KasSnippets - October 2014

 

REPORTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

A KAS ROAD TRIP - DAY 2 !

Having spent the evening in Newcastle, Wendy and I headed off bright and early to the city of Ladysmith.  Ladysmith is in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, and is 365 kilometres south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textile and tyre production.

There were road works for a long stretch of our journey which slowed us down considerably, but we eventually arrived safely and met up with Matthew and Gina and a long-time friend of Knit-A-Square, Joy Coetzee.  Over a cup of tea we caught up with all that Joy is doing for the babies in and around the Ladysmith area and then boosted her efforts with bags full of your contributions. 

We then handed the blanket packs out to the children and there were smiles all around as we spent time talking and playing with them.

Full Report : A KAS ROAD TRIP - DAY TWO !

Other recent reports : A KAS ROAD TRIP - DAY ONE !

 

KAS SENDS EMERGENCY HELP TO

KYA SANDS FIRE VICTIMS

For further details please click here

 

KNIT-A-SQUARE SHOP

 

 

LEARNING POSTERS US $5

Support early childhood education in a creche, by providing them with learning posters.

Many pre-school aged children in South Africa are cared for during the day by community run day care centers or crèches. These organizations do their best to provide a healthy, safe, and educational environment.

Learning posters both brighten up these buildings, and provide important intellectual stimulation to developing minds. Your gift of two laminated learning posters helps many children, by enhancing their environment and supporting their early childhood education.

Your generous donation to the KAS Operations Fund, representing the cost of two learning posters, will help us to support crèches and day cares that provide a healthy learning environment for kids.

 

Link to KasShop : Learning Posters

COMING SOON - DOWNLOADABLE CHRISTMAS CARDS !

 Don't hurry to buy your cards for Christmas just yet, KAS will have some available from the KasShop once the item is added! Here is a sample of the cards with the children!

 

THE GREAT KAS-KARD KONTEST

101 (or more) uses for Knit-a-Square Donation Cards

The Kontest has received over 500+ views and 26 commitments with descriptions of the dedications by members!

Please enter our contest before October 31, 2014  with your ideas on how you would use these cards.  Winner will be by random draw and will be awarded a free download for a set of cards. Click here to enter :

THE GREAT KAS-KARD KONTEST

KAS REACHES GREAT HEIGHTS FOR CHILDREN

    

A JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD !

This challenge is going to take us around the planet whilst reaching great heights & piles of squares - 178,000 to be precise, in order to reach the top of Table Mountain, Cape Town in South Africa!

We are going to need 50 squares for every foot climbed!

Currently the challenge has stalled due to the postal strike, and, our pile has reached  

We have only travelled to China, Saudia Arabia, Norway, and, are currently basking in the Californian sunshine awaiting to break the 100,000 squares mark!

Here is our 151st target - Walnut Grove Radio Mast - USA

Here is the link to KAS Reaches Great Heights for Children

 

Andrea Palmatier's KasBlog

A SQUARE CAN BE SO MUCH MORE !

Have you ever wondered about the secret language we use on the Knit-a-square forum? Over time, we’ve evolved squares into warm garments to help combat a distinct lack of warm clothing. Thanks to KAS, little bodies can be warm, dry and protected.

Go-Over

Link to the KasBlog

WHAT'S GOING ON IN

SOUTH AFRICA?

 SORTED IN SOUTH AFRICA

- THE OFFICE

THE POSTAL STRIKE SHOWS NO SIGN OF FINISHING, THEREFORE, SADLY WE ARE ASKING MEMBERS TO HOLD BACK SENDING AS ONCE THE STRIKE ENDS THERE WILL BE A MOUNTAIN OF PARCELS TO OPEN AND SORT!

 We will post a NEWS FLASH on the forum main page and send a message to all members when a trip to the post office can be made - however, if anyone is experiencing storage problems, of course, send them to prevent your living room from turning into a postal depot!

 The good news is that blankets have been returned from the stitching teams and the office is filling up again!

There are some photos of arrivals and amusing conversations regarding some of the squares at Sorted in Africa

The JBay Recycling Project for Children 

& Stitch Witch News


 

 Robin Monsees (USA) a newly appointed Moderator has kindly taken over this section and will be posting on the forum the various photos to keep us in touch with events.
The Stitch Witch team have developed "Garbage Gobbies' for their Christmas present for the children, after last years successful teddy bear gifts.

To see more of the photos from the various Monday sessions please click on

JBay Recycling Project for Children

JAM - Joint Aid Management South Africa

See the lovely pics of the handover celebration of Mothers Love Day Care. From just a cluster of shacks to now a solid and warm learning environment, the JAM Germany Makeover Team truly transformed Mothers Love Day Care.This will help to prepare the children for formal schooling. A great big thank you to you all!


MOTHERS LOVE FULL REPORT

The JAM Switzerland Team have now completed and handed over their third child care centre make-over! See the handover celebrations of Siyakhula Day Care! From a grey, cold and brittle structure to now a solid and warm learning environment. The team truly transformed Siyakhula.This will help to prepare the children for formal schooling. A great big thank you to you all! Siyabonga!

