A friend of a friend...

So many people are aware that I belong to Knitting for Brisbane's Needy, so that when these people are told of some yarns etc needing a new home, they think of me! And so it was that a friend at Sisters of Stitch knew someone who was giving away a box of brand new polo shirts. These shirts had various sponsors' logos and some had first names printed on them. Elizabeth thought of K4BN and brought the large box of shirts to our SoS meet up last Wednesday. 

The photo below is just a small part of the box full...the shirts were still in individual plastic bags, folded with a square of tissue paper behind the button placket...beautiful colours and fabrics! 

The box of shirts is now in the K4BN warehouse ready for distribution. Thank you to Elizabeth and her friend!  

A guest blogger...

Regular readers would know that I am a member of a charity knitting group, Knitting for Brisbane's Needy. A few weeks ago, I approached the founder of this group and asked her if she would like to be a guest blogger...and she agreed. So, here's Karen!

Hello, my name is Karen Croke from Knitting forBrisbane’s Needy, and Maria has invited me to be a guest writer on her blog to talk about the work of the group.

I started the group in 2006 with just 2 members. I was inspired to start the group after a chance meeting with a welfare officer from a not for profit charity, who helped homeless/needy families. She mentioned that Queenslanders didn’t seem to donate warm clothing as it was thought that it didn’t get cold enough in Queensland. When the welfare officer mentioned people being cold, living under bridges, in parks, doorways of buildings etc, I offered to knit some beanies and scarves. And that is how the group started…

Membership has reached over 400 members, who have provided more than 150,000 items up to December 2012 (including   41,000+ donations just in 2012 alone). K4BN receives no funding and all yarn is donated or bought by members themselves. (Although last year the group won $5000 which was a wonderful boost for buying supplies)

One of our members, Joy, manning our stall at a Seniors' Expo

Here we are at Petrie...ready with items to give away 

Items are donated to charities in Queensland and interstate which assist the needy. The charities must give the items DIRECTLY to those in need. The following gives you an idea of the scope of our giving. 

We help :-

·         Homeless

·         Crisis centres for women and children

·         Premature babies

·         Cancer sufferers

·         Youth in crisis

·         Aboriginal settlements

·         Animal refuges

·         Aged homes

·         Families in need

Now I mentioned that way back in 2006, I offered to knit scarves and beanies, well it wasn't long before many other items were added to the list of what the groups makes or collects for distribution. We make ‘Premmie’ and baby clothes (including booties, beanies, jackets, mittens, blankets), children’s beanies, gloves, jumpers, vests, scarves and probably most importantly, TOYS.

This lady is 91 and recently gave the group 900 squares which she had knitted. A number of these have already been sewn into blankets...

We make adult beanies, scarves, gloves, jumpers, vests and blankets; the latter we just never seem to have enough to keep up with demand. We also make blankets and toys (mainly for cats and dogs) to go to animal refuges. Another item that is in great demand are unused toiletry items to go into the hundreds of ‘hygiene packs’ our members make up each year for distribution to those in need; not only for the homeless but for those in domestic violence shelters, those adversely affected by natural disasters etc.

Some of our members sew beautiful quilts for the group to distribute...

Now Maria said I should include ‘a story’ as she said people love anecdotes…so here is something that happened recently at the BBQ for the Homeless event in Musgrave Park…

Angela Fohler ( one of the original members of the group) had made one of her incredible quillows in the indigenous colours. As soon as I saw this older indigenous man walking around I knew I wanted him to have the quillow, even before I spoke with him. When he got over to us, we gave him an indigenous beanie and then I offered him the quillow. I just can't explain the look that came over his face, it was one of incredulence (is that even a word??); he just held it and touched it, but then wanted to hand it back. I asked him why, "Because I have a beanie, someone else will need that".

I told him that I wanted him to have it, and at that, he hugged it to himself and then started crying. When we asked why he was crying he said it was because "no one has ever, ever given me anything in my life and now you have given 2 things and in my traditional colours". He then told us some stories of how he (and others) have been treated; spat on, sworn at, had their possessions stolen etc etc. He had just moved into some hostel type accommodation after many years of being homeless, after leaving the Australian Army!!! He was very proud of the fact that he had a key to his room, so he knew his beanie and quillow would be safe!!! Of course, by then I had joined him in crying!! I think after that he came back every 10 minutes or so, to thank us again and Bless us for making him feel "normal". All the time he was wearing his beanie, and hugging his quillow. Needless to say, when I went home that day I started on another indigenous beanie!

It’s stories like that, that keep Peter ( my husband) and I determined to keep doing what we do for the needy, as long as we are able to. 

Make-grow-thrift...

Joining Jodie of Haby Goddess as usual for this Monday feature...

This week I have 3 kitten blankets made and ready to post off to Toowoomba where they will be used for bedding for kittens at the Animal Angels refuge. This was one of the choices for K4BN's June challenge.

