August 23, 2006
The Number
Regular programming will continue on Friday but, for today, this needs to stand on its own.
The number of items received by F.I.R.E
for Dulaan for 2006:
12,085!!!!
That's 7,567 more than our goal, people.
I can only say, "Wow." And perhaps, "Holy Cow." And "Dude." Just imagine: F.I.R.E. will be able to give at least one item of clothing or a blanket to more than 12,000 men, women, and children in Mongolia this winter. Mull that over for a while, while giving yourselves a huge, collective pat on the back. And if you are suddenly overcome by a huge wave of self-satisfaction, go with it; you deserve it.
A heartfelt thank you to:
- Each and every one of you who participated
- Lee Ann for the article in Vogue Knitting
- Vogue Knitting for being willing to run the article in its entirety, including the photographs
- Seattle Knitters Guild for allowing me to make endless announcements about the project
- TMK for lending her amazing design skills, for giving Dulaan an "identity" I am very proud of, and for supporting the project 120%, even when what she really wanted to do was talk about woodworking
- Cuzzin Tom for continuing to keep Mongolia "real" in my mind with his blog stories and photographs, and for conceiving Dulaan in the first place
- Jennifer for the Nunavut hat and Marylee for "her" children
- Meredith and Stacie of F.I.R.E. for answering my nagging emails demanding numbers, numbers, numbers!
- Warm Woolies and Guideposts Knit for Kids for their generous contributions of sweaters
- Susie Homire of Dogwood Hill Alpacary for our very own Dulaan cria
- Norma and everyone else who helped promote the project
- The yarn stores who took Dulaan on as their special charity project
- The children in Mongolia who keep us inspired and motivated, and, finally,
- MaryB for being right.
Congrats to all of you! wow. Impressive all around.
Posted by: Rebecca on August 23, 2006 11:58 AMIs it not passing strange... what we have done -
Thank you, Ryan, for never dropping the ball -
(As for Mary B., careful where you turn her loose - she could be dangereous... .)
Posted by: Childe on August 23, 2006 12:05 PMYay! A hearty congratulations to all the Dulaan crafters and supporters! So, what's next year's goal? I like the idea of beating it.
Thanks, Ryan for making Dulaan such an exciting thing.
Posted by: emily g on August 23, 2006 12:40 PMholy crap! that is a fabulous number lady! I hope we can do thata nd more next yr. say 15,000???
Posted by: anj on August 23, 2006 12:44 PMGlorious. That is a magnificent achievement. The kid in the mint striped sweater applauds you all (especially you Ryan), although the little kid in the teal hat says he expected more.
I haven't participated in the past (my charitable knitting has stayed closer to home) but Dulaan 2007 will have some items from me!
WOW!
That number is mind-boggling.
Great number!!!!!!
And if we could up the Items by so much this year then we can do it again. I vote for 18.000 items for 2007.I already got 21 hats laying right here and working on a sweater and a Log Cabin blanket right now.
We can do it---- I know we can.
Dude, like I said. 20,000 for 2007.
Yes, you may drive up here and pinch me if you'd like.
Posted by: Rabbitch on August 23, 2006 02:20 PMYay to everyone who participated
and thank you, Ryan
for your encouragement and keeping us motivated.
Astounding, amazing, awesome.
What an honour to be involved in a small way with this event. It is the lesson I constantly try to teach my son, you can do this much alone, but add a few more people (or a few hundred more) and the sky is the limit.
Incredible.
Posted by: Kate on Vancouver Island on August 23, 2006 03:46 PMI have had a total B**** of a day and just finally got a chance to check the blog, and reading that astounding number has totally wiped away all my frustrations. I'm awed at the power of The Knitters!!! While I KNEW we could do it, I am just overwhelmed with the amazing pile that FIRE has in its possession that is winging its way to Mongolia.
WOW!
It's a little scary thinking about next year's goal, but since adding-just-one-more-than-last year worked so well, why not do that again?
Thanks, Ryan!! As usual you left yourself off the list--the blogging, the encouraging, the photos, the emails, the massive pile of knitting you did this year--you are too modest explaining your contribution to this cause. Thanks for giving my knitting a purpose.
