Charity Challenge | Wool Durham

Category Archives: Charity Challenge

Charity Knitters, Start Your Engines

November 14, 2011

Don’t forget: my second annual Charity Challenge for knitters and crocheters is in full swing. Knit or crochet something for someone in need before December 31 and you’ll earn a chance to win prizes. Check the contest page for full details.

I’ll be announcing prizes throughout the coming weeks and today I’m excited to bring you news of the first two prizes, donated by two awesome sponsors!

SpinSpanSpun (@Etsy)

Chicago-based Myrtille sells gorgeous handspun yarn and handdyed yarn and fleece on her Etsy site. She has graciously donated a gift card for her shop and free shipping to one lucky Charity Challenge winner! Myrtille’s yarn and fiber stands out for its stunning colorways.

Three Bags Full (@Etsy)

Michele from Three Bags Full is based in Maine, where she makes fabulous cotton project bags that can help keep you organized. Each bag is fully lined with coordinating fabric and includes a secure zipper pull with a handmade bead. On the inside, the bags have an elastic holder for knitting needles and a pocket for stitch markers and notions. Michele’s bags would make great gifts, and not just for knitters. Michele has graciously donated the fun tropical print bag pictured to one Charity Challenge winner!

Thank you so much to these small business owners who are making this giveaway possible through their support. Please consider visiting their shops for gifts or treats for yourself. If you are a vendor or pattern designer and would like to support the Charity Challenge this year, please email me at wooldurham@gmail.com.

So are you getting excited about the contest now that you’ve seen some prizes?! Stop by on Wednesday and I’ll be sharing some links to help you find projects that need help from knitters and crocheters like you.

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Charity Challenge Tags: contest, prizes

Announcing the 2011 Charity Challenge!

November 1, 2011

Today is November 1st and that means it is time to kick off the 2011 Charity Challenge!

I’m hosting the Charity Challenge to encourage knitters and crocheters to donate a little bit of your time this holiday season to make something warm to help someone in need. The concept is simple: Each time you knit or crochet an item for a good cause (of your choice) between today and December 31, 2011 will earn you an entry in a prize drawing.

More details about how the contest works:

You knit or crochet a project of your choice and donate it to a charity of your choice between November 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. Throughout the contest, I’ll be featuring charities and projects to inspire you.

To enter the contest, you must complete two simple steps 1) fill out a quick online entry form and 2) submit a photo to me via Flickr, Ravelry, or email.

I’ll choose prize winners in the first week of January 2012 using a random number generator.

Prizes will be announced soon!

To keep things fair, here are some ground rules:

The contest is open to knitters and crocheters anywhere in the world. Participants outside the U.S. are welcome!
Entries must be handknit or crocheted. One project = one entry. However, since not all projects are equal, if you knit/crochet a project that requires more than 400 yards of yarn, I will enter your name in the contest twice (i.e. a baby hat or afghan square will count for 1 entry, a pair of full size adult socks will count for 2).
Entrants may have a maximum of 10 entries. If you make more than 10 items, I encourage you to share your photos via Flickr to inspire the rest of us.
Your entry MUST include an email address where I can reach you in January. If you win a prize and I can’t reach you within the first two weeks of January, I’ll pull another name.
As the contest host, I am not eligible to enter the contest or win a prize.

Links to Enter (in case you missed them above):

Start by filling out a quick Online Entry Form.

Then share a photo on Flickr. Or send it to me in Ravelry or via email to wooldurham@gmail.com

Check my Contest page any time throughout the contest for details on rules and prizes.

Need some ideas to get you started? Check out some of last year’s entries.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

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Charity Challenge, crochet, Knitting

Coming Attractions

October 5, 2011

With the dramatic increase in academic demands on my time lately, much of my knitting has shifted from actual to imaginary. After experiencing the soul suck that was almost one entire week with no knitting, in which I became a real grouch of a person, I have decided I will be carving out time each day to knit at least 25 yards of something for the preservation of my health and sanity/marriage/attitude toward life and humanity in general. However, at that pace, I have to say that I hope that y’all are ready to hear a lot more from me about works in progress than about finished objects in the next few weeks.

As part of my ongoing ~~struggle~~ efforts to decrease the size of my yarn collection, I have been attempting to match up yarn I already own with projects that I want to knit. This idea was the fantastic suggestion of reader Alli and I have to say, it is really helping me get excited about the yarn I already have on hand. I’ve been stealing little study breaks and moments between classes to surf Ravelry and build a realistic queue.

Here are three of the projects that have me the most excited:

Cria by Ysolda Teague in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light

I love the look of the garter stitch yoke on this adorable cardigan and I think it will be very soft and cozy in this alpaca blend yarn.

Effortless Cardigan by Hannah Fettig in Mountain View Farms Merino

{source: Hannah Fettig/Knitbot}

I’ll be making this great on-trend cardigan for my sister this fall out of some fabulous, soft dove gray merino wool that I purchased at Rhinebeck many moons ago.

Redwork Cowl and Mitts in Classic Elite Fresco

{source: Veronik Avery/Knits 24/7}

My version of this set will use the same yarn as Veronik’s but in turquoise and rust.

One other exciting coming attraction to note:

Wool Durham’s Charity Challenge 2011 will launch on November 1st this year and run through December 31. This year knitters outside the United States will be eligible for prizes, too, so everyone start thinking about what you would like to make for charity. Full details on how to enter will be posted on November 1.

What new projects are getting you excited this fall?

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Charity Challenge, Works in Progress

Charity Challenge 2010 Prize Winners!

January 3, 2011

I’m officially declaring Wool Durham’s Charity Challenge 2010 a success. The contest racked up more than 250 entries, or, in other words, you guys knit and crocheted about 250 objects to help others this fall! Well done, everyone!

You can see a few of the fantastic hats, scarves, blankets, shawls, mittens and other things that everyone made in on Flickr. Prepare to be inspired. I’m gathering a list of links to all the various organizations to which you all donated and I’ll post that on my website soon in case it is helpful to anyone.

This morning, with the help of the number generator at Random.org, I drew the names of prize winners. Drum roll please . . .

Bonnie J. and Lee G. will each receive a copy of Comfort Knitting and Crochet: Afghan, generously donated by Berroco
Sinclair S. won a free pattern, courtesy of Magpie Patterns
Pat S. will receive a skein of Malabrigo Sock yarn
Sharon S., Susan G., and Katrina R. will each receive a “Try Dyeing” kit with sock yarn and Kool Aid
Yvonne S. will receive organic soap and body butter from Moksa Organics

I’ve contacted the winners via email. Winners please reply to me as soon as you receive my note so I can get your prizes sent out right away.

Thanks to everyone who participated!! If you didn’t win a prize this year, don’t lose heart. I intend to run a 2011 Charity Challenge starting in October so watch the blog for details in the fall.

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Charity Challenge