Archive for Vests

12 in 2012 (end date 12/31/12)

Wool-Aid campaigns in 2012 will be item-based rather than geared to a specific organization. This will allow us much-needed flexibility to meet the needs of recipient organizations as we become aware of them. In the past, we have sent our lovingly handknit and handcrocheted items to places as diverse as Tibet, Mongolia, Kazakhastan, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, and Canada.

We are challenging ourselves to create 12 of a specific focus item in 2012 — pairs of socks, hats, pairs of mittens, vests, and sweaters (being realistic, we decided to challenge ourselves to create 12 sleeves in 2012, as long as the sleeves are connected to the body of a sweater!).

  • FOCUS: Challenge yourself to knit or crochet 12 of a specific focus item in 2012.
  • SIZE: Most needed sizes (measured lying flat) for focus items are as follows: socks, 6.5″ to 9.5″ foot; hats, 16″ to 20″ in circumference; mittens, 5.5″ to 8.5″ wrist to fingertip (not counting the cuff), sweaters and vests, 30″ to 38″ chest size (finished measurement).
  • Use 80%+ wool or animal fiber content. Wool is warm, and it stays warm even when it gets wet. Superwash wool is not required.
  • Create a warm, dense woolen fabric. Clothing is often worn indoors as well as outside, because homes are often very cold. Patterns used typically call for worsted weight, aran, or bulky yarn. You may need to use a smaller needle size than is usually recommended in order to produce a dense enough fabric.
  • The most needed sizes fit children 8 to 16 years old, because the need is greater for older children.
  • Socks should be knit in yarn that is worsted weight or heavier, unless specified otherwise. (You can strand worsted weight yarn with sock yarn for some lovely effects, and the sock yarn also adds durability. If socks are knit from bulky yarn, they should be knit on smaller needles to create a dense fabric.) Socks should have standard heels. As a rule of thumb, the leg of the sock (cuff to bottom of foot) should be as long as the foot of the sock (heel to toe), up to about 10 inches. Please tie socks together at the cuff.
  • All hats and mittens must protect against the harsh temperatures and extreme weather conditions, so they should be thick and dense, not lacy. A bit of extra length on the cuffs of mittens and hats can make a big difference. Please tie mittens together at the cuff.
  • Sweaters and vests should close securely if not a pullover style. They should have good coverage for the chest and ample length for the body. Sweater sleeves that are slightly longer than average provide more warmth and protection against the cold.
  • Please avoid white and very light colors. Acrylic and novelty yarn should not be used, even as an accent.

Notes: These focus items are always in high demand by our recipient organizations. Even when we send large items like sweaters and vests, smaller items can be tucked in around the edges. Any of the focus items can be sent to Wool-Aid at any time during the year.

Report on Shipments to Canadian Communities (November 2011)

Wool-Aid is pleased to have been able to help three communities in Canada this fall through the Warm Hands Network: the Innu in Sheshasuit in northern Labrador, the Cree in northern Ontario, and the Inuit in Nunavut.

We received a request to provide sweaters for young people in Sheshasuit before they headed out on their ice fishing and hunting trips. In addition to 45 sweaters, were able to send 10 vests, 84 hats, 21 pairs of machine washable socks, 12 pairs of mittens, and 6 pairs of neck warmers and/or leg warmers:

We sent additional items to the Cree in northern Ontario, including items from the Baby Shower campaign that are not pictured below. All in all, we sent a total of 68 hats, 19 baby sweaters, 6 baby sweater/hat sets, 1 pair baby socks, 4 vests, and 1 machine washable blanket to the northern Ontario community.

And last, but not least — even though these items were the littlest — are the hats and mittens that were sent to Inuit Daycare Centers in Nunavut. We sent 101 hats and 86 pairs of mittens to the children from Wool-Aid:

Heartfelt thanks to all of you who made these shipments possible, whether through your lovingly knit or crocheted handiwork or your contributions toward the cost to ship them up north. You truly make a difference in the lives of many children.

Knit for Tibet: Sweaters, Vests, Socks — Toddlers to Teens (end date 11/15/2011)

We are continuing to partner with Knit for Tibet, an outreach effort of the Kyegu Relief Fund, which was established in response to the devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit the eastern Tibetan town of Kyegu on April 14, 2010. The humanitarian need is ongoing and significant. More than a year later, approximately 100,000 people are still homeless and destitute. More than 90% of the buildings were reduced to rubble. Many of the survivors have no family left.

Many Tibetans are still living in lightweight tents. They are especially in need of vests, sweaters, and socks, but because the need is so great, we will also send hats, mittens, and blankets as shipments allow. Items for toddlers to teens are especially needed. We have established an end date of November 15, 2011. However, please send your finished items at your convenience at any time, because we ship packages regularly in order to get warm items to children more quickly.

Please send all finished items to

Wool-Aid
1381 Rocky Creek Court
Belleville, IL 62220

We include guidelines and pattern suggestions below. Please also review the general Wool-Aid Guidelines. You are not limited to the patterns listed below, but do aim for clothing that will be very warm for the children.

Guidelines for Knit for Tibet Campaign

  • Use the highest wool content possible (at least 80% wool/animal fiber) — 100% wool is even better.
  • Use worsted weight yarn or heavier.
  • All items should be crafted with an emphasis on coverage and warmth.
  • Vests should close securely.
  • Sweaters and vests should provide warmth from the neck down.
  • Socks should be densely knit and with good coverage for the leg as well as the foot.

Pattern Suggestions for Vests

Keep Me Warm Vest
Steppe Ahead Vest (from Sweater Pattern)

Pattern Suggestions for Sweaters

Mystery Sweater
Steppe Sweater
Steppe Ahead Sweater
Lattice Wrap Sweater
Scrap Wrap Sweater

Pattern Suggestions for Socks

Cozy Toes Socks

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.