The Little Scarf-Maker Who Could

A while back my cousin sent me a link to a news story about a person in Canada who was scarf-bombing in his or her community–leaving knitted scarves strewn all over with notes attached:  “I am not lost! If you are stuck out in the cold, take this scarf to keep warm.”

What a beautiful thing.  Right?  Sharing light and love and warmth.  It made me wish I was a faster knitter.  What fun that would be to create and then go scarf-bombing!  But I’m not, so…..

A friend and sister from Wesleyan saw the same story.  She lives in Florida.  She also thought it was a great thing.  I’m not sure whether she knits or not, but she didn’t let anything discourage her from trying to make a difference.

At a table in the middle of her living room, she started making scarves out of fleece.  She also set up a campaign for funding on-line and set her goal of 100 scarves.  The campaign goal was $355.  She wrote that any funds raised over that would go towards making even more scarves.

And then an amazing thing happened.  Her total amount raised was $1026 with 48 supporters for a total of over four hundred scarves!  Forty-eight people who were also able to be a part of this loving and fun mission.  And then there were more.  As this giving artist discovered, people were getting excited.  I saw her post on Facebook several times where she would be bombing, and others were jumping in to join her.

Share the joy.

And she did.

The arctic blast that hit all over did not leave Florida out.  During that time, my friend was busy cutting and creating colorful and warm scarves.  She and friends put them out all over, focusing especially on the areas where they knew people with no homes tended to gather.

The little engine that could.

I mean scarf-maker.

Who COULD.

She read an article and didn’t say, Oh isn’t that nice…..if only I could knit…..or crochet…..or If only I had time…..

and then move on.

She saw an idea, liked it, and recognized a need in her own area.  Then she figured out what she could do, with her gifts and talents, to make it happen.

And she did.

Because of my friend the scarf-maker, there have been scarf-bombings in Georgia, Colorado, Michigan, and Arizona.  For starters. The ripple effect of this one person in Canada is spreading far and wide.  All because of people who “could.”

Her story has stayed with me.  It’s a lesson in not letting our “cant’s” or lack of resources stop us.  It’s walking right up to that voice that is saying, “Well, sure, but you really don’t have what it takes” and saying right back in no uncertain terms–“YES.  I.  CAN.”

And I’m betting there are a lot of warm necks and bodies and souls who are glad she did.

Sweet dreams.  May we all dream of what we can do…..if only we try.

And then tomorrow, let’s wake up and DO IT.

The news story about my fellow Wesleyanne’s mission is here.

Be sure to read her story in her own words here.  Great story and awesome pictures!