Edgebrook Covenant Church - WELCOME!
Thank you for your interest in helping us to make warm clothing for needy families!  We look forward to fun, fellowship, and faith as we do God’s work through our service to the North Park Friendship Center and area hospitals.  Anyone can help with this ministry – even if you are just learning to knit, crochet, and/or sew!  You don’t need to be an expert – you just need to have a giving heart and a desire to learn.

PURPOSE OF THE MINISTRY
The purpose of this ministry is to be of service to those among God’s family who are in need – using our skills of sewing, knitting, and crocheting to make clothing and toys they desperately need.  Through this effort, we will be able to share God’s gifts to us with others, and spread God’s word through our gifts and example.

In addition, this ministry is designed to provide an opportunity for women of all ages and situations to come together, learn more about one another, and share life experiences of all kinds.  We hope to grow fellowship, faith, and fun by working together on this exciting effort.

THIS YEAR'S GOAL FOR THE MINISTRY
Our goal is to provide as many North Park Friendship Center children and parents as possible with warm hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, and blankets as a love gift for the Christmas holidays 2001.  In addition, we are hoping some people will be willing to make stuffed toys for the children as well.  These children have very few toys, and a stuffed doll, Sock Monkey, or stuffed animal would be a treasured gift.

After the Christmas season, the Friendship Center will have an ongoing need for preemie caps and blankets, baby clothing, small baby stuffed toys, and blankets – as it is the Friendship Center’s practice to honor the new mothers among its visitors with clothing and blankets for their new babies.  If we produce more than the Friendship Center can use, Northwestern Evanston Hospital, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Lutheran General Hospital, and Swedish Covenant Hospital have a standing need for these items.

ONGOING ROLE FOR THE MINISTRY
The North Park Friendship Center will have a growing, ongoing need for warm clothing and toys for its families, as well as clothing and blankets for new babies.  It seems that there are more premature babies being born now than ever before, so the hospitals will also continue to need our help.

Initially, we are planning to focus on meeting the needs of North Park Friendship Center  -- working every June-December to produce warm clothing and toys for Christmas giving, and then focusing on baby clothing and blankets from January-June.  As our numbers grow, and our skills increase, we will reach out to more hospitals and charities.

BACKGROUND ON THE NORTH PARK FRIENDSHIP CENTER
The Friendship Center is run by North Park Covenant Church, and is supported by a number of local Covenant churches, including ours – Edgebrook Covenant Church.  The Friendship Center provides food and clothing to over needy 350 families, who have over 200 children.  Eleven nationalities are represented among the families.  The Friendship Center desperately needs warm clothing for the children and their parents for the coming winter – and that’s where we come in!

HOW WILL THE MINISTRY WORK?
We plan to have an initial work session in mid-July – to distribute patterns, share yarn and fabric in our personal “stashes,” and provide hands-on lessons for those who want to learn to knit, crochet, or sew.  We hope to find mentors among us for those who want ongoing lessons in the finer points of our crafts, and set up times for them to meet.  Then, we plan to get together officially once a month on the first Monday of the month during the Scrap N’ Chat sessions held at the church.  Those who wish an additional opportunity for fellowship – or help – can also attend the Scarp N’ Chat sessions held on the third Monday of the month at the church.

Our projects are planned so our crafters can work on them on their own, at home (or in the car, on the train, on the airplane, or wherever you happen to find yourself with a few minutes!), at their own pace.  Completed items can be brought in to the Scrap N’ Chat meeting on the first Monday of the month – or dropped off in the decorated bin in the narthex of the sanctuary.

Our team will launder, press and package up the completed items, and make sure that they are delivered to North Park Friendship Center in time for Christmas.

Above all, we hope to have fun as we do the Lord’s work!

WHAT SORTS OF THINGS CAN I MAKE?
The biggest need right now is for warm hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, and blankets for babies, children, and adults.  In addition, it would be just wonderful if crafters would make stuffed animals and dolls for the children.

Beginners often feel daunted when faced with the opportunity to use their new skills for charity.  Not to worry!!  The items you make need not be fancy or complicated.  There are no requirements as to how many items you have to make.  Our main goal is to KEEP IT SIMPLE, and produce in volume!  That means using very simple patterns that can be completed even by beginners in a short period of time – so you can make lots of them!  The patterns included in our Pattern Book fit that prescription – and provide an excellent way to learn more about knitting, crocheting, or sewing. Learning a new craft, or expanding your skill level, shouldn’t be stressful – it should be fun!  Otherwise, what’s the point?!?!?

If you are an accomplished crafter – by all means, knock yourself out!!  If there is one thing you do really well, and you really enjoy making it – GO FOR IT!

WHERE DOES THE YARN AND FABRIC COME FROM?
We are hoping, at least initially, that our crafters will be willing to share yarn and fabric from their personal “stashes.”  If you wish to purchase yarn or fabric for your projects – that is perfectly fine.  We are working with local stores to obtain donations, but that takes a little time – and since we need to get started quickly in order to get enough things made for Christmas, we are hoping our crafters will share their bounty with others in the beginning.

The same holds for knitting needles and crochet hooks – as well as other crafting notions.  If you have duplicates – bring them along with you to first meeting and the Scarp N’ Chat sessions on the first Monday of the month.  Who knows – we may get a trading group going!

WHERE DO THE PATTERNS COME FROM?
We’ve searched the Internet, where we found a wide variety of websites that provide free patterns to be used for charity programs.  The patterns in our Pattern Book come from there – and we’ll be tracking those sites regularly to provide additional new patterns are they are made available.  In addition, there are a few patterns from magazines or yarn companies that have been made available for charity purposes.  You can use your own patterns if you wish, or even purchase new ones – but it is not required.

HOW WILL WE KEEP TRACK OF EACH OTHER -- AND EVERYTHING ELSE?
Chris Pokorny (773-594-0541 or clpokorny@aol.com) will collect and maintain names and contact information, and publish a list of fellow crafters – along with their special interests, general description of type of personal “stash” they may have, willingness to be a mentor, and willingness to help us find donors for yarn and fabric .  Updates to that information will be printed in the Sunday bulletin and on the church’s website.  In addition, Chris is always available for questions or assistance.