25 Things for Charity

A most amazing thing

2009-11-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

I have knitted and crocheted some time for charities and recently saw a clipping in my church bulletin reminding people of the "Homeless Christmas Party" that is held every year. It was to be a few months off so felt led to create an opportunity for any hidden crafter's to put their hands to work and created "No idle hands" to make hats, scarves, mittens and etc. to add to the all ready collected items. I hadn't gotten much response and was a bit discouraged when a lady called me yesterday and here is the story she shared with me:

I have always had a heart for the homeless and would often pray for them. I was getting a little angry with God because he didn't seem to answer my prayers asking him to help them, when one day, he answered me. He said...I made you. She went to the store and saw a loom and thought she could maybe learn to do that as she didn't knit or crochet. She was able to learn and began making hats. She was not sure where she would give them to or how she would get them to the homeless when her daughter who attends my church brought her the little notice of "No Idle Hands".............

Here is what she brought to me

100 beautiful adult hats and 50 baby hats from one amazing heart!

If you want to view my donations click here

October Newsletter from Handmade Especially for You

2009-11-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

November 1, 2009
Today’s topics:
 1000 comfort scarves are wrapped and ready for delivery for Thanksgiving
 Making 2000 scarves for Christmas will be a lot of work by all of us. We can do it!
 Talking Crochet Newsletter (Oct. 27, 2009) featured Handmade Especially for You
 The generous contributions from yarn companies and individuals continue
 We now have 6 chapters throughout North America and have many more shelters receiving our comfort scarves
 Pros and cons of keyhole scarves
And now for the details:
In addition to our October delivery of 250 comfort scarves, we now have 1000 scarves wrapped and ready for delivery before Thanksgiving. I am very proud of all of us who have worked so hard to achieve this goal. Honestly, as much as I hoped for such a result, I thought it might be too big to complete. But we’ve done it. Now on to achieving the next goal -- 2000 comfort scarves for Christmas. It looks like we have a real chance to make that goal as well. Read on.

Talking Crochet Newsletter ran a feature story about us October 27, 2009. The response was incredible. I was at Disneyland with my daughter and granddaughters when the story ran. When I returned and checked my email, I was truly overwhelmed. There were hundreds of letters. Some were from people who wanted to participate; some from those who want to start their own chapters; some to generally support our movement; and some from women who had been abused themselves and wanted to tell how important they think our comfort scarves are to those who receive them. You can view the article at: http://www.crochet-world.com/newsletters.php. I have been busy making and sending kits ever since it appeared.

Yarn companies continue their generosity. This means a lot because I am making and sending out so many kits that I am going through miles of yarn every day. Knitting Fever and Crystal Palace Yarns continue to be exceptional donors. Their yarn meets all our requirements--soft, colorful, beautiful, including solid colors and lots of ribbon yarns and fun fur we use to decorate our scarves! Mountain Colors sent another box of their beautiful hand dyed wool. Many of you greet me with bags of yarn. I appreciate all contributions. And I use everything as I’m sure you’ve seen if you use my kits.
Community support is growing as well. On Oct. 18 Wabi-Sabi Knits held a community knit-in in Playa del Rey to support us. That was a first. They have a big bin right now half-full of comfort scarves. They expect it to be filled by Nov. 13, when I will do my first pick up there.

I knit with a group of seniors at Golden West Tower in Torrance. The group is small, but very productive. They have a lot of fun. One of the women encouraged her daughter (a young woman my age) to join us. The two of them talked up the project so much in their family that now the daughter’s daughter has organized a group of her co-workers to make comfort scarves. They are the first (that I know of) 3-generation family to participate.

A woman in IL requested 12 kits for girls she is teaching to knit. She just wrote telling me the girls want to donate their scarves to the Constance Morris House in La Grange. People everywhere are joining our movement.

As a result of our new chapters, we now have several new shelters to add to our list of recipients. The group in Rogers, AR delivers to the Women’s Shelter of NorthWest Arkansas; the San Diego chapter donates to Saint Clare’s Home; in Naples, FL they contribute to the Naples Shelter for Abused Women and Children; Giving Hands, our chapter in Nelson, BC so far gives to Cicada Place for Youth and the Aimee Beaulieu Transition House. Marge has even bigger plans for her chapter.

Finally, in order to reach the seemingly impossible goal of making and delivering 2000 comfort scarves before Christmas THIS YEAR, I have suggested we start making keyhole scarves. They are about half the size of our regular scarves. Thus, they make up very quickly. And it is much easier for me to make the kits. For a variety of reasons, some of our participants feel this is too great a shortcut and that the recipients need the full size scarf. I feel our mission is to recognize and acknowledge victims of domestic violence. I feel receiving a keyhole scarf is better than receiving no scarf. I understand the point made by those who disagree. So I suggest that if you want to make a full size scarf, please do. I am still making kits for full size scarves. But if you are willing to make the keyhole scarf, also please do. Happily, the knit and crochet versions use the same amount of yarn (the crochet has fewer stitches) so I can make the same kit for both and you can do either. Please check the website for the patterns I recommend (on size 15 needles or K hook, of course). Whichever scarf you choose to do, I will appreciate receiving it. We reach our goal one scarf at a time. Your scarf counts!
If you want to donate scarves or yarn or if you want to send a check, please mail to:
Handmade Especially for You c/o Leslye Borden
30065 Grandpoint Lane
Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275
Leslye
www.handmadeespecially.org

EGF DONATION

2009-10-30T18:12:00.001-07:00

THIS LITTLE BEREVEMENT SET WILL GO TO EGF. IT FITS A 1-3 POUND PREEMIE. I FOUND THIS LITTLE DOLL AT A YARD SALE THIS YEAR, IT HELPS ME TO KNOW IF THE THINGS I MAKE WILL FIT OR NOT.

