4 May 2020
Residents, relatives and team get knitting for The Great Hallmark Scarf-athon
Residents, relatives and team members at Hallmark Care Homes are knitting scarves to keep occupied during self-isolation and to raise money for charity.
Between now and Autumn every home will attempt to make a minimum of 20 scarfs; when added together, the total length we’re aiming for is equivalent to 50 buses or 34 cricket pitches, which will be displayed in Hallmark cafes between October-February, and at the homes’ Christmas fairs.
Anyone can have one in exchange for a small donation to The Care Workers Charity or The Alzheimer’s Society and the home with the longest length when the lengths of all the scarves made are added together will win a prize.
Head of Relationship Centred Care at Hallmark Care Homes, April Dobson said: “The Scarf-athon is something that anyone and everyone can be involved in, from donating wool and making pom poms, to knitting or crocheting a whole scarf. It’s a way for us to share the warmth of our homes with our local communities, and to raise much needed funds for charities. We’re making scarves now so that we have them ready later this year, and our aim is to raise £2,000 through donations.”
Director of Fundraising at the Alzheimer’s Society, Alex Hyde-Smith said: “We really appreciate Hallmark Care Homes donating a percentage of the proceeds to Alzheimer’s Society, at a time when we have been hit hard financially and our services are even more in demand. The money raised will help us reach more people, so those affected by dementia don’t have to face the current crisis alone. We are receiving thousands of calls already to our Dementia Connect support line, but we need urgent donations to increase telephone and virtual support to those in need.”
Executive Director at The Care Workers Charity, Karolina Gerlich said: “This is a great and fun initiative to get people engaged with fundraising for care. We are looking forward to seeing pictures of wonderful and colourful scarves.”
To get involved in the The Great Hallmark Scarf-athon its really easy, simply knit or crochet a scarf (see the instructions and dimensions below) and deliver it to your nearest Hallmark care home.
If you’re not good at knitting don’t worry, donations of wool to a Hallmark home and to the charities in exchange for a scarf later on in the year would be greatly appreciated.
How to knit a scarf
You will need a pair of 4mm knitting needles and some double knitting wool in any colour. (you could use up odds and ends and make a colourful stripy version).
Cast on 44 stitches (this will give you an approximate width for the scarf of 6” – don’t worry if yours is slightly over or under).
Use whatever stitch you are comfortable with and continue knitting until your scarf measures about 180cm or 71” in length.
Decorate your scarf with pom-poms, tassels etc.
If you’d prefer just to knit a square, follow the instructions above but stop when your work measures 6” in length.
How to crochet a scarf
You will need a 4mm crochet hook and some double knitting wool.
Make 29 chain (this will give you an approximate width for the scarf of 6” – don’t worry if yours is slightly over or under).
Turn and continue in your preferred stitch (e.g, double/treble crochet) until your scarf measures about 180cm or 71” in length.
Decorate your scarf with pom-poms, tassels etc.
If you would prefer to make 6” squares you can either follow the instructions above but stop when your work measures 6” in length, or follow the instructions below to make a traditional square.
To make a 6” x 6” crocheted square
- Work 6 chain and join with a slip stitch to make a ring
- 3chain (counts as 1 treble), 2 treble into the ring 3 chain.* 3 treble into the ring, 3 chain* repeat from * to * twice more. Join with a slip stitch into 3rd of the 3 chain
- 3 chain (counts as 1 treble). 2 treble, 3 chain, 3 treble into the same space (corner made). *1chain, 3 treble, 3 chain, 3 treble into the next 3 chain space*. Repeat from * to * twice more. 1 chain, join with a slip stitch into the 3rd of the 3 chain.
- 3 chain (counts as 1 treble). 2 treble, 3 chain, 3 treble into the same space (corner). 1 chain, 3 treble into the 1 chain space, 1 chain. Work 3 treble, 3 chain, 3 treble into each corner space and ). 1 chain, 3 treble, 1 chain into the each 1 chain space all the way round to the start of that row – once again, join with a slip stitch into the 3rd of the 3 chain.
- Repeat the above for 4 more rounds, join the final stitch into the 3rd chain of the 3 chain and fasten off.
You can use different coloured yarn for each round if you wish, or stick to one colour theme.
Click here to find your nearest Hallmark care home.