Charity begins at home…will you play your part?

LEVAMENTUM-3

 

I’ve really had my eyes opened by all the recent press on the refugee crisis – I felt ashamed by my ignorance, not just of the situation but of the political background to it. I’ve been on an extensive learning curve, to say the least!

I wondered what I could do, aside from simply donating money.

I thought long and hard, then I found this wonderful charity:

knitforpeace

These amazing guys are an initiative of the Charities Advisory Trust, which has been in action since 1979.
They distribute knit and crochet goods directly to where they are needed (rather than selling them for usually far less than they are ‘worth’) to over 80 centres, helping
hospitals,
women refuges,
prisons, refugees
&
developing countries.

Take a peek at the great work they do. 

I wanted to help.

I wanted to give a little of myself.

I had a blanket design that I had been pondering over for a while, and it seemed fitting to ‘gift’ it to them. I know, they are called Knit for Peace, but they do accept crocheted items too – they just didn’t have any free patterns on their website, so I created one just for them!

INTRODUCING…

LEVAMENTUM!

Levamentum is Latin for relief, comfort and solace – and also means unbending. It was the perfect name.
The blanket will provide comfort and solace to those who need help, and sometimes those who provide help need to be unbending in the face of opposition or political pressure.
It’s quick to work up – consisting of trebles worked in the back loop only on each row, which creates a ridged and reversible texture.
You can use your stash and any weight – full instructions are given – so it’s a perfect charity crochet.

Of course, you can also make one to keep – they are rather addictive to work up!

Click here to download

Please let me know if you are making a Levamentum Blanket – I’d love to hear from you, either in the comments or via the contact me page!

For those of you on Ravelry, if you could post a project too it would be awesome – if more people can see it, more people can make it and more people will benefit.

Click here for the Ravelry library page.

Share the love!

With love,

 

 

 

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Unravelled by a game – meet Yarnie!

Yarnie unravel quote

“Yarn represents love and the bonds that we make.
It unravels because that’s what happens when we are separated from what we love.”

I’ve been obsessed this weekend.

By a computer game character, in a game that hasn’t hit the shelves yet.
I’m not a gamer, but I might just become one for this little guy….

Do watch all the video – even if you are not into games, because the Creative Director (Martin Sahlin) is the sweetest guy – very nervous, very humble, very passionate and describes the game beautifully.
The artwork is amazing and I get the impression it will be a huge hit with gamers and yarn-lovers alike!

So, how did I, as a non-gamer, stumble upon this character?

I have no idea. 

I was lost on the inter webs, turned a corner and there he was.

I immediately tweeted the game designer to ask if I could crochet him a Yarnie character

and he said…..

Yes Please! 

So, I grabbed:

my hook,

my yarn,

a weekend*

and set to work.

Crocheting has been crocheted, stuffing has been stuffed, weaving has been woven and he’s all ready for his close-up.

Drumroll please

presenting

YARNIE

Yarnie in Unravel220615_26

Here’s my little guy – all ready for a journey to Sweden to meet Mr Sahlin and his amazing team!

Yarnie in Unravel220615_01

“You are the thread that runs through someone’s life, trying to tie all the missing pieces back together”

The sentiment of the game is so beautiful, just like the character Yarnie.
I hope I can get permission to release the pattern to you all. He is such fun to make!

I wish Mr Sahlin, Yarnie and the team at Coldwood all the success they deserve.

With love,

*with thanks to my family for not thinking I was loopy for making a doll for a game designer I’ve never even met before when there was very rare, glorious sunshine in the UK!
QUOTES BY MARTIN SAHLIN

Which crochet design? You choose!

Help wanted_1

 Photo credit: Thewmatt / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

I have had a rush of creativity and can’t decide what design to work on next.

I need your help!

Vote below for the design you would like to see.

I hope the titles give you enough information – I can’t go into too much detail or it will spoil the surprise!

The winning answer will be worked up and the pattern will be posted here

FOR FREE!

With love,

– voting closes at midnight on Friday 26th June 2015 –