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AllFreeKnitting, AllFreeCrochet, and Stitch & Unwind are happy to announce that we’re partnering up with the Craft Yarn Council for their Big Apple Lemon Drive from November 2-30! Keep scrolling to learn more about the lemon drive, plus an exclusive giveaway from Jimmy Beans Wool.
As April is National Stress Awareness Month here in the United States, the Craft Yarn Council wants to get the word out about the stress-relieving benefits of knitting and crocheting. What better way to do that than to distribute knit and crochet lemon stress balls on Tax Day, the most stressful day of the year?
We all know that being stressed out is no fun, but did you know that it can also do some serious physical damage to your body? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, stress can cause headaches, digestive issues, insomnia, and depression, and over time can lead to more serious issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, among others!
How You Can Help
This is the fun part! All through November, we’ll be collecting knit and crochet lemons to send to the Craft Yarn Council. On April 18, 2016, they’ll distribute the stress balls in New York City, a place where stress runs pretty high. The Craft Yarn Council will attach a tag to each lemon that describes how knitting and crocheting can help beat stress. We have a knit and a crochet version of the lemon stress ball pattern so everyone can participate!
Knit Lemon Pattern
If knitting needles are your weapon of choice, work up this adorable knitting pattern created by blogger Twinkie Chan for the Craft Yarn Council. You’ll need to stuff the lemon with fiberfill in order to give it that round, squishy look.
Crochet Lemon Pattern
And here’s the crochet version of the lemon pattern! Equally as sweet (or sour!) and equally as stress-busting. Whichever you decide to work up, you’ll be helping the cause and having fun along the way.
Where to Send Them:
We will be collecting all donated lemons at our offices in Northbrook, IL. Please send your lemons to:
Prime Publishing, LLC
Attn: Stitch Away Stress
3400 Dundee Road, Suite 220
Northbrook, IL 60062
Why Donate?
Aside from the warm fuzzies you’ll feel from helping out a good cause, by donating a knit or crochet lemon you can also be entered to win this Berroco Bento Box in Kobai (Red Plum)! There’s no better way to get a feel for Berocco yarn than with this cute sampler, and it includes a free cowl pattern if you’re looking for inspiration.
Giveaway Rules
All you have to do to enter is knit or crochet a lemon, then box it up and send it to us. You MUST include a slip of paper/card/something INSIDE the box so we know who sent it. Information on the outside of the box does not count!
- Please include your name, address, phone number and email address with your donation for contest entry. Incomplete entries will NOT be counted.
- Contest open to US/Canada residents age 18+ only.
- No lemon to make but still want to enter to win the Berocco Bento Box? Just send us a note to our postal address above with your name and address.
Also, let us know in the comments below: What are your best stress-relief tips?
Stitch&Unwind
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My stress free activity is to crochet, as usual. I will try to send a lemon.
Knitting, crocheting, yard work and running are some of my tips for stress relief. Cute lemons.
Anything with yarn, is my stress relief activity.
My stress relief during the winter involves knitting or reading a book I can get lost in. In the warmer weather it’s gardening.
I’ll be sending a lemon.
Pulling weeds in flower beds is a great stress reliever for me. I like to pull them with my bare hands, no gardening gloves. I like the feel of the dirt and roots of the weeds in my hands and fingers. Crocheting is also a great stress reliever.
Do we have to use lemon-typical colors (yellow) or can we branch out a bit?
Hi Claudelle,
I have seen the occasional lime in the Craft Yarn Council’s pictures, but I think for the most part they’d like to keep them pretty uniform. If you do make one in other colors, though, we’d love to see it! Thanks for reading!
Thanks for this information, I was going to ask the same thing…a lime wouldn’t be all that bad. They are kissing cousins in the citrus family. I will donate, great bus project.
I used to get out and walk but now I am limited (physically) and so I knit and crochet. Sometimes I just pet my stash. The knowledge that I have this pile of yarns means I have an unlimited amount of work left to do. It makes me feel better.
Crocheting is my main stress reliever. I have also purchased some adult coloring books. They are great for stress! I wont be able to male a lemon as I have too many christmas projects going already but I think its a wonderful idea!
Wonderful idea. My stress relievers are gardening, sewing, crocheting and baking.
For me, any activity where I have to stay focussed helps relieve stress.
Crocheting while listening to music. Or else I stick my nose to in a book while hiding in a corner of the house where only my dogs can find me!
Is it necessary to follow the color scheme exactly? Can we get creative with the colors of the lemons?
I love to crochet to relieve my stress. I also do gardening, baking cookies and watching fun family movies with a big bowel of popcorn.
Crocheting is my stress reliever. Yarn and a hook is the way to relax throughout the day. And I am a beginner, every project has been exciting!
For me crocheting and knitting is a great stress reliever. My husband has dementia and I can sit with him and do this, and don’t think about the other things I’m leaving undone to be with my husband. Besides, I have always have ready made gifts to give.
Crocheting is definitely my best stress reliever – but like some others, I have too many other projects I’m working on so I can’t do a lemon. Cute, though 🙂
I do crocheting, counter cross stitching, and read a lot, which has helped me through some stressful times.
