Posted in Contributions, Good News, Length, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, tagged charity knitting, knitters, loving hands, People to People, Project Scarf, west nyack ny on February 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Please feel free to print this 1st annual PS flyer and distribute at your LYS (Local Yarn Store, for you newbies!) 🙂
Let’s make the second annual LONGER and with more knitters, whaddya say?
Thanks to all the fabulous knitters whose loving hands have graced this project…
Knit on!
Posted in Good News, Length, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, tagged charity knitting, Guinness Book of World Records, Haverstraw Middle School, KnitLit, knitting with kids, People to People, Project Scarf, Rockland County on February 9, 2012| 2 Comments »
To all of my faithful Project Scarf followers and supporters:
KnitLit members lay hands on Project Scarf
THANK YOU for all of your contributions. Although the blog has been quiet due to personal circumstances, the scarf has continued to grow, and we have continued to gain more followers online. So, the personal: I lost my job in June, and have been focusing on doing what I need to do to survive and find gainful employment. I am happy to say that I am beginning to emerge from the other side of those difficult times, AND I would like to say that continuing to receive all of your beautiful scarf donations has given me solace and strength. So thank you not only for your contribution to this charity, but also personally, from me, for your graciousness in supporting this endeavor.
As you may recall, we decided to scrap the Guinness Book of World Records goal, because the requirements were too restrictive. I wanted to be able to take anything and everything that was sent my way.
Project Scarf on its way to the grand unveiling!
As of yesterday, the scarf was 156 feet, and 7 inches, and I still have a few more segments to attach.
I brought it to my KnitLit group and we had a grand unveiling, stretching it out to its full length on the third floor corridor of Haverstraw Middle School. I am going to try to upload the video to our Project Scarf Facebook page, so you can check it out there.
KnitLit members with Project Scarf
So…I have come to a big decision.
Rather than having these beautiful scarves sitting around all summer until next season, I would like them to go out into the world and be of use to people who need them now, while we still have some winter left.
I have contacted People to People, which is a local organization that serves more than 1,200 families in need right here in Rockland County. They provide food, clothing, and other essential services. Their motto is “helping our neighbors through difficult times with dignity”, and they do just that. They are a remarkable organization, and they have told me that they will be happy to take as many scarves as I would like to give them.
So I will finish attaching all the sections I have, in order for a final total length count and a photo, then I will dismantle them all and take them down to People to People.
I will also include information about the project, website, and contributors, so they will understand how many loving hands have graced this project.
Everyone's a star in KnitLit!
After that, I will be happy to keep going, and start all over again, so those of you who want to keep sending scarves, please do!
Thank you again, everyone – I am truly honored that you have wanted to participate in Project Scarf.
Stay warm, and keep on knitting!
Betsy
Posted in Contributions, Length, Our Knitters, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, tagged Edison NJ, Fun Fur, Project Scarf on August 13, 2011| 2 Comments »
And another knitter has joined the ranks of Project Scarf:
Ann M's fuzzy artwork
Thanks to Ann M., of Edison, NJ, for sending our first Project Scarf section of “fun fur”! I think I may just need to knit up some more to go with it!
Ann had this to say about Project Scarf:
“I think it’s a great idea. Good luck!”
Ann will be added to our Project Scarf “Wall of Fame“, and will have the distinct honor of bringing Project Scarf over it’s 100 FOOT mark! (Once I attach it, my family is demanding a 100 foot party…I’m all for it. Sounds like a great reason for a party to me!
Thank you Ann!
Posted in Contributions, Length, Our Knitters, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, tagged kate dudding, leila cook, OM Times, Project Scarf on August 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Sorry it has been a while folks…life has been, shall we say, for lack of a better word “busy”.
Meanwhile, Project Scarf continues to grow, both in length and fellowship. Gratitude is my word of the day, week, month, year, lifetime. Scarves keep coming in, kind words keep coming in, and stay tuned for another article! This one will be in OM Times, written by the fabulous and multi-talented Leila Cook. I’ll post the link as soon as it’s up.
So, I have attached storyteller Kate Dudding’s gorgeous sections, pictured here:
Kate Dudding's P.S. submission
And then I laid out the entire scarf to measure. First, I learned the hard way that it is best to roll it up backwards, rather than just unrolling the whole thing (which resulted in a twisted, tangled MESS.)
