The knit-a-square project was started as a family project in 2008 and although we are now a registered charity under the name of KasCare, our family are still 100 percent involved. Let me introduce us.
The McDonalds, Sandy, Roger, Kalai, and Cressida and Sandy’s, mother, Zanny, are all in Australia.
Ronda Lowrie, Sandy’s aunt and Zanny's sister, and her daughter, Erin, live in South Africa.
Ronda visited The McDonald’s in 2008. She told them of the scale of the disaster facing so many children in South Africa whose lives are greatly compromised by the twin perils of HIV/AIDS and poverty. She explained she often gave out blankets to children as she drove around Johannesburg, and of her frustration—too many children, too few blankets.
Many of these children are AIDS orphans or have been abandoned. Many live in great poverty in shack settlements. Some head up families of their siblings together with other children. Some live alone, without shelter, in hills and dumps around the cities.
In South Africa, they refer to these children as OVC's - orphaned or vulnerable children. While other children's charities work hard to provide food and shelter for them, the McDonalds thought they could provide warmth and comfort.
We came up with the idea of asking the world's knitters and crocheters to send 8"/20 cm squares to South Africa where we would arrange to have them sewn into blankets for the children. So we put up this charity knitting and crochet website in October 2008.
The search engines discovered the site in February 2009. During that year, just over 54,000 squares and more than 4,000 knitted and crochet garments arrived. Now, in early 2011 that number has swelled to more than 170,000 squares, representing over 7,000 blankets and more than 11,000 garments.
From two families at launch, we now have more than 5,000 committed members in 40 countries around the world and a team of wonderful volunteers in South Africa, including Lindiwe and Wandile who work incredibly hard to warm and comfort the children.
Sandy now teaches others how to blog to create online communities to hopefully make a difference to others around the world.
But we need your help more than ever! Our goal for 2012 is to reach half a million squares with an additional 195,000 squares (5,600 blankets), 7,000 hats and 3,000 knitted garments.
We are also a volunteer organisation and would be deeply appreciative for your support. This will help us continue our grassroots movememt to raise awareness of the AIDS orphans' plight, as well as keeping them warm, especially those who are affected by HIV/AIDS.
At it's heart, knit-a-square really is a simple crochet and knitting for charity project. To make and send 8"/20cm squares takes little time, costs little and DOES make a difference. And all while you do what you love - knitting and crocheting.
Spread the word
If you want to make a further difference, your voice can be heard and your ideas will count. Please help us spread the word by LIKING us on our Facebook Group and joining our Square Circle forum.
All our members are chock full of fabulous ideas, free crochet and knitting patterns, challenges and constant discussions about how we can further help the children at a grassroots level.
We have documented hundreds of stories of the women who sew the blankets, the children who receive them and the amazing work that this creative and caring community of knitters and crocheters does for them.
You can also use these free knitting patterns to make a Square Vest,
Square Pullover or a hat. Plus we have designed our own KAS GO-OVER™, a large, roomy pullover to keep the children warm, many of whom are often without shelter during the day.
Every square that is sent is used in a blanket to keep an orphan or abandoned child warm.
Ronda with Jamey, a young disabled orphan who received our very first knit-a-square blanket. Phiri Parish, Soweto, Saturday 28 March 2009.
Use your left over yarn scraps, join the knit-a-square crochet and knitting for charity project and your squares will soon be in blankets keeping young children warm.
Your stitches wrap a child in warmth and love.
Introduce knit-a-square to your school community.
The project is simple and accessible and your children will quickly understand that their efforts WILL make a difference, not only in helping keep a child warm, but in raising awareness of this mostly hidden tragedy. This 40 page teacher resource will help you introduce the project into your or your child's school.
The Square Circle ezines and updates are sent out regularly. They are full of photographs and stories of the children and their blankets, the volunteers and the amazing work you do.
You can subscribe here and catch up with the back issues on the same page.
Knit-a-square is a community of caring, generous and kind people who welcome new members in to the friendship of the Square Circle forum and are willing to help with any queries you have. I look forward to meeting you in the there soon. Sandy
Flying sticks
Clickety clacks, clackety clicks.
That’s the sound of hurrying sticks
knitting fast and stitching slow
squares for blankets on the go.
Little orphans, do you know
the meaning of these politics?
Give us strength to play these tricks
with yarn and hooks and flying sticks,
that we can make a winter fix.
