Warm Up Lynn Project

Anhata's picture
Submitted by Anhata on Tue, 05/09/2006 - 10:15pm.

There's an organization called Warm Up America where volunteers all across America knit and/or crochet 7" x 9" squares that are then sewn or crocheted together into an afghan.

I'd like to coordinate in this vein a "Warm Up Lynn" project to boost her spirits and let her know as she begins what will most likely be a somewhat difficult and challenging recovery process how much she's loved and valued. Some ladies from the knitting circle that Lynn hosts every week will be participating and I'd like to invite Lynn's virtual friends to join in too, if you'd like.

The skinny: knit or crochet TWO 7x9 squares, you pick the color, yarn, style, whatever, one gets sewn into a lap quilt or afghan for Lynn, the other gets sewn up into an afghan for the Warm Up America project.

Lynn gets a big fiber hug from her real life and virtual buddies, gets an afghan donated in her name to a worthy cause, and her friends feel good that they could do something for her--everybody benefits. Past recipients of Warm Up America afghans include "victims of natural disasters, battered women's shelters, the homeless, and others less fortunate than ourselves."

I will volunteer to collect the squares from fellow TNHers and we ladies at Lynn's knitting circle will piece them together. The second afghan can either be donated to an appropriate local Oregon agency or to the Foundation headquarters. I think Lynn would like a local organization, or even to choose which one.

Anyway, if you'd like to "do" something for Lynn and have any kind of crafty talent, here's a chance to Warm Up Lynn and America.

If you do decide to crochet and/or knit up TWO squares, send my account a message when you're done and I'll send you my address for mailing. Or if you're on the TNH Christmas Card mailing list, my address should be on the one last passed around.

A final note: I'd like to have this done in under a month, so if you can get the squares done and mailed to me w/in two or three weeks, that'd be perfect.

I doubt we can keep this secret for long, since this IS Lynn's website and once she gets home, she's going to be logging on fairly soon after, but I'd rather give you guys the chance join in on this than keep the secret!

And keep the prayers rising and the candles glowing.



Sparrow's picture

What a great idea!

Submitted by Sparrow on Wed, 05/10/2006 - 6:04am.

That should make a wonderful, tangible reminder that people care and are thinking good thoughts for her. And how nice for us "out here" to be able to do something, too! Smiling

I'm not a very fast knitter but I'll see what I can do.

angelb's picture

digging through the stash

Submitted by angelb on Wed, 05/10/2006 - 4:04pm.

I'll swatch up tonight. Any suggestions for color? Does Lynn have favorites?

Angel

Anhata's picture

No favorite colors, really

Submitted by Anhata on Wed, 05/10/2006 - 4:18pm.

She loves fiber and dyeing so much, she kinda loves every color. JJ, if I'm wrong feel free to correct me.

If you have some "fun" yarn, like a boucle or frisee, that would make an interesting block, but don't worry about it if you don't. An oddball block done with the bits left over from other projects would be fun too, Lynn likes reusing stuff like that.

Basically, whatever you think would look good with a hodgepodge of other colors, 'cause we're going to get a wide variety, I'm sure!

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

JJ's picture

she likes all the colors of the rainbow

Submitted by JJ on Fri, 05/12/2006 - 8:03am.

I have seen her work the oddest colors into her work. Truly dreadful stuff that worked out beautifully.

The colors are colors that YOU like...Thats the important thing.

JJ

Marlene's picture

Starting now!

Submitted by Marlene on Wed, 05/10/2006 - 4:34pm.

Count me in....I am right now leaving the PC to fish through my yarns.
Marlene

Honey's picture

Count me in

Submitted by Honey on Thu, 05/11/2006 - 3:22am.

Though I am a bit ashamed to let Lynn and Anhata see my knitting. The word is....uh..BASIC. Big grin

Zillah's picture

knitting

Submitted by Zillah on Thu, 05/11/2006 - 4:11am.

Why didn't I learn to knit over the winter, as I promised myself I would do? If I can get going in the next week and the result isn't too horrific, I will. Otherwise I'll just try and send good knitting vibes to the rest of you.

Zillah

knittingwoman's picture

Hi, This is my first time

Submitted by knittingwoman on Thu, 05/11/2006 - 4:39am.

Hi,
This is my first time commenting here. The update from Lynn's husband was posted on a very old and small mothering list that I am on as well as Lynn. I posted this topic there as people were asking what they could do besides light candles, say prayers etc.
I live in eastern Canada. I will be starting my squares today. Can you please send me an address to mail the squares. Thankyou.

Jilsyt's picture

Gonna do this...

Submitted by Jilsyt on Thu, 05/11/2006 - 7:54am.

Just started learning crochet. Finished a hotpad, now I'll do this...she's done so much for all of us, it's the least I could do.

Honey's picture

done!

Submitted by Honey on Fri, 05/12/2006 - 12:54am.

I knitted two squares last night. Anhata, could you email your address to me? honeybtnh@hotmail.com I want to get them off asap as who knows how long they'll take to get to you from England Smiling

Thanks!

Becky's picture

what about fiber preference?

Submitted by Becky on Fri, 05/12/2006 - 4:21pm.

