KasSnippets - April 2014
REPORTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA
KNITTING IS TRENDING IN SOUTH AFRICA
The lovely Carolyn Steyn
Over the last two weeks we have literally seen knitting and crocheting become the new “in thing” around South Africa and everyone wants to do it!
“Why?” you ask – well, because of a lady by the name of Carolyn Steyn. Carolyn lived in the United States for ten years and in England for five years. She was nominated as one of the “Most Exciting Women” by the Beverly Hills Sheet in 2004. In the US she studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under acting guru, Milton Katselas, along with fellow students, Kate Hudson, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeffrey Tambor, Tony Danza and Doris Roberts, amongst others. She had roles in the television series Melrose Place and Babylon 5, and appeared in numerous plays in Los Angeles, such as Harold Pinter’s Betrayal, Private Lives, and Shadowlands.
In South Africa, Carolyn completed a BA (Dramatic Art) Honours at WITS as well as a T.L.S.D. through UNISA, performed for PACT Drama for several years, notably in the production, Poppie Nongena, which ran for an entire year. Carolyn then joined a local radio station, where she became a familiar voice, reading the news and co-hosting the weekend breakfast show.
Carolyn currently co-hosts a Radio Today show called “Whispers with Carolyn Steyn and Michael de Pinna”. She also serves as a Patron of the Joburg Ballet, Patron of the Auto & General Theatre on the Square and is a Naledi Theatre Awards judge and ‘Arts Angel’.
To read the full Report, also discussion comments : please click here
Other recent reports : Our Visit to New Generation and A Home of our Own...
NEW OFFICES - UPDATE
Much to everyone's relief the new offices are getting organised and can function properly! Thank you to the support of KAS Members Knit-a-Square can move forward and work in a professional atmosphere in order to ensure that the squares and other goodies reach the parentless, deprive and vulnerable children of Africa. The appeal raised US$ 2,479 which ensures we have enough rent for the next 3-4 months!
This is Blythe who contacted us via Facebook. She is doing an assignment as part of her degree and needs to learn a new skill - she has chosen knitting and sewing, and, we hope that she will be getting a group of friends together to help sew blankets - then join us on a distribution.
Shirley lays out her very first blanket - to sew up!
and
David, the maintenance man, kept his promise to wash and buff up the KasVan
- what a star!
To see more the the recent photographs in Sorted in Africa
"KAS REACHES GREAT HEIGHTS FOR CHILDREN"
A JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD !
This challenge is going to take us around the planet whilst reaching great heights & piles of squares - 178,000 to be precise, in order to reach the top of Table Mountain, Cape Town in South Africa!
We are going to need 50 squares for every foot climbed!
Since we left Switzerland last month we have bounced across to Egypt, the USA several times, then India and currently we are in London at 30 St. Mary Axe. This building was instantly nick-named The Gherkin by the public and it has stuck!
Here is the link to KAS Reaches Great Heights for Children
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We still have a surplus of hats and beanies - they are being sent by contributors who do not receive KasSnippets and therefore are not aware of our stockpile!
However, the good news is that the Hand-Warmers are fast becoming a favourite replacement! Here are some of the pairs recently posted by members
The Hand-Warmers are now in the KAS Pattern Book, here are the links :
Andrea Palmatier has written a blog about the hand-warmers
Heart Warming Hands
Last night I tucked the boys into bed and casually checked my email, where there was a March KASnippet waiting for me. I began reading about Hobby X and the move to the new office space (YAY!) but the Hand-Warmers stopped me in my tracks. I’ve always thought I needed to send a hat with a batch of squares but there’s been a surplus of hats. The perfect solution is Hand-Warmers! ‘What a fantastic idea’ was my first thought. ‘Think of the possibilities!’ was my second – the colours of the South African flag, a rainbow, adding a flower, adding a butterfly, stripes, a diagonal pattern… the possibilities truly are endless.
To read more of this lovely blog click on KasBlog or you can find it anytime on the menu bar that goes across the Forum.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN SOUTH AFRICA?
