In what has become a yearly tradition for WEBS, our employees will be walking and running in the Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage on December 4th. Now in it’s 13th year, and with this being our 6th year of participating, this event has become an important part of our lives.

Some of us walk with our knitting, or spinning, some with our mothers, some with our spouses and children, or pets, some of us walk to support survivors we know, and in the hope that someday we won’t need fundraisers like this.

We participate for the good-natured competitiveness of the fundraising (you can make a donation here), for the team building excitement on race day, and for the positive impact it has in our community. We’re on track to meet our goal this year, $15,000!

To all of you who have donated in the past, and those of you who have participated yourselves, we say, “Thank You.”

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This week Kathy talks with Sara Delaney about Team WEBS fundraising efforts for the Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage.

This is the 13th year of the event! From a humble start in 2004 with just 500 participants that helped raise $6,000 to an incredible day of fun and unity celebrating our desire to help change and better our communities with 6,000 participants, as well as countless observers and volunteers, that raised almost $500,000 last year.

If you’d like to help you can make a donation to Team WEBS here. Or purchase one of these patterns, the full purchase price of each goes directly to Safe Passage!

Safe Passage Hat and Mittens, Sixth Button Mittens, Hot Chocolate Run Polar Bear, Hot Chocolate Run Penguin

Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week:

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This week Kathy talks with designer Marcy Vandale about her Got You Covered eBook as part of the WEBS Emerging Designer Series.

The Got You Covered Vest, Socks and Hat and Mittens are available as individual patterns. You can find more of Marcy’s patterns on Ravelry and be sure to check out Adventure du Jour Designs, her collaborative designs with Debbi Stone.

Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week : 

It’s time for another WEBS KAL (Knit Along)! This month we’re working on the Hot Chocolate Run Polar Bear. All the proceeds from the sale of this pattern go directly to Safe Passage,  and you can learn more about that organization and our commitment to it here. Each Thursday this month we’ll be here talking about knitting the different parts of the bear, the assembly, his adorable face and his super cute accessories!

To join us you’ll need 4 skeins of Valley Yarns Superwash Bulky (2 skeins of Natural, one of Red and one of Black), US size 8 (5.00mm) double-pointed needles, polyfil stuffing, stitch markers, a tapestry needle, scissors, and a copy of the pattern.  Get your materials assembled and meet us back here next Thursday!

Follow along each week:

Week 2 – making the body of the bear.

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Kathy talks with Sarah Smith, Director of Development at Safe Passage about the Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage and the prevention work their organization does in Northampton and Hampshire County. Safe Passage was founded in 1977 to provide comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence. Their core mission is to make people feel safe while offering counseling and advocacy programs.

TEAM WEBS will once again be walking and running in the Hot Chocolate Run. You can donate to Team WEBS, or choose an individual person on the team to make a donation to.  You can join us for #HotChocolateHolidays and get going on your holiday crafting while supporting Safe Passage, check the Class Page on our website starting October 1st for those classes and more details. You can also purchase a copy of the Hot Chocolate Run Polar Bear pattern, all proceeds from the pattern go straight to Safe Passage, and you can even knit the bear and send it into us at:

WEBS –

Attn: HCR Polar Bear

6 Industrial Parkway

Easthampton, MA 01027

Steve’s Yarn Picks :

• Araucania Sotaqui
• Noro Hanabatake
• Classic Elite Avalanche
• Universal Yarns Classic Shades Metallic
• Noro Taiyo Lace – Closeout
• Noro Cyochin – Closeout
• Juniper Moon Farm Marlowe Jeweltones – Closeout

Upcoming Events:

Join Linda Niemeyer of Blue Sky Alpacas for her first ever in-store event! Next week, Sept 27th 1-3pm. The even t is free but please register.

It’s time for our 11th annual Knit & Crochet for the Cure! Join us on Oct 5th from 1-4pm. Please remember to register.

Spinning and Weaving Week is coming up Oct 6- 11, Lots of workshops and demonstrations to enjoy!

8th Annual Bus Trip to Rhinebeck – Saturday Oct 18th. the busses are filing up, get your ticket now!

We have an amazing line-up of guest teachers this year!
Amy Herzog in September, Susan B Anderson will be here Columbus Day Weekend, Dora Ohrensten is doing a weekend of crochet classes in November!

And be sure to check out all of our upcoming Events here.

  

Every year WEBS participates in the annual Hot Chocolate Run to benefit Safe Passage. This year we’re even more committed to doing good in our community and having fun doing it! Not only is The Hot Chocolate Run Polar Bear adorable and cuddly soft, being knit in Valley Yarns Superwash Bulky, but all proceeds from the sale of the pattern will go to Safe Passage. We’ll be keeping track of the Polar Bear’s progress as if the sales of his pattern were donations made to a team member participating in the Hot Chocolate Run.

You can help support the our team by purchasing a copy of the pattern or by making a direct donation to the team or any individual team member. We’re also accepting finished bears knit from this pattern to be given as comfort gifts to the children helped by Safe Passage. We’ll be hosting a Knit-a-long of the Polar Bear in October, feel free to get your pattern, Valley Yarns Superwash Bulky and the rest of your supplies now! Once your bear is complete you can send it to us at:

WEBS – America’s Yarn Store

Attn: HCR Polar Bear

6 Industrial Parkway

Easthampton, MA 01027

The close of November not only brought a bit of panic to my life (I want to knit how many things by when?!), it also meant the end of our Ravelry KAL. This month we did Valley Yarns 574 Safe Passage. All of the proceeds from the sale of this set will be donated to Safe Passage. We had two wonderful members of our group knit them, and I send a big thank you their way.

