I have sat transfixed to my computer. Clicking image upon image of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. I have watched a video of Jacques Cousteau’s grandson diving in the toxic mess to show us what it’s really like underwater. Being a scuba diver and lover of the ocean I am sick to my stomach with the images. The Louisiana marsh lands are being destroyed. The fragile ecosystem is losing it’s fight. The fishermen and communities who worked so hard to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina have once again been dealt another blow. The beautiful white sand beaches in the Florida panhandle will soon be covered with oil. It’s devastating.
It’s so easy to feel helpless. The ‘what can I do’ enters your mind. I’ve sat for the past few days feeling that way. Thinking about the Craft Hope community and what we can do. Talking to the Craft Hope community on Facebook. Throwing the idea out there and watching the ideas come in. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this community is amazing. I have witnessed lives changed on both ends of the spectrum through Craft Hope. People stepping up to help lead a project. People giving handmade goods to strangers. People whose lives have been touched through the kindness of strangers. Two worlds coming together and the result is simply beautiful.
For Project 8 we will be partnering with The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, the Audubon Nature Institute, and the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge to assist them in their efforts in caring for and cleaning oiled marine mammals, mostly dolphins, other marine mammals, birds, and sea turtles. Dolphins are naturally curious and have been swimming toward the oil plumes to investigate… and that curiosity gets them in a lot of trouble against the oil slick.
So here is what we are going to do… They need hand towels and wash rags to clean all of the nooks and crannies of the dolphins and sea turtles. They only need small hand towels and wash rags, no large towels please.
If you can sew, knit, or crochet this project is for you. We are asking that you create sets of hand towels and/or wash rags to send. Preferably in sets of 10 or 20. These do need to be handmade since we are ‘Craft Hope.’ If you are crocheting or knitting, please send whatever you can. You don’t have to send a set unless it is something you are up for.
Please be aware that these donations do not have to be anything fancy. If anything, the towels and rags will be used two to three times and will have to be disposed of because they will be ruined by the toxic oil residue.
Also, if you are sending more than 10 towels please count them and put a total someplace in the box. That would help us out so much!!
This is also a great opportunity to get kids involved. It’s a wonderful way to teach them about our beaches and the fragile marine life.
If you would like to add something else to your donation, please include a bottle of Dawn dish washing liquid.
A HUGE thank you to Kimberly who is an incredibly talented artist living in the Pensacola area who felt led to step up and help with this project. She helped to coordinate this project and will be collecting the items and hand delivering them for us. She’ll also be helping me answer questions here and on our Facebook page.
The deadline for Project 8 is the end of August!
As of this time (7/20/2010) we have suspended donations due to meeting the needs of the gulf coast rescue organizations! Please email jade at jade@crafthope.com if you have questions. Thanks so much!
Please leave a comment on this post if you would like to participate. Thanks for all you do, you make the world a better place!
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(Updated 6/4/2010)
Everyone at IMMS is beyond excited over the amazing response from Craft Hope. If the donation level is so great that it exceeds what they can hold in stock at their facilities, that they will be sharing the donations with the Coastal Wildlife Refuges and other Coastal Wildlife Non-Profit Groups. So these donations not only will be impacting one organization such as IMMS but will be impacting so many others along the Gulf Coast!!!!
I’d also like to say that, if anyone lives near the Pensacola / Panhandle area, and you would like to personally drop off your donations to Kimberly, please feel free to send her an email at: midnightdesignstudio[at]gmail[dot]com and she’ll be happy to coordinate her schedule with you for donation drop-off times.
Frequently Asked Questions:
I’d love to help! For knitting and crocheting, would cotton or acrylic yarn be better?
K – For knit/crochet – Cotton fibers would be best. I was not sure if such was available. But Cotton is most natural and the folks at IMMS said that would be the best choice and most absorbent… They weren’t sure if acrylic yarn would be as absorbant since its never been used before in oil clean-up… however, they said they will happily accept either and put it to the test! But cotton fibers are recommended..
Can they be as simple as flannel or terry cloth with serged edges?
Yes! Absolutely. Just as long as the rags are in the specified sizes, and are soft enough for your own skin, or I’d like to say, if you feel safe washing a baby with it, then yes simple as flannel and terry cloth would be fine!
What about hand mits made out of terry cloth? They might be easier to scrub with?
The researchers and staff wear medical gloves when cleaning so that the toxic oil residue will not leech into their skin, making them sick. They thought the hand mitts were a great idea, and could be slipped over the medical gloves during washing. So they would happily accept donations for those as well if anyone felt up to the challenge of making those.
Quick question… if I get towels already made should I wash them before sending them?
K – You can if you would like, but it is not necessary. Those towels are about to get beyond dirtier than you ever imagined. So if you want to save on the water and detergent, you can. But if you just want to throw them in the wash, you can. It’s what ever you want to do!
