We have already met our target!! And not only met it but ripped it !!

Up to 15th. April we have already donated 3,729 items to various organizations which has exceeded our orginal target. I am excited to see how much we can actually do by the end of the year. Each and every one of our members have contributed to this great achievement and I cannot express my thanks enough. When this group was started we were unsure how it would go but were determined to keep it up and running regardless of how overwhelming it became. Some days I am intimidated by the amount of need out there but I get good feelings when I realize that we are all helping to keep someone warm and clothed.

I am also amazed at the talent of our members. The things that arrive at my house are amazing, the work and love put into every stitch, the care in every item is inspiring. As we become more well known organizations are contacting me asking if we can help them and I get inspired to do more, to knit just one more thing or to make that one more phone call.

I am really excited thinking about what we CAN and HAVE achieved!

Keep up the good work

Well this year has definitely started with a bang!  I thought in the summer months things would slow down but boy was I wrong! The first 3 months of this year has been amazing with over 2,000 items already distributed between many needy  organizations and the packages just keep on coming!!

I set a target for this year of 3,500 items but now it looks like we will hit that target by the middle of the year (if not sooner) and we could even double it!!  Each day I hear of another organization that needs something or is desperate for some help with things to distribute to their needy clients. The need for things is growing all the time. Some of the stories I hear are really, really sad but they inspire me to continue doing what I do and to sit down and sew or knit, quite often doing the finishing up or sewing together blankets.

Some of the donations we have had in are amazing. The work and care that goes into each item is astonishing. I often feel pangs of envy that I am not as talented as many of our members but I then remind myself that every single items that is made keeps someone warm and puts a smile on their face.  I am often told but for the generosity and kind heartedness of our members a lot of people would simply have to go without. It makes me feel good, and it should each and everyone of you, to know that I am making a difference and that we as a group are making many differences to many people.

Keep up the good work ladies!!!  I promise I will not leave it so long til I blog again and let you know all that is happening. I added a new page to the website on Blanket Sizes and how many squares it takes to make the various sizes we need.

We also not have a yahoo group  http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/needystitches so we can all get to know each other and share patterns and thoughts and ideas. Please come along and join us so we can get to know you.

I have also started opening an Photo Gallery to post pictures in from our individual members. A parcel arrived from one of our members Daisy on Monday so she has the honour of being the first !! LOL   I am going to try and take pictures of things as they come in and will post them into albums so you can each have your own little piece of cyberspace

I wish you all a very happy Easter. Stay safe and keeping crafting!!

I hope you all had a Merry Xmas and will have an excellent New Year!!

Boy don't things get hectic at Xmas time? I thought I was organized but when it came down to it I had so many little things left to do plus a load of items to get to the different organizations in time for Xmas. I was really happy with the amount of toys we managed to donate knowing that some children will now get something under the tree because of the efforts of our members.

We managed to donate 2,866 items in 2009 which I think is excellent. It was our first year and we are still getting ourselves known but our members are such hard workers we came up with a magnificent amount.  Remember it does not matter if it is 1 item or 100 items you make for us, each and every item makes a difference to someone.

I have set a group goal for 2010. I hope we can donate 3,500 items in 2010. Our group is growing steadily so I think this is a very realistic goal to achieve. We have a lot of organizations that are in desperate need of what we create and I am hoping to expand next year to include some of them. I really hate to say no when I hear of the need in the community and all over Australia but I also know we can only do so much.

I am considering changing the photo albums from how they are now. I am thinking about having a photo album for each person that donates items with pictures of the items they donate. What do you think? Individual albums or keep them as they are?  You can leave a note in the Guestbook. It is really easy to do.

I can be contacted at needystitches@gmail.com  if you have anything you need or want to know

HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR !

Today I went over to the Caroline Chisholm Society to deliver 308 items of baby items. This organisation deals with pregnancy crisis and families with kids that are in need of some help. The lady in charge of the volunteers, Glenda, showed me through the place and explained what they do. When I arrived and started to unload the car their was a lot of excitement from the staff and volunteers who wanted to see all the things we had made and were ohh'ing and ahh'ing over each item. It was really nice to feel so appreciated for what we do.

