Hat Making for the 2014-2015 School Year is in FULL SWING!

E2 has perhaps made 50 hats already. (Making hats is far, Far, FAR easier than blogging about hats!) No photos of them yet except for a few. Here is a peek at some of the hats for the 14-15 school year.



This is our FIFTH YEAR of making the 310 Hats. Imagine that. When we first started, back at Christmas time of 2009, we weren't sure it would be physically possible to manage to create so many hats by Fall 2010. But as a team, with the help of many friends (and strangers!), we did it. Then we did it again in Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013. We plan to accomplish the same goal for Fall 2014.

I owe, I owe, I know, I know - but first a TREAT!

Here is a picture from Wright City Oklahoma Choctaw Nation Headstart. The children are wearing their brand new hats. These were the first hats distributed for the 13-14 school year. 

From November 24, 2013

I know I owe you more Meet-the-knitter bios. 

I also owe the back story of how this whole effort started. 

Meet a 13-14 hat knitter: D in IA

Here's D in IA's note to the kids about why she knits hats:

I love to knit hats! I think about each one of you as I knit the hats to send. I wonder  what you look like, where you live, what you are learning and what color hat you might like the best. Here in Iowa we get plenty of cold and snow so I know how important it is to have a warm hat. It makes me feel good to know that you will have warm ears this winter. Enjoy your hats!

The Hats for 2013-2014 have arrived safely!!

From Zene Dill of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma:

Dear Ms. E2

Thank you so much E2.  Words can’t express the heartfelt gifts from you, E1, P from MA,  D from IA, and D from CA.   Today at our Management team meeting.  All Head Start Centers were given the hats for the children and I read to them the notes that were sent with the hats.   We have 13 Choctaw Nation Head Starts in the 10 ½ counties of Oklahoma.  Our program services 310 families.  I know the children will be very happy and excited with their knitted hats. 

E2, I gave the Head Start staff the addresses and the e-mails of everyone that sent hats.  I would very much so, like to get some more information from you about the hat project, and possible a picture of you and the others to show the kids.  Could I get your phone number or would you call me at 1-800-...-.... or 580-...-... ext.  2555

Thank you again, the hats a great!!!

Zene

Aside: D from RI, and L from MA also knitted some of the hats I sent this year.

Oh, I hope I haven't forgotten any one who contributed!!!!

Boxed and sent fifty more hats last Friday

On Friday, 10/18, I boxed up and sent fifty more hats!

Here's the album with photos.

Hats Mailed 18 October 2013

Here's the slideshow:


You know ---- knitting or crocheting the hats is easier than photographing and blogging them. I keep counting the hats in that album... over, and over, and over again. I get a different number every time. I'm SURE I mailed fifty. But I'm not sure I photographed and uploaded fifty.

We have met our goal for the 13-14 year:
E1 and her friend P from MA - 135
E2 - 100
D in Iowa and D in California - 80
That's 315!

HOORAY!

Any new hats now can go towards the 14-15 school year.
I know I'm already working on the stash for 14-15. And this time I'm darning the ends as I make the hats. Leaving a hundred hats to darn is a drag.

Thanks to EVERYONE who's pitched in, no matter what way: cheer leading, yarn donation, knitting, whatever. It's ALL good.

Have you thought about how many hats there are?

310 hats x four years in a row now equals one thousand two hundred forty hats. Wow, that's a lot of warm little heads!!!!

Slideshow of 50 hats E2 boxed up today

Here are pictures of the fifty hats I boxed up today. I'll mail them tomorrow.

Please ignore any extra "stuff" on the table (magazines, notes, the box the hats are going in, the price sticker from the Styrofoam head...).

Some of the pictures are duplicates, and a number could use some notes. Perhaps I'll touch it all up later. No promises.



If you're on a mobile device that won't support the slide-show, you can see the whole album and click the photos at your leisure.

If, for some reason, that link to the album doesn't work, here's some HTML that's supposed to be spiffy:

E2 Hats boxed 14 Oct 2013

Update - 10/16 - Fifty hats mailed on Tuesday, 10/15. I've put comments on every photo in the album. The PO said that photographing and blogging the hats would be sufficient proof as to the value of the contents of the box should the box get lost or destroyed. That's not happened yet, but I'd be devastated if it were to happen. The box is insured. One can only get the value of the yarn back via insurance, in a worst case scenario. But that would be better than nothing. The labor time can never be insured. 

For the 13-14 school year, I believe we have made goal!

Greetings!

D in Iowa has already mailed 40  hats and is working on a few more.
D in California has made 40 and will mail them shortly. 
E1 has made 100 hats. E1 will also have some made by her friend.
E2 has 100-something hats, including some made by her friends D in RI and L in MA.

As long as the "-something" in '100-something' and the count by E1's friend add up to more than 30, we have the 310 goal met!

If you have some hats to mail, here's the address:

Choctaw Nation Head Start

Attn: Zene Dill

P.O. Box 1210

Durant, OK 74702

If you send some hats, please leave a blog comment telling me how many you sent. Also, please send me pictures!!! I think most of the readership knows how to reach me by email. :-)

My deepest gratitude to D in Iowa and D in California and D in RI and L in MA and and E1's friend who lovingly, generously, selflessly pitch in to warm little heads in Oklahoma! Without your loving efforts, this year's goal would be far, Far, FAR harder to meet! 

I'm going to try to remember how to make a slide-show. I've just packed up a box of 50 hats, and want to show you the photos. For your information: 50 hats completely fills a case of paper box that I nabbed from a school where I sub'ed recently.

E2

2013 Hat Roll Call!

E1 will soon be a grandma so her knitting needles have been occupied with knitting baby items in addition to hats. I need to get her to count her hats. (I feel deep empathy for Y who is expecting in THIS heat and humidity. Ugh. The sacrifices we make for our children!!!)

I have about fifty that need ends darned in.

We are far from 310 at this moment.

Any readers have some finished hats to share?

Remember, if you are making hats for this effort, please send them directly to the destination. As much as I'd love to see and touch every one, sending them to me first just slows down the process and increases the cost of the project. So, if you want me to see the hats you've made, please send me digi pics. That will have to satisfy my desire to see all 310 hats.

Send any completed hats for this project, with a note that they are for the Fall 2013 distribution, to:

  Choctaw Nation Head Start
  Early Childhood Administration Building
  3710 Choctaw Rd.
  PO Box 1210
  Durant, OK  74702
  Attention: Brenda Ivie

THANK YOU!!!