Introducing the Strangling Vine Scarf:
- Knit with less than a single skein of Sea Silk (a skein of SS is 430 or so yards of fingering weight)
- Size US 4 needles (but it’s a scarf, so gauge is not essential - it’s about which drape you like most)
- Not reversible (it’s a pretty pattern, but there is a wrong side - sorry)
And… it’s available for free!!
In order to be worthy of the pattern you must…
Do at least ONE random act of kindness. This is something that you have to do (you can’t just join a facebook group where someone else, somewhere is going to donate money for some cause) and it can’t be something you did yesterday before you read about this. I’m not going to tell anyone that whatever they did wasn’t enough… but try to do something that will have a little bit of an impact on the “good” quotient in the world- you know, do something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside! PLEASE leave me a comment letting me know what you did (so I can feel warm and fuzzy too).
Why am I doing this? Well, the pattern isn’t too genius, but I do think it’s kinda pretty - and some people might want a copy of the pattern. This made the trouble of writing up the pattern “worth it.”
At a loss for what to do? Here are some suggestions:
- If you’re on Ravelry, donate! (Casey and Jess are working so hard… and now they’re doing this full time… They need some support!)
- Send a college student you know a care package
- Knit a square for a charity afghan or a scarf for the red-scarf project.
- Send a letter or postcard via snail-mail to a person who’d never expect it and may not have anyone else who’d send them something.
Click the download button to get it now!
Yay! (Don’t forget to do your RAOK!)
12/23/07 -ETA- I used to offer this pattern via email - but it became WAY too much to keep up with (grad school is crazy ya’ll!) and so now… there’s a link! Yay. Less email junk for me to keep up with.
This is such a cool idea! I love this pattern… I’m heading out tonight with friends.. I’ll be on the lookout for an opportunity for a RAOK!!
Very pretty, Nicole! I like the idea of a RAOK pattern.
Thanks so much for thinking of little ole us! So sweet.
And that is one gorgeous pattern!!
The pattern is really nice. Ironically, I did 2 small RAOK today, but hadn’t planned on telling anyone. Since they’re both so small, I put 2 in, hoping they may count!
1. Helped a flustered woman on the bus get 2 large bags filled with stuff out of the aisle and near her seat, since she was having a lot of trouble.
2. Saw an elderly woman who looked kind of sad and lost while walking by a park. I stopped and made sure she was okay, and she was.
I have a friend who is recently divorce and is raising her two semi-adult children. She’s a new knitter with modest resources. I packed up a care package of yarn for her from my stash. Good stuff, too. Nice yarn that I just knew was going to languish in my stash. And then I packed up an envelope with some patterns and the latest Interweave Knits.
Here’s my RAOK: I went in and gave free QuarkXpress lessons to my local nonprofit music program. Kind of a teach an Executive Director how to use a layout palette and they will go forth with affordable (and legible) newsletters. Plus I cleaned up their office computers. Does that count?
I am an active member of a charity group called Heartmade Blessings (http://heartmadeblessings.org) and we specialize in RAOK’s. All it takes is a request and our volunteers come together to make comfortghans for anyone going through a difficult time (illness, death etc.)
We also do comfortghans for the families of soldiers who are killed in the war. We do comfortghans for both Canada and the US.
As of last year we had made enough 12″ squares to cover a football field!
Mailed an unexpected letter to someone who faces some trying times in the months ahead.
Hi, Please send the pattern to me. I’d love to try it. My RAOK was chasing down a dog that got loose during the fourth of July fireworks. I must have covered two miles searching for it and trying to lure it to me. I’m a runner, so the two miles didn’t kill me…. but I was wearing sandals. Anyway, I had to do it or else I couldn’t face myself.
Hope that RAOK works for ya.
Thanks so much.
Lori
Such a kindness to us that you would offer your pattern!
My neighbor was weeding her flowerbed this morning and I stopped by to give her a hand. She mentioned an upcoming wedding and I offered to watch her 6-yr-old while she went, for free.
I like that scarf. I think that I would
do serveral for gifts. So please send me the pattern.
Today I went out with a friend and advised her on some yarn and pattern for a felted purse.
That is such a beautiful pattern.
OK, so I went out and did my RAOK - and in your honor I did something difficult for me… I gave my 40% off coupon for JoAnns to a lady I saw in the store (she was stressing aloud over forgetting hers and needing it for her purchase)
Karma karma karma…I just gotta wonder when I’m gonna get all my GOOD karma back! Still waiting…
An essay I wrote, just today, about a RAOK that dropped on me. Thank you, Nicole, for your inspiration of fiber and giving.
Stuff We Are Made Of
I am an old newlywed. I teach, I knit, and I love, love, love to dance in the kitchen with my husband. I am pretty settled in my domestic ways. I love my antique dishes and linens and the fact that my kids are old enough now that I have banned plastic from my kitchen almost completely. My silverware matches, my glasses coordinate. I am a closet domestician who loves to bake.
My new husband, on the other hand, has an eclectic cache of plastic everything and not so, well, you know, domestically coordinated kitchenware. When we married we found we owned two of many things, kitchen appliances, televisions, ironing boards, and an extra bed. I have designated this the Summer of Purge and am determined to let go, mostly of his stuff.
