Sandi Fischer, age 62, of Isanti joined our Team in 2016, and ended the year as one of our top contributors with 174 items! She was surprised to learn of her annual tally. 

"I just love making hats, and thinking that they might brighten someone's day makes it so special to me," said Fischer.

Why did she join us? "I got involved with Team Yarn because I really wanted to donate hats, but I'm disabled, so I can't get out to do it myself. I was so thrilled to find you!" stated Fischer.Her mother-in-law taught her to crochet back in 1984. "She taught me the basic stitches, then got me a booklet for a sampler afghan that used all those stitches and taught me many more," recalled Fischer. 

She isn't one to follow a set pattern. "Most of the time I combine patterns/techniques and just play and see what I come up with," she noted. 

Fischer crochets in the winter, and does beading in the summer. She already has a big bin of hats ready to donate next fall via our Cambridge drop-off site at the Century 21 office (202 Main St. S. Cambridge.)


Thanks for all you do!!

There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes at Team Yarn. We like to keep track of every hat that comes through, so we tag them, photograph them and post them to a photo album on Facebook. While much of the tagging happens at home by our regular volunteers or during our Team Yarn meetings, there are always extra items that need to be tagged before a drop-off. Much of that work is done by Amy and Aurora -- with some help from Josey and I from time to time. Amy also keep meticulous records in a few Google documents, tracking which type of time came in from who and in what month. Conversely, she tracks how many items we donate to each location and when. And then we share the numbers with you once a year at our annual anniversary gathering. Click here for more on our anniversaries.

by Amy Pass

Several years ago when I was part of the start of a small business, I was told that for a business to make it past the first 3 years was extraordinary. It meant we were more likely to succeed in the long run. Well everyone, we’ve made it 4 years, and this was our biggest year yet! In 2016, you collectively made 937 items, which put us well past 3000 total items since we began! That’s more than any of the previous years, despite so many of your items being larger projects - like blankets and shawls.

You’ll be happy to know that the Team Yarn information collecting data sheet now has a system for breaking down how many of your items were hats and how many were larger items. (Thanks to Gabe for helping with the spreadsheets!). Unfortunately, we didn’t start breaking down the numbers until August, but since August, you’ve made 35 BLANKETS...and we aren’t talking small stuff, either!

Thanks to Tesha, my partner in crime, we’re getting a little more organized every year! Not only did she help talk through what we needed on a spreadsheet, she also helped get us more organized about where we’ll donate each month. Together we’ve created a rotating schedule of donation sites to make that process easier! Tesha gets the blog posts out about meetings and donations, and she’s heading up the project to get Team Yarn tshirts and other “swag” items so you can proudly advertise Team Yarn wherever you go. Thanks, Tesha, for being the resident photographer, journalist, and kid-wrangling donation delivery partner!

Team Yarn donated to 9 different facilities this year: Angel Foundation, HCMC Whittier Clinic, Humphrey Cancer Center (twice), Minnesota Oncology, Hope Lodge, Woodwinds Cancer Care Center, Our Lady of Peace Hospice, St. John’s Hospital, and the VA Medical Center. We also donated to numerous individuals. Please always feel free to ask on behalf of a friend or family member. That’s what we’re here for, and I almost always have a small stash in my closet!

I’d like to give an extra-special shout out to our top 5 contributors this year, but first I wanted to make sure to acknowledge our two youngest members, Josey & Jordy for their very first hat donations this year! Josey & Jordy have been members of the team for a long time, attending meetings since the very beginning, and we are so proud of them for putting in the time and hard work required to learn a new skill! We’re honored that they passed some of their very first handmade items to Team Yarn, and we had the privilege of donating those items to people in need of some warmth and comfort. YOU make us proud!!

