheaply. That need grows as the urge grows and grows.

We have found two ways to get free yarn for our projects.

One is through online posts. Freecycle, a Yahoo group, has chapters all over the country, in almost every major community. All you have to do is go to http://www.freecycle.org/ and put in your zip code. You will be taken to your closest Freecycle group. Then you ask to become a member (it's free). They will ask why you want to join. Usually, that is because you want to get rid of things that others might be able to use, and to find things that others offer. Their goal is to keep things out of landfills. They review your request and send you an email in a day or so.

Then you merely post a WANTED note (yarn for charity crafting projects, for example) or an OFFER note.

Another online source is Craigslist (http://www.craigslist.com/). Find your closest area and search for "arts and crafts," "yarn," or any other words and phrases that seem to fit. Search yard and garage sales, and ask the folks holding them to consider letting you pick up any yarn they do not sell. It saves them from donating to thrift shops and it accomplishes the same thing - helping others.

The other source of free is yarn is simple word-of-mouth. Make sure everyone you know is aware that you would love (LOVE) any yarn they are tossing out. This is slow going but eventually, the word gets around.

In our senior mobile home park, sometimes we hit two or three months when we get lots of yarn donations. Then we might go "dry" for several months.

Anyhow, for those of you with charity crafting in your hearts, consider these options for supplies to feed your habit!

Question for Crafters who Work with Yarn (Fun Fur)

I have made several things in the past year with a fun fur trim, including fingerless gloves. I have cautioned folks who buy these from me, and anyone I give them to, to hand wash them.

I am planning to use a lot more of this "fun fur," "eyelash" yarn, and similar products.

QUESTION: Have any of you used it yourselves to the extent that you have washed something that is made, at least 50%, of these novelty yarns?

I've been wondering if, after a wash or two, all that "shag" and "eyelash" and "fur" stuff comes off, leaving a very skinny strand. To me, this would mean a complete altering of the structure of the item made.

I suppose I could make a small swatch, about the size of a coaster, and grab a plastic bowl that I do not need for anything else, and hand wash the swatch. I could do that at least six times and see how it holds up.

I might just do that. When I do, I'll let you all know how these products stand up to a reasonable amount of washing (by hand). This ought to be interesting.

Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas - Yarn Dolls (I Love Yarn Day)

Today is/was "I Love Yarn Day," so I went searching for a really good tutorial for those lovable yarn dolls we've all seen and remember, but which some, like me, cannot remember how to make. They are so simple but unless I have one in front of me, or have the instructions, I end up with just lumps of yarn strands.

For our ongoing series (9/21-12/24) of handmade Christmas gift ideas, these seemed perfect because they are good for so many things this coming season. They are package trims. They are stand-alone gifts. They are ornaments. Depending on the yarn (or even thread), they can be pendants, mobiles, and much more. I've seen some with braided arms and legs. Trims such as wiggle eyes can be added.

The best tutorial I found is at SpudandChloe's site, posted by Susan, and here is the link. Susan uses a special gadget to wind her yarn but she clearly explains how to do it by simply wrapping around cardboard. 

Her photos are clear and detailed. I loved the story of how her daughter was the one who got these started in her household and how they turn up everywhere now.

Through the years, I have tried to make these, but mine always end up lumpy. I never had really good steps to follow. Now I have no excuse. I plan to make a zillion of them.

For other projects in my series, just look along the right sidebar for the label "Christmas Gift Projects." I hope to post only tips that do not require knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, tatting, embroidery, or any other skilled technique.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway (deadline Oct 31) for $25 in handcrafted merchandise from my Etsy store.

Perfect Gift for Knitters, Crocheters

If anyone is stuck for a gift idea for a fellow crafter, especially someone who crochets or knits, consider a yarn winder. I blogged about these back in January.

These little gems are wonderful. I have given several as gifts over the past few years.

Local shops charge a lot for them, but online, especially lately at Amazon.com, you can find them for under $30 plus shipping. There are many models and styles, one of which is shown here.

The balls that they make are wonderfully stackable and extremely user-friendly. They have a great pull-strand from the center of the "ball." They are not balls, but instead are flat at the top and bottom, which accounts for the great stackability. And, unlike skeins of yarns, when you pull the pull-strand, you do not get a knotted clump. Oh, how we all know and detest those knotted clumps from the center of a mis-named pull-skein!

You will make a friend for life by giving one of these as a gift, and you will make a fellow needle worker very happy.

Yarn and Thread Stash

I realized tonight that I am spoiled rotten in today's world of easy access to all that I might need or want. My yarn and thread stash is abundant. I am within a mile of Walmart and Joanne's and I am only a few clicks away from suppliers on the internet.

When I think of all that my Mom had to go through in the 40s just to get a few skeins, I am humbled. Back then, in Philly, we did not have a car. Mom had 3 kids. She bought most of her yarn and thread from the local five-and-dime, from their yard-goods or dry-goods department. She had to walk five city blocks to get there, and then back. In those days, money was not plentiful for our family. Also, you needed to watch your dye-lot on each skein or ball.

She went to the five-and-dime, picked out, say, twenty skeins of what she wanted, paid for maybe half a dozen at a time, and the clerk would put the rest of that dye-lot in a bag or box, under the counter, with her name on it. She'd go back when she had the money and get some more. Whatever she didn't end up using, the clerk returned to stock. She didn't have boxes or bins of yarn or thread like I have today.

However, my Mom learned to love the easy access when she finally got it. When she passed away at 76, back in 1994, she had quite a few big cartons of yarn and thread, some of which I am still working with today.

Life is good - I must be sure to remember that when I need a mental or emotional lift.

