Hey all, 

We are hoping to collect all the donations for The Night Ministry before March, so please make sure to drop off your items at either Bucktown Wicker Park Branch or Brighton Park Branch. 

They are  looking for hats, gloves, and scarves but will take other items including a small amount of children's clothing. We also accept non-knitted hats, gloves, and scarves too! Please make sure your items are clean!

Here are the specifications to keep in mind: 
1) Items should be made in adult sizes.  
2) Any pattern can be used — Ravelry website has several free patterns 
3) Any fiber (wool, wool blends) as long as the fiber is not itchy.

Make sure to fill out the form once you drop off your items: forms.gle/fn5MHbm1uiGDVWfs5 

Thank you to those who have dropped off donations so far, we appreciate you!
​- Knitting, ILY Board​

​Happy New Year! 

For those who missed the meeting, below are the new updates!

1. We have merch! Here's the link: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/67472915 
2. There is an updated donation form:  forms.gle/fn5MHbm1uiGDVWfs5 
   
3. Based on the donations we have received, we would like to continue putting our attention on The Night Ministry because they are only collecting donations through April. We want to have these donations in by March!
4. Again, The Night Ministry is looking for hats, gloves, and scarves but will take other items including a small amount of children's clothing. If you want to donate non-knitted items, please feel free to do so as well! 
5. If you prefer to make blankets, we are still looking for more lap blankets for Heartland Hospice and the Cancer Wellness Center.

For further questions or arising conflicts, please contact any of the leaders. 

Thank you so much! - Knitting, ILY Board

Happy Holidays everyone! 

For those who missed the December meeting, below is the list of key points we covered: 

1. There will be a drop off donation box in Bucktown Wicker Park Branch next week! Feel free to continue dropping off donations at Brighton Park Branch if you'd prefer. 
2. We will continue supporting previous organizations, but with emphasis on The Night Ministry. 
3. For new volunteers, please consider looking over our past posts for details on projects and guidelines on what to do before dropping off donations!  

We are so grateful for the donations we've received so far! If you have any questions, please send us an email at knittingily@gmail.com. Have a safe and warm rest of your month, thank you!
​- Knitting, ILY Board 

Happy October, we hope everyone has been well! 

For our next project till the end of November, we are partnering and supporting The Night Ministry, a Chicago based organization supporting the homeless and communities struggling with poverty.

We have been told the most requested items are the following: 

• hats 
• gloves
• scarves 

Here are the specifications we were given as well: 
1) Items should be made in adult sizes.  
2) Any pattern can be used — Ravelry website has several free patterns 
3) Any fiber (wool, wool blends) as long as the fiber is not itchy.

Although no specific dimensions were given for the items, feel free to check in with us! Our hope is to spread wamrth and love through our donations especially during these difficult times. Please check the previous blog post on dropping off projects at the box in Brighton Park Branch Library if you are able! 

Please feel free to continue or pursue projects from previous months as we are still collecting them! We are still accepting letters as well. Feel free to fill out the form if you prefer to type your letter(s): https://forms.gle/ebxZEAKHMED6VHN58

For further questions or arising conflicts, please contact any of the leaders. We appreciate the consistent hardwork from everyone!

Thank you so much! - Knitting, ILY Board

Thank you to everyone's dedication for the month of August. We had a total of 166 additional projects! 

For our next project, we will be supporting the Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook, Illinois. We have been asked to knit hats, lap blankets, and scarves for their patients using the following guidelines: 

• Yarn should be soft and machine washabale 
• Knit hats appropriate for adults (small, medium, or large)

Although no specific dimensions were given for blankets or scarves, feel free to check in with us! We hope to bring warmth for those impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Especially during the winter, the patient rooms can get chilly! 

For beginners, consider this tutorial for knitting a hat:  https://youtu.be/77AcxpRRiNY (note: circular needles can make knitting a hat easier!) 

For those who have been holding on to their projects and are able to drop off projects, we have secured a donation box at the Brighton Park Branch Library. Please read the following before dropping off your project(s): 

• Projects must be in a bag along with a note
• The note must list the following: 
  • Your full name
  • Organization(s) you're donating to
  • Fiber content of yarn
  • Optional: directions for washing the yarn
• If you cannot find the box, please refer to the front desk. Please wear a mask to ensure safety as well!​

Please feel free to continue or pursue projects from previous months as we are still collecting them! We are still accepting letters as well. Feel free to fill out the form if you prefer to type your letter(s): https://forms.gle/ebxZEAKHMED6VHN58

For further questions or arising conflicts, please contact us. We appreciate everyone's time and hard work, stay safe and stay positive! 

Thank you! - Knitting, ILY Board

Thank you to everyone who has contributed their time and efforts for the letters and the Snuggles Project. For July, we had a total of 143 projects! 

For our next project, we will be supporting Heartland Hospice Serving Chicagoland Central by knitting blankets for their patients. 

We are asking our members to knit or crochet one 15x15 inch  square this month. Please feel free to knit together a 30x30 inch blanket if you have the time. We would love to have full blanket donations. A 30 inch square can be used as a wheelchair blanket! 

Please use Patriotic colors for your project if you have any. These blankets will serve as lap blankets for Veteran patients. 

Because of the pandemic, please hold on to your projects and we will get in contact with you regarding project collections. Please contact us with any questions or arising conflicts! 

Thank you! - Knitting, ILY Board

For those without knitting or crocheting supplies but would like to make a difference, please consider writing a letter to send some love to the elderly. All letters will be collected and sent to the Love For The Elderly organization. We love the organization's mission and hope to help fight loneliness, an issue that is frequently overlooked. Please go under our Projects tab for more details on how to write a letter. 

If you would prefer to type out a letter, please fill out the form and we will help to write your letter! https://forms.gle/ebxZEAKHMED6VHN58

Thank you! - Knitting, ILY Board

For our first project, we are supporting the Snuggles Project by knitting blankets for local animal shelters. The following are the guidelines for donation from the Snuggles Project:

- 14” x 14” for cats and small animals
- 24” x 24” for cats and small to medium dogs
- 36” x 36” for medium to large dogs
- They could be made out of acrylic yarn or cotton in any pattern or color that you choose. 
- The ends should be double-knotted and fastened off long and woven through the work to prevent unraveling from washing and wear.
- We also accept donations of WASHED towels/blankets! Please contact us about these donations through email or the form on the home page.

We are asking our volunteers to knit either one 14'' x 14'' blanket or 6'' x 6'' squares (3-4 of them) to knit together into a patchwork blanket by the end of the month of July. For every 6'' x 6'' square constitutes a project! 

Please send us a picture of your final product! We will get in contact with you to pick up your finished projects/donations! 
Thank you - Knitting, ILY Board

For beginners, consider the links below if you need help: 

• https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Knit-a-Blanket/
• www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSZARCc5KSoRQGQY3LfbBgkxXsZEq2r2_

For more information about the Snuggles Project, check the links below: 

• Guidelines: https://www.snugglesproject.org/docs/SP_projectsheet_20190603.pdf 
• Official website: https://www.snugglesproject.org/