Posted by baltica on 2004-09-23 13:18:25
Post Subject: Philadelphia Knit Out - Sun 9/26
More info at: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knitoutbrochure.html
Philadelphia, PA
3rd Annual Philadelphia Area Knit Out & Crochet Event
When: Sunday, September 26th, 2004
Time: Noon to 5:00 pm
Location: The Pennsylvania Convention Center, --- Rain or Shine 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 (In the heart of Center City Philadelphia across from the historic Reading Terminal Market and easily accessible by public transportation. Parking availability nearby.)
Seems like fun. Looks like they're going to have some informal workshops, vendors, fashion show, etc. I'm going to try to check it out at some point during the afternoon.
Posted by anthrogirl on 2006-10-24 13:28:31
Post Subject: Getting radically crafty
About a month ago, I was at the Union Square Knit-out in NYC. I noticed that there was a table giving away info on making baby's hats for charity- preemie babies in many non-western countries need hats to protect their adorable little heads. More recently, there wasa poster in the NYC subway, extolling the love of volunteer work- it showed a woman who sews and makes items for the homeless.
Many of us here talk about making things for ourselves, our families, and our friends. Yet perhaps we should start sharing ideas on how to make items for various causes. Maybe a new cause could be chosen every two months, and people can send needed homemade items to the appropriate places in their home towns or countries, but all under the rubric of 'GetCrafty'. For instance, I'm in the middle of a big crafting project for which I'm getting paid, and then I have to finish my winter gifts- but I'm already gathering yarn with which I can make hats for preemies all winter. What I want to do is save them and send them all out at once. I also want to start making items like gloves, scarves and socks for the homeless and people in hospitals, particularly children's hospitals. Many of those children get no visitors at all. The same goes for older people in old age homes.
Instead of concentrating on the trendiest 'new' crafts, wouldn't it be fun and positive to maybe start groups that go into old age homes and learn from older women how to better our skills, while helping them to feel useful and wanted? Wouldn't it be wonderful to take scraps of fabric and make quilts for sick children and babies? How about starting crafting groups that teach the mentally ill, prisoners, and the economically disadvantaged how to make things for themselves- not so much for sale, but for a sense of accomplishment and self-worth? I'm curious as to whetherthere would be any people in the NYC are that would like to get together maybe once or twice a month to chat, make fun things for a cause at a time, and send those items off to people in need, or to arrange to help others learn how to craft themselves? But not just in NYC- how many of you are willing to help create what might be called the 'Get Crafty Ladies Volunteer Brigade' and put the radical idea of helping others while helping oneself into action?
While some of this could happen in person, it could also work like a swap- we could do many of these things without even meeting each other. We ould put links to patterns and groups in need up on the forum, and share info on the best way to tackle a project. It could be that this is already happening and I'm not aware of it- I doubt I'm that original a thinker. But if it's not happening, what would be the best way of doing it?