The KASvan was loaded with "67 blankets for a Mandela Day" project !!
First Knit-a-Square distribution in Transkei ... with the help of my friend Isabel !!
You might also enjoy reading a report from Mama Ntombi Community Projects
THE WONDER BOX FOR COOKING FOOD WITHOUT REQUIRING VAST QUANTITIES OF HEAT
Comment from Mama Ntombi :
One of our faithful partners made up and donated 14 Wonderboxes. She paid a visit to the MNCP project yesterday and said: "Thank you so much for including me in your outing to the Ezinketheni (Matisons) Settlement this morning. I was overwhelmed by seeing all that you do and the love that you give to these poorest of people. It was a truly humbling experience. If the wonder boxes work for them and there is a demand I will gladly make as many as you need."
Joycle Dlamini demonstrated how the Wonderbox works by explaining and cooking a phutu and chutney dish. The community then tasted the meal cooked in the wonderbox.
The children were on school break so Solomon Qadi, our Community Development Worker did a programme for them as well as for the Teenagers.
To read more please go to KAS Forum Facebook page
THE BLANKET ROOM COLLECTION !
The Blanket Room Collection - this years collection is growing rapidly and we have added a large quantity of blankets that Wendy photographed for us!
The JBay Recycling Project for Children
& Stitch Witch News
The children still collect and bring every week, except during school holidays! This young lad must have something special in mind with his load!
Another young boy reaches his target and get his much wanted bicycle!
Please click here for more photographs JBay Recycling Project for Children
If you are a member of Facebook, then do check out the Stitch Witch page to view some of their recently created blankets and meeting session.
SPREADING THE WORD &
GROUP NEWS!
Pam Johnson & Elaine Jones of the Knit for Life Group, will be reporting very soon on the Inner Wheel National Conference
where they were invited to run a fund-raising Tombola event in early April. The event was attended by 2,000 women - so we should find some extra knitters in our ranks!
Still to come the
AUSTRALIAN SHEEP AND WOOL SHOW !
18th, 19th and 20th July
This year, the show's Woolcraft committee has generously donated a space in the community area for a dedicated
KasCare Sit-And-Knit!
To read the full discussion Please click here
also
You can read more about the Sheep and Wool show here:
Or read more about Australian Woolcraft, who manage the community space we will be in, here:
http://australianwoolcraft.com/
KAS at the Cafe..... literally!
UK member, Heather Mensah was recently travelling in Canada, and was able to meet up with Canadian members Andrea, Anne and Wendy!
To read more of this special occasion, please click here!
KAS MONTHLY CHALLENGES
Here is the list for the rest of the year!
MAY - MELLOW YELLOW - Sunshine, flowers & all things yellow - Sue Gillman
JUNE - DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD - Robin Monsees
JULY - STRIPES, ZIG ZAGS & TEXTURES & MANDELA DAY THEME - Anne Powell
AUGUST - THE BEAUTY OF BLUES - Susan Haines
SEPTEMBER - VARIEGATED YARN - Bev Jeffery
OCTOBER – FAVOURITES – favourite yarn, patterns etc - Gloria Grandy
NOVEMBER - BUGS, SLUGS & HUGS - Linda Maltby
DECEMBER - UN-CHALLENGE - time to relax, have fun, and get ready for the holidays - Susan Haines
SQUARE LISTS
TALLY or ITEM COUNT
The Square Lists for February and March are now available!
SQUARES UPDATE:
2008 October to 2014 March- KAS has received 684,375 squares !
In 6 short years, 19,553 children have been wrapped in warm blankets thanks to the generosity of knitters and crocheters around the world. [Probably more, because in the early days the baby blankies were not included in the square count!]
In March KAS received 10,289 squares, 526 beanies, and,
321 tops!
Linda has put together a series of graphs comparing 2013 and 2014. In this one you can see the rise & fall of members square output!
