Soapbox: Back On ..... or, "We Don't Need More Scarves. We Need More QUALITY Scarves. There's a Difference."

All right, you twisted my arm.  At the request of several readers, I am going to dive headlong into it. I'll try to be sort of like the Lorax for the OFA volunteers.  The Lorax speaks for the trees -- I speak for the volunteers -- the volunteers who have to unpack and repack the scarves for the Red Scarf Project.

If you prefer a more direct, stripped-down version of this post, with all the details needed, but without the ... uh.... sarcasm and screaming....please see this post in my Red Scarf blog.

But I know some of you would rather have the screechy one. Plus I have learned, based on some feedback from my post in the Ravelry Red Scarf group, that some of you are scratching your heads and wondering WHY I'm harping at it so much, because on its face it seems obvious to many of us, and the thought has not occurred to most of us that so many people have misunderstood the OFA's mission, the recipients of the care packages, and the request for scarves.  So here ya go:

WE'LL START WITH AN UNPACKER'S TESTIMONY:

Some examples of scarves I unpacked last year:

The Potholder Scarf: 8 crocheted potholders stitched together to make something as stiff as cardboard and big enough to wrap around a turkey roaster to keep it warm on the way to Grandma's house

The Iditarod Scarf: rumpled scarf covered, and I mean COVERED, in dog hair

The Well-Loved Scarf: this scarf was so well tested and worn that it was covered in yarn fuzz and pills

The Shoelace Scarf: this scarf was two inches wide and maybe 36 inches long. Did I mention the eyelash yarn?

The Pillow Case Scarf: Don't ask. But that is what it was, with some fringe sewn on the ends.

WHY THIS MATTERS: Every single scarf has to be unpacked and logged into a spreadsheet by hand and a thank you note sent out. If I am unpacking scarves and 30% or more of them are not usable, Orphan Foundation is going to have a hard time keeping motivated and knit-knowledgeable volunteers.

What balances this all out: The incredible, perfect, gorgeous scarves that we get that make me aspire to even more quality knitting. Unwrapping these scarves is pure joy. But they can be few and far between sometimes.

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THE WORDS OF A CARE PACKAGE PACKER:

I spent a couple of hours yesterday helping the OFA pack up the scarves to be sent out.  Thank you for making me aware of this wonderful group of people.  It was really amazing to see how many volunteers turned out to help, and how enthusiastic (and well-organized) the OFA people were.  I really enjoyed myself.  And in 3000 scarves – I found mine! 

Please also keep getting the word out – it’s all about quality.  We were told several times how much the students appreciated the fact that someone was thinking of them.  While I was keeping my eye out for my own knitting, I saw lots of beautiful scarves go by, and also a few that screamed “I was thinking of you – but only for an hour, and only with the yarn that no one else would spend a dollar for.”  I am sure you can figure out how to say that in a nicer way, and I know you did say it many times, but please keep saying it.  

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We've probably created a lot of confusion over the years.  First we said, "more, more, more," and then "slow down; don't send so many."  It's been a hard thing to get it just right. But as I said in my title:  "We don't need more scarves.  We need more QUALITY scarves.  There is a difference."  The poor unpackers and the ones who categorize the scarves into "usable," "lovely," "unusable," "REALLY unusable," and "photo op scarves," have such a hard job, and they tell me that a large percentage of scarves they get are truly unusable or only moderately usable.  So I am asking for my good friends to knit more, and to get the word out more to those who can and will produce a quality unisex scarf, so we can tip the scales more towards "lovely and usable" and less towards "this can only be sent to a pet shelter."  (not exaggerating there)

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FROM SOMEONE WHO RESPONDED TO MY POST THE OTHER DAY:

I am one of those volunteer packers who cannot stand to look at another DOG BED. I have tried to figure out a way to post at Ravelry when I see things like "we are going to teach people to knit and have them send their very first project over to Red Scarf." 

It's just about common sense and good taste and realizing that this is a quality event and not for some group of beginner knitters or crocheters to send their first efforts because of some nutty idea that "they're orphans.  They should be glad for whatever they get."  Or, as charming as it might be for a group of third-graders to learn to knit for "the orphans," it's just plain missing the point of the endeavor.  [It's so frustrating to try to get that message out without hurting a whole lot of feelings and sounding ungrateful.]

This is about raising the bar for these young men and women who are attending colleges just like your kids and nieces and nephews and grandchildren, but without the family support that all the rest of us have.  This is about enhancing their dignity and their self-esteem and helping them to find the pathway to success. Sure, it would be cute for them to have their own little sister or niece or nephew perhaps make them a handmade card or a Christmas ornament in school, but the whole scarf thing?  Not the same, and it makes for a whole lot of work for the volunteers to separate them all and dispose of the ones that are simply not appropriate for gift-giving. 

