Square Circle Forum

I'm taking a survey

Hi! I’ve been thinking of ways to help people with the postage costs of sending squares to South Africa, and you can help me by answering a few questions. I’m planning to contact some corporations to sponsor costs, the way that Planet Purl did last year. If you weren’t familiar with the Planet Purl program, they collected squares here in the US (we mailed them to Georgia) and then they sent big batches to South Africa. They sent over 5000 squares between January and August!

This would just be for folks in the US since I’ll be contacting US companies. I’m also going to post this on Ravelry, so if you frequent both places, just fill it out once. And don’t worry if you can’t answer every question, just give me whatever info you can. Thanks so much for your help!

You can answer here in the post, or message me here, or email me at jbkcrochet at verizon dot net.

  1. About how many squares and other items did you send to Knit-a-Square in 2010?

  2. About how much does it cost you per square to ship to South Africa? (for instance, it costs me about $1 per square when I send at least 10 at a time)

  3. Have you ever chosen to make items for a different charity instead of KAS just because of the high overseas shipping costs?

  4. Would you send more squares to KAS if the postage costs were lower?

  5. Do you know of other crafters who would make squares for KAS but do not because of the postage costs?

  6. Did you send squares to KAS through the Planet Purl program last year? About how many?

  7. Would you participate in a program similar to what Planet Purl did in order to save on postage (ie send your squares to someone here in the US who would then send them on to SA)? Or do you prefer to send your items directly to South Africa?

  8. Approximately how many items do you think you would ship per year through a program like what Planet Purl ran?

Thank you for answering my survey! I’ll collect responses until the end of February, then I’ll let you all know what I found out.

Julie

Views: 143

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diane Kubiak on January 30, 2011 at 3:53am

Let me be the first to answer, and to say what a relief it will be if you can make this work.!   Brava   for trying!

I sent (about)

1. 300 squares, I go-over, 40 hats

2.  I guess about the same,  close to $1 per square

3.  DEFINITELY,  I have sent many items to US charities

4.  DEFINITELY (again),   I'd sent stacks and stacks to a US clearing point.

5.  I certainly believe so, because you always have to explain, in the end,  that the squares have to be sent overseas.

6.  To PP, i sent about 250, and 25 hats

7.  Yes !!!

8.  As many as they'd allow.

diane

Permalink Reply by Rachel A. on January 30, 2011 at 4:45am

1.  About 300

2.  About $1 per square in boxes of 70+ squares

3.  Yes

4.  YES

5.  Yes

6.  Yes, about 200

7.  Yes, yes, yes!!!  I thought the Planet Purl set-up was VERY helpful!

8.  As many as I could make!  (probably around 500 items)

Permalink Reply by Paulette Pronk on January 30, 2011 at 6:11am
oh my...I am  with sq's  about 100 to 150 a month depending...like doing hats to match a tank-top type go-over and do 3 or such a month of each...the other items are random things I do with some sewed items...like a dolly...pillowcase dress from a width of fabric...fleece vest...some fleece blankets. Love sending toys!!! yes I would send squares to a US drop off point which I could then mail other selected items directly to Africa as they filled my box. I mailed about 600 squares too pp before they stopped sending.
Permalink Reply by peggy Sack on January 30, 2011 at 9:23am

I was more motivated to make more squares when planet purl was around I sent boxes this was with the total squares being probably between 120 to 150 or more.  I think it costs me more like $l.50 to $2.00 to mail to south africa.  I have joined at least one group so could still do squares for cause in USA I did want to join this group but  the postage isn't as much.  I would send more to kas if postage were lower. i would definitely send more squares to kas if something like planet purl existed.  I unfortuately can't knit right now but when can again I could committ to maybe between 100 and 150.  Maybe more.  I would also be willing to send yarn, the books they are working on and other things they ask for is the shipping was less.

 

Permalink Reply by peggy Sack on January 30, 2011 at 9:31am

wops let me do this more specifically

1.not sure I think at least 200 or more

2. not sure at least $1.00

3. yes absolutely

4. yes

5.no

6.150

7yes 

8. Hard to answer that at present can't knit because knitted too much last year and have both hands in corpal tunnel

braces.  But might be able to send other things.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Paulette Pronk on January 30, 2011 at 11:16am

1. lots 60 tp 70 dollars a box

2.one dollar

3.not yet

4.yes

5.no

6.yes....200

7.would participate

8.about the same unless there was a goal needed

9.fingers crossed

 

Permalink Reply by Debbie Posmontier on January 30, 2011 at 12:23pm

  1. About how many squares and other items did you send to Knit-a-Square in 2010?  Approx. 100 squares, 2 go-overs, 10 hats, 2 vests, 1 cuddle.

