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April 17th the OKC YWCA is having a 2 Minute 5 K.  This is an event to raise funds and awareness to combat sexual assault.

We can help!  There are a couple of ways…

You can register to walk or run at: YWCA 2 Minute 5 K registration

 

Or, you can come to the Threads of Compassion OKC booth at the event.  While there you can work on a scarf and tell other people about Threads.  If you can do this, please rsvp at our facebook event!

This looks like a neat opportunity to be part of a cool event that could really make a difference.

I hope to see you there!

Making scarves for Threads of Compassion OKC has given me the opportunity to try out lots of different patterns. 

I think I’ve found a favorite… it looks nice, is easy, and works up quick.

The pattern is available online for free at Simple Scarf Pattern you just go there and click on the red text that says “free pattern instructions”.

It seems to look nice in various types of yarn.  I like both the ones that are a single color and the multi-color ones as pictured above. 

This one took me about 2 evenings to make (while watching TV).  I used an h hook and most of a  6 oz skein of Red Heart Super Saver yarn that had been given to me by a friend for this project.

If you decide to try it out, please let me know what you think!

If you’re like me, you may be wondering, “what’s happening with the scarves we’ve given, do they make a difference?”

To answer this question, I’d like to share the following that I received from the coordinator at the YWCA this week:

We have been getting such a wonderful response from the clients when they receive their scarf. Some have shed tears and some hold it close like a teddy bear. All have been grateful.

So, thank you to all who are helping with Threads of Compassion OKC.  Whether you’ve donated yarn, or scarves, or have helped spread the word –you are making a difference!

In the last 2 months I have used 4 different brands of yarn that are all 100% acrylic.  The difference between them is amazing!

Not only do they each have a different price, they have a pretty different feel.

“Red Heart Super Saver” is just that –a super saver.  It’s not a bad yarn, but compared to the others it is scratchy.  It can be washed and dried several times to soften up, but who wants to take time to do several washings before donating?

“Vanna’s Choice” and “Loops & Threads Impeccable” seemed very similar.  Both have a nice feel, but a are a bit pricey compared to my favorite.  And, the Loops & Threads tended to get tangled kind of easily.

“I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby has become my favorite.  It’s nice and soft to work with, comes in a variety of colors and is affordable.

Let me know if you have a favorite yarn, I’d love to compare!

And it’s JJ!  Her name was drawn from all the entries in the scarf giveaway.  She entered by posting it on her facebook status February 24th. 

JJ, let me know what color you’d like and I’ll get it started.

Thank you everyone who entered!

We started a facebook group for Threads of Compassion OKC. 

It just seemed another good way to help get the word out, and to let those of you who are making scarves post photos of them if you’d like.  We hope that you’ll check out and join the group and invite others too!

There’s still time to enter the scarf giveaway.  Just check out this post for details:  Scarf Giveaway

Yet another really cool thing has happened…. my cousin Valerie lives in Indianapolis and has been following the beginning of Threads of Compassion OKC. She asked me if we could use yarn – of course I said yes!

The deal is that she bought some awhile back planning to learn to knit. But, then her jewelry making business kicked in and she ran out of time for a new hobby. So, not only does she make really cool stuff (you can see it at  Valerie’s etsy shop) but she also gave us some cool supplies!  

I’m confident we’ll be able to put them to good use!

I’ve been wondering about what happens to the scarves after we deliver them to the YWCA. 

Since it all stays pretty anonymous it’s hard to know what kind of impact Threads of Compassion OKC is having.  So, it was nice to hear from the Crisis Advocacy Services Coordinator last week after we dropped of 17 scarves.  She sent this email:

I received the scarves! Thank you so much for organizing such a beautiful project! Our clients are so grateful when we hand them a scarf and explain the purpose and where they came from. They are relieved to be reminded that they are not alone. What you are doing is empowering, and assisting them along their journey to survival.

There are 3 simple steps to enter the free scarf contest:

1 Post information (example below) about Threads of Compassion OKC on your blog or, post a note in your status on Facebook with a link to the Threads OKC blog.

2 Add a comment to this post letting us know which you did (and how to find it if it’s a blog).

3 Email me at [email protected] to let me know you’ve entered the contest.

I’ll take entries up until 7:00am on Sunday March 7^th. Then, at our work day in the afternoon I’ll draw a winner.

The winner gets to pick the pattern from those that I have made previously for this project and any color they like.

Also, you can get multiple entries by donating a scarf starting today until the drawing at the work day.

Here’s some info about Threads to post on your blog –just choose as much or little as you like, please do be sure to include a link to the blog http://blog.threadsokc.org 

Threads of Compassion is a loosely connected group of survivors of sexual violence who desire to offer comfort and support to recent victims. The idea is simple. Anyone whose life has been affected by sexual assault or abuse (either through a direct experience or through supporting a survivor) is welcome to knit or crochet a scarf which in turn will be given to a victim of sexual violence when they enter the hospital for emergency treatment.

One of the main goals behind Threads of Compassion is to break through this silence by acknowledging the pain. The gift of a scarf not only shows the knitters/crocheters concern for the victim, but also expresses their sorrow for what has happened. Each scarf is made by someone who wishes to provide a small amount of comfort against the pain being faced, and by doing so, lets the victim know they are not alone. The scarves are tangible objects that can be held, wrapped around the neck or shoulders, with the deeper meaning known only by the wearer. As each victim touches the threads of the scarves they receive, they are connecting with someone who cares about what has happened to them. A huge message given through a few threads of yarn.

The added beauty of the scarves is that the gift is actually two-fold. Through making the scarves, survivors are provided an opportunity to help other victims (in a very non-threatening way). Everyone remains anonymous. Those who create the scarves never meet the specific people who receive their scarves. That is all handled through the local rape crisis center.  Each scarf will have a small card attached to it that explains the idea behind Threads of Compassion and information on how to contact their local crisis center if they need further help or support.

If you would like to contribute a scarf, please do. We would be honored to receive them. Anyone whose life has been affected by sexual assault or abuse is welcome to make and send a scarf. Whether scarves are done by survivors, or friends and family members of survivors, it does not matter, (scarves can also be made in honor of friends who were raped, family members who suffered sexual abuse, etc.).

I must admit this idea is not original, I saw it on another blog and thought it was worth copying.  I’m excited to see how it works –it could become something we do every couple of months.  We’ll see… 

It was so cool to come home and find this on the door!

One of the students here at OC took time to finish a scarf for Threads of Compassion amidst her schoolwork and other activities. 

She even delivered it to our apartment!