The Red Scarf Project began accepting scarves on September 1st. But it wasn’t until this weekend that I finally got around to washing, weaving in the ends, and mailing away the two I knit earlier this year. One Mistake Rib scarf, and one in Brioche Rib.
The Red Scarf Project is one of the few knitting charities I still participate in.
Let’s face it, if someone just needs some warm clothing, there are a lot of ways to obtain it. America is practically awash in unwanted clothing. You can get it for a pittance at a thrift store. Pittance and a half at a place like Target.
A hand knit item’s greatest strength isn’t in the fact of its basic existence. It’s that someone took the time to think about it, plan it out, and knit it stitch by stitch. It’s the love, in other words.
And conveniently, the love is exactly what the Red Scarf Project is looking for.
These are kids who have aged out of the foster care program and gone to college. That is a tough road row to hoe, believe me. A lot of kids never even make it out of the foster care system. And to go to college, too? Wow. WOW!
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that any kid who makes it to college can afford a thrift store scarf. A scrap of warm clothing, that’s not what they need. What they need is to know that someone, somewhere out there cares about them and believes in them.
And that’s not something you can buy at Target.
Thanks for the reminder. I gotta hit a mailbox.
Well said.
That reminds me, I’ve got one ready to send off.
Well said, and I’m not even a knitter. However… isn’t the expression “tough row to hoe”? Though I do like the image of hoeing a road. That would be tough!
That’s the way I have always felt about most crafting charities. If you are just looking for warm blankets, or hats or scarves or mittens, I can give you those right out of my closet. A handknit object is time and attention, and unless that time and attention is the point, I don’t see any.
Love that auto post office thing! We need those in Canada
Totally agree with you-it’s not about the convenience, it’s about the love and good thoughts and well-wishes you knit into each piece. I’m a bit of a hippie that way
And yes, these former foster children need that more than most.
Exactly.
Oh! “Tough row to hoe” DOES make more sense!
A tough road to ho might be applicable, but probably tacky in this context…