05.29.07

Streetknit

Posted in Redwood Living at 8:58 am by Lynette

There is a movement going on in the knitting community called Streetknit.  It was started by the Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.  She is an author that writes great knitting books like Knitting Rules, and At Knits End and most certainly Yarn Harlot, the Secret Life of a Knitter.  But she found when doing her book tours the book stores (non-yarn stores that is) just couldn’t believe she would draw more that a handfull of people to come hear someone talk about knitting.  This under estimation on their part resulted in alot of ’standing room only’ positions.   As a side note:  she is just not a knitter, she is a mother and wife and her blog is a hoot.  If you don’t knit, still stop by and read.

This spring when she launched her latest book, she put forth the question on her blog how can we show these non-believers just what a power knitters have.  After many suggestions she settled on the idea of Streetknits.  Everywhere she has a ‘meet and greet’ the word is out that knitters are to bring a hand knit hat which will then be donated to a local charity that provides services to the less advantaged.  Check out the latest donations from Tronto.

I’ve been looking for a charity to promote so here at Rainy Day Knits we are going to start collecting hats for the Streetknits program.    I encourage you to knit (or crochet, I am not a knit snob) an adult sized hat using your favorite pattern.  You may choose to give it to a local shelter or charity or you may choose to mail it to me and I will give it to ‘Our Daily Bread’ which is a local not for profit organization that, after much resistance and perserverance, has opened a kitchen that will feed our local ‘less than fortunate’ population.

Up here in the Redwood National Forest we not only have beautiful natural surroundings but a problem.  Since we are 350 miles far away from civilization (according to the National Geographic Channel) alot of people just get stuck here.  Weather they run out of gas, or maybe they are folks hitching to someplace else…we have A LOT of homeless families.  Plus, some estimates say 40% of our population is below the poverty level.

Streetknits is a great cause, make a hat for someone.  The benefit to you is not only the feeling that you’ve provided someone with a little bit of kindness but you can use up stash yarn and then go buy more!

So please, feel free to knit away and email me here for my address to send your hats.  I’ll keep a count and email the Yarn Harlot to let her know how we’re doing.

Knit on!

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