The Kingdom of Lost Mittens

Dear knitters, I am writing this post from The Kingdom of Lost Mittens. I was invited to this magical place after graduating from the local college and getting my Early Childhood Education diploma. Now my days are filled with all kinds of lovely things — curiosity, discoveries, inquiries, jokes, hugs, art, good books, songs, and outings in the beautiful park with a team of three-year-old explorers.

This fall and summer, I was just a preschool teacher but as the winter approaches, my title changed to “The Mitten Hunter”. Young children are not particularly committed to keeping their mittens on their hands, and they often leave them… everywhere. These are just a few photos that I took in the last two days. None of those mittens were lost but you get the picture.

 

 

Since we are going out twice a day (and the days get colder), we will need to have a healthy supply of “daycare mittens” to replace those that were lost on the playground, forgotten in a parent’s car, or got soaking wet in the puddles. I have donated a pair of knitted mittens that my son wore last winter to keep those little hands warm. These mittens are used everyday.

If you are looking for a small project this winter, maybe you could make a pair of mittens for a child care centre? Here are some patterns for children: Basic Baby and Toddler mittens, Lady Bug Mittens, Traditional Honeycomb Newfie mittens and 2 hour mittens from Ravelry.

Please email me at halifaxknitter@gmail.com if you wish to donate mittens to my centre (we have 7 classrooms) or just find the closest one in your neighbourhood. I am sure both children and teachers will appreciate them.

In the meantime, stay warm and keep knitting!

Brief message about mittens

Hello Dear Knitters,

I received a request for children mittens from one of the local elementary schools and I would like to share this message with you.

Hi there,

My name is Roseita Corbett and I am the Guidance Counsellor for both Shannon Park and Southdale North Woodside Elementary Schools. Your organization was brought to my attention by our school Social Worker in a discussion about buying mittens for kids for our school, mostly because they cannot afford one pair, much less a second pair in the event the first pair becomes wet or lost; as is often the case with young children.

It is for this reason that I am seeking help with keeping these little hands warm this winter. I am asking in particular for our  Southdale North Woodside school children who range in age from 5-12. The school has a population of approximately 280 students. Any contribution at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for all you do to give back to our community.

Mittens are a quick and portable knit that might be just a thing to make this holiday season. Also, I can provide very warm, 100% wool, single ply Aran weight yarn that I usually use to make mittens for my own family. Knitted on 4 mm needles, it creates nice and dense fabric. You can find a basic mitten pattern for children here. If you are interested, please send me a message through the contact form.

Suppose, you made a pair but don’t feel like driving far to deliver it? Let me know and I will try to find a convenient drop off location for your lovely mittens and deliver them later.

Stay warm and happy knitting!

Knitting for Christmas Shoebox Program

Hello my friends,

I have received a letter from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic asking for donation of knitted items. Hooray! That means people who are interested in socks, hats, scarves, and mittens know who to ask. Below please find the letter and see if you want to contribute to the cause. Thanks.

Knitting for the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

Christmas Shoebox Program

Every year, the Maritime Museum partners with the Halifax Mission to Seafarers during their annual Christmas Shoebox program. The mission provides care packages to mariners during the holiday season. This year the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is asking local knitters to knit hats, scarves, mittens and socks for our visiting seafarers who often come from warmer climates.

The museum is asking for knitted items with the following guidelines:

 

• Machine washable yarns (acrylics, superwash wool and wool blends)
• Given that the work environment on board ship can get dirty, we ask that items are not knit in pastel colours
• Stripes are acceptable, as well as variegated, tweed, or flecked yarns
• No items with pom-poms, tassels, or fringe as these embellishments are a safety hazard in maritime workplaces

 

Knitted items can be dropped off at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The museum also welcomes donations of:

• Wrapped hard candies (no chocolate)
• Soap
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Shampoo
• Shaving cream
• Razors
• Playing cards
• Mementos from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Canada.

 

For more information, contact:

Jason Climie, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

CLIMIEJW@gov.ns.ca