Knitting for Africa. Care to join me?

To say that this past week was crazy would be one heck of an understatement. Boyfriend craziness, stress, exams and a complete downturn in my voracious knitting. But now I'm back (I guess?) and I've got my mojo workin' again.

The newest design that I'm working on, hereon known as "The Shrug that Would Not Shrug," is still underway and growing at an alarming(ly slow) rate. Between this project and my Daybreak shawl I've been working on size four needles for just over a month! I'm tempted to just knock out a hat at some point this week. Just because.

...my Earl Grey Tosh Merino dk is still missing...

Anyway, this blog does have a point. I've been thinking lately about what I can do with all my acrylic and wool/cotton blend skeins. I have tons of it, which really shouldn't be a surprise to you if you've read this blog before, and it's just kind of sitting there as a reminder of my life pre-lys. Instead of getting rid of it all why don't I use it for a good cause?

I've taken part in some charitable knitting (kind of) in the past, but I've never really gotten serious about it. I knit quite a few caps that I was going to donate to cancer patients, but I haven't found a place to donate them to yet. I have maybe 12 or so just waiting for be given to a good home. Any ideas?

This summer I plan on contributing to Knit a Square, which is a pretty awesome charity based out of South Africa. Growing up, I was pretty ignorant to any life outside of the United States or Europe, because, well, that's what they teach you in school. I met Dean, who was born in South Africa, when I started dating Matt and I had virtually no idea what life was like there. How embarrassing, right? I mean, I'm still pretty ignorant to what life is like there, but I do have a better idea of what life is like there.

Knitting for Knit a Square is simple enough and, if you can knit, anyone can do it. The people running the organization collect 8" x 8" squares (in any fiber...they just ask you to specify) and then piece them together to make blankets for orphans. And, if you're a slightly more advanced knitter or looking to move on to that next project, they also accept hats and garments. From the website:

"We invite you to join our warm and friendly KAS community. Together we work hard to help warm and comfort these children and we would greatly value your contribution to this knitting project for the AIDS orphans of southern Africa."

It is estimated that there are 14.8 million orphans in sub-saharan Africa. 

1.9 million live in South Africa.

A simple square can really help to make a difference for these orphans. I'm hoping other knitters around the shop are interested in participating with me. Or, if you're not a knitter, you can still make donations to the cause here.