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General Discussion => Welcome and General Discussion => Topic started by: FrugalToque on November 02, 2018, 09:19:56 AM

Title: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: FrugalToque on November 02, 2018, 09:19:56 AM
I have a new toque.  It's still frugal, though, because Mrs. Toque made it for me (for Hallowe'en).

Also, the word "toque" is Canadian for "knitted cap".  It rhymes with "Luke" when spoken in English and "Luc" when spoken in French.

Toque.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: FireLane on November 02, 2018, 09:48:20 AM
Wait, it's pronounced "took"? I'm going to think of you as a hobbit now.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: I'm a red panda on November 02, 2018, 09:52:11 AM
Wait, it's pronounced "took"? I'm going to think of you as a hobbit now.

Do you rhyme Luke and look? Those words don't rhyme to me.

(So I see too- ck; which sounds different from took.)
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: FrugalToque on November 02, 2018, 10:18:57 AM
Wait, it's pronounced "took"? I'm going to think of you as a hobbit now.

Do you rhyme Luke and look? Those words don't rhyme to me.

(So I see too- ck; which sounds different from took.)

Yes, "took" and "Luke" use different sounds, and we pronounce "Toque" to rhyme with "Luke", not "took".

Toque.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Loren Ver on November 02, 2018, 10:57:13 AM
I thought it was Jayne ;)

LV
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: VoteCthulu on November 02, 2018, 11:14:09 AM
I thought it was Jayne ;)

LV
No, your confusing the hero of Canton with the hero of Canada, its an easy mistake to make.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: FrugalToque on November 02, 2018, 11:15:19 AM
I thought it was Jayne ;)

LV

So few people recognized the Hero of Canton at work...
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: DS on November 02, 2018, 11:21:07 AM
Nice tewk!
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: okits on November 02, 2018, 12:34:02 PM
Nice!!

Gonna change the avatar pic?
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: G-dog on November 02, 2018, 12:54:00 PM
TWO toques? Luxurious life.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: FrugalToque on November 02, 2018, 01:22:09 PM
Gonna change the avatar pic?
Good point ... done!

TWO toques? Luxurious life.
My life is incredibly luxurious!  But I'm stopping at two and a balaclava.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Splashncash on November 02, 2018, 01:51:16 PM
Wow, I love the new toque!  Glad you added a new avatar to show it off.  I always pronounce it as toke but maybe if I visualize you as one of the Hobbits, that will help.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Loren Ver on November 02, 2018, 02:47:04 PM
I thought it was Jayne ;)

LV
No, your confusing the hero of Canton with the hero of Canada, its an easy mistake to make.

Ahh yes.  I can see that now. 

I thought it was Jayne ;)

LV

So few people recognized the Hero of Canton at work...

Maybe time for a new work...? 
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: fuzzy math on November 02, 2018, 07:30:16 PM
Always makes me think of the Strange Brew Christmas song
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: BicycleB on November 02, 2018, 07:49:51 PM
@FrugalToque, you have heartened my enthusiasm for the upcoming Texas winter (haha). I wish you many fine experiences in your new finery.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Frankies Girl on November 02, 2018, 08:12:55 PM
Always makes me think of the Strange Brew Christmas song

Well, it is kinda golden... just needs 4 more of them.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: simonsez on November 02, 2018, 10:45:06 PM
Fool of a toque, throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: SpreadsheetMan on November 03, 2018, 02:06:52 AM
Just to point out that in British English this is pronounced "Toke".

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/toque
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: RetiredAt63 on November 03, 2018, 06:35:03 AM
Just to point out that in British English this is pronounced "Toke".

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/toque

Does that mean Brewer & Shipley's One Toke Over The Line should have been written

One Toque Over The Line    ?
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Polaria on November 03, 2018, 03:11:58 PM
https://sesquiotic.com/2012/01/02/toque-tuque/
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: ScreamingHeadGuy on November 03, 2018, 03:12:42 PM
Just to point out that in British English this is pronounced "Toke".

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/toque

That is how I had always pronounced it. 
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: I'm a red panda on November 03, 2018, 04:04:33 PM
Just to point out that in British English this is pronounced "Toke".

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/toque

I think it is in American English too, but we don't usually call this kind of hat a toque. But Canadians are always telling us we say it wrong
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Doubleh on November 03, 2018, 05:27:27 PM
Wait, it's pronounced "took"? I'm going to think of you as a hobbit now.

Do you rhyme Luke and look? Those words don't rhyme to me.

