Will We Do It Again?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive in emails, especially lately:

"I just found out about the project.  It's too late for me to knit a scarf this year, but will you be doing it again in 2008?"

Here's my stock multi-part answer: 

a) Are you sure it's too late?  There is another week and a half.  Are you sure you can't make a scarf in a week and a half?  Even a bulky one?  You can mail them up until the beginning of February.  The packing-up sessions are February 5th and 7th.  USPS Priority Mail packages arrive from anywhere in the country in a maximum of 3 days.  I bet you can do it if you put your mind to it. 

and b)  I do not know if the project will be repeated in 2008.  As far as I am aware, this is the second year for the project.  Last year I learned about it with two weeks' notice.  I sent three scarves, as did many, many of my blog friends.  This year we learned about the project with much advance notice -- last September, as I recall.  It seems to have been a resounding success, and if I were a betting woman, I'd bet that it will continue.

I have not received the definitive word from the national coordinator of the program, but as soon as I do, I will announce it in this-here blog.  For my part, I intend to continue the blog -- or more appropriately, start a Red Scarf 2008 blog -- if I'm given the word that the project will continue.  It has been a ton of fun for me to give a home for the photos of the scarves and a central place for sharing information. 

The people involved in the OFA headquarters are a tad bit busy right now, and my guess is they have not been able to think ahead as to next year.  They are busy receiving the packages (which will exponentially intensify this week, I am sure), logging in all the pertinent info, packing them up, and getting them ready to mail.  Their volunteers go to a lot of effort to make a beautiful presentation.  Each scarf is checked to be sure it is in the right size range, to be sure that all ends are woven in, etc., and then it is packed in a decorative Valentine-themed cello bag, to get ready to go in the care package.  If a scarf is clearly very feminine or masculine, the volunteers try to sort out those things so hopefully a big hunky male football player doesn't receive a boa scarf, for example.  (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)  I wonder if those accidents do happen, what with the ambiguity of kids' names now, but I digress.

In short, I'd say plan on it.  Start checking your stash or yarn sales for appropriate yarns.  What's the worst that can happen?  You can have some ready-made gifts for yourself or someone else, or you could donate the scarves to some other worthy cause.  Go ahead, I dare you:  Knit red scarves!

Comments

[Kimberly]

Your words made me think of the "Knit Red KAL" and the "Wear Red on February 4th" (or 3rd, or 6th, there are other dates). Maybe we should also wear red scarves in support of these too?
=:8

[Toby]

I'd love to get one done but unfortunately I live in western Canada and time won't permit me to get it there by first of Feb. I'm going to make some anyway and have them ready to mail when the project comes around again.

[Elspeth]

I'm glad to hear I have a bit of time to mail them. I mailed mine Priority Mail on Monday from California, so hopefully they got there okay today! Thanks for the encouragement!