Saturday Snippets: Knit-a-Square

Remember KAS? I've blogged about this wonderful charity before.

Distrubition day

The Knit-a-Square forum is a treasure trove of ideas for knitting for charity, patterns, photos and companionship. The photo section has over 4500 picture of knitted and crocheted goodies. I find it very heartwarming to see what others have done and to get ideas. The patterns section gives detailed instructions on how to make squares, beanies, slipover vests, 'Go-Over' simple jumpers, toys and many other items. There's friendship and fellowship too, as people are linked across the oceans - stitch by stitch.

The gift of a blanket

The Knit-a-Square website give the history of KAS, information about the children, postage information and heaps more. To warm your heart, have a look through the ezines which are truly magical.

Babies at one of the creches receiving beanies

This beautiful post reminds us that a blanket provides more than just shelter from the cold, but comfort too.

Well loved comfort blankies

Knit-a-Square creche distributions

This video shows some of the precious children at the Humble Little Achievers creche in an informal settlement in South Africa. The information I have been given says that

56 Children between the ages of 0 and 6 are looked after in two small converted shipping containers. This was supposed to be a temporary arrangement - for 3 months. They have been there for over a year, with an estimate of having to wait a further 2 years before they can be relocated.

Ronda from Knit-a-Square handed out blankets, toys, beanies, vests (slipovers) and jumpers (go overs) to these children, who have little else. This informal creche is in need of nappies, plastic cups and bowls, more blankets, books and toys. To help with these items contact SLICE. To contribute crochet or knit squares for blankets, beanies or vests please visit KAS.

Kids activity links I'd love to try

Baby game ideas We've done a few of these; the list is a good reminder for me on a long day though!

Lego puzzles I can't wait to try this one when Chubs is older.

Community service activities Have you tried any of these with your kiddos? How did they go?

Baked dough people or just regular playdough to smoosh and moosh.

Making comic books looks like fun, but might be some way off for Chubs. I don't think her fine motor skills are quite up to it yet.

Please share any other activity links that you like.

Knitted vests

Last night I finished off this pink vest. It's been sitting there for months and months (I may have even started it while I was pregnant, I'm not sure.) It only took about ten minutes to finish off the neckband and tie off.

I also finished off this green and yellow vest.

Both of these vests are knitted with two strands of 8 ply acrylic yarn. The green and yellow was done on 8mm needles, and the pink on 10mm needles. Both are similar to this slipover, but are knitted in the round from the bottom up and then back and forward for the shoulder straps. The neck band is finished in the round.

I made a mistake on the pink vest, where the straps need to be partially stitched to the front panel. It's a bit of a tricky bit where the knitting in the round changes to the straight knitting, and I need to go back later and stitch about five stitches closed. The problem is that I forgot to leave allowance for this on one side only, which is why the straps are a little uneven.

I could have unpicked all the neckline and the straps, but I was able to get it so it looked ok (not great, but ok) and it is secure. I think that my knitting time is better spent making more good items, than less perfect ones, as I previously discussed. If it wasn't ok then I wouldn't send it, but since I was able to muddle through I will send it, and thankfully I didn't need to unpick the top section.

These slipover vests need to be very stretchy (think big needles). They need to be long in the body so that there's no revealing midrift, and the arm and neck holes need to be quite large. For a very simple pattern see here, or here for an intermediate pattern.

I will have to post off a packet to Knit- a- Square soon. I have these two vests, some beanies and some squares ready to go. If I get them in the post soon hopefully they will get there in time for winter.

Happy Thinking Day

Happy Thinking Day to all my Guiding sisters all over the world! If you are not one of the ten million members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, then I would like to invite you to share in Thinking Day activities.

Thinking Day is the 22nd of February and is so named as it is when we think of our Guiding sisters across the world. Typically it involves activities to explore and discover what it is like for those in other countries. As well as awareness, there is a call to action. This year's theme is MDG7: Environmental Sustainability. There's a whole host of activities to do with reducing the use of fossil fuels, saving resources, sustainable energy sources and advocating for change. Click that link to download the activities in English, French or Spanish.

There is also a fundraising component where Guides all over the world donate to the Thinking Day Fund to help support the growth and development of girls and young women worldwide. When Lady Baden-Powell was asked how much girls should give, she said as much as they would have spent on an ice cream, so the WTD fund is also known affectionately as The Ice Cream Fund.

Empowering girls and young women to be agents of change works for me. I've also linked this to Jo's Waste-not Wednesday, too. As a Girl Guide leader, a teacher, a citizen and a mother, I view my responsibility to make the world a better place seriously. I don't want to waste my opportunities to help reach the MDGs. 2015 is fast approaching, and we can't waste any more time.