(So I see too- ck; which sounds different from took.)

Yes, "took" and "Luke" use different sounds, and we pronounce "Toque" to rhyme with "Luke", not "took".

Toque.

To be fair where I grew up in the north west of England it's not unusual to hear both "look" and "book" pronounced to rhyme with "luke"!

Nice hat ;)
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: thriftyc on November 03, 2018, 06:17:03 PM
Looking like a nice Toque, Toque.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Chullo
Post by: Daley on November 03, 2018, 06:20:40 PM
I dunno... I think we're getting lost in the wrong set of weeds to argue in here with the pronunciation of the new hat FrugalToque's got. After all, alpaca wool or not, I'm pretty sure the instant a toque grows a dedicated set of ear flaps it turns into a chullo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chullo). (That's pronounced choo-yo in Spanish, not choo-lo, which is something very, very different.)

So nice chullo, man. You may need to change your username.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: solon on November 04, 2018, 03:43:28 AM
What language is that on the whiteboard behind you?

And is that a Blue Sun shirt?
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: teen persuasion on November 04, 2018, 02:11:42 PM
But is it knit

It appears to be crocheted, at least the neck flap does.  I can't quite tell about the hat proper, it might be some kind of twisted rib stitch worked circularly, but seems much more likely to be made in rows  from edge to pompom, with a single crochet finish on the open edge.






(Sorry, it's a knee-jerk pet peeve when people lump knit and crochet in the same category.  If I search on Pinterest for knitting patterns, I don't want to be inundated with a million crochet designs.  They are as alike as non-fiction and fiction, or C and COBOL.)
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: FrugalToque on November 05, 2018, 06:33:16 AM
Just to point out that in British English this is pronounced "Toke".

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/toque


I've noticed that and while I normally defer to British pronunciations and spellings for everything else, this is French-Canadian usage, so I have to stick with that.

But is it knit

It appears to be crocheted, at least the neck flap does.  I can't quite tell about the hat proper, it might be some kind of twisted rib stitch worked circularly, but seems much more likely to be made in rows  from edge to pompom, with a single crochet finish on the open edge.

(Sorry, it's a knee-jerk pet peeve when people lump knit and crochet in the same category.  If I search on Pinterest for knitting patterns, I don't want to be inundated with a million crochet designs.  They are as alike as non-fiction and fiction, or C and COBOL.)

The dictionary always says that a toque is a "knitted cap", but you're right, Mrs. Toque crocheted this one for me for my Hallowe'en costume.  (Pretty cunning, doncha think?)

I don't think I've ever heard someone says, "That's a nice crocheted cap, you got there." so it may be we just lump all such things into the "knitted cap" category.


What language is that on the whiteboard behind you?
Part of a regular expression for a phone number, I think.  (Mirrored because it's a selfie shot.)

Quote
And is that a Blue Sun shirt?
Gorram right, it is.

Toque.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Barbaebigode on November 05, 2018, 07:26:06 AM
I always thought your "toque" was from portuguese/spanish. You went from Mr. Frugal Touch to Mr. Frugal mullet cap.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: fuzzy math on November 06, 2018, 07:56:32 AM
I just bought a new toque for $0.50 at the Salvation Army. I know all yalls are totes jellies.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Dragonswan on November 06, 2018, 10:35:52 AM
But is it knit

It appears to be crocheted, at least the neck flap does.  I can't quite tell about the hat proper, it might be some kind of twisted rib stitch worked circularly, but seems much more likely to be made in rows  from edge to pompom, with a single crochet finish on the open edge.


(Sorry, it's a knee-jerk pet peeve when people lump knit and crochet in the same category.  If I search on Pinterest for knitting patterns, I don't want to be inundated with a million crochet designs.  They are as alike as non-fiction and fiction, or C and COBOL.)

Yeaaaah,  Most people refer to anything made with yarn as knitted.  Kind of the way they say Kleenex instead of tissue.  But I hear you.  Knit one, crochet two... *ducks head to avoid pummeling*
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Money Badger on November 06, 2018, 06:30:48 PM
Awesome toque-ness for your likeness.   Anything made with love by hand is awesome.

Last time in Calgary I bought a "toque at d'Bay" downtown.    Any guesses where that was?
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: beege on November 06, 2018, 08:26:09 PM
A man walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything..
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Slee_stack on November 07, 2018, 11:10:52 AM
Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: I'm a red panda on November 07, 2018, 11:15:57 AM
But is it knit

It appears to be crocheted, at least the neck flap does.  I can't quite tell about the hat proper, it might be some kind of twisted rib stitch worked circularly, but seems much more likely to be made in rows  from edge to pompom, with a single crochet finish on the open edge.