So, on to the top 5 this year: Jody Gilbertson from Beldenville, WI was our top contributor with a total of 238 items! We have never met Jody, but she has sent boxes of hats and blankets throughout this past year, including those incredibly beautiful flower granny square blankets, which receive high praise everywhere we go! Next is Sandra Slater with 221 items. This is 53 MORE items than she made last year! Wow! Third is another woman we have never met. Sandi Fischer from Isanti, MN donated 174 items this years. She leaves her donations at our drop site in Cambridge. (Thanks so much to Vickie Christensen for accepting those donations for us at the Century 21 office.) Contributors #4 and #5 are sisters in close competition. Linda Moore made 86 items this year, while her sister, Bernice Foster, made 85. (I'm sure if Aunt Bernice had known that, she would have made at least one more!!) We owe them special thanks, not only for coming, but for bringing their children and grandchildren to Team Yarn! 

We are so grateful for the work of each person on this Team. Every single hat matters to someone. Every blanket, shawl, scarf, cowl, or pair of mittens gets passed along to someone in need of a pick-me-up. We hear over and over again at our donation sites how much our work matters to people, and we want to pass those words of praise and encouragement on to you. You should see the smiles and hear all the thanks!! You are all artists and creators, and we want you to know that your creations are a gift and a blessing to your community, some of whom you know and many you don’t know. THANK YOU!!

More photos and stuff from our January meeting here in this post.

A long car ride prompted 11-year-old Jordy of Spring Lake Park to learn how to crochet.

He's been attending Team Yarn meetings with Grandma Linda Moore of Fridley since we began in 2013. When he took a roadtrip to Iowa, he wanted something to do in the car. His grandma started the hat for him, and handed it over when the expansion rows were done and he could concentrate on putting one stitch in each one that was already there. He started off doing single crochet rows, but when he decided he wasn't moving fast enough, he switched to double crochet. "It's fun," stated the 11-year-old boy, "especially when you're in the car and have nothing to do."

He donated his first hat, a green hat with a brim, to Team Yarn in November 2016.

"It's good to help the community and be nice to other people and do good deeds," Jordy explained. He plans to keep crocheting and donating the hats to Team Yarn. We can't wait to see what you create next! It's wonderful to have you on the Team, Jordy!!

Jordy modeling one of his Grandma Linda's blankets at one of his first Team Yarn meeting

The boxes in the mail come full of unique and creative hand-made items. They have a Wisconsin return address. And we "oo" and "ah" as we open each one. 

For the past five months, Jody Gilbertson of Beldenville, Wis. has shipped us donations for Team Yarn.

Her items stand apart. "Some of my patterns are from my mom or aunt. They are old patterns from years ago," Jody explained.

For a copy of the Beautiful Flowered Afghan, ask at a Team Yarn meeting and we'll share!

At 53, Jody says she has the time to make things and enjoy it. She is glad that someone can use the items she creates.

"I hope whomever receives the handmade items, get the feeling of comfort, support, warmth, and know people are there for them," said Jody.

Jody appreciates that Team Yarn does a great job showing and telling where donations go on the website and Facebook, and feels that she's a part of the work through the photos and blog posts.

"My mom taught me to crochet at the age of 12," remarked Jody. "She would always work on things in the evening, still does at 84. So one night I said I want to learn how to do that. She was making a doily. That's how it started. I'm so glad I picked it up." Crocheting helps her relax.

She plans to drive down and meet us in person some Sunday afternoon. We're looking forward to the visit.

Amy's speech, video-style

Here is the speech Amy gave during our Year 3 anniversary meet-up at Silverwood Park on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016:

Year 3!! I know you’re all looking forward to hearing the numbers this year, and I am excited to bring them to you!! First, I have to say, though, how amazed I am by the dedication of this group. We are 3 years in and still going strong! The “member list” jumped from 70 to 84 this year, meaning that 14 NEW people contributed to the group in one way or another in 2015. Keep spreading the word!

