Knit Your Square to Give Your Share - PART 4

ginnyknit

Just popped by to say hello to all and sending hugs to all in need especially Chalky.

Concentrating on keeping us all warm and ferrying DGs to his classes as his legs are too little for this snow and slush bless him.

mioliere

Hi everyone - I am just about to post a Knit Your Square post for the new year, but thought I would do a separate post first.

Chalky - I thought of you and your DH and family yesterday, and hope everything went as well as it could for such a sad occasion.

I'm sending hugs to all those who are suffering in some way, whether through their own ill health or that of loved ones, or with other anxieties; it seems that none of us can escape without such worries and challenges, can we? I seem to be having regular visits from Jean's so-called friend, Edna Bucket, lately, and can't seem to get rid of her.

My Mum is doing really well now; she seems to have finally adjusted to life in the residential home at last, and is getting fully involved with all the other residents and staff, and taking part in all the wonderful activities that go on there. She had started to keep to herself a lot, which was worrying, but it seems that a light has switched on and she has turned a difficult corner.

As for my dear BIL, things really are not looking good. The doctors want him to start thinking about hospice care but he just does not want to; he sees it as admitting defeat, bless him, and is still determined to keep going. It does not look at all hopeful, but we can't blame him for trying to hang on. The tumours are spreading and have been described as having a 'fast metabolism' which means that, even though he is now eating a bit more, he is not putting on weight, and this is making him tired and vulnerable to the cold. The doctors are considering putting a stent into his duodenum (where the tumours are now spreading) but this will be simply to make him more comfortable. They have said that he can't have any more chemo, which is another blow. Anyway, that's the story so far.

I hope you are all having as good a day as possible, and that it's not too cold wherever you are.

Thanks to you all for being there.

KathyXX

mioliere

Hi everyone

I usually write a new post at the start of every year so please accept my apologies for being so late with this one.

I want to thank all of you who have contributed so much to this thread, and to all the good causes we support; without you, Knit Your Square would not have been the success story it is. You are all stars, and it amazes me just how much is achieved every year.

I also want to thank Jean (Roamin in the Gloamin) for the wonderful spreadsheet she has devised to enable us to keep a running total every year, and for taking over when I am unable to do the update myself. The spreadsheet has made the last few years of updating a lot easier than it used to be.

Also, I want to give a big warm welcome to the newbies who have joined us; I hope you enjoy it here - this is a lovely thread, full of love, support, and encouragement in bad times, as well as being a great place to share the good times, too.


I have copied and pasted a post that I made some time ago that explains how we started and what we do, so I hope that any lurkers out there will find out exactly what we do and take that step to join us. You will definitely be warmly welcomed, and will soon find that you have joined one of the best threads on one of the best websites!


WHAT WE DO!


This lovely group began in 2007 based on the very simple idea of knitting or crocheting squares for charity. The original idea was to make a complete blanket which we could then give to an elderly person.

A post was put on to http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ asking if anyone was interested in contributing a square or two and the rest, as they say, is history. Our group has made in excess of 8,000 items which have been distributed to various charities and premature baby units throughout the UK and abroad.

We soon found the wonderful Loving Hands Charity Knitters Grouphttp://www.lovinghands.org.uk/ an ever-growing group of lovely people who knit, sew and crochet for charity. The group is run by Lou, a jewel in the crown who, despite serious setbacks in her own life, runs the group with an efficiency that defies belief. She distributes items all around the world, making a huge difference in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. A look at their website will illustrate just how hard everyone works, and you will find links to free patterns and lots of other great information.

Preemies UK is another group that collects knitted and crocheted items to send to premature baby units in hospitals throughout the UK. On this website, too, you will find links to free patterns, and information about what the group does.

One of our greatest contributers on this thread is Maytaurus – over the years, she has amassed a huge collection of links to free patterns, tutorials, and lots of other goodies, which means that we are never short of inspiration. She is always on the lookout for things to share with us. Sadly, she has not been in good health for the last few months, so she has not been able to post as often as she did. We all wish her the very best and hope that it will not be long before she is back here with us.

We have a Yahoo group called the Wooligans. It’s choc-a-bloc with the most wonderful photos that we have posted of all the items we make, for charity, and for personal projects. Anyone wishing to join will just need to ‘apply’, following the instructions on the website, and, as soon as they are ‘approved’ they will be able to see all the photos, giving them a perfect illustration of what we do.

Due to family and work commitments, we don’t all have a lot of time to spare, so there is never any pressure to make loads of things. If someone just has the time to make one little hat for a premature baby, it will make a huge difference to someone’s life. Every single item is important so, if you feel you don’t have the time, please remember that one hat will be just as welcome and valued as a hundred.