Saturday snippets - The Mercy House

I am planning on linking on Saturdays to share information, and first up is The Mercy House.

Those of you who are WFMW-ers will no doubt already be familiar with The Mercy House. In short, it is a maternity home in Kenya which provides prenatal and neonatal care to some of the most at risk young women in the world, as well as training, education, counselling and emotional and spirtual support and guidance.

The Mercy House was started when Kristen Welsh saw a great need and is totally funded on donations and from sales of the jewellery, placemats, bags and other wares which the girls produce in the House. Please pop in to have a look at the amazing, literally life changing and saving that is happening, and support it though donations, purchases and/ or prayers.

WFMW - Free pattern - very simple slipover vest (knitting)

This very simple free knitting pattern is ideal for charity knitting. I first created it several years ago for Knit-a-Square, who works with AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

As I explained earlier, a slipover is a vest which can be worn directly on the skin if needed. It therefore needs to be very soft and stretchy. It is a much looser knit than would normally be used so there should be lots of give.

This pattern required knit stitch only - no purl, increasing or decreasing. This makes it prefect for beginners. If you think you would like more of a challenge, try the medium difficulty slipover.

It is important that the slipover is not too short - if in doubt, a little longer is better. Also ensure that you leave plenty of room for the armholes - about a third of the total length. Sadly some vests which have been sent to KAS cannot be used because the arm holes are too small.

The slipover I made in the pictures was made with leftover bits of very soft 100% wool yarn, which is why it has the stripey appearance. (It's the same slipover, it just looks different front and back.) You can make your slipover all in one colour, the four pieces in different colours, or stripey like mine. For more ideas on colour combinations have a look here.

Slip over pattern Very easy knitting – knit stitch only.

This slip over is made by knitting two large rectangles for front and back, and then two straps. All four rectangles are sewn together at the end.

Use 7.5 mm needles and soft yarn – anything from 4 ply (two strands) to 8 ply. Consider using two strands of baby yarn. Natural fibre a good next to the skin, just ensure that the yarn you use isn't scratchy.

Large rectangle – make two (one for the front, one for the back)

Work in garter stitch (knit every row)

*NB 'Size' referes to the size of the finished garment

Size	Number of stitches to cast on	Number of rows
9 inches by 12 inches	32	84
10 inches by 13 inches	35	91
11 inches by 15 inches	39	105
12 inches by 16 inches	42	112
13 inches by 18 inches	46	126

Straps – make two

Work in garter stitch (knit every row)

Size	Number of stitches to cast on	Number of rows
9 inches by 12 inches	10	30
10 inches by 13 inches	10	30
11 inches by 15 inches	12	32
12 inches by 16 inches	12	34
13 inches by 18 inches	15	34

Sew together

Sew straps between front and back rectangles as shown

Fold in half, sew up side seams (blue to blue and green to green) leaving the top third of garment open for arm holes. Do not make the arm holes too small.

Weave in ends.

For postal instructions on how to get your slipover to AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children, click here. To see slipovers and other knitting in action, have a look here.

To see other ways that Work for Me to help those in our local and global community, check our Kristen's blog.

Free pattern - Slip over vest and optional beanie

I created this pattern primarily to be used for charity knitting, although I have made slipovers for gifts as well. Slipovers were designed to simply 'slipover' as a soft, stretchy vest which can be worn directly next to the skin if needed. They need to be stretchy so they will fit a child for a long time and very soft.

Slipover – Easy to medium knitting. Requires knit, purl, simple increasing and decreasing.

To make slip over - start at the bottom front of the garment.

Use 7.5mm needles. Use very soft yarn, from 4ply to 8ply. Consider using two strands of baby wool. 

Front section
Cast on 34 stitches.
Garter stitch (knit every row) for 5 rows (approx 1 inch or 2cm)
Stocking stitch (kint and purl alternate rows) for 9 inches or 23 cm (approx 40 rows)
Garter stitch for 4 rows. Front of vest should now measure approx 27cm or 10.5 inches.
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of each row for the next 6 rows of garter stitch.

Straps
Knit 6 stitches (leave these on the needle to come back to later - this will be the LEFT STRAP) On the same row, cast off 15 stitches to leave you with 6 stitches. Knit these last 6 stitches - (this will be the RIGHT strap.)
Work 24 rows of garter stitch on the 6 stitches which are on the working end of the needle to form the RIGHT strap. Cut yarn.
Return to the 6 stitches which will form the LEFT strap. (Move RIGHT strap stitches to another needle if required). Work 24 rows of garter stitch on these 6 stitches.

