Knitting in the News: Knitting for a Dream and Fewer Knitters in Pakistan

A group of knitters in the Bahamas has been busily knitting slippers that will be given to supporters of a fundraiser that aims to help build a girls' school in Sierra Leone. Girls in the troubled nation, especially poor girls, often aren't able to go to school since parents are usually only able to afford to send one child to school, and they usually pick a boy. The knitters aimed to have at least 200 pairs of slippers to support the cause.

Meanwhile, apparently knitting isn't such a popular hobby as it once was in Pakistan. It used to be that old women and children alike were frequently seen knitting, particularly in the winter, when nights are long and people need warm clothes. But reports say that interest in knitting has declined over the past decade and it's now rarely taught to children. The story notes that people are busier these days and have other options for dealing with boredom without the "long and tiring practice of knitting," but also that people in the West are still knitting despite even busier lives and more options for killing time.

Recently I provided a link to a knit music video, and this week I have another knit video to show you. This one is a short film that was shown at the Encounters Film Festival in Bristol, England, having to do with protecting the environment. It's a lovely film with a good message and a nice showcase for our craft.