Great publicity for Handmade Especially for You

2009-10-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

This article appeared in the Oct. 27, 2009 issue of Talking Crochet Newsletter

Handmade Especially for You
Leslye Borden has taken her passion for knitting and crocheting beyond her own personal use by creating an organization that brings a bit of joy to abused women. Handmade Especially for You distributes special scarves to women and children in shelters. Presently, there is a request to the organization for 1,000 scarves for Thanksgiving baskets and another 2,000 for Christmas baskets. A handmade gift can be a small step toward building self-esteem that is so necessary during the healing process for women who have been abused.

Leslye Borden brings a soft touch to women who need it. Photo by Tom Underhill

Leslye's hints for creating scarves are:

1.Use soft yarn (for comfort).
2.Pick happy colors.
3.Make them four to five inches wide.
4.Make them at least 60 inches long.
5.Use open-weave stitch if possible (so they can be used in warm weather climates).
6.Add some novelty yarn or ribbon to make them special.
The intention of making these scarves is to provide a gift of comfort to someone who may have never received a gift before and to show that someone cares.

You can read more about Leslye Borden and the story of Handmade Especially for You online at HandMadeEspecially.org. Her Web site also gives information about starting a local chapter. If you would like to mail scarves directly to her, please send to:

Leslye Borden
Handmade Especially for You
30065 Grandpoint Lane
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
90275

Sept Newsletter from Handmade Especially for You

2009-10-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

October 3, 2009
Today’s topics:
 We distributed more than 2,150 comfort scarves so far this year; 2,350 since we began
 I connected with many knitters/crocheters on Ravelry
 The generous contributions from yarn companies are key to our growth and success
 We applied for the 501(c)3
 We have 600 scarves already made for Thanksgiving and Christmas distribution

And now for the details:

We distributed about 250 scarves again this month! The shelters’ directors are running out of new ways to describe their appreciation for what we do. They apologize for just saying the same things over and over. We love their thanks and want to keep that repetition going. Congratulations to all of you who knit, crochet, wrap, and donate $$$. You are making our project successful!!!

Somehow I figured out how to navigate ravelry.com. Ravely is an interactive website for people who love to knit and crochet. Many groups post activities on the Ravelry site and members sign up for the groups that interest them. They even have a charity knitting group that has over 2,000 members! This group has been very supportive of our cause. Many members have promised to send scarves to help us meet our end of year goals. Many others have requested scarf kits so they can make scarves. I have received so many requests for kits that making them is more than what I can do immediately. I had post a message asking for everyone’s patience. In the meantime, I am glad to report that the yarn meter and my shoulder are holding up just fine.

Another tremendous result of making friends on Ravelry is that several people contacted me asking to set up chapters of Handmade Especially for You in their own neighborhoods. I think that is a very good idea since domestic violence occurs everywhere and people in Naples, FL, for instance, might as well donate their scarves to a local shelter for abused women rather than sending them to me for distribution here in S. CA. Of course, not all of you who make scarves want to start your own chapter and I am HAPPY to receive your scarves. In addition to the Naples, FL chapter, chapters are starting in San Diego CA, Rogers AK and British Columbia. People in St. Louis and St. Paul have made inquiries. Here’s hoping they organize too. Last month I reported that Handmade was becoming more than a group of well intentioned women; that we are a movement. Little did I know how quickly the explosion would occur.
One of my new Ravelry friends wrote me: “I was one of those kids who showed up at a shelter with her mom looking for a safe place. It was full but they paid for a night at a motel for us. The next day, my mom caved and went back. I ended up in youth shelters and foster homes when I gave up on mom ever leaving him. . . . . . I would be happy to make some scarves for your wonderful project!” In another note, she finished her story saying that she and her mom “broke the cycle together.” Please remember, every scarf we give to an abused woman helps her break the cycle. Give yourself a pat on the back for what you are doing.

Yarn companies continue their generosity. This means a lot because I am making and sending out so many kits that I am going through lots of yarn. Crystal Palace Yarns has been an exceptional donor. Susan Druling sent us another enormous case of yarn containing lots of different yarns just perfect for our scarves. I’m sure you have been seeing their yarn in our recent kits. Their yarn meets all our requirements--soft, colorful, beautiful, and lots of ribbon yarns and fun fur we use to decorate our scarves! Sweaterkits and Mission Falls promised donations to the Naples chapter. Many of you just can’t see me without handing me a bag of yarn. Every little bit counts. I feel I can never have too much yarn, although my husband may not agree. Yarn is everywhere in our house.

My husband helped me apply for the 501(c)3. As soon as our corporate status is confirmed, I can apply for the tax-exempt status and then the good times will begin. Handmade needs a workshop (so several people can make scarf kits) as well as storage space. Once we receive the official non-profit designation, we will be able to request and accept donations from large corporations. Some of them may even have space they can donate. You know my motto: Keep that movie rolling. Let’s watch and see what happens.

