Knit a Square

Do you crochet or knit for charity?

I enjoy contributing to the worldwide knitting for charity project, Knit-a-square. It is relaxing and easy to do, and progress is fast. The organisation values all contributions to this knitting project for the AIDS orphans of southern Africa. It is estimated that there are 14.8 million orphans in sub-saharan Africa. 1.9 million live in South Africa.

Many of these children have been abandoned, living in great poverty in shack settlements. Some head up families of their siblings together with other children. Others live alone, without shelter, in hills and dumps around the cities.  While other children's charities work hard to provide food and shelter for them, this charity provides warmth and comfort. That is where knitters and crocheters can help.

You can send in your carefully measured knitted/crocheted squares to the charity in South Africa, and volunteers will make up the blankets. If you prefer, you can make a square vest, a square pullover or a hat to keep the children warm, many of whom are often without shelter during the day. Or supply a small knitted toy. Please, however keep to the patterns suggested by the charity.  If you would like a hat/square pullover/square vest pattern, just visit the website for instructions.

And what if you would like to help but cannot knit? Well no worries, because the charity supplies a how-to-knit help for complete beginners.

Obviously, the squares have to be exactly the right size (8” square) in order that they can be put together neatly to make up a blanket. Again, there are full instructions for knitting and crocheting on the Knit a Square website, as well as postal instructions and advice for sending your knitted items.

 Knit a Square