I have felt burdened by all of our stuff in the basement and am ready to clean house physically and emotionally to give a good foundation for this new life. During a National Writing Project institute this summer, a friend shared that her new in-laws lost their home to a fire. While a collection envelope was created, I thought how fortunate for me. I have all this stuff and they have no stuff. Serendipity.
I began to pack up stuff: pots, pans, dishes, electronics, a Christmas tree strand, a string of lights, and more. With every packed box, I felt lighter, better, liberated from stuff. Our new friends showed up with a trailer yesterday. We piled stuff on. Something that surprised me was their genuine smiles, easy conversation, and warm hugs. I couldn’t help but wonder how I would feel if I were them. Would I be so gracious? So kind? So quick to smile?
This act was not random. It was planned. We knew the house had burned. We began to collect items to give and plan to give more of whatever stuff pops out of the boxes in the basement. I think a random act of kindness comes at a moment of surprise, not so much to the recipient, but to the giver. This happened to me yesterday while wrapping drinking glasses in tissue to tuck in a box. I decided to bake cookies and place them, as a surprise, in a large donated pot.
With every cookie my daughter and I formed in our hands and rolled in the sweet sugar and cinnamon, I thought about how wonderful life is to provide these opportunities to give and to love, even those we don’t know. I felt giddy with kindness, but more than that, I felt significant in this world while standing barefoot in my kitchen, warm from summer, warm from the oven, baking Snickerdoodles, wearing a polka-a-dot apron, and learning about the stuff we are made of.
Hi! I have a pretty good ROAK, I think. I adopted a kitten from a shelter today! He is almost 3 mos. old and I think his name will be Patrick. I’ll be posting his picture as my Ravelry avatar soon so look me up (I’m bethknitsandnaps there). And, in case anyone is worried, this wasn’t entirely random…I’ve been thinking seriously about getting a companion for my other kitty for a while now. I just wasn’t exactly planning on doing it today, but, you know, when you fall in love…
Anyway, I truly love your pattern and I hope the adoption of a sweet kitty qualifies me for it! Thanks.
I love your pattern, and would like to make one for myself.
My RAOK happened a few days ago. I too am in love with Ravelry, and donated what I could. I also helped a family member, financially, who is having a hard time at the moment.
Thanks for reminding me that I need to do more RAOK. Not for any type of reward, but just because!
Your scarf pattern is beautiful. I am a dreadful tightwad, but for that scarf I will buy silk. I try to keep my RAOK collection current. Today I made a point of complimenting my husband on his recently finished household projects and the skill he brings to them. (the man made me a swift! Is he great or what?). Otherwise, I try to compliment grocery store stockers and sweepers on the great work they’re doing. I shop for other people with my store card, so the store thinks I’m some kind of great shopper and sends me little “I appreciate this employee” cards which I try to give out to cheerful checkers, helpful stockers or bakery or deli workers. & etc.
I hope that qualifies as trying to make the world around me happier. I never do as much as I’m sure I should, but I try not to pass up any obvious chance to improve someone’s day.
You have done something wonderful in offering your marvelous scarf pattern - - which I am sure took you rather more than 5 minutes to work up - - in return for goodness to others.
I love your pattern….(not that I have time to knit it…
Here is my RAOK:
My friend called me up to say one of her 6 wk old twins was in the hospital with a fever. I told her I already had the day off and I’d do whatever was needed.
I stayed with the other twin while she brought her older one to childcare, and later in the day I watched the 6 week old for a few hours (including a feed, and diaper change)
I am so excited to receive this pattern - gorgeous! My RAOK: I was leaving work, walking through the long hallway to the parking garage. I passed an older woman who was breathing fairly heavy and muttering something under her breath. I stopped and encouraged her to sit down, and asked if she would like me to find her a wheelchair. She declined the wheelchair, but talked with me for a few minutes about how long of a walk it was to the pain clinic and back. I validated her feelings (I’m a social worker! It had to happen!!)
I helped a friend move, and I surprised her and her husband by buying them lunch. Then my husband and I cooked them dinner, since their kitchen was still in boxes. The moving was planned, the lunch and dinner were my random acts of kindness.
Thie Strangling Vine is a very pretty pattern. I am into lace knitting these days and I want to try this.
Sally Ingram
My RAC is donating yarn and possibly needles, if they need them to a local charity. I’m waiting for an email reply as to the need for needles. I will actually be able to deliver the items in person since I live about 35 miles from the College. I visited the college with my daughter last tuesday but did not know that they had a knitting project.
United World College Knit for Charity
P.O. Box 256
Highway 65
Montezuma, NM 87731
Contact: Elizabeth Morse
+1 (505) 454 1705
fax: +1 (505) 454 4275
email: emorse@newmexico.com
World Wide Web: http://www.uwc-usa.org
We are a non-profit school with a strong service ethic. The UWC Knitters are seeking knitting supplies so that we can create blankets, hats, and slippers for homeless and domestic violence shleters in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas, New Mexico. We are also knitting caps and blankets for area hospital wards: caps and blankets for premature babies and chemo therapy patients, and slippers for those who need them.
I drove 8 hours to move things into my daughter’s first apartment, while she is training for her first job in D.C. for a month. She is starting her job in Chicago the day after her training and has no furniture, etc. Her tiny little studio now has a functioning window a/c and her kitchen is stocked. No furniture tho’
Gorgeous scarf!
Beautiful scarf!