With the Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage quickly approaching (it’s this Sunday, December 8th), I’d like to share with you a little information about Safe Passage, and our team’s fundraising goals.

Safe Passage is located in Northampton, MA and has served Hampshire County since 1977. Safe Passage offers survivors of all types of domestic violence hope, along with support, as both are essential in the journey from violence to safety.

Here are some ways Safe Passage will put your gift to work:
$25: Resources, support and hope for a woman calling the 24-hour hotline
$75: Safe transportation for a family traveling to Safe Passage’s emergency shelter
$100: A drop-in support group session for survivors of domestic violence
$140: Education for parents on talking with their kids about domestic violence
$500: Healing counseling for a child who has witnessed violence

This year, the WEBS staff as a team hope to raise more than we have in the previous years. To encourage that, one of our staffers has started the More Jacksons than Jackson campaign. Kathy and Steve’s son is signed up as a member of our team, and at this moment, he is in the fundraising lead. We’re all trying really hard to raise more than him (in good fun, of course). WEBS will match all of the donations that we receive, but if Jackson wins, instead of doubling the donation, it will be tripled. If you’d care to donate, you can do so here. Donate to the whole team, or a specific member (including Jackson).

Thank you!

We’re at just about the halfway point of our KAL for Valley Yarns 574 Safe Passage Set. How are your projects coming along?

I’ve started on the mittens and I’m at the colorwork section. They are speeding right along now that I’ve finished the ribbing (for some reason, ribbing seems to take forever to me). As you can see, I chose a different set of colors. I went with black, gray, natural, and just a pop of color. It’s very similar to my wardrobe! I’m loving the way that they’re knitting up.

I’m really excited to finish this project, and not only because it’s getting cold and I need mittens and a hat, but because I feel so strongly about supporting Safe Passage. If you don’t know about Safe Passage, it is an organization that is local to us at WEBS that offers survivors of all types of domestic violence hope and support. You can learn more about Safe Passage by visiting their website.

A team from WEBS will be walking and running in the Annual Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage. If you’d like to donate to our team, you can do that here. WEBS is going to generously match all of the donations that we as a team receive. Last year, with the match, we were able to raise over $8,600. We’re hoping to beat that number by leaps and bounds this year!

Don’t forget, you could win a $50 WEBS gift card! Check out the details in our Ravelry group, All Things WEBS. Work up this mitten and hat set (or just the mittens, or just the hat) and be entered to win!

We’re running this month’s KAL over on the All Things WEBS Group on Ravelry.  This month’s theme is the Safe Passage Set.  ALL proceeds from the sale of this pattern go to Safe Passage, an organization that is very important to the WEBS team.

Details are below but be sure to click through to Ravelry to participate.

Details
What are we making?: The Safe Passage Set – A hat and mitten set with a fair isle color band featuring the Safe Passage home logo and sets of hot chocolate mugs.
What’s the timeline?: Cast on November 1st (or later), post your finished pictures in the November KAL Entry thread by 11/30 at noon Eastern.
What’s the prize?: One randomly selected entry will be chosen and will receive a $50 WEBS gift card.

Rules

• Must be a member of the All Things WEBS group.
• Must complete the hat or mittens (or both).
• Must cast on November 1st (or after) and finish by November 30th at noon Eastern.
• Must include a photo of the finished object in the KAL Entry thread (which will go up on 11/1). Only one entry (post) per project, but you can enter with more than one set. Just create a new post with the picture.
• We encourage you to use a yarn that you’ve purchased from us, or one that we carry (your handspun is okay too), but it isn’t required. Valley Yarns Valley Superwash is recommended for this pattern
• If you want to chat about your project, or ask for advice on a technique, post project ideas, or progress pictures, please post them in the Safe Passage thread and NOT the Entry thread.
• We will lock the Entry thread at noon Eastern on November 30th and the winner will be chosen randomly and posted the next day.

Be sure to check out the Safe Passage website to learn more about this incredible organization, and if you’re local consider participating in their annual Hot Chocolate Run, the WEBS team does every year!

WEBS is a yearly sponsor of Safe Passage’s Hot Chocolate Run and last year, we put together a team of walkers and runners. This year, we’re walking and running again!

Last year, WEBS was able to raise $6,000 for Safe Passage thanks to the generosity of our customers, family, and friends. This year, we want to do even better! Please consider donating in support of the WEBS team. Visit pledgereg.com and search for “WEBS” in the team search. You can donate to any of the staff members listed. WEBS will match all donations received by our employees, so your donation will be doubled!

We appreciate your support and hope you enjoy checking out some of the pictures of our team from last year.

About Safe Passage:

Safe Passage relies on support from people like us to fund their programming–including an emergency shelter program, individual counseling and support groups, legal services, a 24-hour hotline and more. Here are some examples of what these services cost:

$20: Emergency funds for a woman to purchase groceries or diapers
$45: A one-hour counseling session for a woman seeking help for the first time
$80: One weekly drop-in group session for survivors of domestic violence
$100: An hour of ASL interpreting for a deaf survivor’s counseling session
$135: Three sessions for children who have witnessed domestic violence
$500: A month of on-call advocacy for victims of domestic violence police calls