Happy International Yarn Bombing Day!

June 11th is International Yarn Bombing Day. So today I decided to tell you about our intention to Yarn Bomb (knit and crochet graffiti) in Des Moines this August. We would like it to somehow coincide with the Iowa State Fair when Des Moines is full of people! You are hearing about this early, since we will also talk about it in our July newsletter. 

I want to invite all of you with stashes of some yarn that you don't love (maybe some of that rough acrylic that you probably won't be using anytime soon), to knit up something "Iowa" related that we can stage in our Yarn Bombing. You could even make a scarf or lengths of I-cord that we can use as part of the display. I'm really excited about this and hope that other knitters and crocheters will get excited about it, too! It will take quite a few items to make a display that will attract attention. If you need some ideas you should Google Yarn Bombing! Some ideas that I have come up with: ears of corn, a "Blue Ribbon," pigs, a "bale" of hay, a farmer, cows ... really almost anything, since we have many different industries in Iowa (what could be created for insurance and banking?!). If you want to participate, bring your completed offerings to the shop by 4:30 on Saturday, August 6th. One thing to keep in mind is that you probably won't get your items back! I have to think the pieces may get damaged or lost (stolen is more like it), even though we will try to attach everything to something when we create the display.

I would also like to ask you all to make purple (any and all shades are acceptable) baby caps to keep babies safe from Shaken Baby Syndrome in Iowa. These are for a program called Click for Babies: Period of Purple Crying Caps. Knit and mail your PURPLE newborn caps to Volunteer Services Department, Blank Children's Hospital, 1200 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. They need to be there no later than October 26th. You can also drop them off at Blank Children's Hospital in the Administration Office just off the lobby. For more information, visit the website here. You could also contact Linda Plummer at 515-241-6726. I think all hats must be knitted from what I read, but maybe some crocheters should contact Linda!

Keep on knitting and crocheting!