September 9, 2014:
This summer (August 2014) I offered free knitting and crochet lessons on Friday mornings at the library here in River John, Nova Scotia, Canada. I explained that I knit with a purpose ... my purpose being KAS! I had the good fortune to meet and become friends with some terrific people.
We were a bit slow getting started … just two the first Friday. Ann knew how to knit, but wanted to learn crochet. Jean (who is 91 years young) already knew how to do both. She is known for the beautiful crocheted table cloths she has made over the years.
The second Friday, Maureen and June joined us.
This time, Ann brought us a very clever idea. While she wanted to contribute to KAS, she felt she would be unable to make as many squares as she would like. She decided to sponsor another knitter.
Her idea was to check with a senior’s residence to find someone who would like to knit or crochet but was, perhaps, unable to buy the yarn and/or pay for the postage. She would supply the yarn, collect the finished items, and post them for the resident.
The third Friday we had 6, including a gentleman who does the most amazing knitting and crocheting. He brought in some of his work to show us. Some of the ladies brought squares they had already made.
Since I had originally planned this for only three Fridays in August, I was absolutely thrilled when, on the last Friday, the ladies decided they wanted to continue to meet every Friday.
This is what we looked like on Friday, September 5th (when, by the way, they all sang “Happy Birthday” to me :))
We now have Doris, Ann, Jean, Marilyn, Myrtis, Pamela, June, Maureen (who was absent this day but will be joining them when she returns from holiday), and Stan (who was absent this day but we hope he will return soon).
These incredible ladies have organized themselves and chosen to be known as the River John Square Knitters. They will continue to meet every Friday at the library where they will knit and crochet, make plans for creating awareness, come up with ideas to raise funds for postage, and package up the many squares they hope to encourage others to donate!
As a matter of fact, the donations (squares and postage $$) have already started to come in.
I am extremely pleased to be associated with this wonderful group! They have such kind hearts and a lot of talent. I am definitely going to join them whenever I can.
Here is a sample of the lovely work these ladies produce!
Thank you, River John Square Knitters … and welcome to KAS!
November 8, 2014:
Guess it's about time for an update on this wonderful group of knitters in River John, Nova Scotia, Canada! They meet every Friday morning at the library in River John.
They are producing mountains of squares, (stockpiling them in hopes of an end to the postal strike) receiving donations of yarn, knitted and crocheted squares from others, and even receiving $$ donations toward postage! They are very busy at the moment, churning out plans for a fundraiser in the spring or summer of 2015. Be sure you'll hear about it!
They will be placing information and a basket for donations in the Yarn Shop at Lismore Sheep Farm in River John.
Maureen has just done up a list of members and there are 15 names on it!!! Not all of the members knit or crochet,not all of them come every week, but ALL of them contribute in their own very special way. One of our members (Barb) makes absolutely gorgeous felted mittens, sells them, and donates profits to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, as well as participating in our discussions for fundraising and helping to spread the word about KAS! Today, she brought a pile of gorgeous mittens to show us, and even gave us a lesson on "brushing" them. Wonderful work, Barb!
This past week, I received an e-mail from Ellie Dale at the Stellarton Library. Stellarton is a small town just a short drive from River John. She has started a knitting group there and she wanted information about contributing to Knit-a-Square.
Now ladies, I ask you ... where did she hear about Knit a Square ??? :)))
Three cheers for the River John Square Knitters!
On Wednesday, I went to meet with Ellie. She is quite excited about getting her group involved. Will we soon see another Nova Scotia group pop up here on the Forum? I really hope so!
The more squares we knit, the more children we warm. Bravo! Nova Scotia, Canada!!!
Some pictures from our recent get-together. Thanks, Maureen, for snapping :)
Here (from left to right around the table) ... Myrtis, Barb, Gloria, Marilyn, and Jean.
And here, left to right again, Marilyn (looking for more yarn?), Jean, Margaret (our wonderful librarian who takes extra good care of us) and Doris,
... Marilyn and Jean ...
... Gloria and Marilyn.
November 23, 2014:
A huge WELCOME to our four new members: Catherine, Trish, Eileen, and Thelma. We are absolutely thrilled that you have joined us.
Yesterday was a very busy day at the River John Library! There was lots of discussion, great participation, fabulous ideas for fundraising, and incredible enthusiasm for spreading the word. The ladies are looking forward to decorating a tree with 8" squares for the Festival of Trees in Tatamagouche!!! Sadly, I won't be there for this, but I really, REALLY want to see some pics, please.It was difficult to get a "whole group" picture, but here is a picture of "some" of us.And I honestly don't know where we would all be without this wonderful lady! Thank you, Margaret, for everything you do for KAS and the River John Square Knitters.I will be away now until next spring/summer, and I understand several others will be as well. I will miss everyone but will be thinking about you. I want to thank you all for embracing Knit a Square, and for taking my little idea of "knitting at the library" and turning it into a huge success!Winter can be long and cold, but the River John Library is a warm and cozy place ... especially on Friday mornings between 10 and 11 o'clock.I will see you all again in the spring.Until then, keep smiling ...... and as Myrtis tell us ... keep calm and carry yarn :) xo
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Do you recall the photo of Trish holding the 'thing' in my previous post? If you look closely at the first two photos below, you will see it (unwound) winding its way around the base of their display. This piece was written and set out to explain the significance of this 'rope'.
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It is estimated that there are 14.8 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. 1.9 million live in South Africa.
Many of these children are AIDS orphans or have been abandoned. Many live in great poverty in informal settlements. Some head up families of their siblings together with other children. Some live alone, without shelter, in hills and dumps around the cities.
In southern Africa, they refer to these children as OVC's - orphaned or vulnerable children. While other children's charities work hard to provide food and shelter for them, we aim to provide warmth and comfort.
