RED SCARF PROJECT

KNITTERS AND CROCHETERS TAKE NOTE!!!
The submission period for this year's Red Scarf runs from September 1 to December 15, 2009

A Great Charitable Knitting AND Crocheting Initiative Provides Warmth and Encouragement to Foster Youth

In 2005, OFA launched a unique initiative to warm the hearts (and necks) of college-bound foster youth. We began taking donations of handmade red scarves to put into our Valentine's Day Care Packages.

Word spread quickly around the charitable knitting/crocheting community. In the first year, we took in 3,500 scarves. The following year, that number swelled to over 15,000.

This deluge of generosity was spurred by a grass roots grapevine effect on the internet, thanks to popular knitting blog sites like Now Norma Knits and others listed below.

Can you believe it? Due to the overwhelming response, OFA had to scale the program back in order to handle the demand. And this as we entered our third year!

The reason: our staff and volunteers unpack and store every scarf received, identify recipients, box them up, and ship them out. Most significantly, OFA carries the cash costs of shipping. (Cash donations earmarked toward shipping are cheerfully accepted!)

The Red Scarf Project is endorsed by Interweave Knits, The National Needle Arts Association, and the Lily Chin Signature Collection.

Guidelines for Knitters and Crocheters

Scarf Size: Approximately 60" long and 5" to 8" wide. Scarves should be long enough to be wrapped around the neck, with tails long enough to be tied in the front.

Style: Think unisex collegiate. Ask yourself if your son, brother, and/or husband would enjoy receiving the scarf. Fringes are optional. Your scarf should drape and tie easily.

Yarn: Preferably DK, double fingering-weight, worsted weight, or light bully yarns. No laceweight, super-chunky, or mohair yarns as there are many people who find mohair too itchy. The yarn should be soft.

Color: Red! However, this could mean burgundy, cherry, russet, red stripes with other colors, or multicolor hues including red. Other unisex colors, including black, navy, teal, olive or gold are also welcome.

Finished and tagged: Yarn ends should be securely sewn in. For a personal touch, attach a tag saying "Handmade for You" with your first name, city, and group affiliation, if any. Donors have also included washing instructions, messages of encouragement, gift cards, burger bucks, books of stamps, etc.

Resources and Patterns

Check out this personal statement and pattern from Lily Chin.

Be sure to visit KNITTING DAILY.COM from the folks at INTERWEAVE PRESS for a great read on all things pertaining to knitting and crocheting.

Knitter and knitting blogger extraordinaire Norma Miller suggests the following free unisex scarf patterns:

Irish Hiking Scarf

Twin Rib Scarf

My So-Called Scarf

Basketweave Scarf

Enjoyable Rib Scarf

Reversible Cable Red Scarf

Ribbed Red Scarf

Geri Inglis suggests a novel reversible pattern: the Palindrome scarf. She suggests casting on 52 stitches to get 4 cable repeats and 6-inch width with worsted weight yarn and 5mm needles.

Jaime Birren from Colorado recommends the following patterns:

Casual Scarf from Marlo's Crochet Corner.

Ridged Bi-Color Scarf from CrochetKitchen.com.

Be sure to check out http://crazycatladymel.blogspot.com/2008/07/red-scarf-project-2009.htmlMELISSA RAMBLES ON, a website with pattern links aplenty.

MY MERINO MANTRA is another great site with info for Red Scarfers.

Pat Freeley of HIGH COUNTRY KNITWEAR offers tips and tricks and a cool pattern designed exclusively for the Red Scarf Project.

The good folks at LION BRAND offer tons of free patterns; just register and sign in at their website.

Check out these wonderful TAGS with washing instructions that you can include with your handmade creation.

Red Scarf Project FAQ

Where will my Red Scarf be sent?

Your wonderful handmade creation will be sent in a Valentine’s Day Care Package to an OFA student enrolled in college or trade school.

When/where do I send my scarf?

The submission period for the next Red Scarf initiative is set for September 1, 2009 through December 15, 2009. Send scarves to:

Orphan Foundation of America
The Red Scarf Project
21351 Gentry Drive
Sterling, VA 20166

As we have limited means for storage, please send your scarves only during this time period.

How many scarves can I make and send in?

Please limit donations to no more than five scarves from any one person. (Organizations are welcome to combine their submissions into one mailing). Thank you!

Can I be sure my scarf was received?

Please include a legal-sized self-addressed stamped envelope in your mailing to OFA, or include your name and email address printed clearly inside your mailing.

Can I include anything else with my scarf to help OFA students?

Definitely! Include a personal note of encouragement to keep a student's spirits up during the cold months. Some of our foster say that hand-written notes mean as much as the care package items themselves.

Please secure your note with ribbon or string to the scarf, and you may include your first name, city and state. You can also mention any washing instructions.

A gift card from any national chain store is also welcome – Barnes and Noble, Borders, Target, Wal-mart, Starbucks or any fast food chain. OFA students LOVE gift cards!

Can I make a cash donation to help these kids?

Yes! The Red Scarf Fund for Foster Youth has been established at the suggestion of people in the charitable knitting community.

You can write a check made out to this fund and mail it to us at the above address; or make an easy, swift and secure online donation by clicking the PayPal button below.

Your contribution will enable OFA to provide more students with scholarships and funding to attend college and trade schools in your area and nationwide. Thanks for your support!