Jun
6
If you got involved with our ‘Comfort Blanket’ campaign to help Refuge in 2011, thank you! With your help, together with our sister magazine The Knitter, we raised more than £4,000 and donated more than 850 knitted blankets to Refuge, the charity which helps families experiencing domestic violence.
In 2012, we’re continuing to support this worthwhile cause, and this time, the focus is on the children staying at Refuge’s ‘safe houses’. Could you knit a teddy or a cot blanket to help a little one feel safe?
TEDDY AND BLANKET DESIGNS TO INSPIRE YOU
We’re beginning the campaign by bringing you a charming teddy bear to knit, kindly provided by Val Pierce and Search Press.
Download the teddy knitting pattern and a selection of clothes, taken from Val’s new book Little Bears to Knit & Crochet, in return for a small donation to Refuge (£2 would be great, but please give whatever you can afford).
We’re also working with your favourite designers to bring you exclusive blanket square patterns for our campaign. As a taster, we have a slip stitch pattern from editor of The Knitter, Juliet Bernard, on page 38 of Simply Knitting 95, and we’ll also be bringing you a brand-new pattern e-book which you’ll be able to download.
Our blanket square pattern e-book from last year is also still available, if you can’t wait to cast on, give a donation to Refuge and download it now.
What’s more, we’re launching a design competition as part of our campaign, with some fantastic prizes for the winner – keep an eye on the magazine and the Simply Knitting blog for all the details.
WHY WE’RE SUPPORTING REFUGE
The charity Refuge helps women and families who experience domestic violence to rebuild their lives. As well as providing emergency accommodation through its network of ‘safe houses’, Refuge offers emotional and practical support, legal expertise and services which can be accessed in the community. Women and children fleeing abuse often arrive at these
refuges with nothing but the clothes they are wearing, which is why we are keen to help offer warmth and comfort in the shape of handknitted items.
Please show your support for this charity knitting campaign – we want to raise £10,000 for Refuge as well as providing every child staying at the charity’s ‘safe houses’ with their own teddy or blanket to keep. So get knitting, and send a hug to someone who really needs one!
We're asking for cot blankets measuring four squares by six or children's blankets measuring six squares by eight.
Please send your completed blankets and teddy bears to Fundraising/Simply Knitting, Refuge, 4th Floor, International House, 1 St Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1UN.
Please note: Donations of single squares cannot be accepted.
If you need advice about any aspect of domestic violence, please visit Refuge. The website 1in4women run in partnership with Avon, also has a wealth of accessible information for concerned friends and family members.
#knitforrefuge
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