2013 Maine Mitten Project Exceeds All Expectations!

Here's a great photo Max took of the exhibit at The Fiber Center at Fryeburg fair last week This is only a small representation of what was collected and the final tally is in. When the project began I thought if we received 400-500 items I would be pleased. Once we got half way through the drive I had bumped up my prediction to 1000 items, a very nice number. However, you went far beyond my expectations and we counted a total of 2051 items which includes many sets which we counted as one item donated. I have accounted for 124 donors. There were more than that but some items came to us untagged and nameless, so a big thank you to anyone whose name we missed or never received.If you donated and your name did not make the list please PM me and I will be glad to add your name to our list.

YOU ARE ALL AMAZING! Many folks in Maine will be much warmer this winter thanks to your kindness.

There was a large number of infant and small children's sizes which our designated shelters do not have clients for. As a result, we have decided to add the WIC program to our recipient list so that children in need will be able to benefit from your generosity. I will post a list of all recipients organizations and locations as soon as we have completed our distributions.

Again, thanks to all who helped. 

I look forward to another great year with the Maine Mitten Project!

Maine Mitten Project Count Rising!

The Maine Mitten Project got under way last fall and was promoted during Fryeburg Fair week in 2012. We've nearly come full circle for our first year and some of our collection results are in.

Our Mailed in donations from various donors including folks who heard of us through Rivalry.com and Artful Giving.com, and items collected at the Heart of Biddeford, Rangely Library, and Scarborough Library have totaled 525 items! 

I can happily report that from the Heart of Biddeford donor location we have collected 146 pieces with more than half of those donations coming from Suzy Mullen. Way to go Suzy!

With a few other collection locations still to account for including our huge supporter Close Knit Sister's Yarn Shop in N Conway, NH, I fully expect to reach our goal of 1000 pieces!

After the fair is ended I will complete a final report which I will post including acknowledgment of all donors.

YOU ARE ALL AWESOME and we thank you SO VERY MUCH!

Mitten Project Is Making Progress Good Progress!

 This photo just in from one of our supporters from Ravelry.com. Thanks Rhonda!

These are from another Ravelry knitter. Thanks Mary!

And though I don't have a picture, we received a package with 9 pieces from Peggy Hopkins in the Virgin Isles. Peggy's mom is 92 years old and also participated in the Maine Reef Project! She tells us that it gives her mom something to use her left over yarns for and makes her happy.
We're happy too!

Also making a contribution this week was Donna who delivered a box and bag of unwanted yarns for us to hand out to anyone wishing to make items for our cause.

 Thank you to ALL!

Please note that since I am not in Maine regularly I am unable to take photographs and report on all donations. I apologize to anyone who has been left out. I can only report on the work that I receive information about. I will do my best to recognize everyone once we have a completed list of donors after the exhibition. I appreciate your patience :-)

August 2013 Maine Mitten Project Update!

Lots of great stuff coming in from very generous contributors. We are so fortunate to have so many folks helping our project out!

From the Scarborough, Maine public library, Celeste has sent in this photo of 24 pairs of mittens created by Maria Orff of Waldoboro. Thanks Maria!

Also in from Close Knit Sisters Yarn Shop in Conway, NH, this donation of 72 mittens from Judy of Conway. AMAZING! 

There's still time for contributions! We will be accepting them at the Fiber Center through fair week from September 29th - October 6th or drop them at any of our drop locations listed on our home page.

July 2013 Mitten Project Update

Family life and dealing with aging parents have kept me from posting lately but I have a bit of time so wanted to share some recent news.

Donations keep coming in to collections sites and with every single item we grow closer to our goal! You are ALL incredible and we are so grateful for every single item that we receive. The generosity of community for the Fiber Center projects continues to surprise and delight me! I do not have names of most donors yet so I apologize for not acknowledging you all but know that in the end I will do my best to post a comprehensive list of everyone whose name I have from received donations once the project is complete for this year.

But for now, Close Knit Sisters continues to collect an amazing amount of items from folks all around the Maine and New Hampshire border. Most recently, Donna from Poland, Maine dropped off more than 100 items! Thank you Donna!

The next great find after arriving in Maine for my visit was a huge box from Jefferson Ohio donated by BluSkyes Charity Knitting, a member of Ravelry.com. I counted 198 pieces from them! In addition to a few lovely hand made hats, BluSkyes found a tremendous sale on hats, gloves, mittens and ear warmers at her local fabric store which she said she couldn't pass up. Her generosity will certainly help keep Mainers in need a bit warmer!

Thanks again to everyone who is supporting our cause!

Ravelry.com Members Support The Maine Mitten Project

Knitters and crocheters who don't already know about www.ravelry.com are missing out! This is a GREAT interactive website that offers gazzillions of patterns, many free with photos of the work, comments about patterns discussion groups, support groups and more. 

The Maine Mitten Project has formed a "group" on Ravelry and boasts 44 members. 

One of our members "kleinch"posted this photo of her contribution to the project and says "For the Maine Mitten Project, for which we are collecting at school" 

I have since learned that the school is in York, Maine so we will look forward to their contributions.

Here's another from Ravelry member Wooleybear368 and made with her first hand spun. How generous of you Wooleybear!

Thank you all!

Maine Mitten Project Collection Approaching Our Goal!

The hard part about this project is that I can only report on what I hear about. I know there are many folks out there who are knitting and crocheting for our project but I have no real idea of how many folks we have inspired to participate. I look forward to this year's deadline at Fryeburg Fair time which opens on September 29th when I can get a final count of our, well, YOUR  efforts!


OUR GOAL? 1000 hand mades to distribute to our recipient organizations. We just might make it with all of your help! I roughly estimate that we are somewhere around 600 items. I know of many folks that are creating for us, including a Maine Reef contributor form St Croix, but have no idea what we will receive in the end. 

Keep up the great work EVERYONE! Every single item helps and is appreciated.

I recently put out a new quest to the Ravelry.com knit and crochet group letting them know that our mix is  a bit shy on mittens. Ask and ye shall receive :-)

These lovelies were completed by Marcia with more under way. Thanks Marcia!

I also heard from Jennifer from REMAX Country Living in Fryeburg, one of our drop locations. She  has attempted to email me pictures of completed work multiple times but we seem to be having a technical problem so I'll post them when it gets resolved.

And finally today, the Close Knit Sisters report for May:

Our count for May:

Mittens: 8

Scarves: 10

Hats: 39

Hat/mitten sets: 4

Blankets: 4

Donated by:

Patricia Eastman

Gloria Tibbets

Mountain View Knitters Guild

 

Total count so far:

Mittens: 85

Scarves: 70

Hats: 215

Hat/mitten sets: 4

Blankets: 4

 

And Zoe also reports that " June is a whopper! Jody from Glen NH has crocheted/knitted 50 men's hats, 50 women's hats & 25 scarves! Not counted in total yet."

 I sincerely hope that when this year's deadline at the end of Fryeburg Fair which runs from September 29th - October 6th this year, that our goal of  1000 items is exceeded in our final count!

Contributions will be accepted throughout fair week at the Fiber Center after which we will distribute them to our recipients. Any items arriving to us before the fair will be displayed to honor our achievement.

YOU ARE ALL AMAZING! 

THANK YOU!