The Weekly Stitch

Good morning ladies!

Hope everyone enjoyed watching the Super Bowl last night - I personally didn't care much who won but I enjoyed the multiple hours of knitting while watching the game.

Be sure to check out our website at www.yarnsofhope.org - it has been updated at long last with our logo, some new pictures and a link to our blog as well as a link to a new online store with logo items. This store is a service provided by our website provider. We were able to create a few basic items with the YOH logo and they are now available for ordering by anyone. We do not make any proceeds from the sales but it's a pretty cool way to offer a few logo items without ordering in bulk to do so. Let me know what you think!

Here is what is going on with YOH this week:

Meetings this week:

·         Tuesday - 10AM in the Hospitality Room at FBC McKinney

·         Wednesday - 6:15 in the Fireside Room at FBC McKinney

Current Projects:

·        Chemo caps and scarves - for adults, kids and babies. To be donated to Texas Oncology McKinney, Medical City Children's Hospital, and UT Southwestern Moncrief Center.

·        Blankets and knitted/crocheted toys - to be donated to Medical City Children's Hospital.

·        Bereavement Garments for Medical City Children's Hospital Labor & Delivery Department: This is a brand new project that will be so meaningful to the parents of these little babies who passed away. We will be making hats, gowns and blankets all in the 2 pound or less size. Let me know if you need patterns as well as examples of what they are looking for.

Thanks so much to each of you ladies for all that you do for our group.

Gina

The Weekly Stitch

Hello all,

I have to say that in the 3 plus years since Yarns of Hope started on our mission, I have been overwhelmed many times - overwhelmed that so many of you ladies have joined our group and work endlessly to provide warmth and hope to those in need, overwhelmed that we have close to 100 ladies on our email list now, overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and strangers in supporting our group, and overwhelmed at all of the opportunities that God has brought our way to help others. This last month, though, I have been overwhelmed to the extreme once again. First, one of our dear sweet members, Sherri Jurak, asked that her friends and family honor her birthday with monetary and yarn donations to Yarns of Hope. The final total was $450 and 51 skeins of yarn. Impressive doesn't even begin to cover it. With these funds, we have already purchased a substantial amount of yarn to make more hats, scarves, etc. and there is still plenty left over for more yarn and supplies! If you haven't seen all of our great new yarn, be sure to come to one of our meetings soon. Secondly, just this last week, another one of our dear members, LaDonna Edwards, emailed to say that she had "quite a few" hats, scarves and toys ready to donate to our group. "Quite a few" turned out to be over 200 adult and children's hats, a whole box of scarves, and the cutest bag of hand crocheted toys you have ever seen. I had so much fun going through all of these offerings and sorting them before taking them to the cancer centers and children's hospital today. Also, the nurses and staff who received these items couldn't say enough great things about them. (I might add that items made by the rest of you sweet ladies were also delivered today and all were lovingly oohed and aahed over!) Thanks to both of you ladies, especially, and to the rest of you that continue to make Yarns of Hope the success that it is. Your hard work and dedication is amazing and such a blessing.

Now, here is what is going on with YOH this week:

• Tuesday - 10AM in the Hospitality Room at FBC McKinney
• Wednesday - 6:15 in the Fireside Room at FBC McKinney

Current Projects:

• Chemo caps and scarves - for adults, kids and babies. To be donated to Texas Oncology McKinney, Medical City Children's Hospital, and UT Southwestern Moncrief Center.
• Blankets and knitted/crocheted toys - to be donated to Medical City Children's Hospital.
• Bereavement Garments for Medical City Children's Hospital Labor & Delivery Department: This is a brand new project that will be so meaningful to the parents of these little babies who passed away. We will be making hats, gowns and blankets all in the 2 pound or less size. Come to one of our meetings this week for patterns as well as examples of what they are looking for.

All of you ladies are such a blessing to me - thank you for all that you do for our group!

