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 Dawson on January 31, 2011 at 5:39am

1. Haven't been able to send any, but I have 200 squares stash up and about 7 items.

 

2. About 60 cents each.

 

3. No

 

4. I have a consistent goal of 1 a day, so no except I would be able to get rid of my stash.

 

5. Not really

 

6. No, knew about it when it was too late.

 

7. Yes, I would participate in that program.

 

8. About 365 squares and 11 hats annually

Permalink Reply by Donna Radu on January 31, 2011 at 6:01am
Just reading about Leyli's and Dawson's situations makes me so ready to support any efforts to find funding for dedicated knitters/crocheters who give their time, and even invest in yarn, only to have problems getting their creations to those who need them most!  I guess it wouldn't be practical for KAS to start a small funding project for this?
Permalink Reply by Dawson on January 31, 2011 at 6:24am

The reason I haven't sent any is because I don't have a job. As soon as I get a job, I'll be able to send squares to KAS. I'm 16, so I can get almost any job.

Permalink Reply by Kalai McDonald on February 1, 2011 at 5:18pm

Great initiative Julie

 

I really hope that you have some luck!

Permalink Reply by Laurie C. Hake on February 2, 2011 at 3:39am

Hi Julie: 

1.  I sent approx. 805 squares, 15 hats and 1 cuddle.

2.  Per square, I'm not sure, but I just added the cost for taxes and the total was $560.00.

3.  No

4.  Not necessarily, it depends on how much time to knit I have and how many I can send.

5.  No

6.  Only used Planet Purl one time.

7.  I certainly would use a service like that.

8.  I would guess I'd send about what I have in the past.

 

Will be interested in the response to this!!!!  Laurie

Permalink Reply by Jan Wilcox on February 4, 2011 at 7:07am
I didn't keep track of exactly how many I sent and those sent to PP were listed along with PP on the lists and not under my name. I sent over 250 sq. incl felted sq. PP cut the cost to about half for me.  I also sent books, yarn needles, toys, crochet hooks  myself to SA . I do make and send to other charities here in US due to shipping costs. I have a friend who would contribute if the cost for shipping was lower. I sent about 200 sq. and  hats by PP . I just sent the sq. and hats thru  PP as I didnt know if they would accept the drop ins. Probably make 200-300 sq incl the felted ones plus hats. I have items that need mailed now but waiting for the postage money to send.
Permalink Reply by Martha Reading on November 17, 2011 at 10:52am

Julie,

 

Were you able to locate a company or organization that would help U.S. knitters/crocheters mail our items to South Africa?  I started knitting for K-A-S in Jan. 2010.  In May 2010 my husband died and my finances changed so that sending my squares to S.A. is difficult now. (I still have 5 kids at home.) I have about 200 squares and 12 cuddle sacks ready to mail.  I would appreciate any info you can share re. reducing mailing costs for U.S. crafters.

 

Martha in NJ

Permalink Reply by Paulette Pronk on November 17, 2011 at 3:15pm

I have mailed lots of sqs and also to planet purl ... yes it would be very nice to have a program of sorts that would be willing to help...I think it is around 1.20 per sq for me to send and I do send other things in a box...a box is over 120.00 at16 pounds plus 4 dollors for the box from the post office

Permalink Reply by Kim McCary on January 23, 2012 at 5:14pm

  1. About how many squares and other items did you send to Knit-a-Square in 2010? None, I could not afford to send the squares I have knitted. They are still sitting here taking up space in my very small living area...

  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). I have not calculated that. Just got discouraged when I found out how much it is to ship to Africa. 

  3. Have you ever chosen to make items for a different charity instead of KAS just because of the high overseas shipping costs? Not yet, but I guess I better, since that is why I learned how to knit this last year.

  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? No

  6. Did you send squares to KAS through the Planet Purl program last year? About how many? Didn't know about it until I joined this group about a month ago.

  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 be happy to send them somewhere in the US, I could use priority mail.

  8. Approximately how many items do you think you would ship per year through a program like what Planet Purl ran? At least 100 squares. I have also been learning to knit hats, etc. Makes me so happy. Glad I got started because of KAS!

Permalink Reply by P. Jeanne Haessler on January 24, 2012 at 11:41am

It was great when Jigsaw stepped up and said they'd ship squares for you guys last year.  I wish it had been extended but perhaps we'll be lucky and some other company will step forwards and do the overseas shipping for you. 

Permalink Reply by Liane Freedman on February 27, 2012 at 8:10am

I'm new here so some of the answers will be n/a

1. n/a

2. Not sure. 

3. I already make squares for 2 other stateside charities. 

4. yes

5. no

6. n/a

7.yes definitely!

8.50 but probably more.

Permalink Reply by gayle DeGroot on April 16, 2012 at 7:22am

Julie...I just now seen this...and yes, I would send way more squars etc...if the postage was just a little lower...I sent a lot of squares to planet purl, and then this Dec there was a clothing store in LA that was doing the same thing, and Isent a bag or two thru them...quite a help to just have to mail in the US.....I am sorry I just seen this....but how did you come out on this plan..would be excited to hear from you....gayle

RSS

Donations


Make a monthly donation:

Or make a one-time donation:

KASBlog - All For Orphans

World AIDS Orphans’ Day 2012

A letter from me to you

Knitting for Africa (part 22)

Introduce knit-a-square to your schools knit-a-square.com Make a difference in an AIDS orphans life! Make a difference in your childrens lives! Start here with this 40 page, beautifully illustrated teacher resource, all for a small donation of $12.95. Click here.

SQUARE SHOP knit-a-square.com You can support our work with the abandoned, vulnerable and orphaned children of South Africa by buying t-shirts, knitting totes, hats and gifts here! Click here.

© 2012   Created by Sandy McDonald.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

Sign in to chat!