Photos of two of the happy recipients of the Red Scarf Project.
Red Scarf Project a huge success last year, so let's do it again!!
We are starting the Red Scarf Project (matching hat optional) earlier this year per all your requests. For those of you who are new to this project, it was started by the Orphan Foundation of America in 2005. Knitters and crocheters across the country sent thousands of hand knit and crocheted scarves to be sent with valentine packages for foster youth that have cycled out of foster care and started colleges and universities. This year, all donated scarves (matching hats) will stay in Oregon and go to Oregon foster youth. The deadline for completed scarves and hats is January 31st.
A big Thank you to the knitter’s, crocheter’s and the Oregonian for making last year’s Red Scarf Project a huge success. We shipped over 610 scarves!
Yarn Garden’s Valentine’s day message to the red scarf recipients: Your life is just beginning and we want you to know that whatever dreams you have, we’re behind you. We’re knitting and crocheting red scarves for you that send our love and wishes for your success in every stitch. We know you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. Think of us cheering you on every time you wrap that red scarf around your neck.
And we ought to know. Oregon’s governor, Ted Kulongoski, began his life humbly, growing up in a Catholic boys’ home in St. Louis.
Pattern for knititng your own Red Scarf
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 bully 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.
Finished and tagged:
Yarn ends should be securely sewn in. Attach a tag with your first name, city, and group affiliation, if any. Donors have also included washing instructions, messages of encouragement, gift cards, burger bucks, books of stamps, etc.
See more information about Orphan Foundation of America’s Red Scarf Project