Gina

The Weekly Stitch

Wow - what a beautiful day we have been blessed with! Makes me want to start on spring and summer knitting projects. However, I have no doubt that we will be needing all of our warm woolies before too long. Which means that we still need warm hats for all of the chemo patients, too!

Here is what is going on with YOH this week:

Weekly meetings:

• Tuesday - 10AM in the Hospitality Room at FBC McKinney
• Wednesday - 6:15 in the Fireside Room at FBC McKinney (We will still be meeting even though most of the church will be participating in Concert of Prayer.)

Ongoing projects:

• Chemo caps and scarves - for adults, kids and babies. To be donated to Texas Oncology McKinney, Medical City Children's Hospital, and UT Southwestern Moncrief Center.
• Blankets and knitted/crocheted toys - to be donated to Medical City Children's Hospital.
• Knitting Club at Finch Elementary - Yes, we still need additional teachers. As of right now, there are 3 of us that are able to help regularly - which just isn't enough for 15 anxious and excited beginners. If you are at all interested, please let me or Becca Masters know. Any skill level is welcome and you don't have to commit to every week.

Also, we are very excited to announce that Kelli Phelan has opened her new store, Cape Cross Stitch! Please plan to join her at the Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, January 28th from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Cape Cross Stitch! Register for prizes and enjoy refreshments. All are welcome!

Cape Cross Stitch

6401 Eldorado Parkway #115*
McKinney, TX 75070
214.620.2030

*Cape Cross Stitch is located on the first floor, west side of Yeager Office Suites. This is just behind the Sonic at Eldorado Parkway and Hudson Crossing.

God bless and hope to see you all soon!

GinaHammack

The Weekly Stitch

Hello all,

Happy Monday to all of you! Hope you've enjoyed MLK Day and this gorgeous weather. Here is what is happening with YOH this week.

Weekly meetings

• Tuesday - 10AM in the Hospitality Room at FBC McKinney
• Wednesday - 6:15 in the Fireside Room at FBC McKinney (Regular Wednesday night activities have resumed, including childcare and kids' program as well as Family Meal at 5:00)

Ongoing projects

• Chemo caps and scarves - for adults, kids and babies. To be donated to Texas Oncology McKinney, Medical City Children's Hospital, and UT Southwestern Moncrief Center.
• Blankets and knitted/crocheted toys - to be donated to Medical City Children's Hospital.
• Knitting Club at Finch Elementary - the girls were off to a great start before the holidays. I can't wait to see what they can accomplish this year! We can still use more volunteers to teach as there have been a couple of times we have had to cancel because of lack of teachers. It's such a shame to have to do that - which is why we can use ANY of you to help. Any skill level is welcome and you don't have to help every week.

Have a great week and hope to see all of you soon!

Gina

Paying It Forward

Here is a wonderful note from our own Sharon Hutchinson who attends the Wednesday evening get-together.  Thank you Sharon for sharing your own gift and making a difference within your family which has become infectious across the country!


Gina, I don’t know how soon I’ll get to come back to the knitting group, so I wanted to go ahead and tell you how much I appreciate what all you ladies are doing! As you know, I joined last summer in order to teach my grandson how to knit. In October, I visited my niece in Oklahoma and showed her my loom knitting projects. A couple of weeks later, I got a text from her saying “I just bought my first set of looms and just knitted my first two rows.” The next morning I received a text saying “Finished Brooklyn’s hat last night and starting on Lucy’s.” (Brooklyn and Lucy are her granddaughters.) Then about noon that day I received another text saying “I want to call in a substitute and go home and knit!” (She’s a first grade teacher.) Then she told me she wanted to make a hat for each of her first graders for Christmas. I discouraged the idea, but to no avail – she did it! There was a book she wanted to read them about a cap, and a few days before Christmas, I received a text that said simply “23 hats!”