We use repurposed cotton knit for face wipes in our house – not even sewn, just cut up. they don’t fray after washing (and these would be thrown out anyway, right?). Would that work? What dimensions would be best? I have a whole bunch that are ‘hand-sized’ i’d love to send. And it’s super easy to buy 100% cotton knit sheets from the goodwill and cut them into pieces. What do you think?
Yes! Those would work. And the Cotton Goodwill sheets cut down would work. Cotton is the top #1 choice of all fiber for this project since it is the most absorbent. #1.5 – Terry Cloth… However they will gladly accept all kinds of fibers and put it to the test! The dimensions are – Hand Towel Size and Wash Rag size.
I was thinking about using some t-shirts the kids have grown out of. The backs are plain with no writing/pictures. Do you think that would be good?
Yes! I would think that the plain back size would work best since, the sides with the pictures on them, may not be as absorbent as the plainer counterpart. And I also think that is a clever way to re purpose old cotton clothing!!
Quick question. My mother would love to help out, but she can’t sew, crochet, knit, etc. Could she make wash rags with the edges that you tie together?
Yes! That would be fine! And I would gladly accept any towel/rag donation that she feels the need to send. While yes, it is Craft Hope and its about being handmade, I don’t have the heart to turn away other donations as well, so send it! They need it! And I’ll bring it!!!
I know it was mentioned that these need to be small, but that is kind of a relative term. Do you have dimensions that we could go by for the washrags and handtowels? Are we talking baby sized washcloths or just your average sized ones for adults? And towels – kitchen handtowel sized?
Washrags are approximately 10×10 square. Hand towels are approximately 14×27.
With the change in the oil spill information and the possibility of it spreading, will items be needed after the July deadline?
Even though the deadline is July 3rd, Kimberly will gladly continue to accept any donations after that date! Clearly this is going to be a long term event. And she will continue to accept donations as long as anyone is willing to continue to donate.
Are there recommended materials for sewing towels from? I’m trying to think about what would be most absorbent…
Cotton!!!. IMMS said that Cotton is their #1 choice of fiber when it comes to cleaning. It is most natural, beyond absorbent and is really durable!
Terry Cloth is an equal in that category as well… It also cleans well, absorbent and durable!
However, They also will gladly accept other fibers as well.
I hope this answers a lot of the questions. Keep them coming! I am so proud of everyone!
It moves my heart and brings tears to my eyes! You all are so amazing!!!
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Updated 7/26/2010 – This project has ended! Please visit the website for our current project. Thanks to everyone who participated. We collected over 70,000 towels!!!
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Updated 8/2/2010 – If you have made towels, please send them to us at: Craft Hope, P.O. Box 341771, Austin, Texas, 78734
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hi eileen! there is a button you can get on the sidebar… the one that says ‘craft hope for the earth’. that one will link back to this post! thanks!!
at this time we can’t accept socks. thanks for asking though! cherylene, they do relocate the birds, turtles, and mammals to safer waters. thanks for asking!
I already posted in the Nest forum, but I am posting again to say that I am excited about helping with this because I live in Louisiana and love the gulf coast. I am starting on this today!
At last something we can do to help! Thanks!
I have posted about this project on my website and will have my girls help out as well as all crafters I know. It’s wonderful to have a way to include my children in helping the sea animals. Thank you so muchf or organizing.
[...] Craft Hope Project 8: Gulf Oil Spill [...]
I plan on making something to send and will post on my blog although it is genealogy themed I will still pass the link to this blog on.
My nine year old daughter, Sophia, and her best friend, Lily are so excited to get started on this project. They always do their best to help animals by holding fundraisers for shelters, and this will be their first time working on something so immediate and pressing.
Count me in!
I will get a box of things ready and help with this it is very much needed. God Bless you for giving us this information You can count on me. Judy
My son came up to me and wanted to collect money to buy dawn. Can I ship a few large boxes of dawn and some old towels only? This is something he wants to do with friends and at the day care.
im in! i would love to make towel sets to help!!
I am going to help. I knit and crochet, but I’ll probably crochet, since it’s faster. And I’ll probably send dish soap out, too. Does it matter if the soap is scented? I have a pretty large stockpile of Dawn soap, but a lot of it is scented. Thanks.
I asked my 11 year old animal lover if she wanted to do this and she got so excited. This is our weekend project starting after work tomorrow.
Gotta pull the serger out.
I haven’t sewn since I started college for the job I have now four years ago.
[...] ways to assist in environmental disasters with Craft Hope for the Earth. Their current project is project 8: gulf coast oil spill. The deadline to participate in this project is July [...]
I am all in! Wish I had a serger, but my machine has a “fake” serger stitch, so I’ll go with that. Thanks for doing this!!
Okay.. There was a question of what happens to the animals once rescued and “clean” of oil? Where are they released?