We have just over 600 scarves set aside for distribution in November and December. Our current 11 S. CA shelters have requested 1000 scarves to include in their Thanksgiving baskets and another 2000 for Christmas. 600 is a start, but a long way to go to reach those goals. We can’t rest on our laurels. We need to keep knitting and crocheting. Of course, I don’t know what will show up on my doorstep in the coming weeks. I hope a lot. I thank you all in advance for your contributions yet to come.
If you want to donate scarves or yarn or if you want to send a check, please mail to:
Handmade Especially for You c/o Leslye Borden
30065 Grandpoint Lane
Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275
Leslye
www.handmadeespecially.org

I did it!

2009-09-23T10:04:00.001-07:00

My first ever pair of socks...these are called sox because they have a short cuff and these are for a preemie.

Then I made these and they matched!!! Thanks to Nancy

All donated to Newborns in Need

To follow my ongoing donations go here

More good news from Handmade Especially for You

2009-08-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

August 29, 2009
Today’s topics:
 We distributed more than 1,950 comfort scarves so far this year; 2,150 since we began
 Article about Handmade Especially for You appeared in PV Peninsula News
 Knitters at Golden West Towers and the Culver City senior center participate in our movement
 The generous contributions from yarn companies are key to our growth and success

And now for the details:

We distributed about 250 scarves this month! The shelters’ directors continue telling us that the women are amazed that someone who doesn’t even know them has made something as beautiful as our scarves for them; that receiving the beautiful, soft, colorful, and handmade personal gift challenges their poor view of themselves and helps them begin to see themselves in a new light so they can start rebuilding their lives. Congratulations to all of you who knit, crochet, wrap, and donate for making our project so successful. We are more than a local group of well intentioned women; we are becoming a movement!

Handmade received positive press this month when the Palos Verdes Peninsula News published an article (with photos!) about our work. The article was well received in the community. Many people inquired as to how they could participate. Some contributed yarn. Several donated scarves. Others joined one or another of our knitting groups. I was making kits as fast as I could. In fact, I wore out my yarn meter (the tool that measures the length of the yarn I put into each kit). Luckily, June Grossberg, owner of Concepts in Yarn, lent me hers until a new one arrives. I will have to keep a spare on hand just to handle the new demand.

Two new knitting groups have joined our movement: one from Golden West Towers and the other from the Culver City Senior Center. The women in these groups love to knit and they want to create things that are meaningful to them as well as to others. Making comfort scarves has given focus to their creativity and they love the idea that the scarves go to abused women. And they really love the free yarn.

Thanks for the generosity of yarn companies which makes it possible for me to distribute really beautiful and exceptional free yarn to those who couldn’t otherwise have it but want to make scarves to support our project. Last month, as you may remember, Knitting Fever shipped us four enormous cartons of yarn. Tymon Warda, my contact there, wrote: “It's funny how such a seemingly small thing like a scarf makes such an impact” on the abused women.

This month, Crystal Palace Yarns has been the exceptional donor. Susan Druling sent us 5 enormous cases of yarn, all of which are perfect for our scarves. I’m sure you have been seeing their yarn in our recent kits. Their yarn meets all our requirements--soft, colorful, beautiful, and lots of ribbon yarns and fun fur we use to decorate our scarves! Mountain Colors also sent a box with beautiful yarn. Many thanks to Crystal Palace and Mountain Colors.

Given the yarn contributions coming in, I may have to start looking for a storage unit and/or a workshop. Joking aside, I really appreciate the donations of all the yarn companies. Without their contributions, we couldn’t make and distribute as many and as beautiful scarves as we do. I try to put the yarn labels in the kits so the users can see who donated the yarn. June Grossberg posts a list of yarn companies who donate to Handmade on the wall behind her cash register so everyone who purchases anything at her shop can see who contributes. The yarn companies support us and we support them!

As a result of the article in the PV Peninsula News, I have begun working on the 501(c)3 again. One lawyer has offered help. She directed me to a starting place and “linked” me to the first papers I have to fill out. Given that I really need more space, and thus more cash donations, I will get busy on these papers. Once we have the official non-profit designation, we will be able to request and accept donations from large corporations. You see how everything is connected. But first things first. I’ll keep you posted on the 501(c)3. Volunteers welcome.

I also need a volunteer or two who know Facebook. I want to use it (and other forums such as those on Ravelry) to publicize our need for more scarf makers.

Thanks to all of you who have requested yarn kits. I have sent out quite a few and received back some very nice scarves. I look forward to sending out more kits (it costs $4.95 to ship a package with one kit in it; it also costs $4.95 to ship a package with 4-5 kits) and receiving more scarves.

In next month’s Newsletter, I will give you an update on how many scarves we have set aside for delivery in November (we will need 1,000 for Thanksgiving baskets) and December (the shelters have requested 2,000 for holiday gifts to all). Then we can size up the task that awaits us and get busy making the desired scarves. If we meet our end of year goals, we can consider adding to the number of shelters we serve. At present, I can’t see taking on more shelters if we can’t meet the needs of those we have now. Here’s hoping we can increase the number in 2010. I have a 17 page list of the shelters in Los Angeles County alone. The need is great.
If you want to donate scarves or yarn or if you want to send a check, please mail to:
Handmade Especially for You c/o Leslye Borden
30065 Grandpoint Lane
Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275
Leslye
www.handmadeespecially.org

Positive Press for Handmade Especially for You

2009-08-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

Scarves that warm the heart
By Rebecca Villaneda Palos Verdes Peninsula News
Monday, August 17, 2009 10:49 AM PDT

Leslye Borden started Handmade With Love Especially For You, a project that donates hand-knitted scarves to women in shelters, including Rainbow Services in San Pedro. To date, Borden and her fellow knitters have donated almost 2,000 scarves.
Peninsula News

Leslye Borden took her knitting hobby to another level.