My RAOK today was to give this elderly gentleman who seemed befuddled by the not having the correct amount of bus fare a he got on. I gave the driver the fare the gentleman needed.
Amazing Pattern!
Last night my boyfriend and I decided to take a break from our LAN party (a party thing where people sit around and play computer games while consuming large amounts of caffeine) and go get some 2am Denny’s breakfast. When we got there, there was an old man sleeping in a corner booth with a cup of coffee and some half-eaten toast in front of him. After we finished eating our “breakfast” he had still not woken up or moved. I decided to pay for his coffee and toast
Something little, but nice.
I’m not sure this RAOK is really so random, but this summer my husband and I (we’re 30, no kids) agreed to have my younger brother come live with us to finish his senior year in high school. The high school he currently attends has a lot of violence and not great academics, and we live in a great school district. It’s going to be a huge change for all of us - we have a small house, and we’ve never raised a teenager before, but we’re glad to do it for him. He’s a great kid, who will really blossom in a better environment.
Thanks for doing this - it’s nice to be reminded of all the great things people do for each other!
My ongoing RAOK is very small, but I have started knitting hats for the Innocent Smoothie people in the UK.
Basically, they put woolly hats on their fruit smoothie bottles at christmas, and for each one sold, they donate 50p to Age Concern, to help keep elderly people warm during the winter. So far I’ve knitted 2 1/2 hats, but I only learnt to knit 6 weeks ago, so I’ve a long way to go.
The website is http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/supergran/ if anyone else wants to join in.
I used your suggestion and donated to Ravelry.
What an awesome idea to have a RAOK pattern. It takes just a little to make someone’s day or help someone feel better. And we get warm fuzzies in return.
Thanks in advance for the pattern!
I always see this one lady around where I work sitting outside reading a book. So I secretly crocheted a pretty bookmark (I noticed her using a scrap piece of paper for a bookmark), and I bravely gave it to her, just introducing my gift as a kind gift to a stranger to make her day. I think she thought I was a bit strange, but when she saw I was sincere and walked away without wanting something back, she smiled and started using it. Kinda cool.
I’m not sure if this counts but I know a lot of people wouldn’t have taken the time or even noticed. Sunday before church I realized I had used the last of the toilet paper in the ladies bathroom closest to the congregation hall. I also noticed that there were no more paper towels. I got my husband to guard the ladies room and went looking for supplies (we are new and don’t know the church very well yet). I found both kinds of paper and restocked the room while my husband made sure no one got stranded in there without paper.
Beautiful pattern and thank you for writing it!
ha…what timing, I’m making dinner tonight for my very sweet sister who’s always taking care of everyone else!
Miss Nicole….you just continue to amaze me every time I read your blog….which I must admit is very very often! Nice job girl!
I am blown away by 1. your generosity and 2. your wonderful idea. We all should spend more time doing RAOK for others. As many people have seen here it really doesn’t take much time or even money to do something that can make someone else’s day. I have an ongoing ROAK. I always have something on the needles for someone else. Right now i am working on scarves for the Domestic Violence Shelter. These scarves will be given to the women who have chosen to leave their abusive situations. many of these women leave with nothing, they have nothing to call their own.
I am also in the process of organizing a knit-a-thon in my city. During this time we will knit for various charities and all things completed will be donated. i had no idea how much work this project will be! i love it though!
I am so looking forward to your beautiful pattern. i hope one day to be good enough at lace to work on lace scarves for the shelter!
I drive my niece to and from her volunteer activities everyday because her mom has MS. So not only am I doing that I am instilling volunteerism into my my family and extended family.
WOW, what a fantastic ideak - RAOK. I am going to knit squares for Afghan to donate to my Church. I am also going to start on another Socks for Soldiers.
Promoting RAOK with a beautiful scarf pattern is such a lovely idea. Let’s see, I bought tickets to the Harry Potter midnight premiere for someone who will love it but couldn’t afford it. And, encouraged by you, I finally put pen to paper and wrote a real letter to a kind soul in India (long overdue). And I promise to give a donation to Ravelry, with pleasure. I will add one more promise, although it will be later in the year, a promise to do another red scarf (did one last year following your pattern).
Thank you!
Hey - just popped over from your comment on my blog (thanks for adding me!), and I remember this scarf! Saw it in progress on Ravelry (which, you’re right, is the best place in the world). It turned out beautiful! Love the RAOK idea.
Beautiful scarf. I saw this a few days ago, thought about things, then actually forgot it for awhile. Which I guess means the RAOK I did earlier today was really selfless. I volunteered to take a project off the hands of a couple people at work that I know are swamped right now. A couple other people were shocked given my own workload that I did it, but they have it worse right now.
Oh again with the generosity! Thank you for offering this up. Lets see today was my day off so I did a few RAOK. I loaded up a box of books (paperbacks) and dropped them off at the local senior center on my way to town. I also popped in to my son’s college and took him to lunch. His team mate was there and has no family locally so I invited him along and made his day. (The school cafeteria is closed for the summer and they have to forage for food)
I love the pattern! My RAOK was being a Big Sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. I also made a couple of squares for Warm Up America, and I also am knitting a slew of premmie hats for Stitches From the Heart
I’m looking forward to knitting this pattern
Callie Karen
The scarf turned out beautifully, Nicole. There’s some sea silk on its way to me, so the pattern’s up just in time.
