Knit-a-Square

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: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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.

Ronda and her husband Peter contracted COVID while visiting family in the Cape over Christmas. In this episode of the podcast, she shares with Leanne how they managed to make the most of a bad situation and benefit from the extra time with loved ones.Ronda also reveals her deep passion for the bush as she describes their subsequent stay at Ngwenya Lodge on the Crocodile River near Kruger. We hear about her new home and garden, as well as news about the post, the volunteers from Soweto and the ongoing work at the barn. Show host: Leanne Hunt. Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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.

Welcome to 2021, a very different start to the year from what we are used to. Everything is limited, from travel to access to yarn, and so we have to make adjustments.In this episode, Leanne takes the opportunity to share some thoughts from her own experience dealing with visual impairment. We hear about her latest knitting projects and ideas for connecting with friends. Even if your world has grown smaller, she tells us, it’s still possible to find wonderful ways of celebrating the things we care about.Show host: Leanne Hunt.Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.comTheme 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 the final podcast episode of the season, we get to hear the famous Knit-a-Square song, contributed by Gloria Grandy and members of her family. In addition, Leanne shares some of the feedback she's had from members about the Knit-a-Square podcast. She invites participation from other members in future episodes. If you wish to be a guest on the podcast next year, please get in touch by emailing leanne@knit-a-square.com. Show host: Leanne Hunt. Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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.

Today's podcast guest is Liz Geldenhuis, a local volunteer whose passion is sorting squares and sewing them up into blankets.Liz shares how she came to be involved in charity work and then a member of Knit-a-Square. We hear how she keeps herself busy during lockdown and the role that Knit-a-Square plays in keeping her busy and sane in spite of social isolation. Please remember, if you are a new listener and want to know more about how to contribute to Knit-a-Square, you can find details about knitting, volunteering and donating on the website, www.knit-a-square.com. Show host: Leanne Hunt. Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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.

This week, Karen Gordon from the north-east of England chats to Leanne about the very important role that knitting has played in her life. Having had mobility problems from childhood, she learnt to make garments for herself then switched to knitting for charity. She describes how Knit-a-Square gives focus to her knitting and what it means to be able to help and encourage other members on the forum.Karen also shares some great tips on where to find new yarn and other extras at affordable prices. For anyone who has not yet attempted the monthly themes for squares, this episode is sure to provide some valuable motivation! If you wish to make a donation to Knit-a-Square and/or support an upcoming distribution, please look for the "Donate" button on the KAS website or the "Shop" tab on the Facebook page. KAS finances are reported on regularly for all members to see. Show host: Leanne Hunt. Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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 with Athelé about her recent visit to one of the roughest and most dangerous "squatter camps" she has seen.We hear about the dreadful conditions in which orphaned and vulnerable children sometimes have to live and the amazing people who help the community at JikaJoe with food, medical care and other basics for survival. If you want to see photographs from the distribution, please visit the Square Circle Forum on the Knit-a-Square website or look up Athelé Oosterbroek on Facebook. If you wish to donate towards future distributions like this, or the work of KAS in general, look for the "Donate" button on the Knit-a-Square website or make a purchase from the KAS shop on the Knit-a-Square Facebook page. Show host: Leanne Hunt. Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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.

This episode features an interview with Mili Kus, a long-standing member of Knit-a-Square and an olive farmer on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. With charming grace, she describes her natural surroundings,, work in the olive grove, and passion for charity knitting. If you would like to participate on the podcast, please send me an email, telling me a bit about yourself and your involvement in Knit-a-Square. Our community is already strong, thanks to the Square Circle Forum on the website, and the podcast is just one more way for us to connect and support each other. Show host: Leanne Hunt .Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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 Ronda and Estelle to get a detailed update on post from overseas, numbers of squares coming in, and numbers of blankets, beanies, hand-warmers and soft toys going out. We hear about Ronda's move to her new home, the local companies and knitting groups that have risen to the occasion to support Knit-a-Square during the pandemic, and Athelé's distribution at the Jika Joe settlement in Pietermaritzburg. If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to rate and review it in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or whichever app you use to download your episodes, as it can help other knitters and crocheters to find us. Show host: Leanne Hunt. Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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 today's episode of the show, Leanne chats to Roger McDonald who has been involved with KAS from the start. As Sandy McDonald's husband and business partner, he helped conduct research for setting up the website and wrote poems that inspired and delighted members of the Square Circle Forum when it first began. Prepare to be entertained as Roger talks about his childhood with a grandmother who handled her needles like a magician and reads extracts from his as yet unpublished volume entitled "Knitting yarns". Show host: Leanne Hunt. Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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 week's episode, we hear from Cath Riley of Liverpool, a long-standing member of Knit-a-Square who has used her crocheting skills and community connections to send hundreds of blankets' worth of squares to South Africa. She chats about her choice of shipping method and describes the process of gathering the squares ahead of despatch. We also hear from Vivienne, a volunteer living in Soweto, who talks about her involvement with the children at a local community outreach project and how they are managing during the lockdown with the closure of schools. Show host: Leanne Hunt. Email address: leanne@knit-a-square.com 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.