Back section
Knit 6 stitches of strap, cast on 15 to form the back of the neckline, knit 6 stitches of other strap. Work in garter stitch for 10 rows (approx 2 inches or 5 cm)
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of every row for the next 6 rows of garter stitch.
Work 4 rows of garter stitch. From back of neckline to here should measure approx 4 inches or 10cm.
Knit stocking stitch for 9.5 inches or 25cm (approx 40 rows). Ensure that distance between shaping of armholes and bottom garter stitch band are the same.
Work garter stitch for 6 rows, cast off.

Sewing up
Fold vest in half, right sides together. Ensure that front and back of armholes and bottom of vest line up. Sew up side seams, weave in ends from straps.

* To make a larger or a smaller slipover, increase or decrease the number of stitches and rows.

* If in doubt, a longer vest is preferable to one which is too short.

Beanie/ hat (Optional)
To make beanie - start at bottom of beanie

Use 7.5mm needles and same yarn as for slipover.

Cast on 42 stitches.
Row 1 - knit 2, purl 2 - repeat to end
Row 2 - purl 2, knit 2
Row 3 - knit 2, purl 2
Row 4 - purl 2, knit 2
(2 by 2 ribbing should measure approx 3 cm or 1 inch)
Row 5 to row 26 - stocking stitch (beanie will be approx 6 inches or 15cm long)
For rows 27 - 32, continue to work stocking stitch. Decrease each row by 5 stitches evenly spread.
Cut yarn leaving a 30cm tail. Thread yarn onto yarn needle. Slip stitches left on the needle onto the yarn needle. Pull tight (this should close the hole at the crown of the beanie) and tie off.
Turn beanie inside out. Align the bottom of the beanie and sew up side seam. Tie off and weave in ends.

Enjoy your slipover and beanie, give it away as a gift or donate it to a charity such as KAS to help AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. Knitting not your thing? You can donate funds instead.

How charity knitting changed MY life

Previously I blogged about charity knitting and how it can improve your skills. I neglected to mention in that post about how charity knitting can change more than just your knitting ability.

I've mentioned Knit-a-square and their work with orphans and other vulnerable children in Africa who face the dual perils of HIV and poverty many times before. About 18 months ago I posted this on the KAS forum, which really captured my gratitude at the time.

Thank you KAS - from the bottom of my heart
I started writing this comment in the 'Anyone feel like a chat?' thread, but then I thought it needed a thread of it's own.

I've been very busy the past month or two, and I've had a HUGE week this week, I've worked about 65 hours at work, and I'm still nowhere near being on top of things. I've been staying up til 2am, or getting up at 4am to get work done. There is something strange about replying to emails in your pajamas!

It's Friday night and I'm trying to stay up until at least 8:30 pm (!) before I go to bed. I've got nothing on tomorrow morning (wooo hoo - sleep in!), and then we're off to see our nephew's school musical in the afternoon (and give my niece her requested slip over!) School work Saturday night, and then a lazy Sunday morning at home is in order I think! I'll have to go into work Sunday afternoon to get ready for the week, and I'm sure by Sunday night the cleaning and the laundry will be screaming for attention!

Hopefully after next week things will calm down a bit (hopefully!) KAS has been a real blessing to me in the past little while. As I've said before, the monotony of plain knitting is really important to help me unwind. Seeing one of my squares in the lates ezine was a really big boost - encouragement for me to go on making the effort of organising kids, squares and postage! I really enjoy checking in the forum, too. Kind responses and cheerful comments really mean a lot to me. If I need a boost during the day I will try to squeeze in a few minutes to see if someone has replied or left a comment on a photo - it warms my heart to see that.

So thank you KAS, for all you give to me.
Thank you for the sense of community across the oceans.
Thank you for providing me with opportunity to learn new knitting skills, which I can use for me, for my friends and family, and for many who I will never meet. .
Thank you for the kind words, the messages of encouragment and the thoughtful touches.
Thank you for the support I get for knowing that across the miles we are linked, stitch by stitch.
Thank you for reminding me that I can make a difference, and thank you for the photos which prove it. 