It doesn’t matter where you live – I, Roamin in the Gloamin, and DPixie all live in France (sadly, not close enough to each other to form a knit and natter group!) and Chalky spends some of her year in Spain, and some in the UK. So whether you are in the UK, in Europe, or even further away, you are welcome here.

We update our totals regularly. You will see from the posts already on the thread, that people keep their own running totals in their signatures and, when they do post their weekly (or monthly, whatever is convenient) totals, they highlight the items and numbers in red; this makes it easier for us to add to our update spreadsheet – a wonderful thing that Roamin in the Gloamin kindly devised for us.

In time, I will probably ‘tweak’ this post but I just wanted to make it easier for newbies and lurkers to find out exactly what we do.

Anyone who joins us is assured of the warmest welcome from us all and, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask – we are a friendly bunch and will do our best to answer!

Do please join us!

KathyXX

Connie

If anyone's knitting for Fish & Chip Babies, it appears that the little jumpers are no longer required. See this link:
http://knitforafrica.weebly.com/

A bit of a blow, as I enjoyed making them, and there was a third-party collection point near me, so I didn't have to post them anywhere!

Mrs_Twins

Hi everyone!

Just popping in to tell you that the first two Blankets are finished for the Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospices. We aim to make 9 for the 9 Hospices up and down the Country. I have been told they may be exhibited or used for their fund raising.

Why not pop to SIBOL and have a look at them.
www.sunshineinternationalblanketsoflove.blogspot.com

Would you like to make a Daffodil Square for our Challenge?
All details are on here
www.sibolchallenges.blogspot.com

Thank you very much!

ginnyknit

Im so pleased with myself, I knitted a daffodil! I know small things amuse me, but its so cute. I will attach it to a square and get it off to you Mrs Twins. I used to work for Marie Curie as a shop manager so its a charity close to my heart even though the job was hard work and the pressure to achieve very bad I still appreciate the work I helped fund.

Hoping for a quiet few days so I can get on with things but not working out so far as DGS needs to go to his groups and its too flipping cold for him to walk a long way so we are ferrying Dd and him around a lot. He is worth it though

mrs-moneypenny

kathy thank you for this years 'post' and he news on your mum and your bil. so pleased for your mum that she is finding things easier now and life is being kinder to her but what sad news on your dear bil, i do hope that he can remain comfortable and is able to keep his optimistic spirit.
life can be so cruel at times

been away today on a first aid refresher course but i did manage to get some knitting time in yesterday while Dallas was on, i intend to get the blanket done for my brothers baby then concentrate on completing the remaining items for my "50th" challenge.

i read in our local church magazine that the church group knits for sands and a few other groups so i may be able to save on postage by giving my donations to them to distribute now that lou (Loving hands ) has said shes happy for donations to go direct rather than me sent to her for passing on.

i hope all are well, leaving hugs, kind thoughts and good wishes for you to take as you need and require.

In_Search_Of_Me

Miol so sad to hear re DBIL; can understand him being reluctant to engage with hospice care as must feel like giving up which he so clearly doesent want to; I used to volunteer in a hospice and their ethos is not that people go there to die but that they get the opportunity to live life to the full in a peaceful, loving and caring environment. They often have a wholistic appropach and do lovely treatments like reflexology etc which can give so much relaxation...I hope he will go as often when people see the places they feel easier. xxx hugs for you all and please tell him I will add him to my prayer list Good news re mum too...one less worry for you.
Chalky thinking of you and oh lots...big hugsxx
I have a favor to ask...I have a Mrs Twins blanket to finish (ie squares to be made into blanket) and was going to make a start but a friend is in need of a huggy blanket so need to do that first. Would anyone be able to make Mrs twins up for me if I post them off? Feeling guilty they are just sitting there when they should be keeping someone warm and feeling loved rather than in my to do basket!

chalky_75

Hello everyone xxx
Firstly THank You all so much for such loving support. So,so appreciated.
The funeral and all the other bits and pieces went really well but of course,as always it was very emotional and very tiring.
Now all the sorting begins!!!
But slowly,slowly does it.

Kathyi am so sorry to hear that your Bil is so poorly. What a lot for you all to come to terms with. I am glad that your Mum seems so much happier. I really do send the gentlest thoughts to you xxxx

Isom. I hope someone helps out. I am usually up for that kind of challenge but we totally have our hands full at the moment and are trying to plan a trip away for a break.

Thanks again everyone xx

In_Search_Of_Me

chalky was no way expecting you to assist as you have hands overflowing; good to hear that you are planning a break..when people are ill people generally go into functioning mode but you can only do so for so long emotionally and physically; big hugsxxx
Not a big deal if the squares have to wait a bit...