I am going to send a parcel to someone who was left parcel-less in the last Knitters Tea Swap.
Love that scarf - would love the pattern. I am currently knitting up a pair of 9-5 socks using some Trekking; will send a photo when finished.
My roak: I live in NYC. The subways are not at friendly to Moms with strollers. This morning I helped a Mom carry her stroller (with baby in it) up the stairs to street level. Before I got to the stairway, I watched several men pass her by and not offer to help!
I made a donation to Ravelry - it’s such an amazing community that I want it to suceed!
After I read this post, I went and made a donation to the ASPCA.
The pattern and the yarn are lovely. Thank you for your kindness in giving out this pattern for free.
ps I made the donation because my earlier RAOK (helping someone carry up their stroller up the subway stairs) was done before I had read the post.
a lovely pattern and a lovely idea! i’ve donated to ravelry - jess and casey are fantastic. i spent the day with my husband’s 93 year old nana so his mum could take a day out with a friend, and i had tea ready for my mum-in-law when she came home.
thank you for sharing!
What a gorgeous pattern. And such a wonderful idea too. :0)
It’s contagious! I went walking and picked up litter. I saw a lady look at what I was doing, she ducked back into her house and came out with a bag to help with the picking up.
I helped a couple of tourists find their way, not by telling them but by showing them…I hope they like the city!!!
As well I’ve signed up to do the CIBC Run For A Cure (a run for breast cancer research) and am making the first (oops maybe second) donation.
Last week some girls from my old class and me went out for a “girls night on the town”. I offered to stay sober so that I could drive. I picked them all up, drove us all to ‘the city’, and later that night (morning?) I drove them all home, even though we’re all scattered all over the country - and I didn’t charge them any gas money or anything.
Heheh.. It was a fun night nevertheless!
This may not seem like a big deal, but where I come from the bus hours are crap, it’s impossible to get home from ‘the city’ any later than midnight - and if it is, it’s expensive like you wouldn’t believe. So they were all really, really happy that I made that “sacrifice”.
Thank you so much for offering this beautiful pattern!
My ROAK comes from one I received yesterday…My vegetable-gardener neighbor gave me a batch of purple hull peas and okra from her garden, and today I cooked the peas and fried the okra. So good, yum! I took the goodies to my elderly neighbor and we shared a wonderful lunch and visit!
I feel silly talking or bragging about an ROAK since such things should be a part of everyday life, don’t you think?
Absolutely beautiful pattern. Plus, it was just the kick in the pants that I needed to go donate to Ravelry. What Jess and Casey are doing is so incredible for knitters and being part of that…well…it’s good.
I’m also taking dinner on Friday night to a friend who just had her first baby. She and her husband deserve it so much and I want them to be comfy and content.
Inspired by you, my daughter and i spent the afternoon finger painting (she did that mostly, since she is well 2.), and packin’ up a care package for a friend of ours entire army unit. while they are in training in GA. Making sure that all the solider had some stationary and some fun pictures and treats. This is an uber awesome idea!
My RAOK: Saturday I had to drop off some paperwork at a business associates’ house for my husband. The associates’ wife has a newborn and a two year old. I played with the two year old and read her some books so her mom could give the baby a bath.
This is a fantastic idea!
My RAOK: I have proudly donated $50 to Ravelry so far. And I hope to donate more when the site goes “Live” after testing!
Bunny hugs,
Kimberly
(somebunnyslove on Ravelry)
=:8
Your pattern is lovely! Thank you for offering it.
I helped a lady at AC Moore during our Knit In find some yarn and helped her with some patterns for prayer shawls. She has Parkinson’s and needed some patterns adapted to her needs. I gave her my coupon to use on her purchase. It felt good to help her, knowing she wanted to help others.
What a pretty pattern and what a great idea! I think there needs to be more RAOK in the world.
I helped a woman with two toddlers and a heavy stroller get on the bus and then unload everything when it was time to get off. I also helped get her to her the correct bustop so that she could continue on her journey to the zoo with the kids
Your pattern is gorgeous and I can’t wait to knit it. I do a variety of charitable activities. I have a weekly class to teach cancer patients and/or their caregivers to knit, knit baby hats for a local hospital, knit chemo hats, knit squares for Warm Up America, and help with clerical work for several non-profits.
In advance, thanks for the lovely pattern.
Okay, my RAOK is lame, but here it goes. My husband was busy with a big sale of ebay. He was getting very stressed and could not replace the ink cartridge in the printer. I stopped knitting and did it for him without complaining. I told you it was lame.
Also, yesterday I finished two knitting projects that are gifts. A baby blanket and a purse for my SIL. The purse is pretty random considering it’s a just because I thought of you when I saw the pattern not for a birthday or anything.
Please accept my lame RAOK, I really love the pattern.
The scarf is really pretty, and I love the Handmaiden Sea Silk. Thank you!
The pattern is so pretty. Thank you for the pattern! I spent an hour on the phone with my sister, trying to help her with her problem with a grandson. He’s in a bad home life, and I offered to have him (my nephew) come and live with me, so I can try to give him a chance. I never like to talk about any nice thing I do, but for the pattern. . .I will!!
The pattern is so pretty. Thank you for the pattern! I spent an hour on the phone with my sister, trying to help her with her problem with a grandson. He’s in a bad home life, and I offered to have him (my nephew) come and live with me, so I can try to give him a chance. I never like to talk about any nice thing I do, but for the pattern. . .I will!!