"Foster Care to Success" is the OFA motto, to give the students a message that they have worked hard, they are important, they are worthy of a lovely gift. 

SOME GUIDELINES:

PLEASE, NO PINK or LAVENDER.  NO FUN FUR.  NO YELLOWS OR ORANGES THAT, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE MIGHT LIKE THEM, THE GENERAL PUBLIC MIGHT SAY "EW" TO.  NO SUPER-BULKY. NO USED SCARVES.  NO FELTED SCARVES.

FROM A PACKER: 

SIZE MATTERS: When a scarf is knit from a heavier yarn and it is long enough and wide enough, it also barely fits into the Care Package box. That should help to make the point that DK is the preferred weight and why.

UNISEX IS IMPORTANT:  It's a big job to try to match pinks or purples or laces with females.  And not all females like pinks or laces.  In addition, today there are lots of first names that could be either male or female.

Show you care! Sometimes I think people have the idea that college kids like FUNKY.  NOT!  There's the rare one who might, but let's not play around with that, OK?  Choose something tasteful, simple, wearable.  Please?  It doesn't have to be expensive!  A nice and tasteful scarf can be done in inexpensive yarns like Caron Simply Soft or Lion Brand Wool-Ease.  

FROM ANOTHER PACKER:

I don’t really know how to make the recipients seem more real, but somehow the idea that the scarves are for real people who appreciate a gift ought to make people think about sending a nice gift instead of someone’s first attempt at a garter stitch scarf.  They are not starving orphans who will freeze to death without our scarves; they are college students.  We shouldn’t expect them to be grateful for being sent something they wouldn’t want to be seen in.

 

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So we need 3,000-3,500 nice unisex scarves appropriate for gift-giving to current American college students.  And please remember:  This is 2009 America, not Dickensian England.  

Anyway, what I'm asking you, dear readers, is:  Can you, will you, please do more?  Or, if you must think in terms of Oliver Twist: "More, please."

Comments

[Lynn in VA]

Hurray for Norma!!! I'm another one of those unpackers. One year I unpacked a box that contained 8 scarves, all red, all in a simple but attractive stitch pattern made up in an inexpensive but soft and cozy yarn. Each scarf was about 15" long. Even a pencil-necked geek could not use those scarves. Why she felt she needed to make eight crappy scarves is beyond me. One nice scarf would have thrilled everyone. I have many more stories like that one, but why depress you even more?

[Norma]

Lynn from VA: This is like the question I saw posted in Ravelry, to the effect of "What size are the kids we are knitting for? Should the scarves be shorter and narrower since it's for kids?" That person has clearly missed the entire fact that these are for college students and is thinking three-year-old orphans at an orphanage. I do think there are a lot of ships passing in the night here, and thus why I wrote this post. Thanks for you input!!!!

[Geri]

Nicely put. We should not assume that these students would except less than we would. We should knit as if we are knitting for ourselves, keeping in mind that we don't know the personal style of the individual, so nothing funky! My yarn is one I love; the pattern: one my husband would wear, too!

[Michele]

While we are at it, how about talking packaging? After knitting a lovely scarf, please wrap with care. If the packaging is "squishable" the scarf is likely to arrive squished.

Thanks for writing about this Norma!

[Chris]

I have a simple rule which I apply when contemplating what to knit for the Red Scarf Project. I ask myself "Would I knit this for my mother?" That pushes the standard even higher than if I had asked "Would I knit this for myself?" I have selfishly enjoyed every minute knitting scarves with luxurious yarns. Even the finishing process seems more enjoyable when working on a simple but elegant gift for a very special student.

[kathy]

Ultra alpaca or bust!

[Cathy]

I have knitted scarves for several years using DK weight quality wool yarn in deep reds - usually using the "yarnharlot's" slip stitch scarf pattern. Makes a nice unisex scarf. But I have never received an acknowledgement from the OFA that they even received the scarves. So this year, I didn't knit any. I don't expect a thank-you note - just a postcard acknowledging receipt.

[Carole]

I'm planning mine now. I've got some beautiful dark red ultra alpaca and I'm going to knit Maryse's Gathered Scarf. I think that's pretty unisex.
Great post, Norma. I know you struggled with this.

[AnnaMarie]

I don't think it's unreasonable to have standards for charity items. It does no good to have 1/2 of the submissions discarded because of unsuitability, that defeats the purpose of it all and just fills a landfill somewhere.

Now I'm going to have to see what I have in red yarn, probably Handmaiden or Fleece Artist or even Blue Moon and start a scarf.

It's not just for the young adults, it's for Norma!

