The Great Knitaway 2017

Okay, here we go, I have finally decided on my big challenge for 2017.

There are lots and lots of things I want to make, things for my children, family and friends. There are also so many patterns I want to try out.

After being so very, very lucky to be gifted wooly items through the generosity in the Instagram knitting community and knitters pay it forward movement, I want to gift to those who need it most.

So in supporting my favourite charity Knit One, Give One, I am going to knit 10 items on my want to knit list, and gift these to KOGO by June 30 2017.

Some Rules;

* I can't knit and gift an item made from same pattern twice! 10 different items, 10 different patterns.
* I can't knit a pattern I've made previously, it all has to be patterns I'm making for the first time.
* I still have to make the other items on my list, knits for birthdays, weddings etc.
* All 10 Items have to be finished and delivered to Knit One Give One by June 30 2017.

My plan is to make beautiful, one of a kind items that will help lift the spirits of someone I have never, and will never meet.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that we once received the gift of a beautiful handmade quilt from an unknown quilter at the quilters guild. It was for our little girl when she was just a newborn, recovering from her first open-heart surgery in hospital. This really had an amazing effect on our mood and outlook. We will cherish the quilt forever, so I know firsthand what a difference something handmade with love can make.

Do you have any suggestions? Any patterns that have caught your eye? Please let me know!

Want to play too? I'd love for you to join me! Follow the rules above, gifting your items to any charity you desire. Play and follow along on Instagram using #knitaway2017

Slippers for Heart Dads

Last year we spent months in hospital with Sophie. We were there for birthdays and Easter. Some families can spend much, much longer and celebrate all kinds of occasions while their child is in hospital.

This Fathers Day, HeartKids Victoria & Tasmania will distribute 60 gift bags to fathers who are spending their special day at their child's bedside in hospital. 

These fathers can spend days, weeks even months in hospital with their child, being an amazing support to both their child and their family.

I'm asking all you crafty people out there if you can help to warm a fathers heart, and his toes, by knitting or crocheting a pair of slippers for one of these truly wonderful dads.

Perhaps you'd like to support other father's in other hospitals. If so, I urge you to find out if they are doing something similar, and if not, why not suggest it? 

Slippers are to be made from all new materials and to come from a smoke free environment.

Free patterns for slippers can be found by searching Ravelry.  
If you can help, slippers can be sent to;

Slippers for Heart Dad's
Heartkids VIC / TAS
PO Box 803
Parkville  VIC  3052

Or in person

Suite 33, Level 3
204-218 Dryburgh Street
North Melbourne VIC 3051

Here's hoping we can get 60 pairs of slippers for those amazing Dads

Wear Green for L'il Aussie Prems

I have cast aside Sophie's partially made cardigan, to take up needles for the L'l Aussie Prems Foundation. They are celebrating Wear Green For Premmies on the 15th of April, and their aim is to provide all babies in NICU/SCN with a lime green beanie so they have something 'green' to wear on the day.

Tiny little green beanies in different sizes

My cousin's baby was a premi, I don't recall at how many weeks she was born, but she was so tiny my cousin could fit his wedding ring all the way to the top of her leg. She is now a very sprightly 10-year-old, and you'd be none-the-wiser. Knitting these beanies, it's still difficult to comprehend just how tiny a premature baby can be.

I ended up getting 5 beanies out of the yarn I had with some left over, but not enough to make a 6th. With my little leftover, I thought it might be nice to make brooches for the parents' to wear, so they could match their babies on the day.

I tried a few different designs, in the end, settled for a little knitted 'ribbon'. Instructions are below if you'd like to make something similar for a cause or just because!

Knitted Charity Ribbons

What You Need

Small quantity of 4ply yarn
3.25 mm knitting needles
Tapestry needle for sewing in ends
2.5 cm or smaller brooch backs


To Make Up

CO 40
Row 1 Knit
CO in Knit
(very complex!)

Fold knitted strip over as shown

Attach to the brooch back using tapestry needle and yarn. Done!

I always love to craft for a cause, even when I have a growing list of other things to make. If you'd like to help out, here is the pattern and information for the Premmie Beanies. If you're looking for other charity crafting projects, check out this post I wrote a while ago.

What are you waiting for? Don't just sit there! Make something and make someone smile xo

Charity Crafting

I am a big fan of Charity Crafting! There are so many worthy charities out there, and, when I get the time, I always get a warm fuzzy feeling making something special, for someone I have never, and will never meet.

Recently, while my daughter Sophie was in hospital, she was the unexpected recipient of Charity Crafting. After Sophie had her TGA (transposition of the greater arteries) switch done at 4 weeks, she had complication upon complication. What was supposed to be a 2 week stay post op, turned into a 6 week long haul, which was physically and emotionally draining on all of us.

One day, going about the usual hospital business, our daughter was delivered the most beautiful handmade quilt. It still brings a tear to my eye thinking about it. It was so unexpected, and exactly what we needed to lift our spirits.

Charity Quilt from The Victorian Quilter's Inc

The quilt was a gift from the Victorian Quilter's Inc through their Very Snuggly Quilts program. A record of each quilt is kept by Victorian Quilts Inc. to allow the recipient to acknowledge the quilt-maker if they wish. Which is just what we did. It really did have such an impact on us.

The fact that someone had put so much love an care into something for someone they didn't even know. We will treasure this quilt forever. When Sophie is old enough, we will tell her the story behind the quilt, and perhaps she can even give it to her daughter one day.

Sophie under her Very Snuggly Quilt

If quilting isn't your thing, there are loads of charities for different crafts. Some of my favourites include; KOGO, Knit One Give One, who distribute hand knitted items to numerous charities all over Victoria.

Another is Pillowcases for Oncology Kids, this charity was set up by 15yr old cancer patient Brittany, these guys donate handmade pillowcases to oncology kids in hospitals around Australia. This one is quite personal, as childhood cancer has also unfortunately touched our lives.

So if you have a huge stash of yarn, fabric, or what not, and no project on the go, google for charity crafting in your area, you could really make a difference and help lift someone's spirits.