Team Yarn donated to 9 different facilities this year (same as last year, by the way): Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis, Minnesota Oncology in Minneapolis, Fairview Riverside NICU, U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital (twice!!), St. John’s Hospital, Woodwinds Cancer Care Center, Cambridge Hospital Harbor Room, the VA Medical Center, and Minneapolis Children’s Hospital. In addition, Team Yarn contributed hats to the Alissa M. Haines Stomp Out Suicide 5K in Wyoming, MN for their silent auction. This was especially timely and poignant, as one of our group members knitted several hats in grief and in remembrance of her neighbor and friend, who committed suicide ...and we have a number of group members who participated in the 5K this year and in past years.  We gave away hats, blankets, and shawls to at least six individuals this year, known to our group or friends of our group, including one special little boy from Israel, whom we had the privilege of meeting at the U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital.  

All told, Team Yarn members made 558 items this year!! We passed the milestone of 2,000 items since our beginning, and we’ve reached a grand total 2,154! Give yourselves a giant pat on the back AND go out and tell the world! Our numbers are down a little since last year, as many of us also have obligations to ever-changing family, work, and community commitments. That said, if you know someone who would like to join our efforts, please pass along our information. I have stacks of business cards that can be shared!

I’d like to give an extra-special shout out to our top 5 handmade item contributors this year: Sandra Slater with 168, Linda Moore with 95, Bernice Foster (who is currently in sunny Arizona for the winter) with 80, Lorraine Herges (who donates at our Cambridge drop site) with 47, and Tesha Pettit with 26!! Wow! You all are amazing! This makes up over half of our total for the year! TESHA, I can’t believe you made it into the top five with all of the other work you do! You arrange donation drop-offs, take notes & photos, write blog posts, and keep our facebook events up to date! You are incredible...quite possibly a superhero! Thank you for all of that and your consistent, steady support!!

Our group continues to receive feedback on the quality of our items, the care that clearly goes into each piece. Thanks to every single one of you for generously giving of your time, energy and creativity to make Team Yarn MORE than successful. We have more to be proud of than just numbers. From Christmas hats and hats with scarves and flowers and pretty little ribbons...to round blankets and big fluffy blankets tied up with bows...this group honors people by gifting things that are beautiful...things we would want to receive ourselves. 

Finally, HUGE thanks to all of you who are HERE on this cold, cold January day! This meeting has consistently been so warm and friendly, a welcome place of grace and community in the middle of every month. I appreciate all of you! ...and now...CUPCAKES!

by Amy Pass

I was looking back on my notes from last year and was reminded of the little green laundry basket that held our first month of donated yarn and hats. I could actually carry everything out to my car by myself back in those days! I am astonished that we have grown from 1 little green laundry basket to bins and boxes and tote bags full of yarn and full of all the beautiful handmade items so carefully crafted by all of you. (And half a bedroom in my house devoted to Team Yarn...wonder what this next year will bring?)

This year 20 additional people joined the Team, raising our total number of contributors to over 70 in the past 2 years. It’s hard to know exactly HOW many because several of our donations have come from groups, most notably: the NE Metro 916 Intermediate School District Career & Technical Center students, who have donated 141 items to Team Yarn over the past 2 years!!  

In 2014 Team Yarn donated to 9 different facilities - Our Lady of Peace Hospice Center, Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, Sandra J. Schulze Hope Lodge in Rochester, Richard M. Schulz Hope Lodge in Minneapolis, Amplatz Children’s Hospital, Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minneapolis Children’s Hospital, and The Harbor Room at the Cambridge Medical Center. We donated items for silent auction at 2 fundraiser events and gifted hats and shawls to a number of individuals, as well. In total, 808 items passed through our hands in 2014, exactly 20 more items than last year! When we first got started, I kept worrying that things would dwindle after a while, that the momentum would fade. I need not have worried! Our two year grand total comes to 1,596 items!

