My charity knitting tasks

WHAT TO KNIT

1. Squares--any fiber
    a. 8x8 inches for KAS (South Africa) and Love Squared (MI, US)--kids
    b. 8-10 inches for EEROP (Europe via GA)--kids
    c. 6 and 12 inches for Afghans for PRR (South Dakota, via Lousiana, US)--various ages

2. Hats (beanies, mostly)

    a. Any material OK—EEROP, kids

    b. Wool/animal only--at least 30% for Hearts for Warmth (Lesotho via CT), and blends OK for Afghans for Afghans (Afghanistan via SF, US)--various ages
    c. Chemo caps (Philippines)--cotton or tencel, and maybe berets or funky styles (Hearts of Love)--various ages

3. Blankets for preemies--acrylic only, Stitches from the Heart (LA, US)

HAT SIZES  from knitpicks.com

• You'll need approximately 2 inches of negative ease for your hat's circumference.
• Obviously, not everyone is average, these charts were just designed to give you a rough idea for project planning purposes.
• These yardages are rough estimates, yarn usage changes depending on stitch pattern.
• These yardages were estimated using a gauge of 5sts/inch and a stockinette stitch.

Age	Head Circumference	Hat Height	Yardage
Preemie (1-2 lbs)	9"	3.5"	50-110
Preemie (3-4 lbs)	11"	4"	50-110
Preemie (4-5 lbs)	12"	4.5"	50-110
Preemie (5.5-6 lbs)	13"	5"	50-110
Newborn	14"	6"	100-150
Baby - 3 to 6 months	17"	7"	100-150
Baby 6 to 12 months	18"	7.5"	100-150
Toddler - preschooler (12 months - 3 years)	19"	8"	100-150
Child (3 - 10 years)	20"	8.5"	100-180
Pre-teens and Teens	21"	10"	100-180
Adult Woman	22.5"	11"	120-200
Adult Man	22.5"-24"	11.5"	200-255

BABY BLANKETS--for Stitches from the Heart

Bereavement blankets, in pastels, solids or multis

Preemie Extra Small 10 by 10 inches to 12 by 12 inches
Preemie Small 14 by 14 inches to 18 by 18 inches
Preemie Medium 20 by 20 inches to 22 by 22 inches
Preemie Large 22 by 22 inches to 24 by 24 inches
Full-Term 26 by 26 inches to 28 by 28 inches

More ecofriendly yarns to consider

Glad to see that over the past three years, more knitting yarnmakers are featuring organic cotton and other earth-friendly yarn. My main criteria are primarily organic plant material that's naturally dyed, and secondarily, fair-traded. Pakucho meets both. Then after that... not much.

Still, I'm making this list to consider other options for those yarns that meet my first criterion. The third would be, recyled... and fair-traded, of course. Fourth would be, recycled.

Not in any particular order, here are my candidates for my Plan B wish list for the year (in progress):

1. "Good Earth Cotton" Yarn by Tahki--100% organic cotton yarn spun from naturally colored fiber

2. "Natural Earth Cotton" Yarn by Tahki--worsted-weight little sister of Good Earth Cotton

3. "Cottonwood" Yarn--certified 100% organic cotton by Fibra Natura, complying with the standards of the EKO as a sustainable textile, the strictest in the industry,

4. "Links" Yarn--with the prestigious EKO Sustainable Textile certificate  of 100% organic cotton

5. "Biosoja" Yarn--crafted in Italy of 40% organic soy, 34% organic cotton & 26% organic bamboo (no mention of certification though)

6. "Eco Cotton" Yarn by Debbie Bliss--the premier yarn in her Fair Trade Collection, authenticated as 100% organic through the BioRe textile chain,  using non-toxic, non-carcinogenic dyes, and all water is recycled and made drinkable. (sounds great!)

7. "Purelife Organic Cotton DK" Yarn by Rowan --a 100% organic, environmentally responsible yarn (connected with BioRe). Spun from cotton organically grown in India, the fiber is then naturally dyed in Italy.

8. "Purelife Revive" Yarn by Rowan--crafted in Italy of 36% recycled silk, 36% recycled cotton & 28% recycled rayon.

9. "Riveting Worsted" Yarn--soft recycled blue jeans fiber imported to the US where it's into 4-ply yarn.

10. "Recycled Silk" Yarn from Himalaya Yarn--Composed of 100% recycled silk fibers from the industrial weaving mills of India, the fibers are handspun in Nepal, supporting a cottage industry of spinners with each one working independently.