What a wonderful pattern and what a great thing to do to get us to do a RAOK. I sent a donation to Ravelry. It’s a great site took a lot of work to get up and running.
Please send me the pattern,
Thanks,
Karin
This is such a great idea!! Thanks for the pattern and the reminder to do good deeds. I just donated to ravelry!
I was looking for knitting patterns yesterday and came accross this pattern, it looks beautiful. I sat thinking of what good dead I could do, I was gazing out at my front garden, I tend to get a little angry when I do this as I try to keep my garden neat and tidy, yet next do neighbours garden is a terrible mess and the weeds come tumbling into my garden. I don’t get on with next door very well, a very long story which she ended up with police being involved. So we don’t speak, she recently found out she has MS, the thought struck me yesterday as I was mooching out the window, time to let bygons be bygons and for me to make the first move. I knocked on her front door feeling quite scared, I asked if she wanted me to do her front garden for her, she looked very sceptical but said yes. After a couple of hours of weed pulling and lawn mowing she came out and offered me a coffee.
Thankyou for not only a pretty scarf but also for helping me to be able to break the ice with next door.
My (slightly lame) RAOK for you lovely pattern happened this morning in the airport on our way home from the UK. I gave a girl we met in the check-in line five pounds to buy some breakfast from the cafe in the departures lounge, since she had spent all her sterling and had no cash left. True, she wasn’t starving or homeless or anything, but it’s something I would have been grateful to receive if our situations had been reversed. And considering the food we were served on our (bargain basement) flight, it might not have been such a little thing after all!
Hope that counts! You’ve inspired me to think up some more little things I can do for people, too. hmmmmm….
My RAOK was to give a lift to an elderly hitchhiker a couple of days ago. He had obviously been to the store for groceries, so I pulled over to give him a lift. It turned out that he needed to go a couple of miles down the road, so he did need the lift. I don’t usually pick up hitchers, but something told my heart to do this. It wasn’t until later that I realized that this was a RAOK that might qualify for your pattern.
You are truly a delight! I’m a retired 76 year old who tutors children who have no learned to read,write or do math at grade level, so my RAOK this week is working with a new student, who is very nervous about going from 6th grade into JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. When his mother called, it didn’t occur to me this was a RAOK, but I think it probably qualifies.
Any one of my granddaughters (one an RN, another a junior at University of Oregon, and yet another starting at UC Berkeley this fall) would love this scarf. It has a great drape to it.
TIA…your comments about your internship struck a cord with me. You learned exactly the right things to ask.
Joan
I taugh my children as they were growing up to be patient, whether they are waiting their turn in line or traveling in the vehicle. The RAOK that I can recall this week was opening the door to the post office for an elderly woman walking with a cane. I watched as she entered, thanked me and slowly headied towards the P.O. boxes while I turned and walked in another direction.
At the checkout stand in the market, I let two different customers go in front of my order since they had one or two items. I know I don’t like to wait behind a big order, so I figure they don’t as well.
This scarf pattern is just so beautiful and I thank you for sharing it. I’m getting back into knitting and this scarf would make a nice gift for a friend.
Betty
My ROAK is sad and hard to talk about. My daughter-in-laws cat, who she has had since it was a baby, became very ill over the week end and it needed to be put to sleep. She was so upset she couldn’t stay with Buttons but didn’t want her to leave this life alone. I held, stroked and whispered to Buttons as she left this world. It was difficult but my DIL appreciated it and I hope it gave her and buttons some comfort.
I really love this pattern
I like to fill my life with RAOK’s. Today, I paid for the lunch of a co-worker who was having a bad day (even after she was mean to me earlier, lol).
If you’re still checking comments, I would LOVE this gorgeous pattern!
Just got into ravelry and gave a $25 donation. Would have done more, but I’m unemployed right now
When I find a job, they’ll get more! I’m loooving the ravelry!!!
A gorgeous pattern worthy of a couple of RAOK:
something simple: saying “bless you” to a perfect stranger after they sneezed while walking through a lobby
something to share: a was reading a blog where a woman was having on leash problems with her rescue dog — I posted two articles on dealing with the issues in the comments on her blog
something for my husband: he asks for so little, so I agreed to spend a little of our windfall $ on golf lessons for him
something else: helped a woman who was on the wrong bank of elevators to get to the floor she wanted
somethings old: sent old yarn to Hungary for a charity knitting group; donated to ravelry, adopted a couple of issues of vogue knitting for ravelry as an editor
I am sending off a huge bunch of yarn to a woman who can’t afford any for her projects. She’s thrilled at the windfall!
I also emailed my friend who is struggling in her doctoral work — to offer an ear, support, anything.
Thanks for this opportunity for some RAOKs!
I love the pattern! Today, I made a donation to help animals in shelters find homes.
