Wool&More – October 2015 Newsletter
In this Issue:
- New Products
- Latest Community Project Programs
- Patterns for toys
- Doortjie Gersbach’s crochet workshop – Outstanding success
- Linda Jones’ workshop – boo hoo!
- Knockers sent to Cansa
- Invitation: Birthday in October – Knit Knockers on Saturday 31st and enjoy some snacks and great live music!
- Parking
Wow … it’s October already and as I write today, there are only TEN Fridays left until 2016 arrives!! Shoo! So this newsletter is going to be pertinent, short and sweet!
New Products: late last week, I received my first shipment of Manos del Uruguay yarn and instantly fell deeply in love! There is the soft textured and delicately dyed Baby Alpaca mixed with cotton, called Serena and then there is the exquisite Baby Alpaca, Silk and Cashmere blend in the finest, softest feel imaginable – that’s called Lace. Really needs to be seen (and touched) to be believed. All these yarns are kettle dyed on open wood fires in villages across Uruguay by craftswomen belonging to a social organisation and Manos is a member of the World Fair Trade Organisation.
On a more local note, the Elle 4ply printed yarn arrived and is really lovely – it’s my thought that it will do very well especially through summer. Their new Premier Cotton printed range is due in store this month too. Looking forward to that.
Community Project Programs: Gill does an amazing job helping to run the Kranshoek Kleuterskool and we have undertaken to assist in bringing extra happiness this Christmas to the nearly 60 children at the school and we ask for knitted or crocheted toys for the kids – below is an excerpt of an email from Gill and an easy pattern for a ball (lots of colour to use up your stash!). We also have a lovely teddy pattern that is simple and would bring such joy to a little one. Grab your needles now and get creating, please…
Any toy for a child under 6 years old. Closing date for toys to come in is 20 November 2015.
Dear Joy,
Thank you so much for the delightful book and soft toy you donated to Annie’ Grade R class at the Kranshoek Kleuterskool . I introduced it to the class on Tuesday and they were absolutely mesmerized . Being Afrikaans I did simplify and translate,but they related to your story so well and loved the little dog and illustrations. Annie will be communicating with you,but I wanted to thank you personally.
Many thanks too, for your very generous offer to help in making soft toys for the little ones. It would be such a help,as I like to give them each a soft toy and a few other goodies at Christmastime and the soft toys have become exorbitantly expensive. Even a few would be a great help.
The Kranshoek Kleuterskool is situated in Kranshoek township. It is one of 3 registered crèches there and was established in January 2012. The management is under a school committee formed from the parent body .There is a headmistress, plus 2 educators, a cook and a handyman . They have under their care : 7 toddlers, 31 four to five year-olds and 9 five to six year-old’s.
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As per our last newsletter, we are collecting newborn beanies, booties and blankies, on an ongoing basis, for babies born in our local community.
These will be distributed through the clinic sisters and with the great help of the newly formed Lion’s International Plett Chapter.
Well done guys! We are also asking for another 47 adult beanies before the end of November which will be given to the elderly community in Kurland for Christmas this year, distributed by Born Free Ministries who do a great job, feeding and clothing this community.
Thanks so much for all those beanies already delivered to us and especially to Lin who gave the simplest beanie pattern ever … here it is for you!! Thanks Lin!
LIN’S QUICK AND EASY BABY BEANIE
Using double strands of Double Knit yarn and 10mm knitting needles:
Cast on 20st.
Knit for 59 rows
Cast off on 60th row.
Stitch together cast on and cast off rows to form a “tube”.
On third “bump” down from open end, sew in yarn along that row, gather tightly, tie knot and sew in loose strands.
Turn up brim of approximately 4cm and you are done!
ADULT EQUIVALENT
Using double strand of Chunky yarn and 12mm knitting needles:
Cast on 24st
Knit for 61 rows
Cast off on 62nd row.
Follow as above… cannot be easier!