One blanket I crocheted while on holiday in Victoria. I had another project (knitting) that I took with me but the poor lighting in the motel rooms meant that it was easier to crochet. Another kitty blanket was sewn from a remnant of thick polar fleece that I found at Spotlight.

The third blanket was actually a very misshapen crocheted square that had been donated. I crocheted a number of rows around it to get it to the required size. I don't think the kittens will notice the 'bumps' and the crookedness of the section in the middle. lol!

Last week in 'Make-grow- thrift' I wrote about a throw that I'd made for an ex student. I had asked her, when she was feeling better, if she could get a photo of herself with the throw. I explained that my just taking a photo of my work draped over a chair, it is quite lifeless. Things always look better with a person using or wearing the items. Well yesterday Olga posted some photos of herself at The Bluff, Devonport, Tasmania and she kindly has allowed me to use her photos. It is so nice to see her starting to get back her vitality.

On my mind...bits and pieces

As usual on a Friday I'm joining in a feature on another blog called 'Down to Earth' here where each of us posts a photo with accompanying text on the theme, 'On my mind', then link it back to 'Down to Earth'. It's been an excellent way of 'meeting' other bloggers and enjoying their posts as well as getting feedback from other bloggers all around the world.

On my mind today are bits and pieces. Firstly, I have a box and a separate plastic bag of squares (knitted, crocheted) that I brought home from a 'Knit and Natter' session of the Knitting for Brisbane's Needy charity group. I have promised to turn these squares into some knee rugs which are urgently needed. It is a challenge as the squares are not all the same sizes. I'll enjoy this challenge as it will need a fair amount of ingenuity and creativity, 2 skills that I think I need to use before I lose them!! lol  As I complete a rug I will put a photo of it on my blog.

The other bits and pieces on my mind are some squares of cotton fabrics (children's designs) and some matching squares of thick polar fleece. I have rarely bought fabric suitable for children's projects but in recent years I've occasionally bought the 3 lb(pound) bags of scrap fabrics from eQuilter when they are on special. I've always got a lovely selection of fabrics and of course children's designs usually were in the parcels. I've cut up an unfinished polar fleece jacket that a friend was making  her late mother for those squares and it's been a project for the odd 15-30 minutes of quiet time here and there over the weeks since we came back from overseas.

I've started sewing the diagonal lines on the squares which hold the pairs of squares together. Then I'll sew them into a rectangle with the seams on the top side. Then you clip into every seam fairly close together 1/4 inch intervals...then wash and dry in the dryer and the seams 'fluff up' and look very decorative.
I'm following the instructions in a 'Handmade' issue and the blanket is called 'Warm as Toast'...these blankets are also referred to sometimes as 'Raggy quilts'. More photos of this project to come... I'm making this for 'Project Linus' which my craft group 'Sisters of Stitch' support.

A number of weeks ago I published a post about a knitting challenge I had set myself here. Well that challenge is finished as I reported in my quite recent post here.

Lotsa knitting!!

Today was a day of knitting, knitting and more knitting! This morning I drove to Scarborough for a K4BN  (Knitting for Brisbane's Needy) 'Knit and Natter ' session. I arrived about 20 minutes late, as despite having the GPS, I missed the turn off and the next off ramp was a number of km up the road. I love the GPS (remember we named her 'Harpy' in the US) as 'she' is just so calm and reassuring no matter how many wrong turns I take! lol

Three husbands were also at the K&N and they had their own 'Natter' session. I took a newish project to work on; one of my garter stitch chevron rugs that are fairly quick to finish. I tend to underrate these throws as it is such a simple design but I've made so many over the years and they always turn out so well. Even though no two of these simple rugs have been exactly the same, they do look similar as i tend to use MY favourite colours in them! lol.

I also took home a medium sized box of knitted squares which I've volunteered to sew into blankets...it could be a real challenge I was warned as the squares come from a number of different sources and are often all different sizes...The box is still in the boot as I need DH to carry it up into the house for me. Probably on another post, I'll tell all about my experience making these rugs...stay tuned! lol

Tonight I went to the local wool shop where another group of knitters meet to ...well... sit and knit...and of course natter!!! It's also a good opportunity to prowl around the store looking at all the goodies...
Tomorrow I've set aside time to weave in the ends and sew the label on my Art Show throw, as well as snip a few ends on another throw which I am giving to my neighbour Judy on Wednesday for her 70th birthday! I have a couple of UFO projects that I plan to work on this week as well...it's looking good...possibly 3 finishes this week!!

Update on DH's brother...he checked himself out of the hospital late last night which has upset the family so much. DH is feeling quite angry at the moment as well as being 'sick with worry' for his brother's welfare. He spent quite a bit of time at his brother's house this afternoon with some discussion about the future in the worst case scenario. My mother refused treatment in the last 4-5 months of her life and I know how upsetting it was for the family; we felt so helpless. Ultimately we had to accept her decision though. Tomorrow is another day and things could change...you never know.