Roger G McDonald, May 2009
Knit-a-squillion
The goal is to send 1,2 million squares to South Africa by July 10, 2012. Download this flyer to send to everyone you know in the world to join our knit-a-squillion challenge.
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knitting project site map
Knit-a-square's AIDS orphan crochet and knitting project site map for easy navigation of the site including free knitting patterns and free crochet patterns for squares and vests.
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knitting for charity ezine
Would you like to know if your knitting for charity is making a difference to children and orphans living with aids in Africa? Square Circle ezine will bring you those stories.
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square circle forum
Welcome to the knit-a-square community, where we share everything to do with making AIDS orphans warm, knitting, crocheting, patterns, challenges and successes.
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knitting to give blog
The Square Circle blog keeps you updated with news from, and additions to the knit-a-square.com website. Subscribe here.
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FAQS
FAQS for this crochet and knitting for charity blanket making project for the abandoned children and AIDS orphans of Southern Africa
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FAQS-hats
Frequently asked questions (FAQS) about whether you can knit or crochet hats for the knit-a-square project which aims to make the abandoned children and AIDS orphans of Southern Africa warm.
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knitting for charity for children
Do you love crocheting or knitting for charity for children? Knit or crochet squares to help make blankets for the abandoned babies, children and AIDS orphans of southern Africa.
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our knitting project volunteers
Charity work by Soweto Comfort Club includes the knit-a square knitting project - joining knitted squares sent from around the world to make blankets for the children of Soweto, many of whom are affe
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knitting instructions
Knitting instructions for how to knit (and crochet) squares using an easy knitting pattern to make blankets for abandoned children and AIDs orphans in Southern Africa.
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easy crochet pattern
Here is an easy crochet pattern for an 8 x8
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postal instructions
knit-a-square postal instructions to send your 8
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international postage
International postage rates for sending your knitted squares to make blankets for the children and orphans of Southern Africa.
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knit-a-square-donate
Please donate a small regular amount to help knit-a-square continue our work to warm and comfort AIDS orphans.
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craft for a cause
You can help to keep AIDS orphans warm by supporting KasCare's knit-a-square program and knitting for charity to win the Joann Craft for A Cause Contest 2010.
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knit-a-square donations
Donate to support knit-a-square's crochet and knitting for charity project which supplies blankets for the abandoned babies, children and AIDS orphans of southern Africa.
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teacher resource
A great 40 page teacher resource to teach your children the power of giving and to make a difference in an AIDS orphans life.
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knitting groups
Knitting groups and knitting blogs can do so much to spread the word about this knitting for charity project, which aims to provide AIDS orphans in Africa with blankets, made from knitted and crochete
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knit-a-square resources
All the knit-a-square resources you need to help you spread the word to your local community, church and school about knitting for the AIDS orphans
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AIDS orphans
The AIDS orphans of Southern Africa, belong to one of the fastest growing but least desirable groups of children in need, on earth.
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HIV AIDS, Orphans and South Africa
HIV AIDS has created an unparalled dimension of human suffering in Southern Africa. A child is orphaned every 14 seconds a result of death by HIV AIDS.
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African poverty
African poverty together with the mounting toll of AIDS in South Africa and Zimbabwe has created another terrible legacy, the burden borne by AIDS grannies as they bury their children and are look aft
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Soweto Charities
SOWETO is home to many of South Africa's 1.4 million AIDS orphans. SOWETO Comfort Club is among many children's charities working to alleviate their suffering by distributed knitted blankets.
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childrens charity
Hotel Hope is a childrens charity in Johannesburg, South Africa aiming to house and educate HIV AIDS affected orphans. It opens its doors in February 2009.
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charity for children
TenThousandHomes.org is a Christian based charity for children who have been abandoned or are AIDS orphans in South Africa. Knit-a-square is knitting and crocheting to help keep these children warm.
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knit-a-square press media kit
Press and media coverage for the knit-a-square charity knitting project to help keep the abandoned children and AIDS Orphans of southern Africa warm.
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press archives
Press and media coverage for knit-a-square's charity knitting project to help keep the abandoned children and AIDS Orphans of southern Africa warm.
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knit-a-square-videos
knit-a-square videos of the blankets made from 8 x 8' squares and sent from around the world to knit-a-square, and distributed to the AIDS orphans and needy children from the Methodist Parish Soweto,
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how to knit
Beginning knitting? Its simple to learn how to knit. Try our knitting instruction for this easy knitting pattern and make a square to send to Africa for blankets to keep orphans warm.
