Afghans for Afghans Looks to Shower Babies

Afghans for Afghans is a longstanding knitting-related humanitarian organization that provides hats, blankets, socks and other warm knit goods to the people of Afghanistan.

Right now they’re in the midst of a June baby shower campaign and are seeking socks mittens and hats.

All the details are on their current campaign page, but basically they’re looking for wool (or other warm animal fiber) hats for newborns up to one year and age 7 to adult, socks (not booties) for babies up to one year and age 7 to adult and mittens for age 7 to adult.

They note that they get a lot of baby hats and would love to have more of the other items and sizes. Also, preemie sizes are not needed.

From their site:

These items have been requested by Trust in Education for babies born at Malalai Women’s Maternity hospital in Kabul.The hospital performs 85 deliveries a day, on average, serving the poorest families in Kabul. All services are free. Our wool gifts will accompany the distribution of birthing kits arranged by Trust in Education.

Clearly that’s a lot of babies and parents in need!

If you can help, get your items to Afghans for Afghans by July 3. Learn more about how and where to send your items.

Next Pattern:

There’s always room for more stitch dictionaries on your shelf, but Andrea Rangel’s Knitovation Stitch Dictionary is unlike those stitch pattern books you might already own. That’s because this one is full of colorwork stitch patterns rather than textured stitches, lace or cables, so the designs are ripe for adding to hats, sweaters and other projects with a stockinette stitch background.

The book starts with a quick introduction to knitting colorwork that’s also unlike what you’ve probably seen before, because it’s less about the colors themselves and more about the kinds of fibers you choose, how the yarn is prepared and the gauge you’re working at and how those things all change the look of a design.

Most of the book is filled with motif designs and swatches. The motifs were designed and named by Andrea’s husband Sean, who is an artist and brings a bit of whimsy to the designs.

You’ll find some classic looking leaves and flowers, mosaics and waves, but also rubber ducks, penguins, puzzle pieces, cherries and cows, snails and teapots, eyeballs and chess pieces, to name a few. Many of the designs also have funny names, like a fish named toilet bound, or cats in suits called corporate fat cat.

Of course you can use the designs in any way you want on any project you like, but there are also three patterns in the book — for a hat, a sweater and a pair of fingerless gloves — plus discussion of how the motifs were added, adjusting patterns for a different size or gauge, and adding your own motifs.

If you like adding a bit of colorwork to otherwise plain projects that other people have designed, or you’re ready to start making your own designs with fun motifs, this book is a great place to start. The fun and funny motifs are sure to inspire you to want to pick up your needles and add a little more color to your projects.

About the book: 160 pages, hardcover, 150+ motifs and three knitting patterns. Published 2023 by Interweave, suggested retail $28.

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