P.S. being unrolled for measurement
Next, I had to lay it out in sections, and actually used my husband’s work tape measure, rathy than my flimsy (TOO short!) knitting tape measure.
Measurement in progress
Next, I labeled every 10 feet, as another thing I have discovered is that my short term memory must be going. I cannot tell you HOW many times I have lost count and had to start all over again! And voila – we are up to…
Posted in Length, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, tagged japan, Project Scarf, tsunami, world's longest scarf on July 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »
At last measure (which is NOT the most current), P.S.was up to SEVENTY SEVEN FEET AND ONE INCH!
That is the height of the Tsunami in Japan last March.
Phew!
Posted in Length, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, tagged cardiff wales uk, children's hospice in wales, garter stitch, Guinness Book of World Records, guinness record, knitted scarf, Leila cook yarn therapist, Project Scarf, ty hafan., world's longest handknit scarf on July 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »
OK – I finally got an official response from Guinness.
The good news:
There IS a record for the world’s longest hand knit scarf.
RECORD
The current record (current as at the date of this letter) is:
The longest scarf knitted by a team measures 54.29 km (33.74 miles). It was knitted by the volunteers, friends and supporters of Ty Hafan – The Children’s Hospice in Wales. Work started in May 2002 and the scarf was measured at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, UK on 23 June 2005.
The bad news:
The requirements and parameters for breaking the record are very specific, and as follows:
GUIDELINES FOR ‘LONGEST KNITTED SCARF – TEAM’
1. Needles must be 4 mm (No. 8 UK). Casting must be done in the conventional way using two needles.
2. Garter stitch must be used as this record is attempted by both beginners and accomplished knitters. (Scarves in rib stitch may be considered, but the number of stitches per row would need to be adjusted accordingly.)
3. Number of stitches per row – 66 (in garter stitch).
4. Width – 30.5 cm 12 in.
5. The knitted lengths must be firmly sewn together with wool using overstitching to complete the scarf. The scarf must not be stretched while measurements are being taken.
Problems with this:
1) I already have close to 100 feet of scarf which does not necessarily meet these requirements. Hence, officially breaking the Guinness Record would require starting all over again, and losing the wonderful momentum we are gaining daily (not to mention disappointing all the hard working contributors and supporters who have already sent contributions, or have them in progress.)
2) I hesitate to limit the requirements so much…personally I prefer the simple 5″ inch wide requirement – leaves the whole process much more inclusive and open to creativity.
So…as new friend, yarn therapist Leila Cook said to me: “Who needs Guinness when you have knitters?” (By the way, as long as you’re here, go check out Leila’s awesome blog, Peaceful Knits.)
I hope this does not slow us down, but I am content to try to break the length record unofficially…purely for the process, for the building of community, for the promotion of the art of knitting, and for the glory of being able to say “we did it!”, and then to know that all of those lovely scarves will go to help people in need.
So now, anyway, I have an actual length to strive for: Project Scarf must grow to more than 33.74 miles! Holy cow, we’re going to need a huge team of people to lay it out and measure it when the time comes!
If anyone can do it, it’s knitters.
Posted in Length, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, tagged Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, Bay of Fundy, Dream Rocket, Guinness Blob Jump Record, Guinness Book of World Records, International Fiber Collaborative, Japanese Alps on July 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Had an official e-mail recently from the folks at Guinness Book of World Records that they are backlogged due to technical problems, and I should expect to hear back from them within two weeks.
Luck o' the Scarf?
Meanwhile, as the scarf is now over 56 feet long, it means it:
* could stretch the length of a sperm whale (wonder how many times it could wrap around it?)
* could adorn the 50 Foot Woman, head to toe with extra length to wrap around her neck…
* is 17.0688 meters
* is about 18 yards
* is the length of the distance between high and low tides in the Bay of Fundy
* is the length of the Guinness Blob Jump Record
* the depth a snowplow needs to dig to open a road through the Japanese Alps in springtime – click here and scroll down for a cool photo!
Any other ideas for 56 feet? Send ’em in!
Business-wise, Project Scarf moves forward. I am looking into forming an LLC (and perhaps ultimately seeking non-profit status). I am also working on developing school time programs and traveling educational programs for libraries, etc.
