WarmUpWinc

Gearing Up For 2008

2008-03-23T23:33:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let everyone know that I'm starting to plan for the 2008 year of Warm Up Winchester.

I am NOT going to be using the blog this year, but you can access information one of two (or both!) ways.

The Ravelry Group, Warm Up Winchester
The Yahoo Group, Warm Up Winchester

I think those are just better ways to stay organized and get the information out, as well as post pictures and progress!

Thanks!

Planning Ahead - 2008

2007-12-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

Just trying to get some planning and thinking about Warm Up Winchester 2008. I think I'm going to plan on starting earlier this year, say July or August.

If anyone has any suggestions, comments, or idea - please let me know. You can email me at p3knitter AT yahoo DOT com.

It's A Tie!!!

2007-11-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

The final count is done, the items are off to be given out, and I have found that we have a tie for the winner of the Mega "Who Knit/Sent The Most Items" Contest.

Congratulations CARMEN and RONI !!!!!

And thank you again to everyone who took the time and effort to knit items for this project. I think I may do it again next year, but I'm going to start earlier.

Final Count

2007-11-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

That's right folks ... the final count is in!

158 items!!!!!

Thank you everyone so much! I've divided the items up, and they'll be going to Social Services, The Womens' Shelter, and C-Cap.

And as for who sent me the most items ... I'm almost ready to post that, so stay tuned! I'm hoping to get that up by Friday!

Approaching the Finale

2007-10-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

We are slowly approaching the final days of the mission here, and I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has contributed! This is truly an amazing thing, and I'm so pleased that I have so many knitters with such huge hearts!

I know how slow the Post Office can be, so I'm giving a week of lax time to make sure things do get here. I suggest that you mail the last of the items no later than MONDAY. I'll be starting the sorting process next week, and should announce the winner of the $25 gift card and the final count of items around then as well.

Again, thank you so much. I could never have done this without all of you!!!

Shipping Your Items

2007-10-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

Wow .... so many items are ready to make their way to me, and then make their way to warm the bodies and hearts of so many!!!! I can't say this enough ... THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Now, just to let you all know, DH-to-be and I will be on vacation from the 19th - 23rd. I am going to put my mail on hold, so now worries, but if you are NOT shipping with the Postal Service, email me. I can arrange to have any packages coming from FedEx or UPS to go to my Mom's.

Thanks everyone, and keep up the great work!

A Plethora Of Scarves and Hats

2007-10-12T15:30:00.001-07:00

Notice the sun shining in, a halo effect and all that. Today I will hopefully be packing up and sending all these scarves and hats. Amy, they will probably be sent parcel post, so look for them in about a week and a half. With all the yarn donations I have been knitting and crocheting night and day for WUW. This has been so rewarding, I hope the lucky recepients of all this love and warmth from your project know how much people care for them! You are such a sweetie to think of doing this. Love, Roni

2 More Items Completed

2007-09-30T07:20:00.001-07:00

I have finished a scarf and a pair of mittens that I am adding to the box I will be sending out next month.
I used a wool from Cleckheaton for the scarf and Plymouth Encore for the mittens.

Whoo Hoo!!!

2007-09-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let everyone know that we have beat out goal!!!!!

Current number of knitted items : 108 !!!!!

I am so happy, and I just can't believe it. Well, I can, because I know that I have wonderful knitters that have huge hearts. But man .... I'm just loving it! I told my Mom today how many items we had, and she was blown away!

So, on that note ... KEEP 'EM COMING! We still have a month and a half until the dead line!

2 More Items

2007-08-30T04:40:00.000-07:00

I have managed to finish a hat and a scarf this week.
Both are made from 100% wool, and both patterns came out of Stitch and Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker.

Next up - mittens!

Getting Close

2007-08-20T18:47:00.001-07:00

Again, I want to thank everyone for the items that they have knitted/crocheted for this project. I didn't know if it would work, or how many people, if any, would be willing to help. But you all have done something amazing, and it warms my heart every time I think about it.

