Orphan Foundation of America’s
Red Scarf Project – Guidelines, 2007

Love to knit, crochet or know someone who does?

Send warmth and encouragement to America’s college-bound foster youth. OFA needs thousands of handmade scarves to put in our Valentine Care Packages to these parentless youth attending college on their own. Your handiwork will truly be the personal touch in these packages and bring students the encouragement they need to move forward and graduate to a brighter future. For over 25 years, OFA has provided funding and family-like support to foster youth in transition. www.orphan.org

Scarf guidelines:
· Size: approximately 60” long and 5” to 8” wide. Scarves should be long enough to be wrapped around the neck with tails long enough to be tied in the front.

· Style: Think unisex collegiate. Fringe optional. Should drape, tie easily and be soft.

· Color: Red! This could mean burgundy, cherry, russet, red stripes with other colors, multicolor hues including red. Other unisex colors, including black, navy, gray, teal, olive or gold, are also welcome.

· Finished & tagged: Yarn ends securely sewn in. For the personal touch, attach a tag saying “Handmade for You” with your first name, city, and group affiliation, if any. Donors have also included washing instructions, messages of encouragement, and gift cards/burger bucks/book of stamps.

Thank you! Your scarf may be the first handmade gift a young man or woman has ever received. Your efforts will truly be appreciated!

Mail to (January Only): Orphan Foundation of America
Red Scarf Project
21351 Gentry Drive, Unit 130
Sterling, VA 20166
Scarves are accepted throughout the month of January ONLY due to limited/temporary storage capacity.


The Red Scarf Project is endorsed by:

Interweave Knits & Lily Chin



To new knitters and crocheters,

Congratulations on learning to craft. Your hands are a window into your
hearts and souls. With each project you make, there truly is a piece
of you in it. They say there is love in every stitch and that a handmade
scarf is like a hug from the giver.

Thus, I'm especially pleased that you've decided to get involved with the
Orphan Foundation's Red Scarf Project. The orphans have known lots of
adversity in their lives and it's the very least we can do to show that
someone out there, even a stranger, truly cares.

This is one of the reasons I got involved. To help in the efforts, I've
developed a pretty simple yet sophisticated-looking scarf pattern. Not only is it unisex, it looks good on both sides and is fully reversible. I love to make things that only seem complex but are far more easy to make than meets the eye.

Please feel free to use this pattern for yourself and other loved ones too,
Of course, but remember that if everyone who uses this pattern makes at least one scarf for our cause, that will be a lot of caring to share all around.

Happy stitching, Lily Chin

(S)MOCK REVERSIBLY “CABLED” SCARF
by Lily Chin for the Red Scarf Project of the Orphan Foundation

This phony cable requires no cable needle and almost resembles smocking (hence its name). It is nearly identical on both sides, definitely a plus for a scarf.

Materials: Lily Chin Signature Collection “Gramercy” (100% extra fine superwash merino wool) - the official yarn of the Red Scarf Project of the Orphan Foundation, 127 yds/50g - 5 balls. Knitting needles size 6 or size to get gauge.

Gauge: 8 sts and 7 rows = 1” or 32 rows and 28 rows = 4”/10cm in 1x1 rib or pattern st.

Sizes: 7.5” x 64”

Special Abbreviations: yo = yarn over


Directions:

Cast on 60 sts.
Rows 1, 2 and 3: Slip first st as if to K, p 1, (k 1, p 1) across.
Row 4: Slip first st as if to K, p 1, * keep yarn in the front, when you (k 1, p 1) twice, have the yarn wind up over the needle at the beginning of this - it will form a yarn over or yo which looks like an extra st at the beginning of these 4 rib sts, pass this yo or extra st over the last 4 rib sts just worked by lifting the yo with tip of left-needle to form a bar over these sts that resembles a cable-crossing, (k 1, p 1) twice; rep from * across, end k 1, p 1.
Rows 5, 6 and 7: Rep rows 1, 2 and 3.
Row 8: Slip first st as if to K, p 1, * (k 1, p 1) twice, keep yarn in the front, when you (k 1, p 1) twice, have the yarn wind up over the needle at the beginning of this - it will form a yarn over or yo which looks like an extra st at the beginning of these 4 rib sts, pass this yo or extra st over the last 4 rib sts just worked by lifting the yo with tip of left-needle to form a bar over these sts that resembles a cable-crossing; rep from * across, end k 1, p 1.
Rep rows 1 through 8 for pattern. When scarf is long enough or when yarn runs out, bind off in rib pattern very tightly. Weave in ends.

(lilychinsignaturecollection.com)