I was thinking on the long drive home how such a small thing like using our talents to create something for someone who is in need can be something so good for those that receive them. I cannot even imagine how hard it must be to have to provide for your kids and not be able to and it is only with organisations like Caroline Chisholm, and even our group to some extent, that can step in and help. It must alleviate some of the worry to know there is a place you can go to so your kids are kept warm.

I have been on a little bit of a go slow, not a complete stop but not churning out multiple items per day but taking my time, picking up and putting down my knitting instead of pushing forward to complete something. But after today I am inspired again knowing that something small I can do is so needed.

We had quite a few donations this month with everyone working hard so it did not take long to get to 308 items. I would like to thank all of you for helping out and using your talents to make items to mail to me to distribute. The sad thing is that it sometimes seems never ending. There is always people who are in need of some help and I guess with the current economic climate that need will continue to grow.

If anyone knows of someone who would be interested in helping us please point them in my direction as we need more people to help us so we can continue to grow. Needy Stitches has a flyer so if anyone knows where they can place one for people to see, please email me at Needystitches@gmail.com and i will email one out to you. We need to spread the word about our group so more people can help and we can help more organisations.

Well I have prattled on enough for now LOL  Once again thank you to everyone who has helped.

One last thing. Christmas is just around the corner and as we seem to deal with a lot of organisations that deal with kids we are going to be in need of toys as presents for these children. Some of them do not receive anything for xmas, which breaks my heart, but if we can contribute toys at least some of those kids will have a smile on their face.

I would like to apologise for being so tardy with this blog but I recently had some bad news concerning a young woman that was like a part of my family. It is always sad, I think, when someone so young and vibrabt is suddenly no more. It shook me and my family up and I have been tending to them to try and alleviate their grief.

On a much brighter note we have reached our target of 1500 items donatedalready this year!! and it is only July (well almost August) and we are at 1581 items so the sky is the limit!!

It amazes me at times the kindness of people who donate their wool, time and talents to make things for those less fortunate who they will possibly never meet, but from the kindness of their hearts continue to make items to keep someone warm or put a smile on someone's face.

I have added a photo gallery to the site so you can see some of the beautiful work people do for others. If you have a special pattern to share with us please do not hesitate to send it to us and I will include it on the site.

I would like to thank all of you who have contributed to Needy Stitches and to those will begin to do so. I have had so many people who do not knit or crochet who donate wool and material to us and I would like to thank them also. Every little bit helps.

Once again a BIG thank you to everyone

It has been a busy time since I last blogged on here. It seems with winter being upon us the need has escalated with many organisations being in desperate need for different items.

This past month I have gone from making baby clothes to beanies to scarves to blankets, talk about being a Jill of all Trades LOL.  We have had a LOT of donations from members, absolutely gorgeous items and a varied lot also, so I have been able to spread it around as much as I could to help those organisations in desperate need.

I like winter as it is much easier to sit and knit or crochet and I seem to get a lot done. Also helps with some good shows on TV !! Right now I am concentrating on babies things again as Monash Hospital are in need of babies clothes and toys for their childrens wards.

I have added a new pattern for some bedsocks that one of our members, Kim from NSW sent me. They are gorgeous! Everytime she sends some I have to wrestle them from friends who see them, and the pattern is really easy. I have never made socks beore as I do not do well on 4 needles (I always seem to twist my knitting) but these are done on 2 needles with just some shaping.

I have also added a new stitch pattern. I am using this pattern in a lot of babies jumpers as it is easy and I can do it without thinking while watching TV and thats always a good thing!

And now for the really good news!! We only have 25 items to go to reach our 2009 total of 1500 items!! And it is only July so I am excited to see how many we can make by December 31st!!

I got a new digital camera today (finally) so I am going to open up a photo gallery so everyone can see some of the beautiful items that our members make. From now on I will take pictures of each donation and post it in the gallery, perhaps it will give you some new ideas of things to make.

Well that is about it for me for this month. Keep those needles clicking or that sewing machine buzzing!! Everything you send is very much appreciated !!

It has been a couple of weeks since i last blogged but i have been busy knitting and crocheting. Some days I get a little overwhelmed at the need that is out there in our community but it seems each time I have that feeling a parcel arrived from one of our members and i realize that people have such kind hearts that they give their talent, time and money to support us.

