What a great response to my impromptu proposal! Thank you, thank you, everyone. You are truly my knitting angels! (I just can't imagine being a wife, being pregnant with my first child, and not knowing that you will lose your husband and the father-to-be to violence before the baby is born. Which then makes me think of the military wives and their husbands and Iraq and...ack!)
So, I've mulled this over quite a bit and read everyone's questions and suggestions, and here is my plan.
My priorities are (a) to keep things simple and (b) start and finish the project in very short order, soooooo....
1. I would like to receive everything by Saturday, December 15.
2. Because almost 40 people responded--which is amazing--I'd like to limit the contributions to one (or two, at the most) items per person. That will make for a very healthy box of gifts and will be more than enough to let the new mother know we are thinking about her.
3. I'd like to receive hats, socks, sweaters or blankets in sizes for 6 months to 1-2 years.
4. Because my timing is awful, and because I don't want to intrude on everyone's holiday knitting time, ideally you'll have something which is already done, which is just waiting for a good home, and which you can easily just ship or give to me. For example, I have a sweater that missed the Dulaan deadline, so I'm going to throw it into the box. If not, and if you think you can make and ship or give me something by the 15th, please get those needles clacking!
5. During the next two or three days, I will send everyone, local and out-of-state knitters alike, my address and phone number. Local knitters, feel free to contact me regarding meet-ups and drop-offs if that's what will work best for you. I will be at Guild this month, if that helps.
Answers to Questions:
What is the gender of the baby?
I don't know if the baby is a boy or a girl, so unisex is the way to go.
Where does the baby live? What climate does it live in?
The baby will be born here in Seattle, so knit for cold, rainy weather in the fall/winter/spring, hot weather in the summer.
What can we do for the mother? Has a fund been set up?
Because the father-in-law left for Brazil and then I left for San Diego, I haven't spoken to him recently. Hopefully, I will find out more from him when I get back to work on Tuesday. I will pass on whatever I find out.
I can't thank all of you enough for stepping up. Together we can bring a little sunshine into an unimaginably dark time.
Posted by Ryan at November 25, 2007 08:33 PMHello Ryan! Hugs to you and TMK and Frankie! Hope you had a blessed holiday. I would love to help out, can the items be sewn or crocheted as well? I know mom has been sewing blankets and quilts for the hospitals here, so I am sure I can get one from her to contribute too--if that would be okay to include, that is.
Posted by: Nancy on November 26, 2007 07:21 AMI have a little stuffed elephant that I just finished and is ready to go. I'll give it to you at guild Wednesday night if you are there.
Posted by: marti on November 26, 2007 07:39 AMDecember 15th is a great amount of time to work on knitting! (and baby hats take hardly any time at all)
Of course, I have more knitting time free than most because I don't really do lots of gift knitting.
Posted by: Seanna Lea on November 26, 2007 09:27 AMYay for you, Ryan. ::scurries to add a few more skeins to Knit Picks order::
Posted by: kmkat on November 26, 2007 09:59 AMI have a few bibs done (predominantly blue, but little girls look cute in blue also, and when they are covered with sweet potatoes or carrots, the color doesn't exactly matter!)
I live in Renton, work in Kent...would a meet up be possible? (There is a LOVELY yarn shop in Kent you should visit, if you have not already been there...)
Posted by: picadrienne on November 26, 2007 10:02 AMHi, Ryan,
Count me in! I've got some things that weren't finished in time for Dulaan. This will give me a chance to get the button bands done and buttons sewn on. I'm in Auburn; where are you?
Posted by: jeanne on November 26, 2007 10:25 AMI offered up a Baby Kimono in the 11/21 comments, but it's more of a newborn size instead of 6 to 12 months. (Of course, I'll still send it if it's needed!) So I just wanted to say I also have a crocheted blanket I can send, and I'm still happy to knit up some socks or booties for the little darlin. Oh, and also that you're an angel for organizing all this. :)
Posted by: jules on November 26, 2007 12:11 PMRyan: I already have a darling sweater for a 12-mo old I would love to send you. Can you email me your address. Thanks for putting this together.
Sue
Posted by: Sue on November 26, 2007 12:21 PMI'm just catching up on blogland... I've got a cardigan in 0-3 months size that has been waiting for a proper home. It's telling me that it wants to come to Seattle, so let me know if you are still collecting.
Posted by: Kristen on November 26, 2007 09:46 PMI'm in for at least a pair of sockies ... almost done with something here, and I'll cast on; got a preference for wool or acrylic?