Right now our count is 66 items!!!!! We're over half way there. I've added a counter to the top of the page, to show how much time is left until all items are due. And don't forget, the person who knits/crochets the most items will receive a $25 gift card to either KnitPicks or JoAnn Fabrics.

OH YES - and this is very important. I will be in New York for Rhinebeck in October, from the 19th - 22nd. I'll have my mail on hold, but I just wanted to let everyone know.

Again, thank you everyone. Keep 'em coming!

And The Winner Is ...

2007-08-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

RONI!

Congrats, Roni! John drew your name out of the his hat, and Mavy helped!

Roni, please email me you address, and I'll ship the yarn out to you ASAP!

I'm here, really!

2007-08-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

Obviously it's not done - but that's the scarf I've been working on, and I also have a hat finished! Things are just nuts, but I'm trying to divide time to be sure I'm knitting for reasons that are as great as the one here :)

Two hats

2007-08-14T17:24:00.001-07:00

Ugh sorry for the craptastic picture. The hats look nicer in person I swear.

Anyways, I hope these are good enough. These are only the second and third hat I've ever knit. I'll be mailing them out this Saturday.

Oh and I don't have your address yet. Could you e-mail it to me?

2007-08-08T20:04:00.001-07:00

These are the last 2 hats I did- both baby hats, one in homespun, one in babysoft. Both were made on the knifty knitter.

These were sent off last week with the scarf and the adult hat. Have you gotten them yet, Amy?

That's Right ... Contest #2

2007-08-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone, take a bow! We are HALF WAY to our goal already! I can't say thank you enough to everyone, for taking the time to knit all these wonderful warm items!

Now .... how about another CONTEST! This time, I'm making it a little harder. Not much though, so don't worry.

CONTEST #2 - On your blog (if you don't have a blog, just comment to this entry), post an entry about which knitting charity is your favorite, and why. Everyone who posts their answer will get there name written down and put in the hat, and I'll have John draw the winner. The deadline will be Wednesday, August 15th, at 8pm EST, and the winner will be announced by the following Friday. It should be interesting to read every one's answers.

And as for a prize? How about TWO skeins of Big Noro Kureyon?

So, happy posting, and happy knitting!

New Member Here!

2007-07-31T04:48:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Priscilla, and I joined this "along" a few weeks ago. I didn't want to post and introduce myself until I had some FOs to show you all. So I have been diligently working away on some items, and here they are:
2 hats, a pair of mittens, and a scarf. I still have one pair of mittens on the needles, so I won't send these items in until I get that finished later in August. I hope to get more items done as well. Details about each project are posted on my blog.

I think this is a fantastic project, and I am glad to be a part of it. I have really enjoyed seeing everyone's contributions.

Two More

2007-07-27T04:59:00.000-07:00

Hats!!!! It's my favorite thing to knit, and it's instantly gratifying. Both of these are made with Cascade 220 wool, black and burgundy.

On Our Way

2007-07-26T04:41:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know, that we are sitting at 38 items! I'm so happy and amazed at the kindness of everyone here. I'm so thrilled to see how many warm, hand knit items will be going to people who truly need them.

So, to all of you, thank you so very much!

I'm going to think up another contest soon, probably this coming week. I want to make this one a little harder than the last, I think. :-)

Extension

2007-07-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Having finally received my invite to RAVELRY, I started a Warm Up Winc group there, to get more people interested and involved. It still tracks back to the blog here, but hey ... the more, the merrier! So, if any of you have joined Ravelry, I'm under DeathByYarn. Come find me, the group, and say hi!

Hope everyone is having a good week. For those Harry Potter Fans out there .... BOOK 7 comes out tomorrow!

Huzzah!

More hats and scarves

2007-07-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

11 hats to warm some heads, AND two twirly scarves, AND 5 more scarves.
Yes, I admit, I went through my stash and thought it's time to give them a destination.
I should get more yarn stash next week, he,he.

Scarf!

2007-07-19T19:37:00.001-07:00

A scarf, made of fun fur and simply soft, on size 11 needles. It was a quick knit. It's fuzzy. There's not much more to say about it.

