Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Nothing says warmth and happiness like a favorite scarf

...and sometimes when you've lost everything, that one piece of fabric can even give you hope; it is our mission to help create that feeling.

It began in September 2006 while I was working as a church secretary in Northern Virginia. I wanted to create a ministry with the church members that allowed them to use their creativity to help others; the result was the Knit/Crochet Club. Membership in the club consisted of 5 women and 1 man who had a love for knitting and crocheting, and loved the idea of using their passion for yarn to help others.

In the ensuing months, the club got together twice a month to make scarves that were then donated to homeless and women's shelters; we also made and donated baby booties for local hospital neonatal units and prayer shawls for nursing homes and church members in extended hospital stays. Through all the donations that we did, my love for scarves remained strong because to me, nothing says warmth and happiness like a favorite scarf.

While my schedule and other commitments took me away from attending the regular KCC meetings, nothing could take away my passion for making scarves and giving them to those in need so in January 2008, Chained with Love was born.

Using yarn from my personal stash along with Red Heart yarn donated by Coats and Clark, and wool donated from Brown Sheep Yarn Company, I crocheted and distributed 40 scarves between the months of September 2008 and April 2009. I gave red scarves to foster children going away to college for the first time, pink scarves to breast cancer survivors, scarves to overseas military personnel, scarves to battered and homeless women and their children, and scarves to Aids victims.

Recently I moved to Wisconsin, and while Chained with Love and I have moved to a new state, the desire to give warmth and happiness to someone in need stays the same; I now bring a bit of happiness to homeless women and their families living in Dane County Wisconsin.

***

Chained with Love distributes specially made, crocheted scarves to women and children in shelters, bringing warmth and happiness, even building hope, that is so necessary when everything these families has owned has been lost.

Scarves are crocheted using bright colored yarns (donated by individuals and organizations), an easy, yet decorative pattern, special touches (a small note or touch of creativity), and a lot of love; all to create happiness and a feeling of hope, for even a fraction of a moment, in the lives of someone who needs it most.

Why not let someone know you care?
Contact me, Mona Davis, the founder of Chained with Love, and ask how you can help. CWL's continued goal is to provide at least 40 scarves per winter season (September-April).

Below is a simple yet decorative pattern designed using Red Heart yarn.


Qwik and EZ Scarf


Materials: 1 skein Red heart Yarn, L hook (8 mm)


Chain 20.

Row 1: Double crochet in 4th chain from hook and in each chain to the end. Chain 3 (counts as first double crochet in next row), turn.

Row 2:
Double crochet in each space between double crochets, including the space between the last double crochet and the beginning chain 3. Chain 3, turn.

Repeat Row 2
until almost all yarn has been used. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Note:
You can adjust the width of this scarf by crocheting more or less beginning chains, or by using a different size hook. You can also do this scarf lengthwise by chaining your foundation chain to the desired length of your scarf and repeating Row 2 of the pattern for 5 or so rows (your desired width).

Optional: Add fringes along the short ends of the scarf.

Designed by Mona Davis.