The knit-a-square project was started as a family project in 2008 and is now a world-wide community numbering an estimated 12,000 people in 54 countries round the world.
Together we work hard to help warm and comfort the children and we'd greatly value your contribution to this knitting project for the AIDS orphans of southern Africa. We ask the world's knitters and crocheters to send 8"/20 cm squares to South Africa, where we have them sewn into blankets for the children. (knit-a-square.com)
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The River John Square Knitters have responded to this need by sending over 5,000 squares, hundreds of hats, wrist warmers, dolls and various items since the group formed in the late summer of 2014. This is an amazing accomplishment for the volunteers who contribute so generously to this effort. The long and colourful knitted and crocheted “rope” of 50 individual sections represents these squares as each one stands for 100 squares - 50 X 100 = 5,000. Each blanket, sewn together in South Africa by volunteers, is made up of 35 squares so our squares alone would have provided 142 blankets with a few squares left over. As winter temperatures often dip as low as 2C and even in the spring and fall nights are cool, blankets lovingly made keep these children warm and comforted. And a little handmade doll makes a good friend to cuddle and play with.
South African temperatures, which are measured in centigrade, average at highs of 28°C to average lows of 8°C in the summer months while winter temperatures range from 1°C at night to around 18°C in the day. Average annual rainfall is on the low side at under 500mm a year, making the country somewhat dry.
Temperatures in South Africa tend to be lower than in other countries at similar latitudes – such as Australia – mainly because of its greater elevation above sea level.
Read more: http://www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/climate.htm#.V0zU976GOao#...
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What a fantastically energetic group! RJSK certainly sets the bar high for the rest of us. Congratulations on such a successful day, Ladies, and thank you from all of us.
Totally agree, Anne. Thank you to everyone who contributes to warming 'our' children. You have hearts of gold. xo
It’s been a while since I’ve shared information about this group. This is not because nothing has been happening I can assure you. We have been very busy knitting and crocheting, welcoming new members, packaging squares and items for mailing, and planning events to create awareness and raise postage funds.
Several of us have been able to visit the Stellar Knitters in Stellarton, NS. These kind-hearted ladies have also been busy crafting for local charities as well as for KAS SA. Along with the RJSK, you will find the Stellar Knitters and Helen Cruikshanks on the received squares lists! The RJSK are looking forward to having some of them visit us in River John over the summer.
Of course summer is our busiest time with everyone home from their winter holidays, but winter is not what one could call slow. As long as the weather permits, our group continues to gather to do what we do best: create squares, hats, handwarmers, and toys for our children in South Africa!
A lot of our winter hours are spent planning events for the coming summer months. Some tell family members and friends in faraway places. Others simply talk KAS to whoever they meet.
We have the Florida group started by Myrtis, Gwen’s sister in MB, Trish’s sister and her group in the USA, Chris’s sister-in-law in ON, a group in Dartmouth, NS, the Stellar Knitters in Stellarton, NS, and many, many crafters from the surrounding area all contributing to Knit-a-Square. I can’t tell you how many squares and other items have been mailed from our Post Office in River John, Nova Scotia, Canada!
At present, plans are in the works for another Knit-in-Public Day event. On June 18 our group will visit various venues with their displays where they will sit’n’knit for a bit.
The Ice House Gallery in Tatamagouche will be their first stop, where they plan to set up a display that they have been working on for some time. They will call it, “Art that Enlightens”. There will definitely be photos to share after this event. Puzzled by what Trish is holding? Watch for it when we post photos of this event.
At 2:30 p.m. when they come to their final stop at the River John Library, members of our group will have visited 9 venues where they will have shared information with everyone they met.
Thanks to this amazing group of crafters, the story of the Knit-a-Square and children of South Africa continues to spread throughout Nova Scotia and beyond!
One final thought from these thoughtful ladies:
Maureen says:
In preparation for our KIP event, Trish and I are each sewing a display blanket out of donated squares. We got together to start this work and both came away with a new appreciation of what a job it must be for the gogos in SA to sew these hundreds of blankets together!!! The variety of squares that are sent from all over the world, different weights, patterns, colors, etc. must be overwhelming at times. Sorting through them and deciding how and which ones to put together to make blankets for the children is a skill we now appreciate more than ever! What a wonderful job they do!
We decided they must be amazing women. When we mentioned this at RJSK on Friday, the members agreed. It was a simple activity that made us have an "ah ha" moment that reinforces the connection we feel with the women at the other end of this wonderful work! To the gogos and all the volunteers ... from all of us to all of you - THANK YOU!
Thank you Gloria! A big hello, nice to hear from you. Best of luck on June 18th.
Lovely to hear about this wonderful group and their amazing achievements!! I will certainly be watching out for the 'mystery item' that Trish is holding. Until now, when ever I thought of Nova Scotia, I immediately thought of Anne of Green Gables, but now it's Gloria and the River John SK :))
Thank you Glo for sharing news of this lovely, caring group x
So glad to hear from you, Glo. A big hello to all the RJSK knitters. I wish you a MOST successful KIP event on June 18th.
YAY to the RIVER JOHN SQUARE KNITTERS and the STELLAR KNITTERS and all the other groups who have come onboard!!! You have certainly put NS on my map. :)) What fabulously kind and caring folk in your part of the world!!!
Best wishes for June 18th.....you gals sure know how to plan an event. :))
Thanks for the update, Glo. xo
Thank you very, very, VERY much everyone for your lovely birthday wishes!!! And thank you, Christine, for that yummy-looking birthday cake :) xo
We certainly are a happy group and are extremely proud our accomplishments!
Happy 1st Birthday ladies of RJSK! Quite a year, what marvellous results from a wonderful community of caring ladies!
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