Five scarves and a hat

2007-07-17T17:45:00.001-07:00

I made these scarves over a year ago to donate to the local shelter and they were turned away. I saved them and just recently found them again. I also made myself sit down and make a hat. The hat isn't perfect and it's done with scrap yarn, but it'll still keep someone's head warm in the winter.

I need to run these scarves through the washer and then I'll send them out.

Scarf!

2007-07-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

I finished a scarf this weekend. (I had three football games to watch, so lots of knitting time!) I used Paton's Melody, which is a nice chunky yarn and knits up super fast. I do, however, have renewed dislike for Susan Bates plastic knitting needles. (They're the only 13s I have.) Ugh. The cable kept getting in my way and was so stiff I couldn't keep it out of the knitting. But I persevered, and my next scarf will be done on 10s, which I have bamboo needles of. ;-)

Contest Time!

2007-07-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

Okay folks, tonight is the drawing for the first contest here at Warm Up Winchester.

Here's the names in the hat.

And here is John getting read to pick a name out of the hat.

And the winner is ....

JORIE!

Congrats, Jorie. Make sure you email me with your address so that I can mail your the yarn!

Keep 'Em Coming

2007-07-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

So far, the count for items collected is 16! That's great, seeing that it is only July! Keep 'em coming, folks!

And don't forget, I'm drawing names for the contest THIS FRIDAY! If you don't see your name on the side bar, email me with your name and, if you have it, blog/wordpress/typepad/live journal info. I'll have John draw names out of a hat on Friday night, as well as announce the winner!

A hat!

2007-07-10T20:34:00.001-07:00

I finished a hat today! Huzzah!

Isn't it pretty?

To tell you the truth, I cheated, and used the knifty knitter. It's made with homespun. The knifty knitter is quite nice for churning out hats if you're using bulky yarn. Otherwise, if you use thinner yarn, you can get these big holes in between the stitches.

I think I'm going to make a few more before sending it off, so I can put a few in one big package.

~Rachel/Knitter of Shiny Things

More FO Goodness

2007-07-09T23:33:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what you can get done on one's night off, while watching Harry Potter movies! I've got two more hats ready to go! Both of these are adult sizes (they fits me, at least.) The first is in KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Bulky and Brigantia (it's from England and I can't find it online anywhere!), and the second is Cascade 128 Bulky Tweed.

I've already received some very beautiful hats from Susan and Nancy! Thanks, ladies!

Don't forget about the CONTEST. The deadline to have your name on the sidebar is FRIDAY! And remember, I'm giving away a $25 gift card to either KnitPicks of Jo Ann's, for the person who knits and sends me the most items by the deadline!

Cheers!

More hats

2007-07-09T08:21:00.001-07:00

I've got two more hats done! Same yarn as the previous hat. (Er, which was Paton's Decor.)

I'm thinking of branching out and making a scarf next. ;-) But hats are so quick!

CONTEST

2007-07-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

I think it's time to host the first contest. After all, you all are working really hard, and why not a little reward for giving back by knitting?

The prize will be TWO skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepard SPORT, in Mother Lode. I've already wound it into yarn cakes, but here's a photo of the color way, from The Loopy Ewe.

How do you win that beautiful yarn, you ask? It's simple. Make sure that you get your blog info to me, along with an email address, if you haven't already. I'll add you to the side bar. Then, I'll take all the names on the side bar, write them on paper, and have John pull a name out of a hat. If you don't have a blog, that's okay. Just drop me a note if you don't see your name on the side bar of the blog, and I'll add you, with this site as the blog address.

The contest drawing will be NEXT FRIDAY, July 13th. That gives everyone a week to get me your blog info, if you haven't already!

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

Happy 4th!

2007-07-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy 4th of July!

A quick note before I head to bed ..... my Mom told me today that her boss wanted us to know that she is extremely grateful for all the work we are doing, and is more than happy to take any and all of our knitted donations, to be distributed to those who need them.

Keep up the good works, troops! And watch the blog later this week for a small contest!