Lion Brand Haiku Contest (4 $25 Certificates) 7/29

Ok, here's one to have fun with, all you yarn-a-holics out there.

Click here to go to the page to enter a haiku and a chance to win one of 4 "$25 Certificates".

One entry per person!

Open to anyone, anywhere that Lion can deliver your purchases.

Oh, and you MUST enter on their entry form, and not just on their blog. It will not count unless it is on the official form.

Good luck!

A Tip on Tips (Crochet and Knit)

One site that I visit often is CrochetnMore. I especially love their Tips. This site has plenty of tips, all from people like you and me. Don't let the site name fool you. They cover knitting, too.

The tip that made me post about them tonight is one that caught my eye in a recent email newsletter. You can sign up for it when you visit their site.

Anyhow, this tip works for both crocheters and knitters. It is for anyone who has WIPs scattered all over the place, some without their hooks or needles. These are the WIPs that will probably never get finished because we have no clue which size, hooks or needles, we are supposed to use. Click here for the tip. It is great!

To see the rest of their tips, too many to even count, go to their Home Page (click here), and scroll down the right side, way to the bottom of the list, for Tips (or click here).

One other thing I love is their page with tips for uses for Scrap Yarn (click here). They list 73 ways to use it up!

They even have some crochet-related products on CafePress (mugs, tee shirts, totes, more) with crochet themes and sayings - very cute.

It's worth a visit for the Scrap Yarn ideas alone.

Yarn Winders

A few ladies from my senior mobile home community meet almost every Friday morning for two hours, to make items for the homeless, preemies, or long-term care residents. This week, one of the gals saw my neat little "ball" of yarn, one of those that come off a yarn winder. They are compact, they pull up from the center, and they behave so well.

I've included a few links here, results of a search I made today for one of the ladies, to give you an idea of the current prices, as well as the many styles.
The balls that come off of these winders are very neat. You can stack them so easily in your containers. You can even tuck one in a purse, with a hook, if you turn it on its side.

Most of the winders that are in my very-low price range produce 4-oz balls. There are winders that will give much larger balls.

Aside from their stackability, there is another benefit to making these balls. I absolutely hate to be making time, on a roll, in a project, and suddenly have to deal with a clump of tangled yarn that pops up out of the center of a pull-skein. It slows everything down. It aggravates me. It cuts down on my crocheting pleasure. With these winders, I can do all my winding at one time. At that time, I expect the tangles. I am ready to deal with them. It doesn't slow down a work-in-progress.

I should mention that you clamp these on a table, to anchor them. Even a very strong tray table will work.

The only drawback is that the 4 oz balls means that you need to attach a new ball several times in a large project. This doesn't bother me in most projects, because I expect to attach it. It's a lot easier on my nerves than when I'm working for an 8 oz skein that I assume to be all one strand, and suddenly I find a knot in it - that drives me crazy.

I have not used all the links I'm listing, so please do not think of this as a recommendation. I'm only listing them so that you can see the photos of the various styles.

Herrschners has one for $45
http://www.herrschners.com/product.aspx?sku=011600&qid=

Walmart has a cheaper one which looks just the same as mine, for about $31, online
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&search_query=yarn+winder

Knitting Warehouse has the one I have and it's only $23
http://store.knitting-warehouse.com/072803.html
This is their "main" yarn winder page, but the one above is what I use, and the least expensive, to boot
http://store.knitting-warehouse.com/notions-tools---accessories-yarnballwinders.html

Wow, this one's only $20
http://www.knitpicks.com/accessories/Knitting_Yarn_Ball_Winder__D80583.html

For fun, look at this one - this gal's boyfriend made her one from Lego's!!!!!!!
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=21252.0

Troubles with Old, Old Patterns

Someone just gifted me with a carton of old Workbasket magazines from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I still have a few from my Mom's stash from the 40s and 50s, somewhere. The problem with these patterns is usually with the yarn or thread used. Most are no longer available, discontinued.

New materials come and go. Today, we have fun fake furs and lots of acrylics and blends. Back when I was a little girl, we used a lot of angora and wool. Some brands are no longer available.

However, we are blessed. If you are reading this, you have access to the Internet. A web search will bring you some substitution sites. Try to narrow down your search, though, by using more than "yarn substitution" in your search. Add the brand name and the weight, if possible.

Here are two sites I found in a very fast search. The second one requires that you register, but it's free, and I hope to check out their database of vintage yarns ASAP. When I do, I'll give you some feedback. I know my old Workbasket patterns will put it to the test.

http://yarndex.com

http://www.wiseneedle.com

Some substitutions are easy because the gauge is given and a clue, like "worsted." Not all are that easy. One site suggested just searching for the yarn and see what pops up in the search engines.

Either way, I am really having fun going through these old magazines.

Yarn Weight Differences

One of my biggest pet peeves is the way the term “worsted weight” or “medium weight” or “#4 weight,” all of which are supposed to be the same, are not always the same.

This supposedly universal weight description differs according to several factors.

It differs with the brand. Worsted weight in one brand is often much different than worsted weight in another brand.

It differs with the color - differently colored dyes affect the texture and thickness of the yarn to a noticeable extent.

And, it differs with the type of yarn - yarn with metallic threads running through might be heavier; yarns of a “boucle” texture might be lighter in weight.

I just finished four pieces for a poncho. Two pieces are Red Heart; one is Caron; and the other brand name eludes me but it has metallic thread running through it. Luckly, the first three came out all the same. The one with the metallic thread will need another two rows or so, in order to be the same size and its partners. This also means that when I’m joining, I might have to pin this piece and measure so that it comes out right.

The thing to remember is to always measure and to always work to gauge, whether the pattern’s gauge, or the gauge you prefer. Just remember to check it when using more than one kind or color of yarn.