[Vicki]

It's not just red scarves, either, folks... I was appalled at the "quality" of donated chemo caps my sister had to choose from at the wig/chemo cap place in the hospital. I was EMBARRASSED at the selection of caps, the choices of fiber/color, the incredibly poor workmanship. Why freakin' bother? Acrylic, I can understand... easy care and all that... but with a strand of metallic glittery scratchy crap running through it? Or just plain glitter? I don't understand how people can feel good about donating shit like that.

By the way, this post barely blipped on the screech-o-meter, in my opinion. I've heard better from you. ; ) There's room for more, if needed... hopefully, it won't be needed. You certainly got me fired up!

[jessica~]

Good post Norma. I'd say this goes for every charity knit we create.

[Anne]

Great summary post, m'dear - as one would expect from you, the Scarf Lorax. You might also mention that, for those people participating in PS4, the next 2 months' color is RED. Perfect time to make a nice, unisex, DK-ish weight scarf or scarves that someone will really really love.

[Jennifer]

Norma - I hear you! I have a suggestion that might help. Perhaps you could offer a few suggestions of patterns for unisex scarves that would be popular. I know in my charity knitting endeavors, that many people want to help, but don't really know HOW to help. Many people just need to be told what to knit. Perhaps a dozen or so free patterns might be helpful. If you like - (it's OK if you don't like the pattern) you would want to use my Mistake Rib Scarf as an option. Here's the link - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mistake-rib-scarf-4 (Of course, I made this for a purple project, so it's purple, not red).

Good luck! I hope you get lots and lots of scarves.

On the same note, perhaps you can suggest some yarns that are big hits. I'm kind of on a Comfort kick for children's knits as it's soft, not itchy, not expensive and seems (so far at least) to wear well). Of course, people will knit what they have, but it might help some others who really don't have their own ideas.

People (even generous knitters) are intrinsically lazy, so the more you spell out for them, the better chance you should have for a successful campaign.

Good luck, good luck, good luck!

[AnitaMay]

De-lurking to say, how hard can this be? If we can read & decipher knit and crochet patterns, certainly we can all understand the guidelines for the red scarf project AND how hard is it to grasp that a "college student" is more than likely NOT a young child? I'm in Norma, I will gladly interupt my knitting plan for the year (not that hard, it gets interrupted regularly, FPS)to take part in this event.

[claudia]

I would have liked more rant (just for entertainment's sake) but, nicely done.

[Cheryl S.]

Sometimes, ya gotta be cruel to be kind.
You go, girl!

[elizabeth a airhart]

thank you
i use berroco comfort tne medium worsted is soft
and silky -i just tried folding it fits nicely
i am useing the wild beet color as of now
i also use harlots pattern in comfort

free patterns are on the site lily chin too

gayles pictures are beautiful show the fine people
we knit for

[Gerrie]

Good post. I am, however, wondering how I'm supposed to mail the scarf after reading the above comment about things arriving squished. You want me to mail this scarf in a cardboard box? If that is the case, be clear about that. I rolled mine (I think it was actually two), tied on the tag.

Also, I thought at one point, it was OK not to be red? Now you only want red? Ok, that's fine.

Ditto on the non-receipt of any acknowledgment on my good wool, appropriate size, scarf (scarves?) just-like-I'd-give-my-mother scarf. It doesn't matter but your unpacker comments made it sound like they were all acknowledged.

I didn't knit after the first year because it seemed the project had more than they could deal with. Willing to try again,

Gerrie

[Cookie]

I'm sorry it's come to this, but thank you for talking about this issue. Ever since I heard about that girl scout troop that was cranking them out, I knew there was trouble. It's such a shame that people don't consider who they are knitting for when charity knitting and never think that those people deserve something nice.

It's also a shame that people need to have their egos stroked and be praised to high heaven for knitting a scarf. Whatever happened to doing good deeds for the sake of helping someone else without getting an award? Do those people not realize how busy the Red Scarf folks are? Personally, I know how to send a package properly and do not require thanks or fawning praise for helping out. Knowing that my scarf helped someone is more than enough for me.

[Seanna Lea]

I think Chris has the right idea. Knit them like you are knitting for your mother or maybe your picky brother who has a definite idea of style. Knit what you would want to receive. Something classy, but not too hard to care for, washed and blocked.

I am never certain which scarf patterns would be appropriate for this endeavor. Heck, even a picture of a photo op scarf or usable scarf would be heavenly. I know I will have an easier idea picking an appropriate pattern if I see a pattern that has already been approved (without picking the same pattern and given them 10 copies of the same scarf).

[marianne]

Yes, Norma, I will.
As to the yarn... isn't it supposed to be a washable, as in machine washable? a superwash? Didn't I read that somewhere?
I'm with Vicki on the screech factor :^) and totally appalled reading about some of the 'scarves' sent in. WTF?!?!?