(Sorry, it's a knee-jerk pet peeve when people lump knit and crochet in the same category.  If I search on Pinterest for knitting patterns, I don't want to be inundated with a million crochet designs.  They are as alike as non-fiction and fiction, or C and COBOL.)

Yeaaaah,  Most people refer to anything made with yarn as knitted.  Kind of the way they say Kleenex instead of tissue.  But I hear you.  Knit one, crochet two... *ducks head to avoid pummeling*

I'm very disappointed to hear Canadians would do this too.  They should know better.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Goldielocks on November 07, 2018, 11:18:27 AM
I like you new toque.  Just in time for fall / winter and such a cheerful colour, too.  Earflaps... yes...

BUT!  I think she forgot to knit in the letters "DOMO" around the brim, like any decent canadian toque?  Maybe they are in the back... 

:-)   This could only apply to toques born on the Prairies.   The winter cold needs special protection of these letters there, apparently.

Like the pic, but different colours and DOMO letters...
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Lews Therin on November 07, 2018, 02:46:50 PM
Toque's don't have ear flaps. My French Canadian Quebecer personality is outraged. That's something quite different!

GRRRR
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Money Badger on November 07, 2018, 07:06:45 PM
Such outrage can be cured by waiting until it's a balmy minus 10C and getting someone who loves you to hand make your own hand-knitted "toque+bomber hat love child" as well.   

;-)
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Lews Therin on November 07, 2018, 07:58:30 PM
That's everyday up here in Northern Northland.

August 1st we get to see grass, then it disapears the next day.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: FrugalToque on November 08, 2018, 07:28:54 AM
Toque's don't have ear flaps. My French Canadian Quebecer personality is outraged. That's something quite different!

It's true, but I'm not changing my handle, so there we are.

Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: GuitarStv on November 08, 2018, 08:13:03 AM
I have amassed a collection of seven (!) toques over the past ten years by picking up discarded hats from the ground while walking our dog.  I take then back home, dunk them in some oxyclean, run 'em through the washing machine and then use them.  :P

(I've also found four pairs of gloves, two replacement hub caps for my car, a couple scarves, several perfectly serviceable sweaters, a couple t-shirts, some pretty cushy sports knee pads, etc.  I have seen,but not picked up several pairs of underwear, dozens of single socks, and at least twenty perfectly serviceable suitcases.  How the hell do people lose all this clothing while walking around on the sidewalk???)
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Lews Therin on November 08, 2018, 08:43:44 AM
Toque's don't have ear flaps. My French Canadian Quebecer personality is outraged. That's something quite different!

It's true, but I'm not changing my handle, so there we are.

3-2-1 DRAW.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Daley on November 08, 2018, 09:06:23 AM
Toque's don't have ear flaps. My French Canadian Quebecer personality is outraged. That's something quite different!

It's true, but I'm not changing my handle, so there we are.

It's true, he won't! I already tried that argument for FrugalChullo. He wouldn't even acknowledge it.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: FrugalToque on November 08, 2018, 09:15:02 AM
Toque's don't have ear flaps. My French Canadian Quebecer personality is outraged. That's something quite different!

It's true, but I'm not changing my handle, so there we are.

It's true, he won't! I already tried that argument for FrugalChullo. He wouldn't even acknowledge it.

Yeah, that's a pretty unappealing tag right there.  I felt like I could pass on it without comment.

At best, I could rename myself "Frugal JayneHat", but that already feels like too much work.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Lews Therin on November 08, 2018, 09:33:37 AM
FrugalToque-ish?
FrugalToquish ?
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Frugal Lizard on November 08, 2018, 12:05:49 PM
I have amassed a collection of seven (!) toques over the past ten years by picking up discarded hats from the ground while walking our dog.  I take then back home, dunk them in some oxyclean, run 'em through the washing machine and then use them.  :P

(I've also found four pairs of gloves, two replacement hub caps for my car, a couple scarves, several perfectly serviceable sweaters, a couple t-shirts, some pretty cushy sports knee pads, etc.  I have seen,but not picked up several pairs of underwear, dozens of single socks, and at least twenty perfectly serviceable suitcases.  How the hell do people lose all this clothing while walking around on the sidewalk???)
you crack me up. 
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: PoutineLover on November 08, 2018, 12:20:05 PM
I have amassed a collection of seven (!) toques over the past ten years by picking up discarded hats from the ground while walking our dog.  I take then back home, dunk them in some oxyclean, run 'em through the washing machine and then use them.  :P

