A few weeks ago I had a yarn giveaway on this blog. To enter, readers leave a comment telling me why they should win. I thought it would be fun to see what silly reasons people gave, but the entries damn-near broke my heart.
I got lots and lots of comments from knitters who’d been out of work for months, laid off due to the state of the economy. Others were in college or grad school and just couldn’t afford yarn and text books. One or two were single moms trying to hold it all together.
To a knitter, there is nothing worse than not having yarn. Wait, that’s not true. The death of a loved one is worse. Eviction is worse. Not knowing how your going to feed your kid is worse. But knitting is a small comfort that can help make all those other things slightly more bearable.
I had a seed of an idea and I took it to my ravelry group to see what they thought. As always, I was humbled by their generosity and kindness. As a group, we came up with Yarn Storming.
We’re collecting un-wanted stash yarn and sending it out anonymously to people who can use it. Shareholder Nancy Pope has graciously agreed to organize this project. (Nancy and her family are very dear to me; they are very positive and always willing to pitch in and help. I wish they were my next-door neighbors. In fact, I wish they were everybody’s next-door-neighbors. The world needs a whole lot more of them.)
Secret Agent Nancy is also collecting names (and addresses if you have them) of people you think could use a little yarn love in their mailbox. If you don’t have an address but you have an email, Nancy will email the person on some pretext and get their mailing address.
Along with the yarn, the recipient will receive the ridiculously awesome yarn storming logo above, created by our dear Secret Agent Lisa. (The world needs more Lisas, too.)
If you’d like to become a Yarn Storming Secret Agent, send an email to yarnstorming AT fiberfarm DOT com. If you have stash you’d like to donate to brighten someone’s day, just ask Special Agent Nancy for the mailing address to send it to. Use the same address to submit the name of someone who needs Yarn Storming.
EDITED TO ADD: Yarn Storming now has a ravelry group of it’s very own!
P.S. Spinners are included in this project. Please feel free to donate spinning stash and to nominate spinners as well.
P.P.S As this project grows, we’ll be needing more help to keep it organized. If you’d like to volunteer just shoot us an email at the address above.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
This is such a wonderful idea, I will have to look through my little stash and see what I can find.
I have a challenging-to-manage chronic medical condition and find knitting and spinning enormously helpful in keeping me centered and able to cope, i.e., I know the power of fiber.
I’m fortunate to have a stash and grateful for the opportunity to share some of it in this way. What a terrific idea! And I *love* the clever logo! I’ll be emailing S.A. Nancy.
I am so glad to be able to ‘share the stash’ for those who need a pick-me-up and especially so in a fiber-related way!
Love the logo – it’s awesome -
tennismom on Rav (tho I’m not real Rav-savvy)
what a wonderful idea!!
Hi, Susan, et. al, I was really happy to see the group on ravelry about Yarn Storming. Such an awsome idea and I love the logo, also. I’m a shareholder for the next round of yarn, I guess it will be ready in the fall? Soo excited! My sister and I came up from Westchester to the shearing day celebration in May and we had a great time. She commented that it was like a mini-Woodstock. I would like to volunteer my help when you need it for future Yarn Storming. Let me know. Thanks, Karen
how flippin awesome
brilliant idea!
love…share it!
rona
What a lovely idea, and what a lovely lady you are for thinking of it. I love knitters & spinners! They are some of the most generous people out there.
what a great idea! i’ll be bringing a bunch with me when i come to shepherding camp. see you a week from tomorrow! not that i’m counting down or anything
Hi Susan
Would love to share some of my stash. Shoot me an email with an address and I’ll send it off-Gina
My husband just forwarded your email. He knits…I spin, or rather, spun, before kids, I have a lot of roving in deep storage which I can’t get to right now, but I have a little ball of lovely white roving that I’d love to donate to someone in need. please let me know how and where.
Jen
I am thrilled that I was the recipient of a “yarn care package”. I received it on Friday and was so excited to open up all the goodies…now I have to figure out what I am going to knit with all this yarn. Thank you to Nancy Pope and everyone who contributed or had anything to do with this. Sure lifted my spirits.
Gracia (in Plano, Texas)
Wonderful Idea! How can I get on board with my friends (both those that need yarn and those of us who have too much!)
I’m all teary thinking about how awesome it would be to find some yarn and that wonderful logo in my mailbox if I were super down on my luck. I am so emailing Nancy! The farm and everyone involved rocks my world. Have I told you that recently Susan??
I checked out your house on apartment therapy and I have one thing to say….Can my family and I come live with you
It’s beautiful!!
Love the Yarn Storming idea!!
What a great idea. Just send the address and I will mail a stash.
What a cool idea! I’d love to see the reactions of the people who get yarn stormed!
What an absolutely lovely idea. I’d love to share some of my stash to brighten someone’s day! I’m off to send you an e-mail!
Who in need of 4 ply? Will be cleaning out a bin of yarn of my mother-in-law
please send me address – I have alot of “stashed” yarn to donate!
Tell me what kinds of yarn aren’t being donated but are being asked for (sock yarns, lace weights, worsteds) and let me cull my stash. Send me an addy, please.
I would love to join, your group is amazing !!! xx