Linda will be updating the graphs each month, to see our progress on each graph please check them out on
MAY PATTERN OF THE MONTH
by Linda Maltby
Framed Stripes square - knit pattern by Anne Connor (Canada)
When the photo of this blanket appeared on the Square Circle forum it caused quite a stir with knitters. The search was on to find the maker of these very striking and unique squares. And more importantly, would she share her pattern !!
The mystery was solved and Anne generously agreed to write up her pattern. We expect to see Framed Stripes squares arriving in South Africa very soon.
The square has an interesting and attractive centre. It also uses up the small balls of yarn sitting at the bottom of your knitting basket.
**********
Anne offers a variation with 3 colours in the striped centre. Once you have tried the original pattern you might like to try the variation.
For anyone new to Intarsia knitting, the easiest way to cross the yarn and ensure that there are no holes when changing colours is to take the strand you're knitting with, hold it firmly under the thumb of your left hand & bring the new colour up over it.
Here is a YouTube demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtJdamqXlAU
The video also explains the use of bobbins. Bobbins are helpful with Intarsia knitting, but not necessary.
The Framed Stripes square pattern
is one of the many patterns to be found in
The KAS Pattern Book
If you find another pattern in the book you would like to try,
please do !
SQUARE HEART OF THE MONTH AWARD
Edited this month by Pam Antink
The Square Heart Award for April 2014 is for Maureen (Maudie) Anne Bryan - Tasmania - Australia
Maudie , seen here, promoting her book Wool-Girl and the Balls of Wool
Maudie joined Knit-a-Square in November 2011 and has been a consistent and strong supporter of KAS and its aims of helping the vulnerable children of South Africa. Additionally, she encourages the rest of the membership with positive comments on the Photo tab.
The front cover of Maudie's book
Here are some of the characters featured in the book and other events!
As well as developing Wool-Girl, Yarn Boy and a host of other characters, Maudie does create squares and goodies to send to South Africa! Here is a selection :
You may also go to Maudie's Page and click 'View All' to see her complete body of work
Linda Maltby mentioned : Last year I met Maudie in Ottawa when she was visiting her son, daughter-in-law and darling granddaughter. I met Wool Girl and Yarn Boy in person ! She has a table at many fairs in Tasmania, has promoted her books to wool shop and bookstores [a few have taken the books to sell], and a number of other ways in order to sell the books to raise money for KAS.
Maudie also sends squares for a number of knitting groups in her area. She is very passionate about KAS.
To read the development story of Wool-Girl please visit Maudie's Forum Blog
To read the rest of the award, please click here
KAS FACEBOOK PAGE
FINAL THOUGHTS
Replies
Tried to access the knitted hand warmers pattern but it says this page cannot be found
Hi Fatima, I think something went wrong and all the patterns had to be re-instated!
Please try this link : http://www.knit-a-square.com/sites/default/files/Knit_Hand_Warmers.pdf
Hopefully it should work from here!
Thanks Pam, did get the pattern now
Pam I like this idea of giving us all the links and a smattering of photos so we can hop off to the reports that interest us most. You have probably done this many times however mentally I'm only noticing it now! :P I blame it on our long winter! So much to look at, thanks for so much positivity in one place on one page. One question...is J-Bay still short of knitted and crocheted teddies for their kids? Do they get given some from the KAS stash or do we send to them directly? Just wondering.
This is a super report. Thanks so much! A true feast for the eyes.
love, Jeanne
The Stitch Witches held a teddy challenge last year and produced their own for the JBay kiddies Jeanne. It looks like some of the group are continuing as the 'teddy & knitted dolly box' refills regularly! KAS is in Jo'burg which is too far away to supply JBay. However, I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you sent some direct - best check out their own Facebook page for details.
Thank you for another great Snippets Pam. The Wonder Box and the Wonder Box story are truly fascinating. What an extra-ordinary idea.
Kerry's daughter's gesture is truly heartfelt. It will be great when Kerry spots a toy in the hands of its new owner.
Maudie :)
I had hope to post this edition of KasSnippets over the Easter period, but was staying with my brother Nick in Leominster and only had access to a laptop - which rather got the better of me! Therefore, I had to wait until I returned home to use my trust desktop Mac!!!