Answer: The animals that are rescued by IMMS and cleaned free of oil, will remain at IMMS under observation, until which the animal is deemed healthy to be released into the wild. These animals are then released into a coastal area, non-effected by the oil spill, there are many coastal range habitats in Florida that are safe for newly released marine mammals. Here are photos, health information, and release locations of some of the rescued turtles so far: http://www.imms.org/rescues_turtles_2010.php
As for the birds and other wildlife, these animals, after being cleaned free of oil, will also be held at the institutes under observation and care, until they are healthy enough upon release, these animals are being released on inland wildlife refuges. Many of the coastal marshland pelicans and cranes are being released into marshy in-lands in Louisiana.
@ Casey – Yes, delivering your donation in person is fine! Since pensacola is “right down the road”
You can pop me an email at: midnightdesignstudio[at]gmail[dot]com so that I may coordinate my schedule around donation delivery times.
@ Tracy – yes, the old towels and lots of Dawn is fine! Bless those babies hearts for being so sweet and involved! This is a truly humbling experience!
I’ll be sending some terry cloth wash cloths ASAP.
I’ll make at least one set of washrags.
Maybe this is a dumb question- in addition to cutting up old sheets etc to size- may I cut up old towels to the wash cloth size? since these are already toweling material? Only I know this isn’t technically handmade -only repurposed.
[...] fabrics in other ways) to contribute something of tangible worth to the ongoing clean up efforts. Craft Hope Project 8 is calling for handmade rags, the size of wash cloths and hand towels, which will be used to help [...]
[...] the project presented to you, dear crafters, is to make hand and dish towels that the workers at the institutes will use to help clean the mammals and get them back on [...]
@heather, yes please repurpose old towels and sheets for this project. thanks for asking!
My package is shipping today. Thank you so much!
My daughter mentioned at dinner last night she wished there was something she could do. We live on the Texas gulf coast and no how important the animals are. This is going to be our weekend project for all six kiddos. Thanks so much for pulling this together.
I’ve already started crocheting washcloths and making handtowels out of tshirt material. Glad to help.
my daughter and I have tons of t-shirt material leftover from another project we’re working on. we spent some time the other night cutting them into large washrag size squares. we’ll put them in the mail to you asap! thanks for organizing!
My boys and I just made a dozen flannel washcloths to send! They will be sent out today!
I’ve got 2 crocheted so far, and am aiming for 10! Plus a stack of cotton fabric to make another set! Yay!
[...] brings us to the next project: rags for the latest Craft Hope project. The day after it was posted, I remembered that I had an old crib sheet from three years ago [...]
My 9 year old granddaughter brought this to my attention and we are taking it on as a project. She’s learning to sew on my serger and I have a BOLT of terry cloth left over after a business making cloth diapers a few years back!!! I have also challenged her to contribute part of her allowance towards Dawn detergent with me matching her dollar for dollar.
I have some left over cotton yarn that I will knit into some basic washclothes this weekend. I’m glad to be able to help!
My kids and I will be going through our scrap piles and making some cloths.
This is a wonderful project and I very much look forward to being a part of it-I’m going through all our Towels and Wash clothes and sending whatever I can ASAP. God Bless everyone who is helping save the animals.
I am all aboard
Eight years ago my Girl Scout troop learned to knit squares. We wanted to get the Gold Award by creating blankets for orphanages in China. Our proposal wasn’t accepted but I still know how to knit a 10″x10″ square. I can’t wait to actually put the skill to use.
I’m on it! And recruiting friends hopefully!!!
I will be getting my knitting group and a few others here in Portland together for a craft night for this project. So excited to be helping out!
HI there, just want to join in and help out. My kids and I will be chopping up towels this weekend to send! Thanks so much for all you guys do!!
[...] the gulf oil spill, I have felt – helpless. I found this on the internet and feel compelled to join in. I want to do what I can, and I can do [...]
Hello!
I started my towels today. I have 8 cut out and will probably make at least 4 more. I’m up-cycling old bath towels and pillow cases to make hand-towel sized cloths. So far it is going very well.
~Heidi Stagner
My girls and I are going to Goodwill this afternoon and looking for items to cut up and send. Thank you for throwing out a way to help!
I’m working on towels now. Updating my facebook page daily with progress! Maybe more will join in.
My animal loving daughters and I will help! We live on Vancouver Island (CAN) in a coastal community and the ocean is an intergral part of our lives. Our Hearts go out to all those human beans, and animals affected by this disaster.
Thanks for giving everyone a chance to help the poor animals that end up in the oily mess. I appreciate the opportunity to help with some of the clean up.
[...] Update: June 11, 2010, 12:41 pm Filed under: Projects | Tags: craft hope, oil spill Just in case you missed it yesterday, I received our 2nd donation for Craft Hope’s Project 8! [...]
My daughter’s and I will be starting this immediately. We have old towels, as well as cotton muslin and flannel that we’ll be turning into washrags and maybe towels. We’ve all been wondering what we can do to help in a tangible way, and this is something they can help with directly. I’ve posted this on my business fan facebook page too. Thanks so much for pulling this together!
Thank you so much for putting this together! I am moving next week, but I hope to be able to put together a package. I’m also hoping that I can turn our fibers group onto this project.
Thank you!
I’ll get started on this right away. What a great project!