  2. About how much does it cost you per square to ship to South Africa? (for instance, it costs me about $1 per square when I send at least 10 at a time) - about 80Cents per square when sent in bubble bags

  3. Have you ever chosen to make items for a different charity instead of KAS just because of the high overseas shipping costs?  Yes

  4. Would you send more squares to KAS if the postage costs were lower?  Yes!!

  5. Do you know of other crafters who would make squares for KAS but do not because of the postage costs? Yes...the elderly and college groups

  6. Did you send squares to KAS through the Planet Purl program last year? About how many? Yes, about 30.

  7. Would you participate in a program similar to what Planet Purl did in order to save on postage (ie send your squares to someone here in the US who would then send them on to SA)? Or do you prefer to send your items directly to South Africa?  Yes to a similar program like PP.

  8. Approximately how many items do you think you would ship per year through a program like what Planet Purl ran? More than 100 and I'd lobby harder to get more children involved as the main reason my school isn't participating is the cost of shipping...

Thanks, Julie, for doing this survey and searching out businesses to help!!

Your KASister,

Debbie

Permalink Reply by Donna Radu on January 30, 2011 at 3:09pm

  1. I made around 60 squares and 8 hats, plus a teddy bear in 2010 but didn't send them till this week.

  2. I sent 58 squares and 7 hats for $56, so, counting the hats (with pompoms) as weighing twice as much as a square that comes out to about 78 cents (U.S.) per square.
  3. Not yet, but I have considered it...
  4. I would definitely send more squares, and clear out my stock with more frequent mailings.
  5. No...
  6. No.  I joined just a bit too late for the Planet Purl project.  I tried to get on board, but found they'd stopped taking squares.
  7. I would participate in such a program enthusiastically and often!
  8. Well, I'm a member of the "A-Square-a-Day" group on the KAS forum, so I guess I'd send upwards of 250.

Permalink Reply by Leyli on January 30, 2011 at 4:05pm

  1. About how many squares and other items did you send to Knit-a-Square in 2010? to South Africa directly 20

  2. About how much does it cost you per square to ship to South Africa? (for instance, it costs me about $1 per square when I send at least 10 at a time) $1.25

  3. Have you ever chosen to make items for a different charity instead of KAS just because of the high overseas shipping costs? yes, I donated over 1200 squares to Warm Up America

  4. Would you send more squares to KAS if the postage costs were lower? Absolutely

  5. Do you know of other crafters who would make squares for KAS but do not because of the postage costs? Yes

  6. Did you send squares to KAS through the Planet Purl program last year? About how many? yes, with a friend we had about 350 squares

  7. Would you participate in a program similar to what Planet Purl did in order to save on postage (ie send your squares to someone here in the US who would then send them on to SA)? Or do you prefer to send your items directly to South Africa? I would love a program similar to planet purl

  8. Approximately how many items do you think you would ship per year through a program like what Planet Purl ran?About 1500 to 2000 squares minimum

Hi Julie, Thank you for the survey. I was one of the people that was very excited about KAS until I went to the post office the first time.  Spending that much money was just not feasible for me.  I know some would say buy less yarn and use the money for postage.  My whole purpose and intention is to use my knitting to do some good.  So I must admit I gave up on KAS until I heard about Planet Purl.  Once Planet Purl stopped their program I started looking around for something local and in a year I made close to 1200 squares for Warm Up America.  They use the squares for blanket locally for children's hospital and Ronald McDonald House.  I bought also lots of deck of playing cards for kids and things like that for local charities.  So I would do that and send them to a program like Planet Purl.  If not I am afraid I am for now out of KAS.

 

Permalink Reply by Julie Kempton on January 31, 2011 at 1:49am
Leyli, yours is exactly the kind of situation I would love to help by getting some sponsorship. I loved the Planet Purl program last year, but fortunately I can also handle the overseas shipping costs myself. But I know many cannot. Of course there are so many worthy causes here in the US like Warm Up America so there is no shortage of places that you can knit for, which is great! But KAS has a special place in my heart so I want to try and give them any help I can. Thanks for your input!
Permalink Reply by Donna Radu on January 31, 2011 at 6:07am

Hey, Leyli:

Glad to see you answering the survey, because that means you still keep up with the KAS forum even if it's not feasible for you to participate actively in the KAS project right now.  The Square Circle forum is such a great community that I would hate to see anyone leaving it for financial reasons.  Here's hoping that a corporate sponsor (or more than one!) can be found for mailing costs!

Meanwhile, however, I just wanted to congratulate you on your stupendous productivity!  1200 squares for Warm Up America?  How do you DO it?   What admirable focus, what sacrificial giving of your time!  Fantastic!

Permalink Reply by Jana Benitez on January 30, 2011 at 7:44pm

1.      475 items – Squares, hats & etc.

2.      Cost is .75 to $ per square.

3.      Yes

4.      Yes

5.      Yes

6.      No

7.      Don’t know. 

8.      Don’t know

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