And, once again, a shout out to Jennifer Marsh of the International Fiber Collaborative and The Dream Rocket Project, who has been giving me some excellent guidance, and sharing her expertise. If you haven’t yet checked out her Dream Rocket Project, please do- it’s so cool!
Knit On, folks, and don’t forget to print and put up Project Scarf flyers!
Thanks!
Posted in Contributions, Length, Our Angels, Our Knitters, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, Where in the World is Project Scarf?, tagged Dream Rocket Project, International Fiber Collaborative, Jennifer Marsh, Project Scarf on July 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »
So I arrived home from the latest sojourn to be greeted by TWO more Project Scarf packages!
Special thanks to Pam J. from Oklahoma City, who sent 2 lovely scarf sections, totalling 64 inches in length.
Pam had this to say about Project Scarf:
“Love this idea – used up two old skeins of yarn for this – such an awesome project”
Thank YOU Pam, for joining Project Scarf! You are now an official member of our Project Scarf Wall of Fame :-).
The second box was from Jennifer Marsh of Huntsville, Alabama, founder of the International Fiber Collaborative. Please check out her Dream Rocket Project – it is SO cool, and very similar in spirit to Project Scarf.
Here’s what Jennifer had to say about Project Scarf:
Hey Betsy,
I just wanted to let you know that on my way out of Columbus, OH yesterday, I dropped a box off at the post office for ‘Project Scarf’ which I am inspired by. It is not much, but I hope something in the box helps. You will find some hand washed, carted, and spun wool in which I did during a sheep project of mine back in grad school. I have a whole bin of it that just sits unused, and thought some how it might come in handy.
This is a picture of a performance I did after I created a ‘cozy’ type outfit out of the sheep wool to place back on the sheep after crocheted. It was a fun project, but I know that the farmer thought I was nuts. 🙂
(photo courtesy of Jennifer Marsh)
Jennifer sent a box filled with goodies from our wish list – it was like Christmas in July! Inside was her gorgeous wool, an assortment of notecards and envelopes, quart size ziplocs, and some brand new crochet hooks (which I DO use for joining scarf sections). Also, she enclosed brochures about her Dream Rocket Project, which I look forward to passing along. Jennifer has now officially become a Project Scarf Angel. Thank you Jennifer, and I look forward to a continued relationship!
Click here to see an updated list of the places Project Scarf has been recently!
Thanks everyone, and stay tuned…
Posted in Contributions, Length, Our Knitters, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, Where in the World is Project Scarf? on July 12, 2011| 2 Comments »
A few photos from Baltimore…actual convention pix to follow soon – technical glitch being worked on!
Project Scarf accompanied daughter Kalliope and boyfriend Spencer to the Shore Leave Convention in Baltimore. Kalliope and Spencer dressed as “space hippies” from the original series Star trek episode “Way to Eden”
Space Hippies
I also saw dear friend Ann, and we sat in her garden and ate quiche made with fresh picked veggies from her own back yard…YUM.
Good people, good food, lots of knitting, and silliness!
As of today,
Mon. July 11
Length: 269.5″ (= 29 feet, 3.5 inches) (up 82″, or 6′ 10″ from last measurement!)
Posted in Length, Project Scarf Journal, Stats, tagged cotton yarn, knitting lessons, knitting universe, stash buster, vista print on July 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »
I sent an e-mail blast today to everyone in my address book about Project Scarf, and the response has been overwhelming. We have a bunch of new subscribers (thank you!), and our Facebook page has grown from 11 fans to 58 (nope – make that 60!), and counting. I am so excited, and grateful. What a FUN fun project for one and all, eh?
July 5, 2011
Today was a “tech” day for Project Scarf – uploading photos and updating the blog…also produced a new flyer and designed business cards which I got for free from Vista Print.
July 6, 2011
Working up all my scraps – this is the ultimate stash buster project, as one of our fans pointed out…today I am working in a cotton of pink, orange and yellow…somehow the perfect yarn for a sultry July day…
Today I also gave a beginning knitting lesson to 2 wonderful young ladies going into second grade…what fun we had, and I hope they will be future Project Scarfers!
Scarf Length: 22 feet and 3 inches!
Project Scarf 