(I've also found four pairs of gloves, two replacement hub caps for my car, a couple scarves, several perfectly serviceable sweaters, a couple t-shirts, some pretty cushy sports knee pads, etc.  I have seen,but not picked up several pairs of underwear, dozens of single socks, and at least twenty perfectly serviceable suitcases.  How the hell do people lose all this clothing while walking around on the sidewalk???)
Don't people usually just lose one of the pair of gloves? How have you found both?!
Also, good on you making use of that stuff. I don't really need extras but I think I'd consider picking them up and cleaning them, and then donating to a shelter or something. No sense in letting perfectly good stuff go to waste.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: teen persuasion on November 08, 2018, 05:54:26 PM
I'm suddenly reminded of a holiday movie we saw last year on TV - The Great Northern Candy Drop. Everyone was always reminding/chiding a certain character to wear a hat.  At the end a woman who'd been silently knitting during the whole movie presents that character with a traditional hat.

 https://vimeo.com/252190656 (https://vimeo.com/252190656)
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Davnasty on November 09, 2018, 02:54:10 PM
I have amassed a collection of seven (!) toques over the past ten years by picking up discarded hats from the ground while walking our dog.  I take then back home, dunk them in some oxyclean, run 'em through the washing machine and then use them.  :P

(I've also found four pairs of gloves, two replacement hub caps for my car, a couple scarves, several perfectly serviceable sweaters, a couple t-shirts, some pretty cushy sports knee pads, etc.  I have seen,but not picked up several pairs of underwear, dozens of single socks, and at least twenty perfectly serviceable suitcases.  How the hell do people lose all this clothing while walking around on the sidewalk???)
Don't people usually just lose one of the pair of gloves? How have you found both?!
Also, good on you making use of that stuff. I don't really need extras but I think I'd consider picking them up and cleaning them, and then donating to a shelter or something. No sense in letting perfectly good stuff go to waste.

And suitcases? I'm so confused. Where do you walk your dog?
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Goldielocks on November 09, 2018, 10:57:22 PM
I have amassed a collection of seven (!) toques over the past ten years by picking up discarded hats from the ground while walking our dog.  I take then back home, dunk them in some oxyclean, run 'em through the washing machine and then use them.  :P

(I've also found four pairs of gloves, two replacement hub caps for my car, a couple scarves, several perfectly serviceable sweaters, a couple t-shirts, some pretty cushy sports knee pads, etc.  I have seen,but not picked up several pairs of underwear, dozens of single socks, and at least twenty perfectly serviceable suitcases.  How the hell do people lose all this clothing while walking around on the sidewalk???)
Don't people usually just lose one of the pair of gloves? How have you found both?!
Also, good on you making use of that stuff. I don't really need extras but I think I'd consider picking them up and cleaning them, and then donating to a shelter or something. No sense in letting perfectly good stuff go to waste.

And suitcases? I'm so confused. Where do you walk your dog?
Near us, the "nice" trail for dog walking is also a nice trail for the homeless to use, to get between areas.   The clothing / suitcases / pairs of gloves, not just singles is not that uncommon.   (Some of the homeless have basic coping function challenges on some days).
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: teen persuasion on November 10, 2018, 10:02:37 PM
I have amassed a collection of seven (!) toques over the past ten years by picking up discarded hats from the ground while walking our dog.  I take then back home, dunk them in some oxyclean, run 'em through the washing machine and then use them.  :P

(I've also found four pairs of gloves, two replacement hub caps for my car, a couple scarves, several perfectly serviceable sweaters, a couple t-shirts, some pretty cushy sports knee pads, etc.  I have seen,but not picked up several pairs of underwear, dozens of single socks, and at least twenty perfectly serviceable suitcases.  How the hell do people lose all this clothing while walking around on the sidewalk???)
Don't people usually just lose one of the pair of gloves? How have you found both?!
Also, good on you making use of that stuff. I don't really need extras but I think I'd consider picking them up and cleaning them, and then donating to a shelter or something. No sense in letting perfectly good stuff go to waste.

And suitcases? I'm so confused. Where do you walk your dog?
Near us, the "nice" trail for dog walking is also a nice trail for the homeless to use, to get between areas.   The clothing / suitcases / pairs of gloves, not just singles is not that uncommon.   (Some of the homeless have basic coping function challenges on some days).