After she saw her handmade pieces in her daughter’s “give-away bin” she knew she needed new recipients for her colorful gifts.

In came June Grossberg, owner of Torrance’s Concepts in Yarn.

Together the two came up with the idea to donate Borden’s creative works women’s shelters in the South Bay and Orange County, and called the project Handmade with Love Especially for You.

The first to receive the warm wraparounds was Rainbow Services in San Pedro, and others soon followed, bringing her total donated scarves to 1,900 since beginning last October.

“You know how a knit scarf or a knit shawl stretches — when a woman puts it on, you almost get a hug from it,” said Judy Hessick, director of development at Rainbow Services, adding that these gifts have done wonders for the women’s self-esteem.

“I originated the idea thinking that women would use them like security blankets, like they would feel good and they would feel pretty and that they would love them, and it would just be a gift to make them feel special,” said Borden, a Rancho Palos Verdes resident. “The knitting of the scarf is a real labor of love, and my husband designed these cute little tags that we attach to each one.”

Grateful for their scarves, the women addressed each thank you note specifically to the person who made their scarf — a gesture that greatly delighted the knitters, Borden said.

With kind donations from different yarn companies, Borden is sure she will fill the requests for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but she adds she could use fellow knitters and crocheters to help fill that quota.

Right now Borden and others meet Wednesday evenings at Concepts in Yarn, but she also knits in other groups, like senior centers, as well as the Rolling Hills Community Church, where others volunteer their time.

“I think they like the camaraderie of one another as much as they like what it is they are doing, and they like sharing their ideas, and Leslye, she is just one incredible lady,” Grossberg said. “When you set out to do something with her, it doesn’t take days — it takes minutes because she is on top of it immediately. I know for Leslye it’s been a real emotional experience going to the centers and meeting some of the women and children who have received the gifts.”

The women who turn to these shelters are getting themselves and their children out of dangerous and bad situations.

At Rainbow Services alone, the shelter helps about 250 families monthly, said Hessick.

“We have 26 beds at our emergency shelter and clients [stay] there for up to two months; some stay a shorter time,” she said. “We have nine apartments for our transitional shelter clients; they stay with us a year. What’s staggering is on an average each client has probably two, two and a half children. So there’s a tremendous amount of work we do with the children, too.”

The scarves may not seem like much to an outsider, but to these women who are escaping abuse, it’s a gift and a symbol that someone cares, Hessick added.

“Several [women] thought they were so beautiful, but the one that was most touching was one who said she couldn’t believe someone who didn’t know her would make her such a beautiful scarf.”

Said Grossberg, “We don’t know what their history is, we don’t know what’s gone on before, nor do I think we need to know. We know that they have wonderful courage to finally get themselves out of the situations that they are in.

“It’s a definite step in the right direction and I think we as women need to support women who are not as fortunate as we are. And I think [Leslye] senses that a great deal,” she added.

Borden has yet to obtain the 501(c)3 title, but hopes to get some help with that aspect of her giving project in the near future.

But for now, Borden has many people involved in her knitting circle contributing to Handmade with Love Especially for You. She has Easter Seals of Torrance wind balls of yarn for her and a mentally disabled Norwalk man who donates a few scarves here and there.

“I think it’s so wonderful to have so many different groups included,” Borden said. “It’s a feel-good thing all over the place.”

For more information about the scarves donations or to get involved as a knitter, visit www.handmadeespecially.org

Charity Finish - Quilt

2009-08-16T17:08:00.001-07:00

Here the finish of Quilt #1 pattern to be sent to SOLAK (Stitches of Love and Kindness)

2 Large Handknit Blankets Delivered to Domestic Violence Shelter

2009-07-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today, I delivered two handknit Oddball Lapghans to the Tree House Children's Advocacy Center in Monroe, NC. What a joy to see our work being put to good use!

We started the two blankets in 2007, with 25 knitters participating. Each knitter would knit for a few inches, then mail the blanket to the next knitter, leaving the long circular needle attached.

When it was near completion, I finished it off, bound off the stitches, and added a crochet border.

Now, our blanket will be a comfort to a child or teen going through a difficult time.

Oddball Blanket for Mexican Orphanage

2009-07-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

Seventeen knitters in the Knitting Help Forum took turns knitting sections on this lovely bed-sized afghan for charity. Now, it's almost complete. All that's left to do is knit a couple more sections, then add a crochet border. Then, it will be mailed to an orphanage in Mexico! :)

www.knittinghelp.com

June Newsletter from Handmade Especially for You

2009-06-29T13:50:00.001-07:00

June 28, 2009

Today’s topics:
 Domestic violence occurs in every neighborhood, even yours.
 We distributed more than 1500 scarves this year and received “thank you” notes from many shelters.
 All our shelters want summer scarves.
 Handmade’s members make valuable suggestions. We couldn’t make and distribute so many scarves without everyone’s creativity.

And now for the details.