Here is my rak. I recently attended a convention of doll collector’s in Detroit. After one presentation, an older woman was having trouble with her scooter, and I volunteered to help her get settled and going ( the battery had died, she said and she had plugged it in to re-charge) In speaking with her, I realized that she was very disoriented, unsure of the time of day, etc. I talked her into going back to her hotel room to rest, though she wanted to go get ready for breakfast ( it was 9pm). We went to several floors, till she was able to tell me which floor was the correct one, after that we tried to determine the room #. Finally got her back to her room, and told her roomates my concerns. She was very lost, but boy could she put the pedal to the metal on that scooter! She was hospitalized the next day, sadly she was out of state, but her family was suppose to fly to Detroit to be with her. She was thought to have had a possible stroke earlier in the week. So that is it, I got her safely home to her room
I have been waiting for the opportunity to finally post and today I got it. My highschool does this program for Jewish kids from Israel and American Jews kids to meet. I wasn’t able to go because I am not Jewish, but I saw one of the students lost in the square today and because he couldn’t speak english he had a hard time getting around. I made sure he got some cool CD’s and home safetly.
I am very interested in this pattern. I will work on my RAOK this weekend and let you know on Monday. This pattern will be part of my RAOK. Thanks.
I knit a hat for my daughter, who is going to camp next week. Her friend saw the hat and loved it, so I am in the process of knitting her one too. The best part is, neither one knows I am doing this, so it will be a surprise that I will deliver when I drop them off at camp.
What a wonderful idea! I am a random act of kindness! Sometimes taken advantage of, but it is my nature to do for others. I do something everytime I leave my house!
Last week went to my LYS and the owner (who was having a special event on a Sunday) had customers lined up the link of the store. I asked if I could help bag for her. I worked for two and a half hours because she needed help.
I made a crocheted ball for a dog that had been abused because everytime he saw my yarn he had to smell it. Then I was told that Alpacas are very healing animals, so I surprised his owner with a crocheted tennis ball. It is his favorite!
I am a mom of teenagers, pet owner of abandoned animals, homeowner, business owner, wife, crafter, etc. I just wanted to thank you for reminding others that nice deeds do not go unpunished. Good deeds come back to you! I had a flat a few years ago, hundreds of miles from home on New Years Day (without a coat on). Before I could decide what to do a man was asking me where the jack was. He was finished in less than 10 minutes, wouldn’t accept any money. Just said “take care” and left! You are that anonymous man! Take care and spread the joy!
I work with mostly women - and they have been experiencing quite a baby boom! In between larger projects (and your gorgeous scarf definitely qualifies as one!), I’ll knit up a baby hat or a washcloth to get some quick knitterly gratification. I try to keep a few of these small items on hand for last-minute gifts. After reading your post, I contacted my OB/GYN’s office and asked the staff if they could use some handknit baby hats to give to low-income patients. Turns out that they have a program for moms in need, and to encourage these usually first-time moms to show up for their pre-natal check-ups, they will give them diapers and other baby care items. Now they also have some hats to give away.
Nicole, you really made me stop and think about the things we do for one another. Having once “been there” and having been the beneficiary of unexpected help along the way, I am so grateful for every chance where I can do something for someone else. Thank you for creating this RAOK “challenge”!
My daughter’s co-worker’s wife just had a baby. Actually, he is about 6 weeks old now. But they didn’t have the monies to purchase a vehicle that they could all fit in. The baby was in the front seat of the van with the mom, sitting in a lawn chair in the back of a cargo van. I had a Ford Aerostar which was old, but still runs great, which I used for my family for 19 years. So, after thinking a bit about it, I gave them the van. I didn’t want it anymore, I probably couldn’t have much money for it, and they needed it. So, now they can go places safely, all of them, and I don’t have the van sitting in my driveway, and can now park my baby (79 450SL mercedes) in my driveway. We all win!!!!
Hi,
What a great idea! My RAOK was to carry my elderly neighbour’s grocery up the steep hill to our houses for her.
Hi,
My ROAK today was to send a donation to Ravelry (where I first came across your beautiful scarf pattern, and then I donated postage money to http://www.theshipsproject.com (this is a great organization that knits hats for our deployed troops -t hey also send care packages, etc).
Thanks & regards!
Lizzie
I love this scarf! Yesterday at the church I picked up the name & sizes of a 10 year old girl, today I will buy an outfit of school clothes for her. I am also in the process of knitting a chemo-cap for a one-year old. My heart breaks just thinking about a baby having cancer.
Hi, I did a few raok today. I wrote an apology to a very creative young woman whose feeling I unintentionally hurt.
I wrote to all of my friends to not shop at amazon.com because they sell magazines that promote animal fighting and hide behind their “first amendment” rights while really selling these items because they make a profit from them.
I completed a knitted teddy bear (pretty cute I must say since this was my first!) for a child with AIDS in Africa. I already make “pet blankets” for homeless animals in shelters, but I’ll be adding teddy bears to my charity knitting. Cute and fun and I get to do something meaningful in this crazy world.
Thank you for your great idea!
A couple of days ago an older lady was a couple of people ahead of me in line at the grocery store and was obviously short of money for her groceries. She was searching her purse and coin purse. I feel really bad for people that are on a fixed income trying to make ends meet. I passed $20 to the cashier and asked her to use that to pay for the groceries. I was kind of hoping to remain anonymous so the woman wouldn’t feel bad, but the cashier tried to hand the change back to me, and I made sure she gave it to the lady instead. It’s so sad when people can’t even afford basic groceries.
HI, great idea! I hope more people decide to “give away” patterns this way.
