Wool-Aid members have knit 120 pairs of socks in Tribute to Warm Woolies and Kimberly Turnbow. This is a wonderful way for our Wool-Aid group to have honored the cause that brought us together and the person who was the driving force behind the Warm Woolies organization for so many years. Thank you, Kimberly!

All socks have been sent to Mittens for Akkol for their Sock Challenge 2010, which seeks to provide a warm pair of socks for each of the 530 children who live in orphanages in Akkol and Urupinka, Kazakhstan.

And heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who knit socks for the children, sending them warmth and love knit into every stitch!

We have multiple deadlines for this campaign, with one shipment sent to Kazakhstan in July 2010 and another scheduled for October 2010.

In July, we sent 47 hats and 25 pairs of mittens — including 13 hat & mitten sets:

Thanks to all who participated by creating such beautiful hats and mittens for the children of Kazakhstan!

MITTENS and HATS Campaign for Mittens for Akkol

Mittens for Akkol provides warm woolen garments for children in Kazakhstan. Mittens and hats in larger sizes for the older children are needed, especially for the children at the orphanage in Urupinka.

We have no definite end date for receipt of items at Wool-Aid at this point, so you can get your needles clicking and we’ll update this post when we have it.

We include guidelines below. Please aim for hats and mittens that will be very warm for the children — it can be 40 below zero there!

Guidelines for Mittens and Hats

• Wool (at least 80% wool/animal fiber)
• Worsted weight or heavier yarn
• Mitten and hat sets would be wonderful, but are not required.
• Hats with earflaps or double-layer hats are wonderful and warm. Hats will ideally be able to entirely cover the ears. The thicker, the better, so please, no lacy hats.
• Mittens should have generous cuffs — a good 3 inches or so — for extra warmth and protection from wind.
• Head circumference for older kids: about 18 to 22 inches.
• Mitten measurement from the base of the palm to the tip of the longest finger: 7 to 8.5 inches, but allow a bit of extra length for wiggle room.

If you are able, a contribution to help share the cost of shipping expenses would be appreciated. See how to donate to Wool-Aid for details.