One evening, while knitting with a lovely group of women at a very nice yarn shop, I commented aloud that we all are knitting in a fairy tale, far from where domestic violence occurs. I expressed how lucky we all are. One of the women replied that her daughter actually had been in a local shelter. The shock of the women around the table was considerable. We didn’t know what to say. Yes, we are lucky that we personally have not experienced domestic violence, but we realized how close to all of us it is. No matter what neighborhood we live in, someone is or knows someone who has been a victim. Incredible isn’t it. Statistics show that abusers come from all walks of life, including families of doctors, law enforcement, and others in the helping professions. No group is exempt.

The mother of the abused daughter went on to tell us that when her daughter left the shelter, she took her comfort scarf with her, because it meant so much to her. Another shock. We have been making and distributing comfort scarves for not even a year. And an abused woman has already received one, gone through counseling to help her overcome the experience of her abuse, and graduated from the shelter. And took her comfort scarf with her. We have an important responsibility. Making and donating comfort scarves does help change the lives of women who have been abused.

We distributed just over 200 scarves this month, and over 1500 so far this year! The wrapping and delivery processes seem more routine now that we have been doing this for 9 months, but the value of the donation is just as important as when we started. All the shelters seem surprised and GRATEFUL at our continued involvement. They have sent us numerous thank you cards and letters to express their appreciation. One shelter even sent cards from the recipients addressed to the actual maker of the scarf she received. The notes were very moving. You can see a few of them in the photo above. The thank you cards complete the circle. We donate the scarf, the woman receives it, writes the card, the scarf maker receives the thank you. I know you don’t need personal thank you notes to motivate you to stay involved, but they are very nice to receive when we get them.

I have forwarded the cards to the appropriate scarf makers. If you did not receive one, please understand that we gave that shelter only 20 comfort scarves (at their request). They hope for 20 again next month. And the month after. Etc. Your card may be coming in the future.

The shelters want summer scarves. The directors acknowledge the value of receiving comfort scarves in breaking the cycle of low self-esteem/acceptance of domestic violence. So it doesn’t matter that it is summer and the weather is hot. What is important is the giving and receiving of the scarf. If I were in business, I’d call it the “cash flow,” but since our “cash” is comfort scarves, let’s call it the “scarf flow.” Summer or winter, the shelters want them. The point isn’t style or warmth; the purpose is showing the abused woman that she is worthy of receiving a beautiful, handmade scarf, that we, and rest of the world, haven’t forgotten about her.

I have posted several patterns for summer scarves on our website, www.handmadeespecially.org. I have also posted a pattern I think you will like for adding a ruffle to a scarf that. Somehow I feel ruffles are more summer appropriate than fringe, but whatever works for you is fine with me. I have a lot of pieces of yarn that are too small to make into one scarf. I have been grouping them by color and knitting them horizontally. The resulting scarf is very nice. I use big needles so even though I make the scarf in garter stitch, it looks very lacy. I bet you have a lot of yarn in your stash that you could use the same way. For really too short pieces, you can make scarves with only 10 or 12 stitches, and just change yarns frequently to use up the pieces until the scarf is 60 inches long. Don’t bother weaving in the ends. Tie them on the outside so that they become part of the design. No pattern to this kind of scarf. Use your creativity and see what happens.

Shirley contributed a “ruffle scarf” pattern that is very pretty and very popular. It needs a lot of yarn, size 101/2 needles, and a lot of time to make. It is worth the effort. You can find the pattern on the website.
To our group of OVER THE TOP KNITTERS (Annie, Beverly P, Auntie “D”, Cindy H., Diane, Janet, Kathy, Leslye, Lisa, Sharon, Tammy, Vicki, Wednesday Night Knitters at Concepts in Yarn) and the women from the Meyler Family Literacy Program, we welcome Betty W. (who sent us 10 scarves and a donation to cover the shipping, etc.). Even though summer school has been cancelled in Los Angeles, the women from Meyler Family Literacy want to continue making scarves over the summer. I hope all of you can fit scarf making into your summer plans. Keep up the good work, everyone.

Karen continues to wind big skeins of yarn into smaller balls. Kit making still is a big job, but it’s a lot easier when I have so many pre-measured balls to work with. This is a great contribution. If anyone would like to join Karen in making balls of yarn for kits, let me know. As our organization grows, we need more and more kits. Many thanks to Karen.

Betty W., one of our new participants, checked the websites of several of the shelters to which we donate scarves. She noticed one of them had laundry baskets on their wish list. She suggested we deliver our comfort scarves in a laundry basket so the shelter can give the laundry basket to someone who needs it. A great idea. I wish I had thought of it myself. Betty made a donation to cover the cost of buying some laundry baskets for next month’s deliveries. I hope others will do the same.

We depend on each one of you for Handmade’s continued growth and success. We couldn’t donate scarves to so many shelters if you didn’t contribute. Whatever you do, adds to the total. Whatever you do, whether you knitted or crocheted a scarf, created a pattern, donated yarn, money, equipment, spent time winding or wrapping, all is important. Many, many thanks.

If you want to donate scarves or yarn or if you want to send a check, please mail to:
Handmade Especially for You c/o Leslye Borden
30065 Grandpoint Lane
Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275
Leslye

A home for donations

2009-06-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

I have been making baby things for a long time and giving them to them to a couple of different local hospitals on my own but recently I found a chapter of Newborns in Need that is about an hour drive from me and took this group of donations to them. I was so impressed with this organization that this will be my permanent home for my donations and where I can learn and be challenged to do even more.