SIYABONGA Full Report

HELP JAM INTERNATIONAL FOUNDERS WIN THE

2014 HUMANITARIAN HERO AWARD

Joint Aid Management peter and ann

PETER AND ANN PRETORIUS, FOUNDERS, JOINT AID MANAGEMENT have been nominated for the 2014 Humanitarian Hero Award - please help by voting for these wonderful people and for JAM.

VOTING LINK ! 

[Voting closes October 27th, but very easy.]

To read the full story click here

SPREADING THE WORD,

MEMBERS & GROUP NEWS!

LOVE KNITTING MAGAZINE

FEATURED KNIT-A-SQUARE IN THEIR

CHARITY KNITTING SECTION THIS MONTH

All in a very good cause

please go to Charity Knitting to see the feature

REPORT FROM THE GUMNUTS - AUSTRALIA

 

 

Hi KAS - With winter ending we have been busy preparing and mailing out the hundreds of squares, and other items, that have been consistently arriving to us.

This week we mailed out 150 squares, several jumpers, toys, and polar fleece baby blankets—bringing this month’s total to 390 squares and the annual target to be surpassed by 635 squares (totalling 2225}

A special mention of the month, and one that goes to the core of what we do, is to Meiya. Meiya is 11 years old and knitted for the first time, and a whole square. From one child, to another. Meiya’s square has taken pride of place on the very top of the parcel we just sent, and with it a special note saying where it came from and who did it. Very special.

To read the full report please click here

 

The Gumnuts Team also managed a Hand Delivery to South Africa

Hand Delivery Report !

 

NEW MEMBER DAWN JOHNSON

from Wallington (UK)

Gave a presentation about Knit-a-Square to her church recently, giving out packs and patterns to help spread-the-word! With the help of a supportive friend - Rachel - they now have a team of ladies busy knitting away! Dawn has promised to update us as this project develops!

MEMBER MARY KRISTEL LOKKEN (Italy)

Creator of the KAS Chain Stitch Hexagon Sweater

You may have noticed that Mary has been missing from the Forum this past year, and, has been very busy with her work and writing stories for children. Well we are pleased to announce that Mary is the author of Max the Troll : The Quest for Mist, who lives next to Lustrafjorden in Norway!

This delightful book is available from Amazon, in paperback and kindle

and it is the first of a series - we may even get to see Max knitting, especially after he was pushed into the cold waters of the fjord by some naughty sheep! Max also has his own Facebook page!

What with Maudie and her Wool Girl stories, and now, Mary with Max the Troll tales, the question arises, do we have anymore budding or published authors in our ranks?

THE BLANKET ROOM COLLECTION !

The variety of blankets is wonderful to behold, please visit and see if you can spot your own squares! 

Wendy Hardy and her daughter sewed this blanket together with granny squares sent by an overseas KAS member. Wendy's Mum knitted the cream ones, and, her daughter fell in love with it!


and the recipient wearing it!

The Blanket Room Collection

KAS MONTHLY CHALLENGES

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITES CHALLENGE

lead by Gloria Grandy (Canada)

October - Favorites - Diagonal Crochet


The October Challenge was kicked off with Julie Andrews singing My Favourite Things to help us get into the mood! Gloria writes, "We all have favourite “stuff”… maybe even several favourite “stuffs”.  They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, places, and seasons.  Everyone’s taste is different … that’s what makes each one of us unique and special!  So come on and show us your “specialness” by making a square with your favourite something in mind!" So this month gives everyone a chance to add pics of squares you enjoy creating - and anything goes!

   

Here are just some of the great variety of squares created :

Gold, purple, variegated diagonal x2 Oct. Challenge1-2.  October - Favorites - Illusion double mitred square25/9/14 fav squares 001 October Favorites - African Flower in Autumn Reds, Oranges, Greens, and GoldsSailboat..because I live by the seaFavourite fun fish and furry squareSeptember bling squaresOCTOBER 2014 CHALLENGE - Flower SquaresOctober 2014 Challenge - Ridged SC1animal squaresOctober 2014 Ms. SmileyOCTOBER 2014 CHALLENGE - SHARE YOUR FAVOURITESCrocheted Scrappy Square Oct 2014October 2014 First batchseptember challengeJuly August September Challenges-Stripes,Blue's & Verigated

Here is a selection of the recent single colour squares - which are the backbone of KAS blankets and provide a wonderful frame for the above more exotic squares: 

    

Blanket # 12 / October favoritesOctober 2014 Favorites.October challenge 2014October - Favorites - Tunisian Honeycomb for ChristmasIMG_5879

 
and here are some of the October goodies!
       
 October Favourites     37 Handwarmers from St. thomas West Exe Community     Hand Warmers 22     KAS Cuddle     OCTOBER 2014 CHALLENGE - SHARE YOUR FAVOURITES
 

Please don't miss the end of the month either Gloria has a super special surprise for everyone!

