On February 12 at 9 p.m. EST (6 p.m. PST) — Mass Cast On begins when the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies begin! Challenge yourself to finish one or more projects by the time the Games close on February 28.

Team Wool-Aid will have two Ravelympics campaigns that we encourage you to join – (1) a Wool-Aid Ravelympics 2010 Sock Campaign and (2) a Wool-Aid Ravelympics 2010 Vest Campaign.

• Charity Curling eventcharity (Projects for charity)
• Sock Hockey eventsockhockey (All things socks and slippers)
• Sweaterboard Cross eventsweaterboard (All forms of sweaters, vests, cardis, pullovers, boleros)
• Single Skein Speed Skate eventspeedskate (Projects of just one skein/hank)
• Giant Slalom-ghan eventgiantslalomghan (Afghan, blankets, throws)
• Junior Olympics eventjunior (Kids, baby garments, accessories toys have their own event)
• Mittens Moguls eventmittenmoguls (Mittens, gloves, anything that covers hands/wrists/arms)
• Stash Compulsory Dance eventstashdance (Use of long-neglected stash purchased at least 1 year ago)
• SnowCross eventsnowcross (Projects that combine knitting, crochet, needle-felting, embroidery, sewing …; minimum of 2 crafts combined together)
• WIPs-Dancing eventwipsdancing (WIPs/UFOs and only these; Projects not touched since Jan 12th)

The Ravelympics is all about personal challenges as well as team challenges, so whatever challenge you’ve set for yourself, we’ll be encouraging each other all the way to the finish on February 28!

Go Team Wool-Aid!

This Warm Hands campaign is for wool sweaters, vests, and worsted weight socks for children ages 7 through 15, as well as wool baby blankets.

Items are destined for the 400 children in the Innu community in Northern Labrador and will be delivered through the Warm Hands Network. These children live in a very isolated area and are often forgotten. Let’s make sure that they know we are not forgetting them!

Within the community, items are distributed through The Next Generation Guardians – a group of Innu women in Northern Labrador working to help the next generation learn life skills and preserve and protect their Innu language and culture, in a community.

Wanted: Wool socks, sweaters, and vests, as well as baby blankets

Deadline: January 31, 2010

Mail items to Wool-Aid, and note that the items are for the Warm Hands campaign. If you are able, a contribution toward final shipping to Warm Hands would be appreciated.

The greatest clothing need is for wool socks, sweaters, and vests. There is a particular need for items for children aged 7 to 15.

Wool baby blankets are also needed and will be distributed to new mothers at the clinic there. Please make them about 40” x 40”.

Guidelines specific to this Warm Hands campaign

• Knit or crochet your favorite patterns or try something new.
• Avoid white or very light colors. Feel free to mix a bright and cheery palette from your yarn collection!
• Remember, warmth is very important – Labrador has very cold winters. Hats need to cover ears, sleeves need to go the wrist, and torsos need to be long.
• Please match socks and tie them together with a bow at the cuff.
• Please use 100% wool or a wool blend (at least 80% wool content). Items will not be washed in warm water in a washing machine.

This campaign is for socks only, destined for children in Bulgaria through Global Knit.

Wanted: Wool socks

Deadline: Valentine’s Day – February 14, 2010

Mail items to Wool-Aid and note that items are for the Socks for Bulgaria campaign. If you are able, a contribution toward final shipping to Global Knit would be appreciated.

Sock Guidelines specific to this Global Knit campaign:

• Use any type of wool yarn (no acrylic). Wool is warm – even when wet. We like wool. (At least 70% wool / animal fiber)
• Weight of wool: worsted or chunky. The vast majority of clothing will be washed by hand and dried on clothes lines.
• If using worsted, you can use a single strand or double – your choice.
• Size: for a 6-year old through adult sizes. We want to make sure teenagers have socks that fit, too! For this, make sure the length of the foot is at least 6” from the heel to the foot.
• Please knit the leg so it’s at least 4”-6” above the ankle. We won’t turn anything away, but we ask that it cover a good portion of the leg.
• Match your socks and tie them together with a bow at the top so it’s obvious they’re a pair.
• Color and style – your choice. Have fun with it!