It takes 35, 8 inch (20 centimetre) squares to make one blanket for an AIDS orphan.

Many members of Knit-a-Square are fiber artists. They create magnificent images on a canvas of wool to the delight of all who see them.

The most important square for the orphans of South Africa however, is the

Plain Jane

A Plain Jane is a simple one yarn, one stitch square. When possible we sew one artistic square with 34 Plain Janes to make our blankets.

One of our members, Anne from Canada, has written a beautiful poem that explains of the importance of “PJs”:

THE “PLAIN JANE SQUARE”

 

I’m just a ‘plain Jane’ square

Nothing fancy, nothing grand!

Just a ‘plain Jane’ square,

Made by a loving hand.

You think I’m not important?

Well, think again, my friend!

‘Cause many other ‘plain Janes’

When they’re joined end to end

Will keep an orphan warm at night,

Wrap ‘round them on cold days,

And tell them that they’re loved

In, oh, so many ways!

Even if you have never knit or crocheted before, you can master a Plain Jane in no time!

Won’t you give it a try? Here are the links to free KAS patterns:

Knit Plain Jane Pattern

Crochet Plain Jane Pattern

Hi everyone!

We've got a new item up in the shop today, specifically in response to some of the feedback in January that you wanted to (a) be able to support the Gogos who do such a fantastic job assembling squares in South Africa, and (b) have more options to make donations for less than $10. We bandied a few ideas back and forth with the SA team, and borrowed a few thoughts from the New Year thread, and we have a few great ideas for new shop items. This is the first of them!

Sewing kit for a Gogo

Our wonderful team of Gogos (older women) in South Africa use these sewing kits to make up all of the donated squares into blankets, but that’s not the end of it. A sewing kit also makes it possible for them to repair or even make their own clothes, blankets and other valuable items.

Depending on individual needs and interests, a sewing kit might include some combination of scissors, needles, thread, pins, yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, fabric, or various other vital crafting tools and materials. Your donation will be helping these women to help us, and to help themselves.

For just $9, you can purchase one of these sewing kits now from the Sewing Kit page on the KAS shop.

All the other shop items are still there too, so keep an eye out for something which touches you, maybe Fuel for the KasVan or some Snacks for a Distribution?

* Please note $9 is strictly representative of the average cost of a kit, as precise costs can fluctuate from case to case. All KAS Ops Sponsorship donations are added to a common fund, used to cover operational costs in South Africa.

Autumn is one of those weather-crazy seasons in Canada. In a span of 24 hours, it could be sunny, warm, rainy, cold, windy and snowy. Just the other day we had brooding clouds, rain, sleet and hail, all mixed with sunny breaks. Out come the woolen items from their summer hiding places, whether handmade or store bought.

I know that South Africa is coming into their summer months but I can’t help but think what it’s like to go without a pair of handwarmers or a hat on a cold day. To know there is nothing to protect you from the elements is a harsh reality for many. Luckily, KAS members are there to help.

Recently I watched a show about glass. It followed the invention, innovation, tinkering and collaboration that has brought us to a time where, among many other things, we can share photos. From spectacles to mirrors, fibre optic cables to cameras, glass has transformed the way we understand the world.

Now, imagine for a moment that we couldn’t share photos of our achievements, squares, distributions. We would miss so many opportunities to innovate, tinker and collaborate. We have made our very own social network with KAS. Like the lenses in a microscope, ideas build on each other and create a whole new way of seeing the world. Through the sharing of photos we have single-handedly broadened our experiences of humanity.