Knit-a-Square

In this episode, Athelé tells us about three distributions that she and Estelle managed to do before the latest level four lockdown occurred. Blankets, beanies, hand warmers and toys were handed out to vulnerable children in the settlements of Hammanskraal and Lion Park on behalf of our generous knitters around the world.

Much of the focus in the conversation is on what it feels like to be caught between one’s own comfortable lifestyle and the suffering of others. This is a “slice of life” episode, providing a window on the many difficulties our volunteers have to contend with and what, ultimately, makes the work so rewarding.

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [YouTube Audio Library] © Creative Commons License.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marion Davies lives within sight of the historic Conwy Castle in North Wales and shares with us her passion for crocheting picture squares to incorporate into the beautiful blankets that get distributed to orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa.

She also tells Leanne about an unfortunate craft-related injury she sustained and how she manages to avoid further disruptions in her crocheting of squares. We can all learn from her experience. To be unable to knit or crochet for an extended period is extremely frustrating, especially when you see photographs of what others are producing on the forum!

Please note: The packing slip and mailing label can be printed off the Knit-a-Square website, together with all the information you need about how to make and send your squares.

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [YouTube Audio Library] © Creative Commons License.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The term “informal settlement” is frequently used in describing where our vulnerable children live but the actual location, history and conditions relating to such settlements seldom get discussed in our reports. This episode goes a little deeper into the challenges our children face, both physical and developmental.

Georgie Purdon from the Angels Care Centre in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, chats to Leanne about a recent distribution of Knit-a-Square blankets to children under 5 years old. Together with beanies, hand warmers and toys, the blankets brought them delight and warmth ahead of a particularly icy snap.

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [Youtube Audio Library] © Creative Commons Licence.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knit-a-Square is an amazing community of caring people, brought together by our shared commitment to keep South Africa’s vulnerable and orphaned children warm. This episode of the podcast celebrates our connections at every level.

Susanne Leverton was raised by her mother to think of others and spent her working life serving in the arid region of Central Australia as a remote nurse among indigenous people. Now in retirement, she lives on the coast and enjoys knitting picture squares and crocheting blankets to send off in the mail to the barn. We hear her story and the motivation behind her work in this episode.

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [YouTube Audio Library] © Creative Commons Licence.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Leanne chats to several of the volunteers at the barn. Ronda measures herself against a mountain of blankets, Sue bubbles over with wonder at the creativity of so many contributors, Wandi anticipates packaging up 90 bundles for distribution at two separate crèches, and Estelle shows off a pair of gorgeous crocheted blankets sent in by Patricia Underwood.

May is the start of the chilly season in South Africa, so plans for getting blankets, beanies, hand warmers and toys into the hands of vulnerable children are ramping up. If you have not yet joined the warmest crafters on earth and wish to do so, the Knit-a-Square website contains everything you need to know and more. Join the Square Circle Forum and be inspired!

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [YouTube Audio Library] © Creative Commons Licence.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Pettigrew is one of our most active moderators, keeping members up to date with various discussions on the Square Circle Forum and regularly overseeing Knit-a-Square’s monthly themes. In this episode she joins Leanne from her picturesque home in Houston, Texas to chat about crocheting and her busy online role.

We hear about the first trip she made to South Africa and how it exposed her to the needs of the children. Memories of that trip continually serve to remind her of what she can do to help. With enthusiasm and curiosity, she dreams up monthly themes that motivate and excite our members. The May monthly theme entitled “Celebrations” is an invitation for knitters and crocheters everywhere to jump on board, learn about South Africa’s unique festivals, and contribute beautiful squares for inclusion into warm, colourful blankets.

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [YouTube Audio Library] © Creative Commons Licence.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Squares sent in to Knit-a-Square get sewn into cosy blankets and distributed to vulnerable children at day care centres, crèches and informal settlements around Gauteng and beyond. In this episode, Leanne speaks with two of Vivienne’s contacts in the Northern Cape to discover more about their work at the Early Childhood Development Centres and what the blankets and toys meant for the little ones.

We hear from Sienah Motshabi from the Tswelelopele Community Crèche and Lerato Kgadiete who used to work at the Atamelang Day Care Centre, both in Warrenton. Just learning about how difficult conditions are for families living in that area will help you appreciate the enormous impact that your handmade donations can make on the children who receive them.

As always, details about our work can be found on the Knit-a-Square website and you are welcome to get involved.

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [Youtube Audio Library] © Creative Commons Licence.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gloria Grandy, editor of the KAS Snippets, joins Leanne on this week’s podcast to talk about the wonderful people she has met on the Square Circle Forum and how her life has been enriched as a result of helping South Africa’s vulnerable children. We hear about her deep friendship with Anne Powell and the origin story of the River John Square Knitters group. We also find out about Tunisian crochet, one of her special loves.

Gloria’s family wrote and recorded the delightfully catchy Knit-a-Square song, so that is included in this episode. If you like what you hear, please visit the KAS website, join the member forum and browse the discussions to see where you can best offer your crafting skills!

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [Youtube Audio Library] © Creative Commons Licence.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Estelle has been at the forefront of operations at Knit-a-Square over the past year and chats to Leanne at length about what it was like, both at the barn and on distributions. We hear about some new volunteers who have joined the team and their impressions of opening days.

If you like what you hear and would like to participate in the work of Knit-a-Square, please get in touch via the website. There are many ways to get involved, from volunteering at the barn to knitting, and from donating directly to purchasing items from the online store. Plus, we have a wonderful warm Square Circle Forum which we are sure you will find super inspiring and informative!

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [Youtube Audio Library] © Creative Commons Licence.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patricia Gribble shares with Leanne how her work with visually-impaired people led to a meeting with the Prime Minister and the establishment of the St Pancras Knitters in Plymouth. Her group has contributed 600 blankets to Knit-a-Square to date and formed strong relationships in the process which have sustained them through their year of lockdown.

Trish also gives us a glimpse into her life in Devon, including family holidays to the Scilly Isles and France. She doesn’t go anywhere without her knitting and her enthusiasm for Knit-a-Square and vulnerable children in South Africa is truly infectious!

Show host: Leanne Hunt.

Email address: [email protected]

Theme music: "Mr. Sunny Face" by Wayne Jones. [Youtube Audio Library] © Creative Commons Licence.

Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.