My Random acts of kindness actuallys started several years ago when my now 9 year old was in headstart. The classroom is all carpeting except for a tiled “aisleway” around the edge of the room where coats where hung and the sink for washing up was. One day when I stopped in while dropping off my son I noticed that the carpet was wet in spots where some of the children had tracked in snow and that other children were sitting in their circle area with their boots on and of course some of the boots were wet causing their clothing to get wet.
Since the county is about 98% unemployed and the Headstart was for “underpriviliged and needy” children who needed a boost before starting kindergarten or a few like my son who was very smart but had learning difficulties (he was born almost completely deaf). So I knew most of the kids probably didn’t have a pair of shoes to change into at school or they didn’t remember to bring them (like my son who would to this day forget his head if it wasn’t attached!..LOL). So I knitted my son a pair of slippers to keep in his backpack to change into while at school…my mom when she found out what I was doing, thought it was a great idea and between the two of us we made about 45 pairs of slippers enough for both classrooms and two sessions AM & PM. They were an instant HIT! The Teachers thought they were the neatest thing making it so much easier to keep the carpets dry and cleaner. The teachers had to watch the kids closely as the slippers had a tendency to be left on when the boots where put on and went home with the kids…LOL
A couple of years later my mom happened to run into one of the teachers in a store and she went on about how they were STILL using them even though now they were starting to become very worn. So we started knitting up more and donated them to Headstart again and now every couple of years we make a new batch and my mom takes them in to the school for me and my son have moved 200 some miles away.
My RAOK is that I emailed my father who I have been estrangfed from for many years.
Love your scarf pattern. I have one skein of the same yarn and have been trying to find a great pattern to use it on.
Thanks so much!
Elaine
My RAOK is that I emailed my father who I have been estranged from for many years.
Love your scarf pattern. I have one skein of the same yarn and have been trying to find a great pattern to use it on.
Thanks so much!
Elaine
I’d love to give the pattern a try. (For my homework, I have donated to Ravelry and sent some knitted items to the chemotherapy unit at my local hospital.)
I love the pattern and the color of yarn.
I did 2 ROAKs…
I sent a box of craft goodies to an aunt who gives so much of herself to her family.
I also baked some zucchini bread to surprise a neighbor with….much better than giving a gignormouse zucchini to some unsuspecting person!
I have been helping an old man who has terminal lung cancer. I drive him when he needs to go somewhere. I help him get healing herbs. I encourage him. I arranged for him to have meals delivered each day. I listen. I cry with him. But I didn’t feel like there was an “I” involved. We are all ONE, all are myself.
I gave the guy standing on the corner in the rain selling the Big Issue some money. I didnt want to buy the magazine, but here he was in the rain trying to sell those mags. He deserved it. I told him to go buy something hot to eat when he finished cos he would need it ;).
(I also knit squares for Wraps with Love)
Thanks so much for your pattern and the RAOK plan. I was in a cleaning mood today and decided to clean out some of my yarn stash… I’ve been talking about donating yarn to nursing homes for awhile - when I did it before these little old ladies were delighted to get yarn and needles(if they needed them). Some of them hadn’t knitted for years and wanted to talk about when they learned and who taught them. I even went into my “stash-that-must-not-be-touched” and put some of that in also…heaven only knows I have enough yarn. (My greed is shameful me thinks).
It’s in a bag in my car and will be delivered to the nursing home tomorrow morning. Pass it on…
Great scarf pattern. I’m going to use some seasilk for it for a Christmas gift for my mother. Great idea - RAOK as payment. Love it. For my RAOK, one of the gals in my knitting group has a non-profit business called stiches for britches. I don’t usually knit baby things but I’ll knit a hat and booties for her babes in need.
I just came home from a trip on the bus where an old lady fell just outside at a bus stop. 2 people from inside the bus ran out to help her. The bus driver didn’t care - he started the bus. I ran to him and made him stop so they could get back on.
Hope this will do - I’d love to have this pattern.
Marianne, Denmark
What a wonderful idea!
I’ve been donating scrap yarn to local schools and have started a piggy bank for donations for Make A Wish, all my change at the end of the day goes into the piggy bank.
I’m planning on donating to Ravelry too. What a wonderful job they are doing.
What a great idea! I love vine lace, and I’ve done a couple of simple scarves using it, plus Classic Elite Yarns has a new free pattern for a vest with this lace pattern.
About RAOK, I try to do them often. Yesterday DH and I took one of the ladies from my seniors’ charity knitting group to the Josh Groban concert in Anaheim.
Fran is 82 and was diagnosed with colon cancer some months ago. She is a feisty single lady, and it is so sad to see how the surgery and the chemo treatments are affecting her. She has family members in SoCal, but no nearer than 50 miles or so, so I try to call her every few days and give her rides to the doctor when she’s too tired to drive herself.
Fran has been a huge Josh Groban fan for as long as I’ve known her (4 years), and when I saw the tickets go on sale some months ago I thought she would really enjoy the show. He didn’t sing any of her favorite songs, and we were way too close to the speakers, but we had a wonderful view. It was a lot of activity for her, and she was pretty tired when we got home about midnight, but I think she really had a good time.
this scarf is so beautiful!
as far as RAOK…i did do something today.
When i went to the grocery store today, i was loading up my car w/ my groceries. An elderly lady in the spot next to me had quite a few groceries and was moving slowly. So i went to her and helped her load up her groceries. I want to think i helped her by doing that. I would have offered to follow her home to help her load the groceries into her house, but i didn’t want to seem like a psychopath.