I want to especially acknowledge the talent of this group. We have strength, not only in numbers, but also in skill, creativity and artistry. The hats, scarves, shawls, and blankets you have donated this year are absolutely phenomenal in quality. We have received this feedback again and again at our donation sites. Thank you for not only contributing your time and energy, but also your attention to detail, your care and commitment to gifting beautiful things to people who need a bright spot in difficult times.

We’d like to give a special shout out to Sandra Slater, who contributed 177 hats this year. She is a knitting machine! Extra thanks to her yarn-detangler extraordinaire: my dad, Brad Slater. Next in line among our top contributors is Linda Moore with a total of 96 items. (I should mention that she was slowed considerably by the making of blankets this year! If all that time had been spent in hats, there’s no telling what her numbers would be!) She is followed by Lorraine Herges, who faithfully donates at our drop site in Cambridge, MN. She donated 71 items this year. Jenni Raborn made 67 items for the Team, nearly doubling her numbers from last year! And Alexys Tellinghusen (age 13) made 37 hats! These five people single-handedly contributed more than half of this year’s total! Having said that, we want to make it clear that this team would not be what it is today without the contributions of every individual person. Single hats and single skeins of yarn add up to the numbers you’re hearing about today. With only 20 fewer items, we would not have surpassed last year’s numbers! Thank you!

To all our kiddos: Jordan, Octavia & Ariana, Maddy & Emily, Alexys, Josey & Axel, and Aurora, thank you for coming! Some of you have already contributed your own handmade items to the Team, and we think that’s AMAZING! We love your enthusiasm. We love to see you learning to knit and crochet. We love your help in tagging hats. You make us smile at every meeting, and we love you!

Finally, I want to give an extra special thanks to Tesha, my friend and Team Yarn co-founder. Without her constant encouragement, steady presence, and enthusiasm, Team Yarn would not exist. She collects information about our donation sites, isn’t afraid to ask questions when we get there, writes up blog posts, and documents our meetings in photographs - all the while whipping up her own hats, shawls & blankets to donate! THANK YOU! I could not do it without you!

SEE RELATED POSTS
24 Meetings Later
VIDEO: A note from Amy on our 2nd Anniversary
 

Two years in a row, Karen Aalund and her students from Northeast Metro School District #916 have donated hats to Team Yarn's efforts.

In March 2013, our first year, they sent us over 93 hats. This past February, they donated 48. That's a total of 141 hats in two years, making them our largest single contributor! Wow!

What makes this even more amazing is that these students have their own challenges and face a variety of various disabilities and mental health needs. Yet, they are choosing to give back to their greater community. These individuals with needs of their own are recognizing that others have health needs, and they want to help, to show their support. It makes me teary-eyed every time I think of their work.

I chatted recently with Karen via email about their contributions. Here's what she had to say:

All of my students have either a cognitive disability, emotional disability, or mental health need.  They are an amazing group of students who work hard and enjoy learning.  I teach a class called PAES (Practical Assessment Exploration System).  It is a simulated work environment where students complete a variety of different work tasks.  At the end we have a good idea of what their skills and interests are, so they can find employment that match those skills and interests.  As part of our school, we focus on professional development of students.  Part of what I thought of as professional development was giving back of ourselves and our time.  Another staff offered to lend me her looms and teach me how to knit so I could then teach my students.  Between buying some yarn and having some donated we were off and running.  When I began the venture, I figured I would call around and see who was in need of hats.  At the time, I lived in Isanti and was reading the local paper and saw that Team Yarn was collecting hats, mittens, scarves and donations could be dropped off at a local real estate office.  I thought “Perfect!”  I didn’t know at the time that a colleague, Kelli McCully, was part of Team Yarn.  After our first donation she contacted me to say “Thank you.”  All I could think of was what a small world we live in.

