WISH LIST 2016
KNIT-A-SQUARE WISH LIST 2016
Over the years Knit-a-Square has grown rather organically and kindhearted members have been sending an ever increasing variety of goodies, but it has become essential for Knit-a-Square to have an appraisal and re-evaluate its whole approach in order for the office team to comfortably handle the number of items arriving.
In future Knit-a-Square will ONLY be able to distribute squares, assembled blankets, hats, hand-warmers and cuddly toys. All other items, as mentioned below, will be distributed through a third-party and not directly by KAS.
The focus for the coming year, and for some time to come will be :
Squares for blankets - Hats & Hand-warmers - Cuddly Toys
In order to make life easier for the office team we need the following assistance :
SQUARE REQUIREMENTS
- In the correct size - 8x8inches (20x20cm)
- With little tails sewn in, and the long tails butterflied and secured, Link : How to secure the tail of a square
- Please do not wrap the squares in plastic cling wrap - they arrive smelly!
- Bundled into square packs of 35 if there are enough of them.
- You are welcome to sew your squares into blankets of 5x7 squares (see chart at bottom of the page) but must only declare that your package contains knitted squares. [Crocheters often find it easier to crochet the squares into strips and then crochet the strips together.]
HATS & BEANIES
- Ronda mentioned that the ribbed hats are the best as they grow with the child. Sizing - if it fits the knitter then it will fit the child comfortably.
- However, please avoid square hats, as for some reason the children get ridiculed for having "ears"!
HAND-WARMERS
- Again hand-warmers that are ribbed are comfortable and grow with the child.
- Please place one hand-warmer inside the other in order to keep them together.
- Please avoid tying them together or using safety pins as these must be removed prior to distribution and it is fiddly and time consuming.
CUDDLY TOYS
- The children absolutely adore receiving their own personal 'present' of a cuddly toy - and they bring joy beyond measure for so many children who have never experienced the wonder of "ownership".
- Hand knitted toys or store bought toys are welcome, but all price tags must be removed to avoid customs problems.
- Second hand toys are accepted as long as they are in good condition.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT ARE WELCOME
- Yarn - we always need yarn to sew together and edge the blankets.
- Yarn needles - we always need these for sewing the blankets - both plastic and metal are great.
- Crochet hooks - 4.0mm (US size G/6, UK/Canadian size 8) for edging the blankets so they remain strong.
- We do not need any more knitting needles at this stage - we have a box full!
TO HELP US COPE AND STREAM-LINE THE OFFICE OPERATION, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE LIKELY TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH A TRUSTED THIRD PARTY IN THE FUTURE :
Jumpers and Grace Vests : Have already been successfully distributed by Erica Lüttich from the Outreach Foundation. However, although Erica sent lots of photographs of the children wearing the garments, we cannot guarantee that this will be possible each time.
Toothbrushes, tissues and toiletry items : A third party distributor has yet to be identified, but church outreach departments will help.
Store bought or second-hand clothing : Will be distributed through Wandi and the Methodist Church quarterly outreach gatherings.
Underwear : All underwear will be given to the Rape Crisis Centre in Beoni which deals with many children up to the age of 14 in all crisis situations.
Socks : A third party distributor has yet to be identified.
KasCuddles & Baby Items : Will be distributed via Hotel Hope and Sister Susan at the Baragwanath Hospital Maternity Ward.
GENERAL POSTING & PACKING NEEDS
- Completing the Packing Slip is a huge help to the team at the office - thank you. Here is the link to the discussion page where you will find 3 documents including a large print version listed on the bottom left : Revised Packing Slip
- The new message to be printed on parcels is :
BONA FIDE GIFT
FOR CHARITY
NO COMMERCIAL VALUE
- Customs Ticket - please only write a value of '0' or '1' - anything higher will result in Knit-a-Square being charged duties, which they well cannot afford, resulting in parcels being returned to customs authorities for re-assessment. THIS can result in non-receipt in the long run.
- Please do not register or insure your parcels - it automatically assumes a "monetary value" on the parcel and this is what causes the problems with SA Customs & Excise!
- Please continue to use the usual address at Bryanston, as this branch is re-opening in a new location on 21st December!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Pam Antink on
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Hi Leena,
1. The new Bryanston Post Office should open for business this week. Over the years we have had very few parcels go astray, even during lengthy postal strikes! The last strike caused an incredible back log, but eventually the parcels got through - in fact, the later parcels came first as they landed on top of the heap!
2. Please DO NOT add tracking to the postage - this will cause Customs & Excise to either open the parcels or send Knit-a-Square a customs duty fee. Usually, the fee is too high, so the parcels are sent back for re-assessment, then they are returned with a much reduced fee. However, this adds to the delays.
Often parcels can take six weeks to get on the 'received list', but the office team work hard to get it published every month.
3. For 2016, we would prefer not to receive scarves.
4. You can send batches of 5 squares, and, even crochet/sew them into a strip if you enjoy the process. However, we hope that we can raise enough funds regularly via the KAS Shop in order to pay the Gogos to sew the blankets - this provides them with some cash to buy some necessities and gives them the dignity of helping their own communities.
Yes, absolutely keep crocheting Leena!
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Permalink Reply by Grace Weir on
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Thanks for all this useful information... I see that scarves are now not needed. However I have 2 completed navy blue scarves donated. Is it worth still sending them. Also I have several Grace Vests.. should I send them still? Any advice appreciated.
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Hi Grace, yes go ahead and post them. Ronda has a lot of navy blue scarves to share out - they came from the knitting classes. Also, the vest. Although we would like 2016 focus to be on squares, hand-warmers, hats and cuddly toys, KAS is still accepting garments. The main issue is due the variable sizes received and that they are often too large for the groups where Ronda distributes. Erica at the Outreach Foundation will be responsible for distributing garments, but we may not always get photographs. Be assured that the goodies are going to children in need still.
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Price on
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I am glad we can still send as I have a load of mixed stuff that I did not send before Christmas due to the post office situation. I have asked going forward we focus on the 4 items from the wash list, but I have the backlog here still.
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Permalink Reply by P. Jeanne Haessler on
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I am in the same situation as Rebecca, having a couple of navy scarves and a mixed bag of knitted toys and squares plus a vest to send along. I am SO relieved the Post Office situation seems to be righting itself. That's truly an answer to my prayers! :)
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Permalink Reply by maureen fast on
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I have not been on the site for awhile because the last I read we could not send because of the postal strike. I had made 7 navy scarves, weighed them, and wanted to mail. Am I understanding you do not need them anymore?
Thanks for answering.
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Please send them Maureen - they will still get used along with many other navy blue scarves that are turning up late due to the postal strike!
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Ok, I will send them. Can I just put them in the same box with hats and arm warmers? Also, is the navy blue scarf project over?
One more question on the wristers. Are we making them for ages 5-10 or smaller kids?
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Yes Maureen, please send together with your other goodies. With regard the hand-warmers 5-10 is ideal as these children are hopefully at school and will need them in the cooler weather to enable them to continue to write. However, smaller ones are welcome too!
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Permalink Reply by Joan Humm on
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Saw the wish list post on Facebook and as I had just that very minute finished a square I started on a Beanie. Here it is along with a matching pair of hand warmers :)
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Permalink Reply by Linda Maltby on
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Joan, these are gorgeous ! What lovely soft colours. A girl is going to love this set :-)
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Permalink Reply by Bev Jeffery on
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Totally agree with Linda......gorgeous!!
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