Now that spin just makes me sad, that someone outside all the time might lose their very important gloves, etc., and not be able to retrieve them because someone else picked them up.

A group was yarn bombing parts of the city last winter, but instead of random artsy bits around fence posts and such, they turned it useful.  They tied winter scarves around poles, and clothespinned hats and glove sets to fences, so that anyone who needed them could take them freely.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Goldielocks on November 11, 2018, 02:58:29 PM
It's not too bad, most of them can get replacements, or have multiples from all that is given away, so lose their "stuff" but are still wearing one set.   So they may be without, but only because self-organization skills are low, and are without for only a short time until they go and ask for more / are given more.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: GuitarStv on November 11, 2018, 05:10:35 PM
I have amassed a collection of seven (!) toques over the past ten years by picking up discarded hats from the ground while walking our dog.  I take then back home, dunk them in some oxyclean, run 'em through the washing machine and then use them.  :P

(I've also found four pairs of gloves, two replacement hub caps for my car, a couple scarves, several perfectly serviceable sweaters, a couple t-shirts, some pretty cushy sports knee pads, etc.  I have seen,but not picked up several pairs of underwear, dozens of single socks, and at least twenty perfectly serviceable suitcases.  How the hell do people lose all this clothing while walking around on the sidewalk???)
Don't people usually just lose one of the pair of gloves? How have you found both?!
Also, good on you making use of that stuff. I don't really need extras but I think I'd consider picking them up and cleaning them, and then donating to a shelter or something. No sense in letting perfectly good stuff go to waste.

And suitcases? I'm so confused. Where do you walk your dog?
Near us, the "nice" trail for dog walking is also a nice trail for the homeless to use, to get between areas.   The clothing / suitcases / pairs of gloves, not just singles is not that uncommon.   (Some of the homeless have basic coping function challenges on some days).

Now that spin just makes me sad, that someone outside all the time might lose their very important gloves, etc., and not be able to retrieve them because someone else picked them up.

A group was yarn bombing parts of the city last winter, but instead of random artsy bits around fence posts and such, they turned it useful.  They tied winter scarves around poles, and clothespinned hats and glove sets to fences, so that anyone who needed them could take them freely.

I'm picking stuff up from my suburban neighbourhood, walking primarily on the sidewalk and have never seen a homeless person in our neighbourhood if it makes you feel better.  We have a very high percentage of new immigrants in this area (around 20 - 30% of the people here are first generation to Canada) and I think that's somehow related to all the tossed out suitcases.

I have no explanation for the underwear though.
Title: Re: Mr. Frugal Toque's new Toque
Post by: Frugal Lizard on November 12, 2018, 03:10:38 PM
I have amassed a collection of seven (!) toques over the past ten years by picking up discarded hats from the ground while walking our dog.  I take then back home, dunk them in some oxyclean, run 'em through the washing machine and then use them.  :P

(I've also found four pairs of gloves, two replacement hub caps for my car, a couple scarves, several perfectly serviceable sweaters, a couple t-shirts, some pretty cushy sports knee pads, etc.  I have seen,but not picked up several pairs of underwear, dozens of single socks, and at least twenty perfectly serviceable suitcases.  How the hell do people lose all this clothing while walking around on the sidewalk???)
Don't people usually just lose one of the pair of gloves? How have you found both?!
Also, good on you making use of that stuff. I don't really need extras but I think I'd consider picking them up and cleaning them, and then donating to a shelter or something. No sense in letting perfectly good stuff go to waste.

And suitcases? I'm so confused. Where do you walk your dog?
Near us, the "nice" trail for dog walking is also a nice trail for the homeless to use, to get between areas.   The clothing / suitcases / pairs of gloves, not just singles is not that uncommon.   (Some of the homeless have basic coping function challenges on some days).

Now that spin just makes me sad, that someone outside all the time might lose their very important gloves, etc., and not be able to retrieve them because someone else picked them up.

A group was yarn bombing parts of the city last winter, but instead of random artsy bits around fence posts and such, they turned it useful.  They tied winter scarves around poles, and clothespinned hats and glove sets to fences, so that anyone who needed them could take them freely.

I'm picking stuff up from my suburban neighbourhood, walking primarily on the sidewalk and have never seen a homeless person in our neighbourhood if it makes you feel better.  We have a very high percentage of new immigrants in this area (around 20 - 30% of the people here are first generation to Canada) and I think that's somehow related to all the tossed out suitcases.

I have no explanation for the underwear though.
And I would prefer not to contemplate one.