All the yarn in my stash is acrylic or mostly so. Doesn't it make blankets hard to wash or something if the squares are made of different fibers?

Anhata's picture

sometimes, yes

Submitted by Anhata on Sat, 05/13/2006 - 9:22pm.

Also, some fibers don't like to be sewn together. Cotton yarn will cut through wool yarn over time, for instance. Like to like is usually recommended. Most of the knitting circle ladies will be making their blocks out of wool or wool blends. That's just what we usually knit with. A wool/acrylic blend like Wool-Ease would work fine--you can get it at most craft and fabric stores if you don't have some already.

Mainly the problem with washing is if certain blocks shrink and others don't, but Lynn will wash hers on gentle cycle, cold water I'm sure, so no worries about felting or shrinking.

Does that help?

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

Becky's picture

very helpful

Submitted by Becky on Sat, 05/13/2006 - 10:32pm.

I have a fair amount of Wool-Ease and can use that.

Zillah's picture

Needles

Submitted by Zillah on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 5:24am.

OK, I now have my great, great aunt's knitting needles. All I need now is some wool, and to remember how to knit! Aparently my great great aunt was an extremely talented women with craft things, so I hope some of her spirit might live on in her needles Smiling

Zillah

Honey's picture

easy peasy

Submitted by Honey on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 6:44am.

Basic knitting is a doddle. Much easier than a doctorate in History, I'm sure Big grin

My squares are in the post, so hopefully will be with Anhata in a few days. I asked the guy in the post office how long the parcel would take to arrive and he shrugged and said 'no idea'. Nothing like good service is there? Smiling I have since checked online and it seems to be 3-5 days, so that's not bad Smiling

Zillah's picture

Bah!

Submitted by Zillah on Wed, 05/17/2006 - 4:50am.

For a PhD all I have to do is waffle on a theme for 80,000 words. To knit I have to coordinate hands, needles and wool. ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

At least I have some wool now, so, when I've worked out how to make it into a ball, then I can knit.

Zillah

Sparrow's picture

Yarn balls

Submitted by Sparrow on Wed, 05/17/2006 - 7:04am.

Zillah, try this page for yarn handling. Worked for me! Eye-wink

I've got one square done and one about three-quarters done, but life's keeping me busy this week. Hopefully I'll be able to send them out by the beginning of next week.

Zillah's picture

Balls!

Submitted by Zillah on Wed, 05/17/2006 - 11:58am.

Thank you Sparrow, I now have a moderately respectable ball of wool!

Zillah

angelb's picture

in the mail

Submitted by angelb on Wed, 05/17/2006 - 8:19am.

Mailed out my blocks today. They should be there this weekend or early next week.

Angel

knittingwoman's picture

in the mail too

Submitted by knittingwoman on Wed, 05/17/2006 - 4:23pm.

My husband mailed off my blocks this evening. As they are coming from eastern Canada, they might take at least a week to get there. I couldn't afford to send them faster than regular mail, sorry!!!

Zillah's picture

knitting

Submitted by Zillah on Tue, 05/23/2006 - 7:54am.

This knitting thing is addictive. Is there some kind of help programme I can join? Smiling

I've finished my squares and I MUST DO MORE!!

Zillah

Honey's picture

dishcloths!

Submitted by Honey on Tue, 05/23/2006 - 9:20am.

Zillah, get yourself some cotton yarn and knit fancy coloured dishcloths for everyone you know Big grin

Have a look at the dishcloth boutique http://www.jimsyldesign.com/~dishbout/

Zillah's picture

Cool

Submitted by Zillah on Tue, 05/23/2006 - 11:46am.

Thanks Honey. I actually have a couple of balls of cotton yarn that DD2 wanted very badly when I was buying the woolen for Lynn's squares. Now I know what to do with it!

Zillah

Lynn's picture

I'm verklempt

Submitted by Lynn on Tue, 05/23/2006 - 6:34pm.

Truly, you guys. Thank you for even thinking of knitting for me.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

Anhata's picture

How could we not?

Submitted by Anhata on Tue, 05/23/2006 - 11:11pm.

How could we NOT knit something for you, dearie? We had to have something to do for you, however indirectly!

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

Honey's picture

What Anhata said

Submitted by Honey on Wed, 05/24/2006 - 8:25am.

You do so much for all of us Smiling

P.S. Please don't laugh at my knitting Big grin

(Anhata, please pick a really fancy square and tell Lynn that one's mine Eye-wink )

Becky's picture

Anhata

Submitted by Becky on Fri, 06/02/2006 - 4:38am.

I sent you a private message several days ago but didn't hear back-- is it too late to send my squares?

Anhata's picture

Send 'em if you got 'em!

Submitted by Anhata on Sun, 06/04/2006 - 8:28pm.

Sorry, I've been away from the computer for a few days, didn't get your message till today. Yes, we're still accepting squares!

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

nchambret's picture

Hello Lynn

Submitted by nchambret on Sat, 06/03/2006 - 8:41am.

I have been swamped at work, but I love to read the updates in the blog. Took my squares to Melissa, please look at them as done with love, not much expertise. Are you going to be at the meeting on Wed. this coming week? I'll try to be there even if just for a little bit.
Nancy

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