The students are given a choice to knit or take part in other volunteer activities.  This year all chose to knit.  They find that it’s something that they can do without too much difficulty.  They say that it’s relaxing and something they can do at home while watching TV.  Since they are not my looms, I don’t allow them to go home with the students, but some end up buying looms to continue the activity after our Month of Service.  Last year I had a student who was very gender-biased in his thinking and thought knitting was for girls.  I didn’t make him knit, but after he heard everyone rave about how fun it was, he gave it a try.  He loved it and was able to complete a hat.  His mom was thrilled, as she had looms at home and had tried in the past to get him to attempt it, but with no success.  I see the value in this activity because the students recognize that they are able to give something of themselves to others in need. No matter what their disability, all have found success knitting and they feel proud of their accomplishments.  They learn a life-long activity that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.  Some decided to make an extra hat for a friend or relative that was having a birthday.  I also like that they see the project through from beginning to end. 

I think it’s a great thing that you all do and will continue the tradition of donating to Team Yarn. 

Karen Aaland (Green hair) and her EA (blue hair).  Students were able to choose a color to spray their hair for reaching their goals in the #s of hats knitted and lbs. of food donated.

We were blessed to receive 2 boxes of items in 2013 that were knit by Irwin Davis, the father-in-law of Amy's aunt Kat Davis. He suffered from Alzheimer's at the end of his life, but he never forgot how to knit.

The last box of donations was shipped to Minnesota from Canada in December 2013, but never reached its destination in Fridley at Kat's sister Linda's house. We hoped it would eventually show up... But the United States Postal Service said it had been delivered, and so that was that.

Until the second week of March. The doorbell rang at Linda's house, and when she opened her door there was the box.

Remarkable!

We're so glad it surfaced because it contained the last mittens Irwin knit. It's only fitting they be donated to folks facing their own battles.

Irwin Davis, hard at work knitting.

Amy with the long-awaited box when it finally arrived full of mittens and yarn.

Kat also donated yarn in the box that went missing for 3 months.

The last batch of mittens

The first batch of mittens went to the Harbor Room in Cambridge in January 2013.

MEET IRWIN DAVIS
I asked Kat about her father-in-law, and here is what she wrote:

My father- In- law Irwin Davis had said he started knitting at the age of about 8 years old and he started by using sharpened popsicle sticks when he learned how to knit. I am assuming he was taught how to knit by his mother.  He knit things to donate to the war effort in WW II . So he would have been approximately 11 at that time. He kept up the knitting for the rest of his life, especially when he retired from the railroad and owned his own Shoe repair business.   I don’t know exactly what he liked about it, I am guessing it was something that was relaxing and that could be done sitting in his chair in his shop or in the corner of the living room. In the past he also made socks and hats, scarves and vests.

Some memories that I have are of him sitting and knitting in the dark because he did not have to see to knit and never used a pattern.  The picture I am sending was taken in 2005, with our dog on his lap and still knitting.  You would always find a knitting needle or 2 down in the sides of his chair, if you needed a scissors, we always knew all you had to do is look in his knitting things.  He made me a multi colored scarf about 8 years ago out of ends of balls of yarn that I still wear ever winter and people are always asking me who made it.

In his later years with the Alzheimer's, he mostly only remembered how to make mittens, but we would find the occasional socks or scarves in his knitting also.  He still would sit in his chair in the corner of his room and knit.

POEM WRITTEN BY HIS SON TYLER DAVIS

-->

Dad

You worked hard each and every day,

For a small amount of CN pay.

Keeping all our family fed,

And with a nice warm bed.

Then one day you had to quit,

So you started to fix shoes, and knit.

Toques, scarves, socks, vests,

And mitts and mitts, oh those mitts.

There was big and small,

And the one size fits all.

You sat there in your chair,

Knitting without a care.

Whistling a tune,

From early morning till noon.

Wednesday was bingo night,

Saturday Hockey night.

Dabbing numbers and watching fights.

For all you did in your life,

You always loved our mom, your wife. 

Today we celebrate the life of you,

But also say a heartfelt adieu.

This is not Goodbye,

But see you later.