What started as a simple idea became so much more.
For the month of November I tried a little project on Instagram and with friends and family through Facebook. Each day I sewed a pair of mittens from wool sweaters. I revealed one pair a day, for 25 days – just like an advent calendar. The first person to message me could buy them.
I thought it would be a fun way to make some money for Christmas shopping and $10 from each sale would go towards buying toys for other children at Christmas. The first day, my cute little mittens sat unsold.
Oh man. Maybe I will have 25 pairs of mittens by the end of this! Maybe they won’t sell at all…
By day 2 and 3, multiple people were sending messages so they could buy the pair of the day. It was becoming a mitten race! I decided to start posting the photo every morning at 7:30 a.m. to give everyone a fair chance.
By the end of the month, I had sold 25 pairs of mittens. I also had requests for custom orders and ended up sewing an additional 14 pairs. It was crazy and amazing.
I experienced so much support. I was able to reconnect with friends from elementary school and those I haven’t seen since high school. Friends from my university days joined in and former coworkers too. It felt like a reunion. It was awesome.
Whether you bought mittens, shared an encouraging word along the way or took a moment to click like, I’m so thankful.
If you’re thinking of making a donation this Christmas, grocery store gifts cards and toiletries are high need items over the holidays (this was something that I learned more about from a women’s shelter).
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Lainie
