Rebuilding Greensburg
Thursday May 17, 2007
If this spring has taught us anything, it's that knitters really want to help other people who have faced tragedy. A new mass-knitting project seeks to bring some comfort to the town of Greensburg, Kansas, which was wiped out by a tornado May 4.Knitter Laura Spradlin in El Dorado, Kansas, is collecting bias knit garter stitch squares to be sewn into blankets by the members of her church and distributed to families in need.
She has a goal of just over 1,100 blocks and has thus far received about 30 as I write this. There's no deadline for sending the wool 8-inch squares (other nice yarn can be used as well), but the sooner the better.
Bias squares are quick to knit and more fun than a straight square. Crazy colors and stripes are encouraged, and squares that aren't exactly 8 inches are joyfully accepted as well.
Plans are to give blankets to those who lost family members, or to have them distributed through the American Red Cross. You can include a note sending good wishes to the blanket's recipient if you want. For more information, visit Laura's blog.
Comments
Interesting project!
And, I see that on May 11th she did a bit of a pattern/square update as follows:
“ADDED MAY 11, 2007: Alternate pattern - cast on 2 stitches, *knit into the front and back of the first stitch, knit across. Repeat from the * until piece measures 8″ along one side. *Knit across to last two stitches, k2tog. Repeat from the * until 2 stitches remain. Cast off. This makes the caston and castoff corners a little pointier.
*the increase stitch that I am using is kfb (knit into the front and back of the first stitch).”
Laura, I just discovered your website and the rebuilding Greensburg project. I am from Dodge City, Ks but was raised on a farm about 17 miles from Greensburg. We did a lot of shopping there and our doctors were in Greensburg. This is such a great project!! I would love to say more but I am leaving to look for needles and yarn - you will be getting another package in the mail.