Help the Kids of Kenya with Knit Goodies

Do you all know about Craft Hope? It’s a really amazing group of crafters that band together periodically to make things that are donated to others. It started with 29 pillowcase dresses for children in an orphanage in Mexico and has grown such that through the years Craft Hopers have donated more than 150,000 handcrafted pieces to make the world a little brighter for kids and others around the world.

The latest project benefits We Are Kenya, and they are looking for knit (or crocheted, or sewn) hats, scarves, gloves and stuffed animals to donate to about 200 kids ages 4 to 15.

We Are Kenya is a nonprofit that works to educate children in the slum of Soweto, the second largest slum in the country. They feed the children — sometimes the only meal they get each day — and the children are taught by university-trained instructors.

These crafted items will help keep the kids warm through the winter and give them comfort they almost certainly wouldn’t have otherwise. How great is that?

The deadline for sending items is November 1. Please go to the Craft Hope website for more information and to chime in with what you’ll be making. I hope you’ll consider this project if it touches you and you have some knitting time in the next month.

[Photo from We Are Kenya via Craft Hope.]

Next Pattern:

The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

Next Pattern:

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