“Yarn [yahrn] n. – An item to which the word enough does not apply.”  We can all agree on that.

For the column this month, let’s “talk” about yarn.  Easy topic, right?  We all love it and need more of it. 

But this is actually a serious topic today.  Yarn for our comfort items.  It must be clean, without odors (yes, even free of dryer sheets scents or freshener sprays) insects and pet hair, and must be either acrylic, cotton, or a blend of the two.  This is because we want our completed items to be gentle on the skin of those receiving them and also so they can be machine washed and dried.  Wool or wool blends can be used for items being distributed to the homeless but be sure to tie a red piece of yarn to the item; do not use red yarn on the tag.  Only white yarn is used on the tags.

The yarn on our shelves frequently comes from donors who may be sorting through a loved one’s items after a tragic event.  If the yarn is in good condition as described above, we can accept it and place it on our shelves for members to use.  Sometimes that donated yarn may not have a label but it is still perfectly fine to use for our crochet and knit projects.

However, it appears that only the brand-new yarn with new labels is being selected by our members.  To that end, please select and mix unlabeled yarn with a new skein.  Our recipients love brightly colored work and combining multiple colors can easily accomplish that.  We do need to use what inventory we have on hand before purchasing new yarn.

Our greatest overhead expenses are for purchasing the FtH tags and yarn.  We provide these two items to our Dinwiddie, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, and Richmond locations.  Not to mention that we have several large groups in the area that donate hundreds of items on a regular basis and therefore take large quantities of yarn back for their members.  So, the next time you are selecting yarn for your project, help us by incorporating partial skeins or scrap yarn into your work.  In the Richmond workshop, we have a scale available if you need a certain amount of yarn.  Just ask one of the elves.

Thank you for all that you do for From the Heart and for making the mission of this organization a part of your life’s purpose.