Knitting lessons across generations.

We all know that knitting takes time and patience. Some dedication, a little wool, a pair of needles and voila – a square for Knit One Save One. But nothing beats learning from the best. And that is just what the kids in year 10p at Somerville Secondary College have done. Heading down to Somercare Aged Facility they have learnt to knit from those with a lifetime of experience. Mixing community service with transgenerational learning. Love it.

Check out the lovely photos their teacher sent in below.

Getting lessons from the best.

Watching and learning.

Nothing beats practise.

Oldies but Goodies.

As our Knit One Save One project powers into Autumn, the leaves are falling and the temperature is dropping, and picking up those knitting needles and staying indoors is more welcoming than ever.

Everyday our Knit One Save One team grows as more people join the campaign from all walks of life.

Yesterday we received an email from an aged care facility in South Australia.

“As a volunteer in aged care I just wanted to let you know a load of squares and some completed blankets are on their way to you. I didn’t have time to enclose a note but wanted you to know that the participants were from an aged care facility called Reynella Lodge in Reynella, South Australia. The youngest participant was 84 and the oldest 94 – so it was a wonderful activity.”

Knitters from Reynella Lodge, South Australia.

If you are knitting squares for our project, we want to hear about it! So send in some photos, hold up your squares and give us a wink.

How many blankets fit in the bag?

This is kind of like the game where you have the big glass jar full of jelly beans and you have to guess how many of the sweet little things there are jammed in that jar. Except instead of jelly beans and a jar, we have blankets and a vacuum bag. And if you thought those colourful beans of jelly could be deceiving, prepare to be blown away.

In one vacuum bag there are…

How many knitted blankets fit in one vacuum bag?

… 45 blankets!

Yep. 45 blankets, knitted from 16 x 20cm squares, vacuum packed and ready to go. Amazing.

Thanks to every supporter in our Knit One Save One team our first batch of completed blankets is almost in the air and on their way.

Much better than winning the jar of jelly beans. Go team.

I am knitted square number 40,000…

“Every knitted square counts. No one square is more important than any other. We will all be sewn into a blanket which will be delivered to a family in need, to fulfill our mission to keep a young child warm. But today I am a special knitted square. Not because I am made from pure wool. Nor because of my lovely mint-green diagonal stripes. But because I am knitted square number 40,000!”

"Hello. I am knitted square number 40,000"

Knit One Save One is officially past the half-way mark! Hip hip hooray. Throw those wool balls in the air and click those needles, because this is a cause for celebration.

Today we received 1,504 squares to take us to a running total of 40,822 hand-knitted squares. A big thank you to everyone who has supported our project so far. Only 39,178 squares to go…

Do bigger biceps equal better knitting?

As our pile of knitted squares and blankets continues to grow, so too does our wonderful supporter base. Another group of woman have thrown themselves and their knitting needles into our Knit One Save One project with full gusto. After sweating it up in the gym, the women of Curves, in Petersham whip out their needles to knit us some squares.

They have set a target of 1600 squares to be knitted by members and staff, and are well on their way to reaching it. In the process they are proving the rumour that bigger biceps knit better.

Thanks to the women of Curves Gym, Petersham for your support.

If you are a member at another gym – the woman at Curves, Petersham are looking for competition in the knitting arena! So rally you boxing troops, and get your gym club knitting  (if you can get up at 6am to head to the gym – knitting a 20cm square is easy).

P.S. We have now reached 36,741 knitted squares – just another lazy reason to flex those biceps proudly.

How to sew those knitted squares into blankets

So with all this enthusiasm to help the Knit One Save One team turn our squares into blankets  – I thought that I would provide some simple instructions for those of you having a crack at making a full blanket at home!

Once you have knitted your 16 20cm x 20cm squares, click on the icon below for easy instructions on how to turn those squares into a blanket.

If you are having some friends around, or organizing a little Sip n’ Stitch event – tell us about it, send some photos, share your ideas. We need you to help us spread the word about our Knit One Save One project. Thanks.

Oh lots of pretty knitted squares…. 32,349 of them to be exact!

So the big decision now is how to celebrate when we hit half way… should we have a knit-off? Should we profile our biggest contributors so far? Should we profile our 40,000th square received? Hhhhmm… decisions decisions. Only 7651 squares to go until we smash through the half way mark. In the meantime I will let the therapeutic sound of clicking needles feed my thoughts for celebration ideas.

If you have a suggestion of how we should mark the milestone by all means let me know.

Thanks!

P.S. If you went along to the knitting event at the Granary Café on the weekend we want to hear about it.

Knit the afternoon away with coffee and company.

Another wonderful Knit One Save One supporter, Mel, is bringing needles together this Sunday 21st March at The Granary Cafe in Sunshine, Vic.

If you live in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne and want to join wool with fellow knitters get across to The Granary Cafe on Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Knitting blankets for children in need is a great reason to make new friends, have a coffee and chat and knit the afternoon away!

If there are any other organized knitting sessions for Knit One Save One out there, please let me know so that I can do my best to help rally the nimble knitting needles of Australia.

We have a plan. Knitted squares shall become knitted blankets…

We now have over 25,000 squares. That sounds like a lot. It looks like a lot. And it takes up a lot space. Although we are continuing to collect the squares until we reach our target of 80,000 – our big challenge now is to sew them into blankets!

As most of you know we posted a poll last week, to vote on the best way to move our mountain of squares into a neat pile of blankets. The results showed that people would prefer to knit and sew from home, or in their local area in preference of coming into a hosted event in our office in Melbourne.

So on that basis we have decided that…

If you are able to help us knit squares to blankets, we would love for
 you to contact your Save the Children state office offering your
 support.

 Our state offices regularly have knitters dropping off squares, so it is possible for you to collect these squares, take them home, sew them into blankets (with friends and tea perhaps?) and
 return the finished blankets to the state office once complete. Voila! Should you not be able to get 
into our offices, we can work out a way to get these squares out to you.

There are no deadlines for offering your support as this campaign is
 running right through until October this year (when we predict our 80,000 square goal will be achieved!).

Our state office details are as follows:

NSW:    Suite 205, 410 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills (02 9211 8800)
QLD:    47 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (07 3844 2699)
SA:     14 Conyngham Street, Glenside (08 8338 1777)
TAS:    14 Criterion Street, Hobart (03 6231 9488)
VIC:    Level 6, 250 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne (03 9938 2017)
WA:     481 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth (08 9267 3900)

So…

If you can help us turn our storeroom of squares into beautiful blankets please give yourself a grateful tap on the shoulder, get your needle ready and give your state office a buzz.

Thanks!

Exciting Knitting News…20,000 squares and a Stitch’n’Sip event.

Two exciting things happened today.

We reached the 20,000 knitted square mark. Hip hip hooray! So we are now officially 1/4 of the way towards our goal of 80,000 squares. Definitely calls for an extra piece of chocolate with your tea this afternoon.

And secondly.

The lovely Lee and Suzana are organising a  Stitch’n’Sip afternoon for Knit One Save One on Friday, March 5th from noon till 2pm. It will be held at Just Planet Cafe in Sunbury. So you can head down there with needles and wool in your nimble knitting fingers, whip up a square or two, chatter with generous like-minded souls and even purchase a cup of coffee at half-price! Almost too good to be true. Check it out.