Red Scarf Project a huge success, so let's do it again!!

If you are new to this project it was started in 2005, by Orphans of America (OFA).  They launched a unique initiative to warm the hearts (and necks) of college-bound foster youth. They began taking donations of handmade red scarves to put into their Valentine's Day Care Packages.

Word spread quickly around the charitable knitting/crocheting community. In the first year, they took in 3,500 scarves. The following year, that number swelled to over 15,000.

Due to the overwhelming response, OFA had to scale the program back in order to handle the demand. For the past several years all the lovely red scarves turned into Yarn Garden have gone to foster youth in Oregon. Below you will find some guidelines and links to patterns. In support of our community and this great project look for a sale on red yarn in January!

This years deadline for Red Scarf submissions is January 31st.

Read the article about the project that ran in the Oregonian.

 

Red Scarf
Guidelines:
Scarf Size:
Approximately 60" long and 5" to 8" wide. Scarves should be long enough to be wrapped around the neck, with tails long enough to be tied in the front.

Style: 
Think unisex collegiate. Ask yourself if your son, brother, and/or husband would enjoy receiving the scarf. Fringes are optional. Your scarf should drape and tie easily.

Yarn:
Preferably DK, double fingering-weight, worsted weight, or light bulky yarns. No laceweight, super-chunky, or mohair yarns as there are many people who find mohair too itchy. The yarn should be soft.

Color:
Red! However, this could mean burgundy, cherry, russet, red stripes with other colors, or multicolor hues including red. Other unisex colors, including black, navy, teal, olive or gold are also welcome.

Yarn ends should be securely sewn in. We will have tags for you to fill out saying "Handmade for You" with your first name, city, and group affiliation, if any. Donors have also included washing instructions, and messages of encouragement.

Links:
Irish Hiking Scarf
My So Called Scarf
Basket Scarf
Reversible Cable Red Scarf
Palindrome - A Reversible Cable Scarf
Casual Scarf

 

See more information about Orphan Foundation of America’s Red Scarf Project






Check out the pattern for our other Charity Knitting project, Helmet Liners for our troops in the Middle East.