1-3 POUND BURIAL GOWN

2009-06-05T05:31:00.000-07:00

I DECIDED TO MAKE A FEW GOWN SETS TO KEEP ON HAND IF NEEDED LOCALLY. THIS IS THE FIRST ONE. AS ALWAYS I WILL DONATE IT IN THE NAME OF EGF.

May Newsletter from Handmade Especially for You

2009-06-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

May 31, 2009

Here’s a brief outline of today’s topics.

I had an amazing experience visiting one of the shelters. This reinforced my determination to broaden the scope of Handmade Especially for You.
We distributed more than 200 scarves and received donations from two more yarn companies.
We’re busy researching and trying out patterns for summer scarves, which are much in demand.
Thinking ahead to how many scarves we will need for Thanksgiving and Christmas donations.
The number of people who participate in every aspect of Handmade continues to grow. We couldn’t make and distribute so many scarves without everyone’s contributions.

And now for the details.

When I delivered scarves to one of our new shelters (we donate to 11 shelters now), the director wanted to show me the remodeling going on there. In the kitchen, I saw a woman eating an ice cream. She almost jumped out of her skin when she saw us. She tried to hide the ice cream. She looked down when we tried to acknowledge her presence. I was truly shocked. She didn’t feel worthy of having that ice cream. I wanted to reach out to her and tell her that it was OK to enjoy the treat but it was clearly inappropriate for me to do so. I saw the woman a few more times as we toured the shelter. She always seemed like a deer caught in headlights.

I thought about her for a long time afterwards. Suddenly I understood what other directors had been telling me about the impact of our scarves. They say the women are amazed that anyone would make anything so beautiful for them. They feel they are not worthy of receiving such a gift (like the woman felt she wasn’t worthy of enjoying the ice cream). Yet receiving it starts to break their cycle of low self esteem that allows them to accept abuse. For the first time, I understood what the directors were saying. We must keep on with our project and distribute scarves to as many abused women as we can. It is one important way to stop abuse and domestic violence.

We distributed just over 200 scarves this month, 50 each to two shelters who needed more for Mother’s Day after our initial donations in April. We received inspiring thank you letters from several shelters. “Everyone” at Laura’s House sent us a colorfully decorated handmade card with many signatures thanking us for the “beautiful” and “gorgeous” scarf the woman received.
Robert Armstrong, President of the Board of Directors of Interval House, wrote: “Dearest Friends, We can’t begin to put into words how very appreciative the women in our shelters were to receive your fabulous scarves. It is very obvious that a lot of love went into making them and all the women felt very special. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts…”

Sherelle Robertson, Project Director at Jenesse Center, also wrote a lovely letter. She said: “Thank you so much for the donation of the handmade scarves. We were very excited to share them with the ladies in our shelters. We gave the scarves to the transitional shelter residents for Mother’s Day. They loved them so much. The shelter staff reported that they were wearing them the next day.”

Judy Hessick, Director of Development at Rainbow Services, signed into our website and sent this note of appreciation. “A GIANT THANK YOU to you and all the volunteers involved with Handmade Especially for You. The scarves you have given Rainbow Services are truly “comfort” scarves to our clients. When the women come to our emergency shelter, they come with very little. We try to provide the basic necessities to get them started ….. But when we are able to give them one of the scarves, their eyes brighten and smiles come forth. They are really moved by the kindness, thoughtfulness and caring of your organization. Your scarves are like “hugs.” They wrap around each woman just like out-stretched arms…. Knowing someone cares about them helps to build their self-esteem. Your support and kindness are very very important. Thank you for all you do for Rainbow.”
Yarn companies are still sending donations. In addition to the yarn companies mentioned in previous newsletters, we received new donations from Blue Heron Yarns and Knitting Fever. When Trendsetter Yarns read our April Newsletter and saw that we distributed 464 scarves in one month, they sent another donation! These contributions allow us to make exceptionally beautiful scarves for abused women, many of whom have never before received a personal gift, much less a handmade one. We appreciate the tremendous support of these companies.
To our group of OVER THE TOP KNITTERS (Annie, Auntie “D”, Cindy H., Diane, Janet, Kathy, Leslye, Lisa, Sharon, Tammy, Vicki, Wednesday Night Knitters at Concepts in Yarn) and the women from the Meyler Family Literacy Program, we welcome Beverly P. (who sent us 15 scarves). Keep up the good work, everyone.
This month, Concepts in Yarn and Needlepoint, our wonderful sponsor, donated 15 scarves the staff made as store samples. They are exceptionally beautiful, showing off both the quality and variety of yarns Concepts in Yarn offers as well as the skill and talent of the staff in knitting them. Many thanks.
Chris wrapped all the scarves this month—a tremendous effort. The scarves look colorful and special when she finishes wrapping them. We have a good system going. Every time I have 20+ scarves, I take them to her for wrapping and pick up what she has finished so we don’t get behind. Plus it’s very 1950s to have a little chat as we make the exchange. Many thanks.
Karen continues to wind big skeins of yarn into smaller balls. She uses the yarn winder my son Mitch donated. Kit making still is a big job, but it’s a lot easier when I have so many pre-measured balls to work with. This is a great contribution. Many thanks.
As the Handmade Especially for You website plays a greater role in our work recruiting participants, I must say a special “thank you” to my husband, Phil. He smoothed out and refined the appearance of the website, got everything into the right type, and made a page filled with good keywords so people searching the web can find Handmade if they’re looking for an organization like ours. In addition, he built a yarn table in my office (really the yarn room), which holds my swift, yarn meter, and yarn winder so I could remove kit making from the dining room. He still makes all the tags that personalize each scarf. What would I do without him. Many, many, many thanks!!!!!
Summer is upon us although you wouldn’t be able to tell if you looked out the window at my house today. The sky is grey, there is so much fog in the air that the patio looks as if it has just been raining, and it is only 64 degrees outside. I want to knit for winter but I know in just one month it will be so hot that just the idea of wearing a scarf will cause me to turn on the air conditioning. So we need to make lighter weight, more open scarves. I have been experimenting with knitting lace and have come up with a pattern or two we can use. Even continuing with your regular patterns will work if you use bigger needles or hooks and lighter weight yarn. If you have suggestions for lighter weight scarves, please share. I will post all the suggestions on the Handmade Especially for You website, www.handmadeespecially.org
I surveyed the shelters asking them all to anticipate their needs, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Their response has been overwhelming, so we must plan ahead. Adding up, I expect we will need at least 1000 scarves for November distribution and 2000 for December. Monthly, we will need about 200-250, especially during hot weather. I have been setting aside (all wrapped) the heavier scarves for cooler weather. So don’t think you cannot contribute if you cannot make lightweight scarves. We need every scarf you make, light or heavy weight, as you can see from the numbers above.
We depend on each one of you for Handmade’s continued growth and success. We couldn’t donate scarves to 11 shelters if you didn’t make your contribution. We understand not everyone can make 10 scarves a week, as many of our over the top knitters do. But whatever you contribute adds to the total. And whether you have knitted or crocheted a scarf, donated money, equipment, time winding or wrapping, it all is important. Many, many thanks.
If you want to donate scarves or yarn or if you want to send a check, please mail to:
Handmade Especially for You c/o Leslye Borden
30065 Grandpoint Lane
Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275
Leslye

