Well Hello!

 Happy New Year, Happy Chinese New Year, Happy Year of the Horse ( the year for finding love they say humpf) and Happy February already!

The blog seems to be running itself these days. Thank you to all the lovelies who still come and view, and download my patterns from time to time.

I'm in the process of going through the blogs I follow, here and on bloglovin, and getting them all in the same place. As soon as time permits, I'll put up the list of ones that are still active these days. 

Now an important request from the wonderful Knitting Charity I belong to - Knitting For Brisbane's Needy. If anyone can help out with any of the following requests,
please don't hesitate to contact the group, either on their website (linked in pink), their facebook page, or contact me here to pass on. 

Thank you so much for anything you can offer. Winter is fast approaching, and the group gets no funding or grants. It relies solely on the generosity of it's members, donations from members of the public, and the little bit of fundraising it does every year. 

If you can't knit or crochet, but love to sew, any clothes, toys, or donations of fabric are also very appreciated. The group hands out 1000's of hand made hygiene bags full of essential items each year, to those in need. 

Of course we also need YARN :-). 

A lot of our members are pensioners, and rely on donated yarn to knit warm items. If you have bags of yarn you know you'll never use, let us know. There are several places around Brisbane you can drop it off, or if you can't get there, someone who lives close by, will gladly do a pick up. 

AND if you love to knit or crochet, or have a relative who does, and would like to meet up with other ladies, instead of sitting at home alone, the group has several Knit and Natters around Brisbane. Check the website for details. There is always a range of all ages at the meetups. All will welcome you in warmly. 

Last time I looked the Kallangur Knit and Natter wasn't listed as it's fairly new.

It's held every 3rd Friday of the month, at Kallangur Library, 1480 Anzac Ave Kallangur from 1pm to 3pm Jen.              
This is what the group needs coming up to Winter

From Karen Croke 

1. Hope everyone has/is having a great day.
   
   Have been getting asked what do we need the most in the way of donations for this year.
   
   BLANKETS are our biggest need....for the homeless, big enough to wrap around an adult is great. For Domestic Violence Shelters etc, sizes to go over a single bed is fantastic, baby/children's blankets; blankets (can be preloved but still clean) fo...r animal refuges.
   
   Even squares or strips to be sewn into blankets are great!
   
   BEANIES, all sizes - adults, teens, children, babies. For adults/teens dark coloured beanies or all football code colours are very popular. Children and some adults, love the very bright colours. Babies , this includes from small premature baby size up to about a 2 year old.
   
   JUMPERS/CARDIGANS/VESTS...once again all sizes from adults down! (and we do encounter some very BIG adults).
   
   FINGERLESS GLOVES, GLOVES, MITTENS - all sizes.
   
   TOYS - knitted, crocheted, sewn, loomed. "trauma type" teddies are very popular especially with the police, ambulance, fire brigade. NEW brought toys, books are always very well received as well.
   
   NEW CLOTHING...either brought or hand made.
   
   and basically whatever you want to make!
   
   ALL ITEMS - can never get enough of everything in indigenous colours, (black, red and yellow) and also Torres Strait Islander colours!
   
   NOT NEEDED THIS YEAR ...
   
   SCARVES ... for some reason last year, scarves weren't that popular with the needy but LOTS of scarves where donated, and we have more than enough scarves to see us through this year BUT if you like making scarves...if they are just plain you could make them into strips to be sew in to blankets....we can never get enough blankets!
   
   ALSO PLEASE NOTE .... due to lack of storage we will NOT BE ACCEPTING PRELOVED CLOTHING, OR SHOES.
   
   We have a big list of organisations who love to receive preloved clothing such as 139 Club in Fortitude Valley; Signal Flare (to give out at their BBQ's; Dressed for Success if the clothing is suitable for people to wear to job interviews, and heaps more. Just ask we can give you more organisations. I have just done a bit of a search and have found another organisation I will be looking into more..Uplift Bras ... they take new or used good condition, clean bras for the needy in Australia and third world countries. They seem to have three drop off points...Boronia Heights; Milton and Underwood!
   
   ALSO NEEDED ... TOILETRIES, unused... motel size ones are ok. We at present desperately need deodrants, combs/brushes; sunscreen; women's hygiene products; baby nappies.
   
   Our hygiene bags are very well received and asked for continuously.
   
   NEW UNDERWEAR/SOCKS ....All sizes and sexes! NEW PJ's for children and adults.
   
   THANK YOU for all your help, please know it is very much appreciated!
   
   Karen