As knitters, we generally enjoy sharing warmth with others. Many of my friends and family members have been recipients of my knitted goods over the years, but I also try to do my bit and knit for those in need, or to raise money for worthwhile causes. Stay tuned for an opportunity to use your knitterly talents to PAY IT FORWARD (this special post will be added sometime in the next 24 hours)

This time last year I was helping a group of high school students knit hats for people who attend a hot lunch program at a downtown church. We knit a total of 30 hats, and brought them to the lunch program toward the end of November. We mixed and mingled with the lunch program patrons, and let them choose a new hat, hand knit just for them. The joy on their faces of the knitters and new hat owners was wonderful to behold.

Donated to the Lunch Program

Some of the same high school knitters had also come together to make a blanket for a local women’s shelter. We delivered the blanket for Christmas 2007. The blanket was made from donated yarn knit up into garter stitch squares and rectangles by beginner knitters, and fancier cabled and intarsia squares and rectangles by the more experienced in the group. The large pile of pieces were put together “Tetris style” to form a very unique blanket.

almost finished (lots of ends to sew in)

This year we are making a blanket for Project Linus, a charity that delivers blankets to children in need of comfort in times of illness or trauma. There are many new knitters in our group this year, so some of the pieces have been more free-form than in the past. It will be an extra challenge to piece them together this season.

next blanket (not nearly enough squares yet)

I challenge you to get together with your friendly neighbourhood knitters and put together a blanket to donate

Linus

Every now and again I get asked to donate some of my knitting for different silent auction tables. I’ve made stranded mittens, thrummed mittens and more recently slouchy hats. I am always surprised what types of things bring in the most money at these types of events. A slouchy hat I made in a single afternoon brought in twice the money that my lovely thrummed mittens did (that took significantly longer and more materials to make).

Auctioned for a school board breakfast program

This week I was asked to knit mittens or a hat for a charity silent auction raising money for “green initiatives” in the local community which is being held at the beginning of December.

What knitting donation do you think would bring in the most money for this worthwhile cause?

knitters anonymous

Today the puffy mitten came to school with me to enjoy lunch with the “Knitters Anonymous Club”. It is such fun to spend time with such creative young minds.

working on squares

Some students are learning to knit, others are mastering different stitches, some are making socks, and others are bravely venturing into the land of lace scarves.

Branching out Scarf in soft blue cotton

While we eat, and talk, and collaborate on pattern ideas, we are actually “knitting together” a wonderful creative and welcoming community within the school. We even have a mascot named Bertha that was created as a result of several “happy accidents”.

Bertha, the mascot

As students learn they make squares that we sew into blankets to donate to various charities (which I will talk about another day…that deserves an entire post to itself!) Some are now getting very good at squares, and are venturing out into the wilds of Ravelry to knit other fancy things.

multi-tasking...knitting and homework!

In the upcoming weeks we look forward to learning new skills like spinning and dyeing

casting on

We keep each other up to date about local knitting related activities and yarn sales

focus

We share our latest patterns and projects

determination

And we usually end up having a laugh!

making sure no extra stitches creep in there!

I think everyone is amazed at how much we can accomplish if we each do a little bit

our "lord of the needles" a very fast learner!

Here is a picture of our most recent blanket which is a metaphor for our group. Each square is unique, some are bright and crazy patterns and colours, some are calm muted tones. Some are conventional patterns, others are invented (on purpose or accidentally). But together, when all joined up, it is a very warm and beautiful object.

blanket (work in progress)

This is the fifth year that I have been a part of this amazing group. We have accomplished a lot, learned a lot, and experienced a lot. We even met the Yarn Harlot!

Knitters Anonymous field trip to meet The Yarn Harlot

Thanks to those anonymous knitters who have agreed to have their photos on this page. You are an impressive lot!