I love Thanksgiving.
Every year, no matter our circumstances, I appreciate the time to reflect on all that I have to be thankful for.
And the more I reflect the more thankful I become and the more thankful I become the more I feel the need to do something for others.
So every year I find a project that my family and I can do together and donate.
This year I chose scarves.
Scarves were actually the first project that I had my family do way back when I started this Thanksgiving tradition almost a decade ago. Its a great project because #1. Its useful and #2. All you need to know to make them is how to use scissors and how to tie a knot.
(Which means everyone can get in on the action—husbands, kids, grandpas, cousins, whoever!)
Here’s what you do:
#1. Cut your scarf out of polar fleece. (Polar fleece is awesome for scarves because it doesn’t fray and you don’t have to finish the edges! Plus it’s always on sale at this time of year.)
For 3-5 year olds I cut my scarves 30 inches long and 5 inches wide.
For 6-10 year olds I cut my scarves between 40 and 42 inches long and 5 inches wide.
#2. Next cut each end of your scarf to make the fringe.
I make my cuts 1 inch apart and about 3 inches deep.
#3. Tie the fringe.
I try to make my knots as close to the base of the fabric as possible.
#4. Donate!
(And maybe make a few extra for your little helpers because, like Grace says, they are soooooooo cozy.)
And…if you have time and liked making these you should try using pretty much the same easy peasy techniques to make some polar fleece blankets.
(I LOVE these.)
You can find the tutorial for them here:
They are seriously just as easy to make as the scarves and are great gifts to give, receive, and to donate.
I do work on these projects for Thanksgiving but they are good to do year round and I know would be appreciated at this time of the year.
Take care of yourselves and we’ll see you all back here tomorrow.
-liZ
What a nice tradition and a great example for your children! One of my “parenting regrets” has always been that I didn’t demonstrate a “life of service” to my kids when they were small. I thought I was too busy with other aspects of parenting at that stage of my life, but in reality participating in service would have been the best way to teach them that very important value and the balance of caring for both my own family and others. Thanks for sharing your story.
Grace could be a model–I can see Crewcuts or Ralph Lauren kids. Both your girls are such angels. Isn’t that the reason we usually thank God for being so blessed. Healthy, safe, happy, bright children? Happy Holidays! Oh. and love your giving spirit for the holidays. 🙂
What a great tradition! Thanks for the simple tutorial, too. I’ve been wanting to make some of these for my kids, and wouldn’t these be super simple to make for class gifts, too? I might just have to do that now.
What a great tradition!