The really neat thing about this is not only that my niece got “hooked” on knitting as an indirect result of Yarns of Hope, but that the first graders in Bartlesville, Oklahoma are in the “needy” category and really benefited from this gift. I believe it was Becca Masters who first told me about Knifty Knitters and brought up the image on her cell phone for me. I am eternally grateful! I gave caps to all of my family at Christmas, but that pales in comparison to what my niece Jennifer did. My 4 grandchildren, ages 5 and 7, were running around the house pretending their caps were magic and making up special games. So you might say that Yarns of Hope is truly magical! My husband says I’m a lot calmer since I learned to knit. When my kids asked what I wanted for Christmas, I said yarn, and yarn I got – enough baby alpaca and other wools to last me for months! I also have quite a stash that I’ve picked up at bargains, and I want to share it with YOH when you are ready for more.

So – thank you Gina, Becca, Jennifer, and everyone else who has been so kind and patient with me and my looms. Thank you for “paying it forward.”

Happy New Year, God bless you, and hope to see you soon!

Sharon Hutchison

The Weekly Stitch

Due to technical difficulities, this message did not go out on Monday.  Sorry!

Hello all,

Happy Monday to you! What a wet and cold day it has been - a great day to sit by the fire and knit/crochet; which is just what I've done today, or at least part of it. I also have to say that one of my favorite things about knitting is giving away the things I've made, especially to my close friends. I had lunch today with my best girlfriends and gave each of them one of the ear warmers/headbands I've been working on since Christmas. They were a big hit and it was so much fun watching my friends model them. It gives me a warm feeling knowing that I can help keep their ears warm when sitting out at one of our kids' games or practices. And, just think, that is what our group is all about - giving away hats and scarves to those in need of a little warmth and love. We may never meet the people that receive our items, but I know that they are can feel the love we put into them.

Here is what is going on with YOH this week:

 Weekly meetings:

• Tuesday - 10AM in the Hospitality Room at FBC McKinney
• Wednesday - 6:15 in the Fireside Room at FBC McKinney (Regular Wednesday night activities have resumed, including childcare and kids' program as well as Family Meal at 5:00)

Ongoing projects:

• Chemo caps and scarves - for adults, kids and babies. To be donated to Texas Oncology McKinney, Medical City Children's Hospital, and UT Southwestern Moncrief Center.
• Blankets and knitted/crocheted toys - to be donated to Medical City Children's Hospital.
• Knitting Club at Finch Elementary - the girls were off to a great start before the holidays. I can't wait to see what they can accomplish this year! We can still use more volunteers to teach as there have been a couple of times we have had to cancel because of lack of teachers. It's such a shame to have to do that - which is why we can use ANY of you to help. Any skill level is welcome and you don't have to be help every week.

God bless each of you,

Gina

Yarn Sales!

Did you receive gift cards at the local chain craft stores and are ready to start shopping?  Here are a few of the great deals going on this week!

Michaels
There are select yarns that are 50% off including:
Loops & Threads Pom Pom, Country Loom, Bunny Tail, Snuggly Wuggly, Charisma, Cozy Wool, Bernat Satin, Vanna's Choice Glamor

JoAnn's
Several yarns are buy one get the second 50% off including:
Lion Brand, Caron, Sensations, Red Heart, Bernat, Deborah Norville, Lily & Paton's yarns

Hobby Lobby
Baby Bee Baby Yarns are $4.22
Vanna's Choice yarns are $3.33

Don't forget to also go online to the stores to check their coupons.  Hobby Lobby will only accept their own coupons. If you have a smart phone, JoAnn's & Michaels will accept theirs and competitor coupons from your phone.  JoAnn's has an app so be sure to download that as that is where their online coupons are located.

Are you aware of other yarn or notion sales?  Feel free to add to the comments below!

The Weekly Stitch

Happy New Year!

Wow- it's seems really strange to say that!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's celebration.  We had a crazy Christmas with my whole family here at out home (lots of fun especially since my 90 year old grandmother was able to join us), and a quiet and relaxed New Year's spent at our lake cabin.  Now it's back to regular routines and schedules - a relief in some ways but sad in others.