I made this babies set, consisting of a shrug, hat and booties. I love the way it turned out! and it was so easy to do. I am not usually a big fan of doing a lot of shaping and such but this was simple. I have placed the pattern tion of the knitting patterns so have a go at it.in the Babies section

I am going through a "baby stage" where all I seem to be making is babie's things LOL

This jacket was fairly simple, knitted in one piece which I love because it means less sewing up. While the color doesn't show very well in the picture it is a beautiful peach color. I made a pair of bootees to go with it.

For a break from knitting I crocheted this babies shawl. I am in a granny square frenzy right now it seems. I am making lots of squares to make into lapghans in between knitting babies jackets.

When I want a break from anything I have to actually concentrate on I knit beanies and scarves. I just heard of a new homeless shelter opening up and I am madly trying to get them a stockpile of beanies, scares and gloves (and hopefully a few afghans) to start them off.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who knits for us. I cannot even begin to express the joy you bring to people with your gift.

I found these crafting smilies while I was searching the web the other day. Aren't they cute?!?!

I have been busy this week knitting scarves and toys. Sylvia who works for Monash Hospital donated 14 balls of flutter wool (furry type) and I managed to make 5 scarves and 2 toys out of them.

The scarves will help to keep someone warm this winter and I am sure 2 kids will get some enjoyment fromthe teddies.

I also found a pattern for a little pig which is really cute

He was really easy to make so I am sure I will make many more of these when I get the time *LOL*

I am currently working on a full size Afghan. I have never made a full size one before, though have made lots of babies size ones so for me this is a huge project. I went really well for the first week, concentrating on crocheting squares only, but this week I could not face doing anymore so I put the afghan aside and made the scarves and toys. I will do one row of squares per week until the afghan is finished as I get bored too quickly working on the same thing all the time. At the moment it is 9 squares across and 8 squares down so I think I still have a fair way to go before it is finished.

This week I am going to concentrate on babies things. I will attempt to complete some booties, a couple of matinee jackets and a babies blanket. I posted a new stitch on the website called ripple stitch and I am very eager to use it in a jacket for a baby.

Don't forget you can also post on this blog to show us what you are working on or if you have something to share. If you have a pattern you would like us to include on out website please email me at needystitches@gmail.com and I will put it up there. I would also appreciate a pic of the finished item but if you do not have one I will knit the pattern and take a pic of it to put with the pattern

Have a great week everyone and

HAPPY CREATING!!!!

Today I delivered some cat blankets to the RSPCA in Pearcedale and I got to thinking about how thankful people are for what we do. It seems such a small thing but I can not express how appreciative the organisations are that we donate to.

I am also humbled by how so many of our members donate such beautiful things they have created, using their own wool and time to do something for those less fortunate. Just this week alone I received 2 donations of hand made items to donate through our group.

There was a lady from Skye who donated a load of things she had knitted, Childrens jumpers, squares to make into blankets, lace, knitting needles, wool the list goes on. I am ashamed to say I did not even get her name as I was awe struck in the beautiful work she had done. I spent the day yesterday and today sewing the jumpers together and adding bottons and then putting the squares together into lapghans.

I cannot express how much I appreciate all the hard work the members of Needy Stitches do from the kindness of their heart. With winter coming the need is growing and while at times i get a little intimidated by the amount of what is needed somehow we manage to create and donate a reasonable amount each month.

Thank you all so much.  Your work, dedication and kindness is so very muich appreciated!

Today we delievered to Monash Hospital 92 items which mainly consisted of babies jackets, blankets, boottees, toys and things for premmie babies. Jane Livingstone who is the Volunteer Coordinator is always so appreciative of the things we donate that it makes me feel humble that we are able to help.

We also donated 114  items to WAYSS. This time we donated our goods to the Domestic Violence and Abuse section where they deal with people of all ages. I spoke to Yvonne who explained the kind of things they need. Many times people in this kind of situation have to leave in a hurry, with their children, with nothing but the clothes on their back.  I would really like to make WAYSS a pet project for our group as I feel their work is very important.

With todays donations we have reached a total of 905 items donated!! which is a fantastic effort and one that would not have been achieved without the help of our members who mail me items they have created for donation. From now I am going to strt taking pictures of the donations I receive so you can see the beautiful work our members do.

The Mothers Day project is coming along beautifully with, so far, 7 lapghans completed. We still have time to do 1 more!!

Well that is all my news for now, time to get back to the needles!! 

Happy Creating !!