Thank you for providing me with such a wonderful platform to build a culture of service amongst my students. Students can DO SOMETHING - make squares. Others can fundraise, donate wool and sell ice cream. Others can count squares, wrap in brown paper and cover in entire rolls of packing tape. Others still drop off squares from their grandmas, and share in the excitement of seeing them in photos. Having the opportunity to develop the culture of service in my school through KAS is invaluable to me.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help the children face the double perils of AIDS and extreme poverty.
Thank you for helping me to help them.
Thank you for showing me the photos that are proof that my work does count, that my work does make a difference.
Thank you for helping me show these beautiful, precious children that yes, someone does care.

Thank you KAS, and everyone who is a part of it, for helping me to change the world.
And thank you KAS, for changing me.

To donate knitting or funds to KAS, click here

What to do with all this crafted stuff?

Years ago I found this article called "How charity knitting changed my (knitting) life". When I read it, I had one of those amazing feelings where someone articulates exactly what you already knew, but didn't realise that you knew it. When someone explains to you why what you already know works, it is affirming, gives clarity and can be a 'coming home' moment. That article certainly did that for me. (You'd really better go and click on that link and read the article for the rest of this post to make sense...)

It reminded me that you can plan something down to Plan H (because only have one Plan B is a recipe for disaster in my opinion) but that no matter how much planning you do, it isn't a substitute for getting out there and doing it. I too remember hearing that story about the pottery class, and I have seen no end of examples of the truth of that.

When learning a new skill - be it knitting or anything else - it is good to read books, get lessons, watch video clips and seek advice, but there comes a point were further planning is not useful (eeeep!) and you just have to get out there and do it.

When you are knitting for charity, quantity is important. Quality is too, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't need to be perfect. Sometime 'good enough' is just that - good enough. Getting something as close to perfect as possible can actually be counter productive, if it means that you are forever undoing and restarting and backtracking and reundoing....

If you are making squares to stitch into a warm colourful patchwork blanket like these, then it doesn't matter if the red stripe on your square is three rows longer than the green one. Patchwork knitted blankets are fairly forgiving when stitched together, so it doesn't matter if some squares are a little bit wonky. A muddled stitch on a square is ok as long as it's secure. You're better to spend time knitting a few more rows of your next square than to be undoing and refixing over and over again.

The more things you make, the better you get. If you let yourself just slide over you small mistakes, if you let yourself make things which are 90% perfect, then you will stop making mistakes in time. You will do more stitches correctly if you just work through the small mistakes, than if you unpick them and redo them. Ten good squares are more useful that two perfect ones.

Sizing can also be less of an issue for charity knitting. It doesn't matter if the jumper you were knitting for a 10 year old gets away from you and ends up fitting a 12 year old. There will usually be someone for the item to fit - just check with the charity in case they have a need for a particular size.

Charity knitting can be a great way to make items which knit up quickly. A simple baby cardigan can be done in a weekend because of its small size. Vests knit up quickly as the don't have long sleeves to knit - it's more rewarding to make one vest than half a jumper.

Knitting lots of small items for others can also be a good way to keep from getting bored with one big project of your own. I always seem to have about five or six things on the go at any one time; it can help with the monotony of a big task.

All that aside, improving your skills doesn't mean that you should give charities crap. If you wouldn't be happy to use it yourself or give it to someone you love, then don't pass it off to a charity. Most charities are staffed by volunteers, so don't waste their precious time having to sort through and fix or dispose of items which can't be used. It still has to be 'good enough'.

So if you are thinking of learning a new craft, why not consider giving your practise items away? Charity knitting (or sewing or cooking or crocheting or whatever skill you want to learn) is a great way to practise, help others and avoid having your house taken over with crafty products.

So, what to make and who to give it to? You can approach this by working out who you want to help, or you can find who needs what you want to make. If you have an organisation in mind who you would like to help, then ask them what they want and what would be the most useful. You can work the other way if you want - try to think of who might need your item and seek them out. Some ideas for knitting are below:

Hospitals
Baby beanies, baby blankets, toys, beanies for older children and adults

Homeless/ disadvantaged assistance groups
Very warm beanies, scarfs, gloves/ mittens, blankets

Overseas or local aid groups
Beanies/ warm hats of all sizes, squares for making blankets or scarfs, vests, jumpers/ sweaters

Children's charities
Beanies, jumpers/ sweaters, toys. Matching sets are great as gifts.

Contact the organisation to find out specifically what they need. Is there a preference for sizing or the type of stitch or yarn? How are items to be packaged? Are there any special postage instructions? Are their any colours or patterns to be avoided?