My stress -relief tips include crocheting, reading, listening to music and ironing.
My way of relieving stress crocheting. Especially stuff for my granddaughter and the rest of my family. I will try to make some lemons to send for charity drive. 🙂
Hi! I’m trying to load up the crochet lemon but it’s not working. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for reading! The crochet lemon pattern can be found here. Let us know if you have any issues!
I learned how to crochet by a friend that past away and I make a lot of stuff for my grandkids and I make a lot of things for people. It keeps me from being bored since my husband pasted away almost 3 years now. I am a school bus driver and I drive special kids to school and home and it helps me to stay focus on the kids and not stress out so much and I enjoy it. i will make some lemons for the charity drive and send to you
Such a lovely idea! I tried to access the crochet lemon pattern, but it comes up as a blank page for me every time I try to get there? Thanks! Deanne
Hi Deanne,
Thanks for reading! The crochet lemon pattern can be found here. Let us know if you have any issues!
Reading an engaging book and spinning my fleece will turn me from a lion into a kitten.
I knit and crochet all year long. I make hats, scarfs, and mittens for a ladies organization in Mass. who give them away at a dinner they have for the people that need them. I contribute anywhere from 50 to 100 items each year. Yarn is donated from members of the organization. This is the most relaxing thing I can do all year long. I have to keep my fingers constantly going. I am going to attempt to make some lemons for you in my spare time. Happy safe holidays!
Do you want just one? Not more than one???
Hi Mary,
We’d love as many as you can make! Thanks for reading!
I hope to get at least one lemon finished in time to make the mailing deadline. This is such a great idea that I might make a few for Christmas gifts as well. There is a lot of stress around our place…
After I lost,brothers two within a two year, I ture to my craft crocheting and knitting. A big Help,y stress go to.Thanks
Knitting is my favorite stress reliever. Not wanting to put any negative energy into my knitting, I focus on positive thoughts, knitting light and love into every stitch, especially if I’m working on a gift.
In the late summer and fall I knit scarves for homeless people and the rest of the year I knit hats and booties for premature babies. Knitting the hats and booties is very soothing to me because I lost twin girls years ago and this is healing.
Of course chrochet is a wonderful stress buster, but I also love to take time playing and cuddling with my dogs…..their unconditional love and happy to see me tail wags just make my day!!
So true. Didn’t even think to include cuddling with my dogs as a stress reliever. But then they are an integral part of my every day life, so life would be exceedingly more stressful without them. Thanks for the reminder. Now to go cuddle with my 3 dachshunds and whisper to them that they are the best stress relievers!
Do you need to receive them by November 30 or postmarked by December 30? Can several of us work together and send together with individual slips? Thanks.
Hi Lu,
In order to be entered in our giveaway, the lemons must be addressed to Prime Publishing (address can be found in the post above) and postmarked by November 30th. The Craft Yarn Council will be collecting lemons at their address until December 30th, but sending them there will not enter you in our giveaway. You may of course work with a group and mail all of your lemons in together – just be sure you include individual giveaway entries for each person! Thanks for reading!
I am recovering from cancer treatments and surgery, the bills are tremendous so am very stressed. I am an avid crocheted and started knitting again after many years (had to take online refresher classes) but am back to speed. Knitting and crocheting are great stress relievers as you are concentrating on what you are doing and not on other problems. I can’t make the lemons as I can’t afford any more yarn right now, but the idea is great.
I like to crochet and knit. I’m starting a new winter scarf.
I squeeze knitted lemons to relieve stress. 🙂 Additionally, I love to knit, run, and ski.
I wish to help. As I find doing crochet or many other crafts as a very relaxing job. I like to help too . Than k you
My stress release is to work on crafts or read.
I understand tax day can be stressful and knit lemons will be distributed in New York which is considered a stressful place to live, but what about Chicago? With our mayor’s recent 30% property tax hike I think Chicagoans rake right up there with New Yorkers! How about sharing some stress-relieving knit lemons in Chicago for national stress awareness month?
I’m in Christmas mode now, but I can do some lemons. I relax with crocheting, scrap booking and card making. Making snowmen is my fav. God Bless
My stress relievers are fishing, beading, and crocheting. Attempting to knit created more stress! The things I make I generally give away as gifts or donations to causes I support. This sounds like a fun project and an interesting cause to be a part of.
I made my lemon! I used a balloon with homemade playdoh inside as the stress reliever to squeeze. Hoping that my picture comes up. I uploaded it to my camera roll on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/vehementi/22577078008/in/datetaken/
Hello I just bought supplies to make lemons. For a tip our Wal-Mart had the spider webs, which is basically poly fill at 90% off. I’m going to use that for stuffing. Love making things for charity!
Such a great idea! Love making things for charity!
Just going through crochet magazines planning out future projects takes me away from stress and allows me to connect with my creativity. This is one of my most effective stress relievers. Getting together with friends and walking also work really well, as well as getting out in nature.
Cathy H/Glendale AZ