belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hi all!  Sorry I haven’t checked in in a bit.  I was back east celebrating the holiday with my family.  I just wanted to thank everyone for their interest in this project.  Even though the holidays are coming to an end, it doesn’t mean that people can’t use our help.  So keep knitting, crocheting, and sewing!  People need us!

Toasty Guerrillas – What are we about?

While Christmas shopping in downtown Seattle, I encountered a number of homeless people.  Not having a whole lot of money, I felt awful that I couldn’t help them out with a couple of bucks.  And then I thought about my life and I where would I be without the love and support from my friends and family.  I tried to figure out a way to let these people know that someone cares about them.  And then it hit me… I can knit and I can sew.  And I know a lot of other crafty people.  We all have scraps of yarn or materials leftover from other projects.  So why not put those scraps to good use and make scarves, hats, mittens, gloves, socks and whatever else we could to, to at the very least, keep these people warm during the cold winter months.  But instead of just handing all of the scarves, mittens, hats, etc to a shelter, why not hand them to a person in need.  Or leave them in a place where you know they might find them.  Not every homeless person can get to a shelter.   If you hand something handmade to a person they know that it was made with love.  And that fact that you are acknowledging that person and telling them that you care enough to make something for them.  I’m sure there are plenty of homeless people that feel like they are invisible and no one cares for them.  I want to show them that someone does care for them and knows that they are there.

So help out.  Knit something.  Make something.  Give it to them.  Let them know that you care.   If you’re not comfortable with going up to a homeless person, then by all means, donate what you made to a shelter.  Or you can leave a scarf behind on a park bench, or in the subway station.  Pin a little note on it that says “Someone cares for you – The Toasty Guerrillas”

If you live in a warmer climate, make something light weight, more suited to your climate.  Or if you’d like, contact me directly and I’ll give you my address and I can distribute your items around Seattle.

Please email me if you are interested in joining the gang.  I’ll be sure to add you to the member list.

I’ll also be posting free patterns for hats, scarves, mittens, gloves and socks for you to choose from.  But feel free to use whatever pattern you are comfortable with.

Thanks everyone!  I look forward to hearing from everyone!  – The OG (Original Guerrilla)