Sizes of both the above can be varied by either using larger/smaller needles, thinner or thicker yarn and increasing/decreasing the number of stitches to cast on and rows to knit.
KNITTED MULTI COLOURED BALL
Yarn in approx. 4 different colours though there are 8 segments so you get to decide how to create this ball! (if using DK, use 3,5mm needles)
Cast on 36 st
Knit 1 row to end
Next 2 rows: knit to last stitch, turn
Next 2 rows: knit to last 2 stitches, turn
Next 2 rows: knit to last 3 stitches, turn
Continue in this manner, leaving one more stitch at each end until 8 st are left at each end.
Next 2 rows: knit to end, taking in last 8 st.
Break off yarn and join in another colour repeating all the above.
Cast off. Stuff well and sew up. Why not put a little bell into the stuffing for a happy sounding ball?! (Did you know that we stock stuffing too?)
Workshops: Doortjie Gersbach’s visit here at the end of September was a resounding success and the ladies thoroughly enjoyed the three days, worked hard and learned so much.
She hopefully will be back around June next year … watch this space.
And sadly, due to lack of interest, we had to cancel Linda Jones’ incredible “Stash Buster” workshop. It’s such a shame as she has so much to share and fantastic ideas to impart. Oh well… that’s how it goes! Sorry for those of you who were interested but not able to attend. We will try again when Linda is available.
As you well know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. We have sent a large bag of knitted “knockers” to CancaCare in George where the need is great.
We have retained some knockers here for our local ladies but do need more … to this end, we have decided to have a “KnockerThon” at wool&more on Saturday 31st October 2015 from 9.30 to 12.30. Bring (or buy) a pair of 3,75 knitting needles, buy a kit for R59-00 and get going.
There will be snacks to munch on, liquid refreshment sold by The Med, live music by a great musician who will be presenting a debute performance (SURPRISE!!) and fun for all.
Please do just let us know whether you will be coming to help facilitate catering … you are welcome to stay for the full time or spend an hour or two with us.
Below is an excerpt of the letter sent from Tersia from CansaCare:
Dear Joy 29 September 2015
Thank you for the knitted breast Prostheses CANSA received today.
We work in 29 towns from out George office. I have already given some of the prostheses to our staff working in Mosselbay.
Many people use sock or anything they can find, to make a prostheses. The knitted prostheses will be much appreciated by those in need.
Thank You to each lady for knitting these Prostheses.
Warm regards
Sr Tersia Fourie
CANSA Care Clinic George
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Parking (repeat): Parking right outside the shop still remains a challenge due to the number of municipal employees and ADT vehicles who insist on parking right outside our shop, some for the entire day!
Just to remind you: we have negotiated with the Bay View Hotel for our customers to park, free of charge, on their roof – entrance in Gibb street, just before you get to wool&more (and PLEASE not in their guest parking on street level!).
We have had a stair case especially built for you to get onto the drive way which leads to wool&more. Just drive through their guest parking area and up the steep curved ramp to the roof – larger vehicles, take care! Naturally, parking here, as anywhere, is at your own risk.
Jill from Lion’s International has asked that we let you know that they will be running White Elephant stalls at Market Square on both, 14th November and 6th December 2015. So if you have any household items you want to clear (great time for clearing that clutter), now is the time to do it.
They are also asking for magazines and books to be donated to provide reading matter in our local clinics … those patients wait for hours sometimes and would appreciate having something to read. The latter you are welcome to drop off at wool&more for Jill to collect from us on a regular basis.
We welcome the Lions back to Plett and wish them all the success and look forward to working with them closely in helping those in need.
On that Roaring Note, be well and be happy … and remember that Happiness is a Choice!! Check out this link for a real giggle!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/important-life-lessons-to-learn-from-knitting#.fnyX1jOwe
With love and gratitude for the support you give us.
Joy Sachs
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wool&more, 7 Gibb St, Plett 044 533 3182
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