2024 BARN ACTIVITIES

[Amy]

The first opening day for the KAS Barn in 2024 was January 9.  

This discussion will focus on all the weekly activities that take place on

Tuesdays as our volunteers gather together to open parcels, 

sort, organized, pack and distribute all things KAS.

[Amy]

Last day inThe Barn for 2024 was December 5...here is the message from Ronda.

Sending love and good wishes to ALL our members and contributors for a blessed Christmas and peace in the New Year.

Our last Thursday in the barn for 2024 was joyful as always … and extra special for me, having been away in UK for most of November, visiting my 92 year old sister and other family members. A very special time !

 

Wandi and Nathi visited a creche in Thembisa to distribute a small number of blankets … the weather is blazing hot on the highveld this week, but the little ones bravely posed for photographs IN their blankets!

Bye bye Nathi and Wandi  off to Thembisa!

More photos can be found in the Distributions Discussion.

 

Another year of Knit-a-square draws to a close … we thank you ALL for keeping us going, doing what we love and hopefully making a small difference in the lives of South Africa’s orphaned and/or most vulnerable little citizens.

Starting with tea-time 

Lindi, in the red skirt, has counted 420 blankets in stock to begin with in 2025.

You have to break eggs to scramble them  … same principle with tidying the KASbarn !!!

Squares donated in lieu of school community service hours are NOT always perfect! 

Our volunteers always find a way to fit them into a blanket.

Beautiful squares from Kelly and Twanano - Tshokwane in the Kruger Park.

A nice soft “boy” blanket needing a crocheted edge …

Blankets photographed and stacked today …

...End of the day.

 

See you in 2025.

 

 

[Amy]

Estelle, Liz, and Audrey met on November 26 for fun and working on KAS projects.

It’s almost the end of November…Christmas is upon us!

The volunteers at KNIT -A-SQUARE would like to thank our amazing contributors who send us incredible Christmas squares, blankets, toys, red and green beanies & hand warmers. We appreciate how generous, caring and thoughtful you all are to make our Christmas distribution extra special for our needy children. It’s been another fun year of collecting and putting these colourful blankets together. Thank you.

I finally finished my last Christmas blanket for the year.  Many of these squares are from Mili Kus.

Fun heart appliques from Bev.

See more blankets in The Blanket Room.

It’s extremely hot and dry in Johannesburg at the moment so thanks Liz and Audrey for going the extra mile to produce 22 blankets in this heat.

We had our first Christmas mince pies with our tea. Audrey and Liz.

From Antoinette Nothling's team. Just love those Springbok.

I had no one to help me with the pics so I bundled all the blankets in my car, waited for Sheldon to finish work, went to his house and in a flash they were all done. Thank you Sheldon I can always count on your help.

 

I’m posting all the blankets in no particular order so please identify your squares and blankets if I miss any.

 

I collected the following beautiful blankets from Sweetie.

A special Ellie I was privileged to have in the centre of my blanket from Sharon B.

Squares from JIll Lea and put together by Liz.

I have a feeling that a lot of these come from Karen Gordon. Love all the super colours you’ve put together Liz.

This stunning one arrived in the post from A Habberfield.

Audrey’s lovely blanket of many pictures….love it!

[Karen Gordon]

I found myself smiling whilst viewing these - you're such a jolly lot ⭐. Too many beauties to point out favourites.   Thanks for mentioning my 2 sets of bright aran squares in the 3rd from bottom blanket - I too am astonished they've already been zoom-ily stitched up into a useful blanket arrangement xx

[Sadie Bircher]

Wow, amazing work as usual!

Second photo down - the squares with the hearts are mine, and the last one with the felt animal pictures are by my friend Yasuko (with a few of mine also in that blanket too). But, to be honest, I'm blown away by how quickly they went from package arriving to being sewn up into blankets! You all work so fast! Thank you for sewing them into such beautiful blankets ❣️

I particularly love 7th photo down - the blanket with the purple, blue and bright green squares - it's gorgeous 💜

[Amy]

News from Ronda on November 7...

 

Apologies for the lack of communications from the KASbarn...Computer issues...

 

We are all still alive and well and opening your wonderful parcels. Thankfully the post continues to arrive and we are always grateful to you all for your generous parcels.

Blanket Packs for the gogos

 

Lindi, Wandi and Vivienne will be “running the show” for the rest of November, with the help of Nathi our driver, while Peter and I travel overseas for a family visit !

Wandi, Vivienne, Nathi, Ruthie and Lindi

This week’s distribution was in Thembisa - enjoy these sweet pics! (See more in the Distribution Discussion)

We say goodbye to Ruthie who has helped us to scrub up the barn and iron all the curly squares and generally make our volunteer days even more special over the recent few months - as she returns to her own country and family … we will miss you dear Ruthie .

Ruthie and Ronda

Lots of love to everyone from the KASbarn

[Karen Gordon]

Thanks ever so much for this pictoral and newsy update.   I'm super impressed with how tidy + organised the storage and sorting areas are!   The happy children look buzzing with happy chatter + big smiles - and of course all that glorious new colour + warmth surrounding them. 

[Sandra Joy Jones]

I am so very pleased that my parcel arrived in time for the forth coming Christmas distribution.

The little bears are called Doogle Bears.  For years I volunteered on the Cancer Council Daffodil Day Stall when I lived in Alice Sorings.  I used to buy myself a little bear each year, but decided it is time to pass them on for children to enjoy.

[Amy]

From Estelle and the ladies on November 5...

It’s been a busy fortnight starting to pack for Athele’s and my KNIT-A-SQUARE Christmas distribution. After collecting toys and squares from La vie Nouveau I spent a delightful morning with Ath sorting, counting and packing the most beautiful blankets. Gift you were a star by holding up blankets and moving the heavy bags for us.

 

Someone was smiling on me as I dashed in and out of the Post Office last week, there was post from Norway, The Irish Republic, Japan, France besides all our usual countries. Thanks Bernard for meeting me so early and packing my car.

Sandra Jones I’m at a loss for words…the following 10 blankets are from Sandra from Australia.

I can’t wait to see those little faces who receive one of these blankets.

Thanks Michelle Leonora from Norway.

Some of the fabulous squares from Jill Lea your 10 teddies will feature in our Christmas distribution post.

Some of the prem baby hats you sent Cathy Riley. and 3 matinee jackets and rattles from La vie Nouveau.

Super beanies and squares from Carol Taucher from the Republic of Ireland.

 

 

Yesterday we missed Elaine Joubert who’s in England and Sheldon. Congratulations on your new job Sheldon…you have no idea how much I missed you.

 

Feast your eyes on the amazing blankets we have received in the post and the ones our volunteers have spent hours making in the incredible dry heat we’re experiencing.  You can see even more photos in The Blanket Room.

Loved doing this on Cathy Riley. I do love a bit of sparkle 

 

 

[Sadie Bircher]

So many beautiful things!

Package from Japan - I wonder if that's the one I sent at the beginning of August (although I know there are other people posting from here too). Looking forward to the Squares List to find out.

[Estelle McLeod]

Sadie I collected beautiful Christmas blankets from Audrey yesterday. She told me that many of the squares came out of the box from Japan....came home and checked the packing slip. Thanks for the super 156 squares you and Yasuko sent.