Soweto Gospel Choir
I am so sorry everyone that it is November 2nd and no challenge has been put forward. I need your help please!
Firstly we were SO hoping that we could organise a very specific challenge for November. Briefly, we contacted the Soweto Gospel Choir, who are touring the States in the new year and asked if we could organise a PR event with them. They support an orphanage in Soweto called Nkosi Haven. They agreed in principle to 25 children from the US walking on stage and presenting 25 blankets to the choristers, with one of the children asking them to take the blankets back to the orphans they support in SA. Since then emails have been flying backwards and forwards. Debbie Posmontier very kindly agreed to organise children from her school to be on stage at the Annenberg Centre in Philadelphia and to receive and store the blankets until we could ship them back. (The choir can't do it as they are touring afterwards).
Well as with all good ideas there are a few hiccups. We are still waiting to hear back from the Annenberg Centre for final permission (the SCG management have given theirs). Do we have time to get 25 blankets knitted, sewn and sent for this event which is on January 30? We thought it would be wonderful publicity for KAS apart from all the audience and their friends who they would doubtless talk too.
I have written to Debbie and believe that if we can't get all our ducks lined up with in two weeks from now we will have to let this one go. Would be interested in your response.
In the meantime what about the November Challenge? Could we make it the new lightweight vest? I am still to put a pattern up on the site, but Zanny has knitted a version, picture attached and Anne has as well I think. Ronda is very keen on these, she says they are perfect for the children in the cooler evenings to keep their little chests warm. They should be soft and lighter and longer than the square vest and if you agree then we will put up details tomorrow.
Perhaps we could have a goal of 100 or so? They will make for happy distributions in the summer months of January and February. Do let me know what you think? Sandy
Firstly we were SO hoping that we could organise a very specific challenge for November. Briefly, we contacted the Soweto Gospel Choir, who are touring the States in the new year and asked if we could organise a PR event with them. They support an orphanage in Soweto called Nkosi Haven. They agreed in principle to 25 children from the US walking on stage and presenting 25 blankets to the choristers, with one of the children asking them to take the blankets back to the orphans they support in SA. Since then emails have been flying backwards and forwards. Debbie Posmontier very kindly agreed to organise children from her school to be on stage at the Annenberg Centre in Philadelphia and to receive and store the blankets until we could ship them back. (The choir can't do it as they are touring afterwards).
Well as with all good ideas there are a few hiccups. We are still waiting to hear back from the Annenberg Centre for final permission (the SCG management have given theirs). Do we have time to get 25 blankets knitted, sewn and sent for this event which is on January 30? We thought it would be wonderful publicity for KAS apart from all the audience and their friends who they would doubtless talk too.
I have written to Debbie and believe that if we can't get all our ducks lined up with in two weeks from now we will have to let this one go. Would be interested in your response.
In the meantime what about the November Challenge? Could we make it the new lightweight vest? I am still to put a pattern up on the site, but Zanny has knitted a version, picture attached and Anne has as well I think. Ronda is very keen on these, she says they are perfect for the children in the cooler evenings to keep their little chests warm. They should be soft and lighter and longer than the square vest and if you agree then we will put up details tomorrow.
Perhaps we could have a goal of 100 or so? They will make for happy distributions in the summer months of January and February. Do let me know what you think? Sandy
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by dawn laverty on -
I'm very happy to do a vest or two once I finish my go-over. I only have the hood to do, so I expect I'll probably be finished tomorrow.
Are they to be worn as undergarments and what ply yarn are you thinking about, and would you prefer cotton or wool?
Wool might be a better choice than cotton as it is absorbent, as long as it is soft.
Will be waiting for my instructions.....
Dawn x
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McDonald on -
Hello Dawn, Anne and Ronda having been discussing this, so I will ask Anne to clarify. The one Zanny has knitted is certainly an over-garment, but their has been discussion about a cotton under-garment. Soft is certainly the go. Ronda says there are a few garments that have arrived which are knitted very tightly and the necks and sleeves are a little too small, so with no stretch they won't easily fit. I think this may be the fault of our original Square Vest Pattern which I intend to change this week with Anne and Zanny's help. We will certainly get back to you all with details on this hopefully by tomorrow. I am sorry to be so unprepared this month, but if we miss a few days, I am sure we can make up on this up to Christmas.