Here is what is going on with YOH this week!

Weekly Meetings

• Tuesday - 10AM in the Hospitality Room at FBC McKinney
• Wednesday - 6:15 in the Fireside Room at FBC McKinney (Regular Wednesday night activities will be resuming, including childcare, kids' program and Family Meal at 5:00.)

Ongoing Projects

• Chemo caps and scarves - for adults, kids and babies.  To be donated to Texas Oncology McKinney, Medical City Children's Hospital, and UT Southwestern Moncrieff Center.
• Blankets and knitted/crocheted toys - to be donated to Medical City Children's Hospital.
• Knitting Club at Finch Elementary - the girls were off to a great start before the holidays.  I can't wait to see what they can accomplish this year!  We can still use more volunteers to teach as there have been a couple of times we have had to cancel because of lack of teachers.  It's such a shame to have to do that - which is why we can use ANY of you to help.  Any skill level and it doesn't have to be every week.

God bless each of you!

Gina

The Weekly Stitch

Good morning and Merry Christmas!

Wow - less than one week until Christmas! And, no, I don't have all of my shopping done. The boys and I plan to knock it out over the next couple of days - now, if I could just find time to finish up my last minute knitting projects.

Here is what is going on with YOH the next couple of weeks:

• Last meeting of the year - Tuesday, December 20th, in the Hospitality Room at FBC
  McKinney.
• No meeting this week on Wednesday night and no Tuesday or Wednesday meetings next week.
• Meetings will start back as usual the week of January 2nd.

And, here is a thank you note to show how we spread Christmas cheer every day of the
year:

Just a note of thanks to your organization and the group of wonderful ladies who knit and crochet the beautiful cancer caps. Denise Kurtz (Member of In Stitches in McKinney
Meetup.com group) brought me three of them and I found them so pretty and well
done. I had one on my head immediately! I will wear them proudly, at least
until my hair grows back again - and that may take some time! If I happen to
bump into one of you and you recognize your hat, please stop me and say hi.
Thanks again. Corinne Lageose, Anna, TX.

Merry Christmas to each of you and I pray that you have a Blessed Christmas!

Gina

The Weekly Stitch

Merry Christmas, ladies!
I just love this time of the year - the twinkle of lights, the sparkle of decorations, the coziness of a warm fire, the snuggle of a favorite sweater (preferably hand knit or crocheted, right?) and, most important of all, the celebration of the birthday of Jesus. And, don't forget that we need lots of hats and scarves this time of year for the cancer centers - cancer patients feel the cold so much more than we do. Here is what is going on with YOH this week.

Meetings this week:

• Tuesday - 10AM in the Hospitality Room at First Baptist McKinney
• Wednesday - NO MEETING THIS WEEK! The church is sponsoring Mission Christmas this Wednesday night - where we go out into the community and share the joy of Christmas with others. 

Upcoming events:

• Christmas parties:
• Next Tuesday (12/13) at 10AM, we will have our Christmas party at Susan Butler's home (Look for directions later in the week). Sign up for a brunch dish tomorrow morning or send me an email. Also, bring a $10 gift to exchange to the party - can be yarn related or not, homemade or not.
• Next Wednesday (12/14) at 6:15PM in the Fireside Room at First Baptist McKinney, we will have a Christmas party for the Wednesday night ladies - no gift exchange but bring a sweet or savory goody to share.

Ongoing projects:

• Chemo caps and scarves for both adults and children - donated to Texas Oncology McKinney, UT Southwestern in Dallas and MCCH oncology unit.
• Blankets for MCCH - either a child-sized blanket or 12 x 12 squares which will be combined into a blanket.
• Knitting Club at Finch - the girls and boys are doing great and are about to start their first project, however, we can always use more teachers. Contact Becca Masters if you are interested in helping.

Love you all,

Gina Hammack