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!

 

Maine Mitten Project Needs......

   The Maine Mitten Project is collecting some wonderful hand made donations for Maine's Homeless but we are a little off balance and could really use more mittens, fingerless, mitts or wrist warmers. 

IF mittens are not your thing, no worries! WE gladly and gratefully will accept ANY and all hand mades that come our way.

Thanks and happy creating!

This beautiful mitten was made by Marcia a Midcoast Maine, Ravelry.com Maine Mitten Project Supporter.

Thanks Marcia!

Rangeley Maine Public Library & Knitting Group Partnering with the Maine MItten Project

Martha Bicknell of the The Rangeley, Maine Public Library knitting group recently contacted me to ask about creating for the Maine Mitten Project. Yeah and thank you Martha and the Rangeley knitters! Your contributions will be greatly appreciated!

This group meets on Tuesdays from 4:30 - 5:30pm. Martha is inviting anyone who wishes to join them. Locals as well as vacationers are welcome!

Additionally, the Rangeley Public Library has become a local drop location to anyone from that area wishing to create items for Maine's homeless.

Located at 7 Lake St and their phone number is 207-864-5529. Items can be dropped during their regular business hours:

Tuesday 10- 7

Wednesday thru Friday 10-4:30

Saturdays from 10 till 2pm

They will be collecting hand made hats, mittens, and scarfs through early September.

Isn't this a lovely building! Thank You for your support Rangeley Public Library!