I would love the pattern. It’ is beautiful!
I have donated money to Ravelry and I’ve made 33 hats for Dulaan (Mongolian Prisoners and Orphans).
I am also teaching a friend of a friend how to knit.
What a lovely pattern and an even lovelier read of everyone’s RAOK! This has put a smile on my face.
My RAOK was 1. donating money to Ravelry and 2. this morning one of our company’s clients who was here for training had her mobile phone run out of batteries and no-one in the company had a charger for it. I have a USB connecter/software on my PC however which charges the phone at the same time so I used that to recharge her phone for her, which she was pretty happy about.
I would love the pattern.
My ROAK was giving a lady some of my tickets so that she and her daughter could ride the carousel at the Mountgomery County Agricultural Fair. ( Yes, we have an agricultural fair just a few miles away from Washington DC, complete with 4-H competitors, cattle, goats, etc..
I have 1 ball of sea silk and this looks perfect for it!
My ROAK - I stopped on my way to work and gave a woman a ride to her church. She was just standing at the side of a deserted stretch of road waving her arms. She barely spoke any english but she knew the word for church and with luck I found the church down the street. Her family was waiting for her outside the church doors and were very glad to see her.
What a lovely pattern and a lovely idea! I saw this post a couple of days ago and have spent the weekend packing care packages for students in my step-daughter’s dorm who are from overseas. She’s going to deliver them this evening. We’ve had fun putting them together and will try this again, perhaps around finals time.
Thanks
I would love to have the Strangling Vines scarf pattern - - - very beautiful - - - scarves are my favorite item to knit.
As for ROAKs, today I made a large number of stitch markers out of charms and split rings to give to my steady knitting friends on Wednesday. I am also part of a charity knitting group that knits and crochets lap robes for the hospice run by one of our hospitals. At present, I am knitting a laprobe with garter stitch border and blocks of knit and purl on the interior.
Martha
Your scarf is beautiful! For my RAOK, I made a donation to Ravelry today. (That was a good suggestion you had!) Thank you!
I noticed a fellow Craftster has been down in the dumps lately and since I had done a swap with her previously and knew her address, I sent her a special care package acouple days ago. Hopefully her package of knit baby goodies gets her out of the eight month funk.
what a lovely scarf!
I received an email from someone I’ve never met asking for career advice (they found me through my website), and I replied with some strategies and words of encouragement.
(and my friend who told me about this website should get credit for a RAOK herself!)
Great idea
I’d love to knit this pattern.
Today I went to my local animal shelter and walked their dogs for a few hours.
thanks,
Amber
This is a great idea and a beautiful pattern. My knitting group has done a lot of charity work over the years. For my RAOK for this particular pattern, I drove a coworker home because it was pouring rain and he takes the bus to work. He was reluctant to impose, but it was raining sooooooooo hard, I insisted.
I’m looking forward to getting the pattern. Thanks so much.
Jan
I regularly make lap rugs for my Mum’s Probas group to present to local nursing homes …. its an ongoing thing, but I usually manage three or four rugs each winter, along with all the usual stuff for family members. I also knit one of a kind hats for the homeless, one on the needles right now, should be finished in two nights of boring tv watching ….. cheers, and thanks for the prompting to do good.
gemma
What a pretty pattern! Okay - for my RAOK, I took the very first pair of mittens I’ve ever knitted off the needles. They are black wool with a really pretty purple/gray/black mohair through them. I was oh so proud of them and they fit perfectly, I just donated them the local shelter. Oh they were pretty and my very first ones! They will keep someone else’s hand nice and warm this winter.
If I can manage this pattern, perhaps I’ll donate a scarf as well!
Paying it Forward, not only a good movie, but a great concept.
Thank you!
I donated some of my stash yarn to the local elementary school for craft projects.
Thanks for the great idea.
This pattern is absolutely gorgeous…..Please send me the pattern…I love the color you made the scarf in…..I checked out your site also,great info…..
Thank you
Jo
Like the look of the pattern. Lace is a fave of mine.
Last week I made a date w/ a friend of mine for Tuesday evening to talk about her “crisis of faith.” She says I will know what to say to help her. Pray that the words come to me. I love her very much & want to give her some comfort. She has been there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on.
What a lovely idea to cultivate good deeds!
I would love to have the pattern. My RAOK was cleaning out the garage and giving two boxes of English books, one box of games, and one box of toys to the International School.
I would also love to have the pattern. I’ve sent off two red scarves to the RSProject. I’ve got four squares ready to send for an afghan for you-know-who. I’m finishing off two sweater-vests also for a4A.
More personally, I encouraged a woman friend not to be afraid to step up to a wonderful relationship with a new man. She’s been trying to push the river (what if? we’ll never be able to….). She needed the encouragement. We’ll see what happens.
tia
A friend of mine was having a really bad day, so I went online and bought her a bunch of spinning fibers and had them sent to her to cheer her up. Everyone loves mail surprises!
I was at my daughters swimming lesson and noticed a woman at the side of the pool trying to get someone’s attention - followed her gaze to see her daughter had somehow gotten out of her depth and into difficulties while the instructor was with another child (with his back to her and at least 3 or 4m away). The girl was only 4 or so and I leapt straight into the pool fully clothed (jeans, boots, phone - the lot) to grab her without r