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Permalink Reply by Sylvia Vannelli on -
This is an excellent plan Sandy. I'll definitely be taking part in this challenge.
I'll be using UK DK (double knitting) in a 50/50 machine washable wool/acrylic mix knitted on 4mm needles.
This is sport weight to light worsted in the US I think. I'll check the label, as I notice that many of these blends and some of the 100% acrylics actually say that they are soft to the skin.
I always thouht I knew quite a lot about yarns. How wrong can you be. I've been doing my homework since I joined KAS as well as reading all the terrific information on this forum and the site. I can't believe how much I've learned.
Also I suffer from a weak grip. Couldn't open jars. Since doing all the extra knitting my grip has improved and I can now open bottles and jars again. There is no end to the knock on benefits of this project.
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McDonald on
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I know Sylvia, the yarn issue is incredibly complicated, not only in trying to make comparisons from country to country but in how they behave when they are worked with. I was so wonderfully naive when I put up the first instructions just requesting 8ply! which NO one understood except me and Zanny.
While different yarns work well for the most part in the squares as long as they are warm, the clothes are a different issue and for these light weight vests, soft to the skin would be wonderful.
This is a useful page we put on the site ages ago, for those who may not be such advanced knitters.
http://www.knit-a-square.com/knitting-needle-sizes.html
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Permalink Reply by Claire O on
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Wow! What great publicity the blanket display with the Soweto Gospel Choir would be? I wish there was something we could all do to help speed up the blanket making process to ensure the 25 blankets are ready in time. Even if we sent extra needles they would get there in time would they? I am half way through a vest type top, so I can contribute to the 100 goal.
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McDonald on
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Hi Claire, the blankets in this case would be sent to Debbie in Philadelphia, so in some cases they could be complete and sewn up. If we go ahead, we would have to discuss this as we don't want to land Debbie with a whole lot of sewing up in addition to the work she would be doing. I am feeling a little nervous about the whole thing at present, but because it is such wonderful publicity felt I should flag it with you all.
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Permalink Reply by Melissa Langer on -
hi sandy!
what size or approx how many 8 x 8 squares would you like the 25 blankets to be?
:) melissa
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Permalink Reply by jacqueline sousa on -
i would be happy to receive some squares here in mass - laurie hake has vaolunteered tohelp me sew some as well as some of my factory friends - my husband wants to take me to the service if all goes that way so alot of postage can be saved there
i am pretty excited as today i am joining a knitting circle where there is a woman that i am told is fantastic at knitting - a friend of mine invited me to go along tonight
i have flyers in hand and will see if i can recruit some more help in the way of members
and/or sewers
so sandy - if you see things clear for this happening -i think i can coordinate sewing up a bunch
keep this in mind and let's see where God brings us!!
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Permalink Reply by Laurie C. Hake on -
Hi Jacqueline:
Still have our fingers crossed - Sandy I know is really trying. Enjoy the knitting circle - I just joined one at our local library on Wednesdays, it has been fun. Laurie
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Permalink Reply by Diane Kubiak on -
Hi............I have about a hundred squares that I could send out as soon as the ok is given.! That would be so excellent.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Kristel Lokken on -
Hi Sandy!
I love the idea of the 100 vests for the November challenge, and will definitely make at least a couple.
All the input in the section about how to make them got my head spinning, but I think I've got a handle on it now.
May I suggest we keep this project as simple as possible, as all the other projects have been so far, so that anyone with even the most basic skills will feel inspired to make a vest!
That said, I'll start one this afternoon...
Ciao from Florence!
Mary
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McDonald on
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Absolutely Mary. It is not easy to set the yarn though is it, or the needles. I am sure Zanny and Anne will help us with basic directions to help everyone get going with this. I would love to have a go as well and with a larger size and really soft one.
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