See you Saturday! Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on August 23, 2006 04:50 PMWhat fun you will all have on Saturday as you gear up for 2007 while celebrating 2006!!!! What a fabulous number!
I had intended to send stuff this year. With this and that and the other thing, the stuff is still here. It wasn't much, but it's a three hat start on a 2007 donation! WooHoo!
Posted by: radarkaty on August 23, 2006 04:57 PMYowza! Gives me the warm fuzzies, just as much as the kids who're on the receiving end of the warm woolies.
(And one other thing this number shows -- You, Ryan, are naturally gifted at leadership.)
Posted by: Karen on August 23, 2006 06:38 PMAmazing, Ryan. Really heartwarming. You're a great cheerleader too.
Posted by: sheila on August 23, 2006 08:07 PMRyan, I said I wouldn't promise to send hats cause I'm a sloooooow-poke and didn't want to promise and not deliver. But...those kidlets in that picture have inspired me. What a beautiful group and what beautiful knits they're wearing! I hereby promise to deliver at least a couple of hats.
Posted by: kathy in Oregon on August 23, 2006 08:21 PMJeez, here I sit with tears in my eyes. I'm just so freakin' proud of Ryan and F.I.R.E. and TMK and Norma and every-frickin'-body who contributed. Knitters rock, period. I've got five hats cuddling in a basket for Dulaan 2007 and yummy eBay bulky wool for two kids sweaters and another little girl's sweater half done and some hand-painted merino in wild colors that I won in Cara's Heifer/Spin-Out thingie that is pledged for another kid's sweater and, and, jeez, this whole thing just blows me away!
Ryan, et al, my hat is off to you for giving us all the means and opportunity to contribute.
Posted by: kmkat on August 23, 2006 09:44 PMOops, forgot to say, Ryan, is it possible for you to link to a larger version of that picture? I just want to study it and enjoy the kids faces. (Not that I'm looking for pattern ideas, oh, no, never.)
Posted by: kmkat on August 23, 2006 09:54 PMThank YOU so much, Ryan! I'm at a marvelous loss for any other words.
Posted by: marylee on August 24, 2006 03:03 AMWow! Ryan, your scam is a roaring success! What will we do to follow that act? Whee!
Posted by: CarolineF on August 24, 2006 04:59 AMWunnerful, wunnerful. Any idea of how many different knitters contributed that many items?
Posted by: Donna on August 24, 2006 07:21 AMI get to see this AND your letter arrived...
Dude, I'm all weepy and messy now. You are so wonderful, I can't even tell you.
What to do to follow it? Rabbitch has the right idea. (Although I fully support going up there and giving her a pinch anyway ;-))
Posted by: Lee Ann on August 24, 2006 07:50 AMWOO HOO!!!!
Bring it on, 2007!
Posted by: Becca on August 24, 2006 09:59 AM[insert standing ovation and shouts of "Bravo!" here]
Posted by: Kristen on August 24, 2006 05:12 PMAcute pain associated with Mongolian cold alleviated for 16,602 kids and grown-ups in less than 2 years. The power of an idea. The power of the perseverance.
Kristen x 2
Posted by: Bolor on August 25, 2006 08:00 AMThis is truly awesome! I knitted my heart out for Dulaan this year but was disappointed not to have had more time since I only larned about it in March. I am already getting started on next year's contributions and it certainly seems like 15-20,000 will be reachable for Dulaan 2007!
What an inspiration!
Posted by: Eileen on August 25, 2006 01:23 PMryan, i hope to inspire some other elderbloggers to get going on the needles. posted the BIG number on my blog.
agree with all here that you are quite something to have kept all this going along with your recent physical challenges. hope the body is mostly mended. yours, naomi
Posted by: naomi dagen bloom on August 27, 2006 02:59 PMMy granddaughter, Savanah, is in the hospital being prepared for a bone marrow transplant that is going to take place this Thursday, August 31, 2006. Post transplant she will have a lot of time in the hospital, more or less isolated from the outside world.
I told Savanah about the Dulaan project and she is very excited about knitting some simple items to send to the children in Mongolia. Savanah has been the recipient of so many good deeds and prayers from outsiders, this gives her a chance to do something concrete for others in return for all that has been done for her.
Posted by: Linda Alvarado on August 28, 2006 11:08 AM