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casting on knitting
These beginner knitting instructions take you through the four basics: casting on knitting, how to do the knit stitch, the purl stitch and how to cast off.
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beginning knitting
If you are beginning knitting, you need to learn how to knit a plain or 'knit' stitch. Try these basic knitting instructions and practise on an 8 x 8
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beginner knitting instructions - purl stitch
These beginner knitting instructions demonstrate the purl stitch. Once you master this knitting basic you can knit a send a square to help make blankets for children living in poverty
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how to cast off
How to cast off is the last of four basic steps when you learn to knit. Follow these simple knitting instructions to complete a square and send to Africa to make blankets for orphans.
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easy-and-free-knitting-patterns
Knit-a-square's easy and free knitting patterns for our own GO-OVER™ dedicated to making orphans and abandoned children warm
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easy knitting pattern
Here is an easy knitting pattern for a warm woollen pullover or vest. This simple knitting pattern uses squares, is cheap to knit and will make a child, living with aids, warm.
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free knitting pattern
The Square Vest - a free knitting pattern, which is also great knitting for beginners and can sent to Africa for children and orphans living with AIDS.
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knitted hat patterns
Use these crochet and knitted hat patterns to make hats for the abandoned children and AIDS orphans of Southern Africa
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free crochet patterns
Find or submit free crochet patterns to crochet for charity and provide garments and blanket squares for the abandoned children and AIDS orphans of Southern Africa.
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Square Shop
square shop
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easy knitting patterns-heritage blanket
Unleash your inner artist with this creative knitting project. Follow these easy knitting patterns and make a magnificent heritage blanket as an heirloom for your family.
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Thank you heritage blanket
thank you
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knitting circle
Form a knitting circle. Knitting for charity with your friends is fun. You can start by knitting 8 x 8
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knitting for charity pain free
Crocheting or knitting for charity pain free is possible if you follow these basic rules for injury prevention
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knitting help
You can contribute your knitting techniques and tips to 'knitting help', to assist in knitting and sending squares to make blankets for the AIDS orphans in Southern Africa
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yarn weights
Comparing yarn weights and knitting needle sizes to accurately knit an 8 x 8
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history of knitting
The early history of knitting is shrouded in mystery. What little is known about it revolves around knotted nets, knitted socks and knitting guilds.
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knitting machines and the industrial revolution
The new knitting machines, vastly improved both the quality and quantity of knitwear, changing knitting history.
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Knitting scarves for knitting records
Knitting scarves features twice in the 2009 Guiness Book of Records, once as a knitting project aimed at raising funds and giving to charity.
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men knitting
Why should we be surprised to see men knitting? They invented the craft, so why do so few men know how to knit today? Here is a great knitting project to get men knitting again.
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baby blanket
Knitting squares to make a baby blanket is a great way to learn how to knit. And you can knit a few extra squares to send to Africa to make blankets for the AIDS orphans.
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knitting stitches
Just a few knitting stitches everyday, anytime, anywhere, using a free easy knitting pattern and you will complete an 8 x 8
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charity knitting heroes
Charity knitting for the AIDS orphans of Southern Africa has inspired knit-a-square heroes, who are championing this knitting project way beyond just knitting or crocheting a square.
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wool felting for blankets
Make a great wool blanket by felting old knitted woollen garments to make felt squares
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what is felting?
Felting is an ancient tradition of creating a strong and sturdy, non-woven fabric from wool.
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about us
A tale about us, charity knitting site and the idea for knit-a-square, to make blankets for the AIDS orphans and abandoned children of South Africa.
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contact-us
Contact knit-a-square for details of their many crochet and knitting projects to help keep the abandoned children and AIDS Orphans of Southern Africa warm.
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aboutSBI
More about Site Build It. The best and most affordable online business opportunity there is.
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visit South Africa
Would you visit South Africa if it was accompanied? Soweto tours, Cape Town and the Kruger National Park accompanied by people with passion and knowledge of the country's diversity and beauty.
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KAS book reviews
KAS book reviews
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holiday giving
knit-a-square Christmas and holiday giving! Gift a AIDS orphan blanket or an e-calendar for your friends and family and feel good this Christmas.
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squares
A list of all 8 x 8" squares, pullovers, vests and hats, contributed by knitters and crocheters for the AIDS orphans and abandoned children of southern Africa
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kaspattern
You can download our free knitting pattern, the KasCuddle to keep little babies made vulnerable or orphaned by AIDS in South Africa
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WELCOME METHODIST LADIES COLLEGE COMMUNITY!