Leanne Hunt is a Johannesburg-based fiction and self-help author. Despite becoming legally blind at the age of 17, she obtained an Honours degree in English literature and worked as a freelance journalist. She is married with two daughters of whom she is very proud, and a guide dog named Tango. Her interests over the years have included singing, songwriting, acting, spiritual retreats, counselling and knitting for charity.
Theme music: “Mr. Sunny Face” by Wayne Jones. [Youtube Audio Library] © Creative Commons Licence.
Production and editing: Natali Williams, LIME Virtual Business Support.
July 28, 2020 – Mandela Day and the Soweto Gospel Choir
This is another bumper episode, full of news about the various ways in which our members continue to touch the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa.
In the first half, Leanne reports on the effect of COVID-19 in various areas around Gauteng. Ronda reports on six different Mandela Day activities that took place on 18 July. We hear about how the work is continuing during lockdown.
In the second half, Sandy McDonald and Debbie Posmontier share their memories of Knit-a-Square’s partnership with the Soweto Gospel Choir to provide blankets for the children at Nkosi’s Haven in 2010. Many of you will remember this amazing venture, but if you are new to Knit-a-Square, prepare to be delighted and inspired!
July 14, 2020 – Fancy a bit of armchair travel?
As South Africa enters its fourth month of lockdown, the weather is turning bitterly cold. Regular distributions are out of the question but our volunteers at Knit-a-Square have found ways to hand out blankets, beanies, hand-warmers and toys to the children in spite of the restrictions.
In this episode, Leanne interviews Bongi about her visit to an orphanage in central Johannesburg. Then she chats to Athelé ahead of her trip to Clarens in the Free State, and follows that up with a report on how that trip went.
All in all, this is an episode full of cultural contrasts and scenic detail.
June 20, 2020 – Meet the creator of the KAS website
This is a jam-packed episode guaranteed to warm your heart.
Leanne introduces us to Ronda’s niece, Sandy, whose early connection with knitting and interest in the internet inspired her to invite knitters around the world to contribute squares for blankets to warm vulnerable children in South Africa. Sandy recalls how the website brought people in from all over the world, and shares some of the wonderful ideas and projects that helped form our highly active and committed community.
In the second part of the show, we hear from Ronda, Athelé and Estelle about efforts on the ground to distribute blankets, beanies, hand-warmers and soft toys as winter bites down in Gauteng.
Be sure to have some knitting or crocheting in your hands as you listen to this bumper episode!
June 16, 2020 – Explore the Square Circle Forum!
In the first half of the show, Leanne chats to Lindi, Knit-a-Square’s longest-serving volunteer, who shares about life in Soweto during the lockdown and her work distributing blankets.
In the second half, she chats to Andrea, one of our hard-working moderators, about the Square Circle Forum. This is our membership platform which is easy to join and full of interesting conversation threads. This is where you’ll also find photos of completed blankets and distributions.
June 2, 2020 – Keep making those squares!
In this episode, Leanne includes an interview with Amy Pettigrew who runs the Knit-a-square Facebook page and is a moderator on the Square Circle Forum. She chats to Ronda and Estelle about their dauntless quest to find squares for our volunteers to sew together into blankets, and provides information about some knitting-related events to keep you all inspired and motivated.
May 19, 2020 – Join us for a knit-along!
Hear from KAS board member Wandi what a typical distribution looks like, and how the generosity of our members across the world allowed volunteers to care for their extremely needy neighbours. Find out too about the KAS KAL as Rebecca Price explains how she came up with the idea for the knit-along and where to find instructions for the different types of squares the finished blanket will contain.
May 5, 2020 – These are the days of distancing and face-masks
In this episode, Leanne reflects on how awareness of the virus and the need for social distancing have forced us to suspend operations temporarily. We hear from Ronda, Estelle and Athelé about how they are spending their time and what is on their minds.
Also included is a handy idea for using up stash on Knit-a-Square projects. learn how to join scrap yarns with a magic knot, create magic balls of light and dark tones, and alternate these light and dark tones to produce eye-catching spirals and surprising colour combinations.
April 28, 2020 – Welcome to the barn
The Knit-a-Square barn is what we affectionately call our work space. Basically a large room with good light and ventilation, it has a long table where we unpack parcels, sort squares and pack blankets for distribution to vulnerable and orphaned children.
April 20, 2020 – Pick up your needles!
Welcome to a brand-new podcast about charity knitting – A podcast for knitters and crocheters who love to share patterns and stories about how their craft impacts the lives of others. This episode introduces Leanne Hunt, your podcast host.
KasNews
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Knit-a-square Wish ListWe have created the Knit-a-square wish list, because over the years as we have grown organically, kindhearted members have sent a variety of goodies. […]
Knit-a-square’s Monthly Square ThemesCreated in 2009, the monthly square themes have been bringing members together ever since. […]