May Newsletter from Handmade Especially for You

2009-06-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

May Newsletter from Handmade Especially for You

2009-06-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

Oddball Blanket for an Orphanage in Mexico

2009-05-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

That's how our Oddball Orphan Blanket is looking right now. So far, 15 knitters have each knit a section to the blanket. When it's complete, the blanket will be given to an orphanage in Mexico.

www.knittinghelp.com

April Newsletter from Handmade Especially for You

2009-04-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

APRIL NEWSLETTER
April 28, 2009

Lots of news to share. Here’s a brief outline.

In April we distributed 468 scarves. We donated to 4 shelters new to us, in addition to the 6 already on our list. The responses have been particularly heartwarming.

The Handmade Especially for You website (www.handmadeespecially.org) is up and running.

We bought a swift, a yarn meter, and a yarn winder, which makes kit making easier (not easy).

The number of people who participate in every aspect of Handmade continues to grow. We couldn’t make so many scarves without everyone’s contributions.

And now for the details.

We distributed 209 scarves at the end of March (in addition to the 200 at the beginning of the March reported in the March Newsletter), and 64 at beginning of April, in time for Easter. Today we delivered another 195 in time for Mother’s Day. Richstone Family Center plans to photograph each of their women (wearing one of our scarves) with her children for a meaningful Mother’s Day gift. Really! What more can we hope for!

Sr. Anne Kelley from Good Shepherd Shelter wrote a very moving note to us after receiving her second shipment of “comfort scarves”: “What a thoughtful gesture from you and your group to make such beautiful and personal comfort scarves for the courageous women here at our Shelter. Each scarf was so unique and obviously made with love. The mothers had so much fun trying them on and choosing the one they liked the best……You have done a fabulous service to the women by giving them permission to think of themselves, care for themselves and feel the love, support and comfort of others who care about them…..You have given them great hope to continue in their efforts on their difficult journey. Know that you are being remembered daily in our grateful hearts…..” This is a tremendous appreciation. I hope it inspires you as it did me.

Piero Berlonghi, VP of Advancement at Laura’s House (www.laurashouse.org) expressed his excitement about receiving 50 of our scarves: “Thank you for creating some beauty and love for the women and children affected by domestic violence in time for Mother’s Day. That’s an incredibly wonderful gift, at just the right time. Who can measure the effect of these scarves? It’s priceless.

Janine Limas, Community Education Director of Interval House (www.intervalhouse.org) was similarly enthusiastic. When I offered to donate scarves to Interval House, she replied: “We would LOVE to receive scarves from your organization. They sound absolutely wonderful and I know that the women in our shelters would be thrilled to receive such lovely gift.” I delivered 20 scarves today. When she saw them, she told me they have 7 shelters and could use 100 scarves. I told her I would do what I could to deliver more next week.

We delivered 35 scarves to Layla Abdul at Human Options (www.humanoptions.org) and 30 to Karen Earl at Jenesse Center (www.jenesse.org). I hope to have comments from them in our next newsletter.

In addition to the women from Woodland Hills Community Church and Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach (mentioned in prior newsletters), I’d like to acknowledge the women in the knitting/crochet classes at Rolling Hills Covenant Church. They meet every week to make prayer shawls but several in the group were so moved by what we do, they have made scarves for us as well.

