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How to Make this Yarn SOFT

A lot of people don’t buy Red Heart Super Saver or other economy brands and may not even enter the Yarn Giveaway October 2014 because they’re so against acrylic yarn. But, Yes you can make this yarn soft without a lot of work or complicated instructions. This list of very easy to follow step by step instructions with pictures from the blog,  A Girl and Her Needle.

She goes through this process before starting her knitting. Not sure if this is the best way to go. I have to think that the idea works the same way with your completed project. Think of it almost like blocking.

To read the entire post and a better view of the picture:  Click Here

I have great appreciation for this information. The Red Heart Super Saver is inexpensive enough that it is the ideal yarn for large-sized or large volume knitting.

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You Can Steam Block This Yarn

Below is an awesome video on how you can steam block this yarn. Like with all other videos I recommend watching it completely before attempting the project.

By all means if you have NEVER done this try it on something you don’t care to much about like an ugly swatch you were planing to throw away. That’s what I do when I’m trying something new.

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How You Can Help Others with Your Yarn Giveaway October 2014

Last year I wrote an article about Bridge and Beyond a charity that focuses on providing help to homeless people and those transitioning into stable homes.

This was a very fruitful research project. Not only did I learn about the charity but how I could best help them and any charity that served the homeless population with the right winter gear.

There is a right and a wrong way to knit for people who live and sleep outside in the open air.

Items Needed: Hats, Scarves, Socks, Mittens, 8×8 Squares

Per BandB: do not knot and cut with knitted or crocheted items. Knots are always the weakest link in any garment or project. Always leave tails when changing colors or adding yarn and work in your tails to avoid un-raveling.

Colors: Dark, Blue, Black, Brown, Gray

Per BandB: avoid using pastels, white, and beige. Dark colors are best for men, women, and children. Dark colors work for everyone and help with not showing the dirt as easily

Stitches: Non-lacey,Tight stiches

Per BandB: open lacy stitches aren’t warm, and tend not to hold up well in the cold wet weather here in Ohio. Stitches should be close together, please avoid using stitches your fingers can easily poke through and or you can see through. Broom stick lace, mile a minute type patterns etc don’t meet the needs of those we serve.

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Sometimes the Homeless Person is TINY

The picture in our heads of the homeless person is usually a middle-aged male. But there are thousands of women and children who are homeless. Living on the streets and temporary shelters is hard.  If you want to help the little ones below are some guidelines copied directly from the charitable organization Emily’s Hats for Hope Initiative.

Image Credit: Milie’s Hats for Hope Initiative, MI

When making baby hats they must fit an average size newborn or larger. Often we receive hats that are just too small. It is very important that you do NOT attach anything to hats for babies or children that could become a choking hazard such as buttons, bows, beads, snaps, pompoms or anything that is not permanently secured. We want to make sure that the hats we send out are safe for small children and babies. Therefore, we will remove all pompoms, buttons, bows, beads, etc for any hat that is for a child/baby 3 years and younger.

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