2014 Challenge Themes

 The November Challenge will be 

BUGS, SLUGS & HUGS
 - lead by Linda Maltby (Canada)

and the final challenge of the year is :

DECEMBER - UN-CHALLENGE - time to relax, have fun, and get ready for the holidays - Susan Haines

 

TALLY  or ITEM COUNT NEWS

   The Square Lists for September are now available!

Squares: 6,198 [177 blankets]

Sadly, the numbers for September are quite low because of the postal strike in South Africa.  We are asked to hold our mailings as there will be quite a huge backlog when it is over !   [No word on when it will end.]

The graphs for beanies and tops are available at

2014 Monthly Squares List discussion page

 

NOVEMBER PATTERN OF THE MONTH

by Linda Maltby 

  

Solid Square - a crochet pattern

 

Plain coloured squares are the backbone of KAS and this pattern is an excellent example of how a simple square can provide warmth for a cold child.

The square is easy to make.

Plus it has a tight weave which means cold air can’t penetrate the square.

 

 

 By adding a contrasting colour, the solid square takes on a new dimension.

 

 

Spice up the solid square by using a bright variegated yarn.

 

 

Remember, your square will be joining other squares to make a cozy blanket for a cold child.

  

The Solid Square

is available in

The KAS Pattern Book

If you find another pattern in the book you would like to try,

please do !

 

THE KAS CUDDLE BUG !

Anneke (The Netherlands) was the first to produce a cuddle bug - this time a lady cuddle bug!

The gentleman and lady cuddle bugs meet on-line!

Anneke commented :  I could not resist to make the KAS Cuddlebug, our new mascot!
The description of the pattern is very clear and easy to follow. Thank you so much Elaine! Creative juices start flowing immediately!
Thank you Elaine and Wendy for this wonderful design.

KAS Cuddle Bug - Crochet Pattern

   

    


 

SQUARE HEART OF THE MONTH AWARD

Edited this month by Gloria Gandy

The Square Heart Award for October 2014 is for

Susan Donaldson - Scottish Borders, UK

   


 

In November of 2012, Susan became a member of the Square Circle Forum.  Not so very long thereafter, she was lovingly crowned our Queen of the Grannies!

 

                         

To read the rest of the award please click here !

 

 

KAS FACEBOOK PAGE

      

    

Elephants! Rabbit on a Rosebush - September Variegated Challenge 2014 Baby Bug Stuffed Friends 10-14 10521177_704136382996063_2823467794855106939_n 

We have received an additional 130 Likes on the Facebook page so far during September-October taking our total to 7,955 !    We also copy the messages etc received on Facebook to the Forum for anyone who is not a member of FB.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

 

KAS IN ACTION ?

 
TENDER LOVING CARE and WRAPPED IN WARMTH
KNIT-A-SQUARE MEMBERS
PROVIDE THIS AND MUCH MUCH MORE

 

You need to be a member of Square Circle Forum to add comments!

Join Square Circle Forum

Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Pam This edition of the KAS snipppets is a feast to read and a feast for the eyes! So much positive information, wonderful

    . It think it has been a lot of work, but all the information is so valuable, it is an inspirational "paper" for me. Lovely to hear about Mary Kristel's activities too!  xoxo 

    • Thanks Anneke, I enjoy pulling it together! Mary's book is excellent and will make lovely Christmas presents for children - I like the fact that it is printed to order - this methods really gives potential authors a step up the ladder!

  • Great read....on the subject of monthly challenges...on searching out picture squares I have seen a huge variety of FROG PATTERNS and TEDDY BEAR PATTERNS. How about a FROG CHALLENGE. And a TEDDY BEAR. CHALLENGE in 2015
  • What a great newsletter, Pam!

    Thank you so much for mentioning Max the Troll. As you know, I'm having a lot of fun with the little guy.

    It's great to see all the wonderful things KAS is up to, thanks to the people in South Africa and all over the world.

    My greetings to each and every one of you!

  • Thanks for a great report , really good read x
  • Really love seeing the pics . Wish the postal strike was over as I have lots to send from our knitting group .
  • Another great issue of Snips, Pam!

    I hope everyone noticed the section on HELP JAM INTERNATIONAL FOUNDERS WIN THE 2014 HUMANITARIAN HERO AWARD!

    JAM is doing so many wonderful things for our kids. We can all say "Thanks" by clicking the link above and voting for them - only SIX days left to vote.

     

  • Loved seeing the Wendy and Wendy's Mum constructed blanket with the KAS member squares and then the WOW factor with seeing it turn from yarn to Love around the happy warm child. Thank you.

    Thank you to Pam for collecting all the jewels for this KasSnippets.

    • Splendid KASnippets Pam. You really do manage to capture the highlights and it is so much fun to revisit them each month.

      • Great report as usual Pam, lovely round up of all the news

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