A Report From the Trip to Wise and Hazard

Pattern: random stitch I saw on Instagram - Yarn: unknown donation - Hooks: 6mm and 5.5mm

  I saw this stitch randomly on Instagram and wanted to give it a try.  It looked different from the post when I used it to make the scarf, so I decided to make a hat out of it as well.  I used the linen stitch to make the brim with the 6mm hook so that it wouldn't flare out too much when I switched stitches.

  Here is how I worked the scarf, for the hat I didn't have to worry about needing an extra place to get a loop from.

  Chain one more than the number of stitches you want.  Chain 2, turn and start row.

  Pull a loop through the third and also fourth chains from the hook so you have three loops on the hook.  Pull the last loop on the hook through the middle loop, yarn over the hook and pull through the two loops.  Put hook into the fourth chain again, pull a loop through, put the hook into the fifth chain and pull a loop through.  Pull the last loop on the hook, yarn over the hook and pull through the two loops.  Repeat until you run out of loops.  Chain two before turning.  Repeat using the chain 2 from the beginning of the previous row so you keep the same number of stitches.

  Here is the report we got back from the most recent trip out to Wise, VA/Hazard, KY:

  We had a great trip (although it did pour rain the whole day of unloading). The teachers/staff at Viper Elementary were astonished at all the school supplies, socks, underwear & comforts, and just kept saying over & over “I can’t believe that people in Northern Virginia care about us”. The Hindman Settlement School (who lost every thing they had in the floods last July) were just over the moon with the weaving looms, art supplies, weaving books, etc. These supplies will enable them to get right back into class teaching. The Care Cottage was absolutely thrilled with all the lap-size blankets we brought them. The teen center could not get over the feminine hygiene products, the toiletries, the socks, underwear. The teens came out & helped us unload their items, then they walked right up the hill to the church that takes our clothing & household goods for distribution, unloaded all in the pouring rain, courteously & so helpful & strong (4 LARGE, BIG older teen guys) – they were such a blessing as we were so tired by then – and when finished they each wrapped us in huge bear hugs & one said “it is so nice to know someone cares”. I have been so struck ever since by them and the teachers using “care” so openly.

  The church that has always accepted the clothing & household goods has asked us to please stop bringing items to them. They have lined up volunteer groups to come and help with re-building/re-habbing homes. They have to have their Fellowship Hall to put cots in for volunteers to sleep on, they have to have their kitchen for the volunteers to prepare their meals. I completely get this – getting people back into housing & out of tents & FEMA trailers has to be a priority as cold weather is coming and these people have been out of their housing for over a year. SO, if you have already collected clothing & household items & can hold them until we find another place to deliver to (we are working on this) that would be great. if you can’t hold on to them, please find a good place locally to donate – we are out of storage space at our house. 

  We are in communication with Wise about the Angel Tree for Christmas – they expect approximately 200 foster children again this year to be on the Angel Tree. I have sewing groups working on making Christmas Stockings, we have some knitting blankets, we have some hand-made quilts, a group is working on toys. Hats & scarves will be worked on.

  We will continue to collect & take to The Care Cottage, The Teen Center, Viper Elementary, etc., we just need to let the church in Hazard prioritize the volunteer groups to work on housing.

  We delivered 360+ hand-knit/crocheted comforts to Viper Elementary – one for each student (about 200) for 1st day, and the rest the school counsellor has for new students, students who have a trauma or some other special circumstance in their lives throughout the year. The school counsellor just cried when she received them.