[Nannette]

I'm in for scarf knitting! And yes, I can abide by the rules. Makes me NUTSO when folks can't! I do have a yarn choice question: Is wool ok? Would it need to be superwash? Do we hafta do ack-rylic?

[grace]

I agree with Seanna Lea if we could get some pattern suggestions then we can decide on what is acceptable and what is taboo. I have some lovely red alpaca too, just deciding on the pattern

[Lynn]

Well, I'm bummed. I finally managed to knit a gorgeous, soft, cushy, warm, thick scarf before the deadline for this project, but it is pink and it is bulky and now I find out that they don't want it. I thought that it was close enough to red and for heaven's sake, how many males are named Debbie, or Kathryn or Louann? Yes, not every female likes pink, but not all of them like red either.

I will spare you the scarf and give it to my pink loving friend.

My grumpiness does not reflect on the organization or the purpose of the group. I can understand their guidlines and why they are set up that way. In our city, we sponsored the International Special Olympics last winter and they asked people to make light blue and white scarves for all the participants with the recommended Red Heart acrylic yarn. They needed (and got) about 3,000 of them. I saw so many awful blue and white scarves over the months preceeding the event that my cringe factor was overloaded. But the recipients loved them.

I will read the directions more carefully next time.

[Manise]

Well said Norma. I saw your post on Rav yesterday. I concur with our Cookie.

[Lynn in VA]

Here's a note for those of you who never received an acknowledgement of your scarves. Many of the packages do not have legible return address information! And sometimes packages get damaged in the mail. And this is all done by VOLUNTEERS who sometimes make mistakes. Please don't take it personally. You should see the piles of packages that come in.

And I'm not sure what the comment about "squished" scarves meant. Unless the scarf is so stiff it's going to a pet shelter, it will recover from being squished in an envelope. I'd use a sturdy, padded envelope, though. If the envelope gets torn the scarf could be damaged and everyone would hate that.

FWIW I am most definitely NOT speaking on behalf of the OFA. I'm just another volunteer speaking from my own experience.

[Doris]

Well written, Norma. Having helped pack care packages last October, although it wasn't the scarf packages, I realized just what an enormous operation getting those packages out really is. Our packages contained books, and it was a real challenge to decide whether they were "boy" books or "girl" books and then get them in the boxes for the right gender. It is much easier when they are unisex and don't require a whole lot of gender specific sortWell written, Norma. Having helped pack care packages last October, although it wasn't the scarf packages, I realized just what an enormous operation getting those packages out really is. Our packages contained books, and it was a real challenge to decide whether they were "boy" books or "girl" books and then get them in the boxes for the right gender. It is much easier when they are unisex and don't require a whole lot of gender specific sorting. I think anyone who has ever seen the assembly line and sheer number of FedEx boxes (they are stacked floor to ceiling across an entire wall of a very large room, several layers deep)would immediately understand the challenges.
My scarf(s) will be started shortly.

[Debbie]

What a well written post! For several years I volunteered for a community holiday food drive. My job was to check expiration dates on food and throw out whatever was expired. On some days, I had to discard entire cartons of food and a lot of food was years past the expiration date. I believe that if you are donating something, give what you would give to your family or friends.

[Erika]

Yay, Norma! that's why we love you.

It's perfectly legitimate to specify that the Red Scarf Project is for intermediate/advanced knitting projects only. Beginning knitters should take this as a challenge to stretch their abilities, take stock of their skills, evaluate their knitting with a critical eye, and aim for a really fantastic finished product. The truth is that not every knitted item is a special snowflake.

I know that I'm guilty of having sent some pretty awful stuff to charities when I was a beginning knitter. Sometimes I think as penance I should set up a Home For All Knitted Objects.

Not sure what to do with that lopsided hat with all the accidental YOs? Send it to the HFAKO, where it will "run free with its friends" and "live out its years in happiness."

[Heidi]

Very nicely written. Some times we all need to be reminded to do the right thing.

[Cyndy]

Well said. I could have tolerated a bit more screeching and sarcasm!! Just kidding.

[Birdsong]

I didn't hear much sarcasm, just a well-put explanation of what has been going awry. You know me, I'd rather hear the truth any day than someone mamby-pambying around it. I have some nice, red yarns that will get my attention, just as soon as my Circle Vest for the fair is done!

[janna]

Well put, Norma, although I have to say I'm a little appalled at the description of some of the scarves. Also-- I definitely received an acknowledgement this past year -- it's still hanging on my kitchen bulletin board -- and I think I did the year before, too.

[Sarah]

You stated this all very well, Norma. I feel a bit disheartened that it is necessary to list some of the guidelines, but would rather see them stated clearly for those that need them. The comments from volunteers really underscore what and why so many of the donations have been inappropriate.