Yarn companies are still sending donations. In addition to the yarns companies mentioned in previous newsletters, we received two huge boxes from Kollage Yarns and more modest contributions from Kertzer Yarns and Muench Yarns . These contributions allow us to make exceptionally beautiful scarves for abused women, many of whom have never before received a personal gift, much less a handmade one. We appreciate the tremendous support of these companies.

To our group of OVER THE TOP KNITTERS (Annie, Auntie “D”, Leslye, Lisa, Sharon, Tammy, Vicki, Wednesday Night Knitters at Concepts in Yarn), we welcome Cindy H., Diane, Janet (who shipped us 80 scarves!!!!), Kathy and the women from the Meyler Family Literacy Program. Keep up the good work, everyone. We need every scarf, as you can see from the number of shelters we supply.

www.handmadeespecially.org is up and running. We have received a lot of nice comments about it and I have shared them with Keith, the designer. He has taught me (and Phil) how to add to and change the site, which we will do, starting with this newsletter. We’d like to add PayPal as an easy method for donating instantly. We’d also like to add a chat room where we can share knitting and crocheting tips. If you’d like to find anything more or different on the website, let me know. We’ll do what we can to incorporate your suggestions.

We have received a few cash donations, which enabled us to buy the (pre-industrial) swift, yarn meter, and yarn winder. Mitch, my son, donated a second yarn winder, which I hope to put to use soon. Beth and Karen still measure yarn on the tool Beth devised. I put the skeins Beth creates on the swift and wind them into balls. Kit making has become much faster, but then again, there are so many more kits to make.

Chris, Beth, Bette, and Ellenore wrapped all the scarves—a tremendous effort. The scarves looked so beautiful and colorful and special when they were individually ribboned and ready for delivery to really special recipients.

Handmade’s future looks very exciting. We have made connections with a few more yarn shops. Giselle saw a flyer at one of them, contacted me, and took a box of 30 scarves to Jenesse Center the next day. If you know a shelter that needs “comfort scarves,” let me know. We’ll get scarves to that shelter as fast as all of you knit and crochet them.

We depend on each one of you for Handmade’s continued growth and success. We couldn’t have delivered 400 scarves in one month if you didn’t make your contribution. We understand not everyone can make 80 scarves, as Janet did. Whatever you do counts and adds to the total. Whether you have knitted or crocheted a scarf, donated money, equipment, time winding or wrapping, it all is important. Many, many thanks.

If you want to donate scarves or yarn or if you want to send a check, please mail to:
Handmade Especially for You c/o Leslye Borden
30065 Grandpoint Lane
Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275
Maybe we’ll have some news about the 501(c)3 in the next newsletter.
Till then,
Leslye

Military Knitting

2009-04-24T11:23:00.001-07:00

I read an article in the Winter 2008/2009 issue of knitsimple about Operation Helmetliner.

When I checked out the pattern, I knew that it was something that I could knit without any trouble. I used the provided pattern to knit a helmet liner and a neck gator, using wool reclaimed from a thrift shop sweater.

If you have appropriate wool (color, weight, and yardage), please consider making at least one item for this cause.

I'm new

2009-04-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of you.

I have been a fan of this site for some time and just want to say how encouraging it is to see all the beautiful things made out of a heart of love.

I have crocheted for Charity (mainly baby items) for a long time but only recently have I begun to try my hand at knitting so here is my first baby sweater and hat that I will donate to a group called Newborns in Need.

Patten for sweater here ....note: I created the hat on my own.

Twitter

2009-04-10T17:20:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,

I wanted to let you all know that I've started a Twitter account with the goal of using it to keep crafters aware of where and what they can work on for charity. The account is @ HomespunHelpers. I'm also going to use it to update stuff regarding Homespun Helpers, but my primary purpose will be to be a reference for other charity crafters.

Please feel free to join me over there!

a long time gone

2009-04-04T16:53:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a long time, life sort of smacked me with a lot of things at once - a hysterectomy, a broken leg, death of my grandmother and older sister...
enough whining from me... Here's what I've crocheted since the first of the year: 52 preemie hats for the NICU at University of Maryland Hospital, 6 scarves for V-Day, Frostburg State and 10 preemie hats for Isabel's gifts.
That's as of today, April 4, 2009.
I'll try not to make it so long between visits.

Full Term Baby Hats

2009-03-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

When I dropped off those baby blankets at the hospital a few weeks ago, the nurse asked if we could make some baby hats. She said they need FULL TERM baby hats, not preemie hats. And she gave me a hat to use as an example. She said the hats need to be VERY stretchy.

So, I used her hat, and counted the stitches. Then I made a pattern (in the round) to make a copy of the hat. My hat turned out exactly the same size, so I posted it on the internet and asked for others to make some with me.

Here's the link to the pattern: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59646927@N00/3366017154/in/set-72157600886745324

Today, I received three beautiful baby hats from cricket22 in the Knitting Help Forum. :)

In this photo, you can see the hat from the hospital (top left), my first sample hat (top right), and the three hats from cricket22 (in plastic bags). Now, the ball is rolling, and we're getting baby hats made for the hospital! Woo Hoo!

Six New Members!!

2009-03-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally decided to add some new people to the group. Say welcome to six new people - I'll only use their first names or email name (whatever I have):

Chris, Kristine,Tracy,Tiffiny, mjames, and Emilie.

Welcome to the group - your invites have been sent.

Cindy