Party Pics!

As promised, here is a big post with highlights of 18th annual Love Cap Celebration and ingathering.   Every year I get nervous that no one will show up, but you always do!  We had a crowd of about 65.

We worked on projects

        

We celebrated MIFA’s 40th anniversary

     

We had a trivia quiz show with Team Crochet emerging victorious over Team Knit

  

 

We gave away a lot of door prizes and yarn….

     

And collected just under 2600 caps, lap robes and other handmade items!

Everyone had a great time

 

Groups from Luther Towers, Woodland Presbyterian Church and Temple Israel were our top cap producers while Plough Towers turned in the most lap robes.  More caps have been delivered to MIFA since this event, so stay tuned for updated totals and a complete list of our top producers.

 

Thanks to Ann Fain, BJ Massengill and Gwenice McLaughlin for providing refreshments, to William and Max for carrying heavy bags full of caps, to the Church of the Holy Communion for sharing their lovely fellowship hall with us, to Christiana, Lynsey and April for hosting the trivia quiz show, to Leah for help setting up tables, to MIFA employees Sally and Linda for their greeting and photography skills, and to all who helped pack up and clean up afterwards.  We also thank those who donated yarn and door prizes.

Ornament SOS!

 

 

Once again, we had a great time at the Love Cap Party and have collected about 2600 items.  Next week will bring a big post with pics and commentary about the goings on, but today I’m issuing an ornament SOS.

In three weeks, I will be at the Pink Palace Museum decorating the Love Cap tree for the festival of trees and we do not have nearly enough knitted or crocheted ornaments!  How embarrassing would it be for half the Mid-South to see a pitiful Love Cap Tree?   We just can’t let that happen.

Since the scarcity of ornaments became apparent after last Sunday, I have made four Santa Hats and will be cranking out more this weekend.  Can you help me out?  

Last week’s post  had links to lots of ornament patterns and ideas.  Since then I have found a few more.

mini mittens

mini bears and bunnies

Christmas ball ornaments

crocheted gingerbread ornament

snowman

crochet heart ornament

The Festival of Trees is always well-attended so let’s make sure our tree is up to par this year! Ornaments should be at MIFA or in my hands by Monday, November 10.   Love Cap knitters and crocheters are the best so I know I can count on you!

Gearing Up for a the Fall Season

Woo hoo!  Fall is here and the Love Cap program is getting ready for our busy season.  Here is the scoop:

Love Cap Party and Ingathering – October 19

The 18th annual gathering is set for 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm at the Church of the Holy Communion, 4645 Walnut Grove Rd.  Park on the east side of the building, along Old Perkins Rd. and enter through the east or south doors of Cheney Hall.

This is the best time to turn in your finished caps, lap robes and other items.  We are also accepting ornaments for our tree in the Festival of Trees.  Everyone will be stitching and chatting, so bring your hooks needles and yarn.   Bring your friends too!

As always we will have refreshments, entertainment, free yarn, a display of winners in the Mid-South Fair Love Cap contest and lots of door prizes.   To RSVP,comment here or contact Sarah Terry at sterry@mifa.org or 529-4543 by October 15.

Love Cap Sorting Party – October 21 

MIFA needs volunteers to help sort and bag caps distribution.  This is a big job because usually get over 3,000 items and this year our goal is 4,000.  With enough help, we can have everything done in 2.5 – 3 hours.  Sorting will take place at MIFA Headquarters, 910 Vance Ave from 9 am – 12 pm.   To volunteer,comment here or contact Sarah Terry at sterry@mifa.org or 529-4543 by October 15.

Festival of Trees  –   November 21 – December 31

The Festival of Trees will be even more enjoyable this year because MIFA Love Cap Knitter and Crocheters are decorating our very own tree!  In addition to spreading the word about Love Caps, we will be helping raise money for LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center.   To participate in this project, knit or crochet holiday ornaments and bring them to the party on October 19.  Ornaments may be secular or representative of your religious tradition.  Visit the Festival of Trees at the Pink Palace Museum at 3050 Central Avenue.

Here are some links to ornament patterns:

Knitting Pattern Central                       Crochet Pattern Central

Crocheted Dreidel                               Mini Hats

Mini Stockings                                     Mini Sweaters

Ornament patterns   (scroll sown- second to last category)

I could not find any yarny ornaments representing Kwanzaa or Islam.  If you know of any, please comment and I will pass them along.

Fundraising Update

Fundraising is going well so far with a total of $751.   We have raised our goal to $3000 this year so that MIFA can spend more of its budget on direct assistance to those in need.  You may make your secure financial contribution electronically at mifa.org (be sure to designate your gift for Love Caps) or send a check to MIFA Love Caps/ P.O. Box 3130/ Memphis, TN 38173.

Turn in Schedule

If you can’t make the party, you may bring or mail items to MIFA Love Caps/ 910 Vance Avenue/ Memphis, TN  38126.  Please deliver your caps to the front desk, NOT the back dock and make sure they are labeled so we will know who gave them.  Tree ornaments may be turned in through November 7.  Caps and lap robes are needed before December 5th.

 

Yarn Sales This Week

Good yarn sales were few and far between over the summer.  Do they really think we amass 3000+ caps by putting down our needles and hooks in warmer weather?  But sales are popping up all over lately and here are a few:

Hancock Fabrics has 25% off Of Lion Brand Boucle, Microspun, Homespun and all sizes of Wool Ease through October 15.

Michael’s offers Bernat Alpaca, Bamboo, Cashmere, Soft Boucle, Glow in the Dark Worsted for $2.99/skein. Lion Brand Wool, and Patons Classic Merino Wool are 2.99.  Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair and Wool Ease Thick and Quick are 4.99.

Word is JoAnn’s Fabrics and Crafts will open in Memphis some time this month.  The new store will be located near Winchester and Bill Morris Parkway.  (Not convenient for many of us, but I plan to carpool down there with some friends.)   So far I have not been able to find out the opening date or whether this store is a small store or super store.  JoAnn carries their own line of yarn called Sensations.