Here are some charities which might be a starting point:
Knit-a-square (about whom I wrote) needs 20cm squares, adult sized beanies and monetary donations to help AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa.
QuIHN works with people in South East Queensland with issues such as homelessness, drug dependence, violent backgrounds and mental health issues. They need warm beanies, scarfs and blankets.
Help-a-bub provided baby good for several charities and orphanages around the world
The Givit List publishes the needs of charities Australia wide which often includes things which crafters can help with.

Wherever you are there will be someone who you can help with your new skill. So enjoy helping others, stitch by stitch.

How to knit a simple roll brim beanie

This free pattern is for beginning to intermediate knitters. It can be knitted on circular needles or straight. If you knit on circular needles, then you only need knit stitch and to decrease. For straight needles, both knit and purl stitches are needed (as well as decreasing).

Use 6mm needles and 8 ply wool/ yarn
Cast on required number of stitches
Large adult = 64 stitches, small adult/ child = 60 stitches, baby = 56 stitches

For circular needles:Knit stitch one row, then join the loop being careful not to twist the knitting. Continue to knit each row.
For straight needles: Knit stitch one row, then purl stitch the next row. Continue in stockinette stitch.

Continue until beanie/ warm hat reaches required length.
12cm large adult, 10cm small adult/ child, 8cm baby

Decrease every 8th(large adult)/ 7th(small adult/ child)/ 6th stitch (baby) stitch. Continue to decrease in line for the next 5 rows.

For circular needles: Cut yarn leaving a long tail and thread onto the yarn needle. Thread each stitch off the circular needle and onto the yarn needle. Pull tight so that the hole closes, tie off securely and thread yarn end inside of beanie, trim end of required.
For straight needles: Cut yarn leaving a long tail and thread onto the yarn needle. Thread each stitch off the knitting needle and onto the yarn needle. Pull tight and turn the beanie inside out. Stitch the backseam from top to bottom.

Tidy up the yarn ends at the brim and roll the brim up. (The picture below shows the brim with an exaggerated roll.)

Enjoy your beanie or give it to a friend as a gift or to a charity who can pass it on to someone in need.

How to knit a simple 20cm square

This free knitting pattern is for a very basic 20cm or 8 inch square. This is a great starter project for a beginner knitter as they knit up very quickly. Even experience knitters will love churning out the squares and you can make so many things with them. They can also be a great way to use up scraps of wool/ yarn and create such a rainbow of colours.

Materials: 8 ply yarn and 5mm needles

Cast on 35 stitches.
Knit stitch every row (garter stitch) for 60 rows (30 ridges) or until work reaches 20cm long (depending on your tension)
If desired, change colours at the start of a ridge to form stripes.
Cast off neatly. Leave a tail of 1m if you want to join to other squares, weave in all other ends.

Watch out for future posts for ideas about what you can do with your squares.
- UPDATE 1: give your squares to charity

Helping AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children.

Several years ago I chanced upon a knitting charity that has ever since been close to my heart. Knit-a-square is a charity started by a family with connections in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia. The dual perils of AIDS and extreme poverty mean that they were saddened to find endless children wandering the streets at night in the bitter cold. Sandy and Zanny came up with an idea that they weren't even sure that would work - what if all the knitters around the world knitted one square, these were stitched into blankets and these blankets could warm these precious, tiny children? Read more of their story here.

It took time, hard work and many, many challenges, but eventually the program snowballed. The current goal is to 'knit-a-squillion' - to warm 36 000 beautiful vulnerable children like Patience here.

There are many, many more children who need your help. The babies below attend a makeshift creche which are very, very common. These beautiful babies are asleep on an old piece of lino on bare soil, and winter in South Africa is bitterly cold.

These young men belong to a group home for teenage boys who are orphaned and/ or have had violent or traumatic backgrounds. This photo shows them with some of the 'go over' sweaters that KAS was able to give them - very important as their dining room is merely an open awning with tarps as walls, and they walk long distances every day.

Especially for immune compromised children, the warmth of a blanket is crucial. Having something that they own, made especially for them which is bright and colourful is also a wonderful feeling for these children who have so little.

If you would like to help, KAS needs 20cm (8 inch) squares knitted or crocheted, as well as adult sized beanies/ hats and other items. Postage information (including important customs instructions and the address to send to) can be found here.

As well as knitted goods, KAS is also desperate for funds. Whilst the huge bulk of the labour comes from volunteers, there are many unavoidable costs. These include significant transport costs, paying duty and other fees at the post office, providing refreshments to volunteers on work days and other costs. To make a one off or recurrent donation, you can click on the PayPal button here (to the right of the page). A recurrent donation for $US5 a month would mean so much to KAS.

So, for the same of this precious girl and the millions like her, please help KAS.