2007-07-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Hi, I finished another hat today so now I have 9 that I can send you.
3 are 100% wool the others are 50% wool/50%acrylic.
They are fun and quick to make,
but maybe I will work on a scarf next?

Hat!

2007-07-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

So Mondays are my day off, and all I had to do was sit around and wait for the laundry to need advancing, and to catch up on listening to Cast-On podcasts. So I made a hat for Warm Up Winchester. I have enough yarn to make at least one more hat, so I imagine I will do so pretty soon.

It's made from Paton's Decor, which is 75% acrylic and 25% wool. Makes for a very nice, soft, sturdy yarn. The pattern is very basic, just a brim-up with the 7 stitch decrease for the crown. The colourwork is accomplished by knitting double-stranded, one strand of purple and one of black, and then completely ignoring how the yarns twist around. Makes for a very neat random colourway that looks complicated and is dead easy.

I'm hoping to get lots more knitting done, because the Canadian Football league regular season started, so I've got about 12 hours a week to sit and knit and watch football.

Hats Heading South!

2007-07-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

Oh...that was an unintentional pun on the post's title. :-) I'm sending 3 warm hats for men or boys, and 1 rolled brim hat for a girl or a woman. I've had the three men's hats done for a while, waiting for the perfect place to donate. The girl's hat is a prototype for a design I'm working on. I'll send more things once they're knitted.

Hats On!

2007-07-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

I just finished this up, and thought I would post it. Ya know, add a little color to the blog. It's a child sized hat, in Knit Picks and some awesome yarn a friend brought me back from England, called Brigantia.

I hope that everyone will post photos of what they are knitting too! If you don't or can't, I'll be happy to post them when I receive them!

Getting Organized ... And A Contest

2007-07-01T03:10:00.000-07:00

I have received sooo many comments and emails, in response to this idea, and I have to say thank you so very much!

I thought I would take a minute to get more organized about sending in items and the blog here.

I'm looking for knit/crocheted items; everything from hats to blankets. The idea here is to promote warmth in the winter months. I'm thinking that using 100% wool is the best idea, for knitted/crocheted items, because it will provide the most warmth.
You can email me, Amy, at p3knitter@gmail.com. Please include your name and blog address, so that I can add you to the side bar and add you to the blog.
Also, email me so I can send you the address of where to ship things too. I am NOT posting it on the blog here, because of what my parents do, and the fact that we are the only family in town with our last name. But I am more than happy to email it to you.
Once I've added you as a member to the blog, please feel free to post pictures of you items and blog about them as well!

The Goal : 100 items by October 31st. I'd love to beat that, but that's what I'm aiming for!

And of course, to add some fun ... here's a little contest! (And I may have a couple other contests in the mean time as well)

The BIG Contest : Whoever makes and sends me the most items by October 31st will get a $25 gift card to either KnitPicks or JoAnns (your choice if you win.) I'll be keeping a tally of what comes in.

Again, I want to thank each and every one of you for your interest. I hate to see people living in poverty in my own town, and I just had to do something.

Welcome!

2007-06-30T09:01:00.001-07:00

Poverty pisses me off, plain and simple. Last year, in the town I live in and grew up in, had THREE tent cities. It can get very cold here in the winter, especially on chilly, snowy nights.

That is why I have created this blog, and I invite any and all to help me in my venture to Warm Up Winchester. This is an idea that I've had for awhile .... to gather all knitters/crocheters that I know, and try to bring some warmth to the area's homeless.

The Goal : Collect knitted/crocheted hats and mittens in sizes ranging from adult to child, and distribute them out, via C-Cap, in October. Scarves and blankets are great too! I don't have a number goal yet, but I would like to try to have at least 50 adult hats and 25 pairs of mittens by October 1st.

Please, email me (see the sidebar), and I'll give you my address when you are ready to ship. Also, email me to be invited, so we can all post pictures of the knitted goodness!

I know some people worry that their items are going to be given to the right place. Well, no worries here, folks. My parents both work for the city government, and I can assure you that C-Cap will get each and every knitted item.