Craft Cuddles II

I read this on handmadehelpsout.blogspot.com and I think it's an excellent idea.

Susan of soozs.blogspot.com writes:

A crafter without a stash is a like a child without a toy - it just shouldn't be. As I knit away on toys to give to families I'm not just making something for them, I'm processing my own sadness too.

There will be a lot of crafters out there who have lost the means to craft, who will be starting from scratch. Knitters without needles, sewers without thread, felters without fibre. They'll need their craft more than ever while they cope with the stress of rebuilding their lives.

Most of us crafters have more stash than we really need and duplicates of things we could afford to give. We can help in the way crafters have always helped each other, by passing on the tools of our trade.

Pull together some crafting supplies and make a re-stash kit. Something like:

• yarn, knitting needles, yarn needle and little scissors
• yarn, crochet hooks, yarn needle and little scissors
• fabric, threads, needles, pins, scissors
• felt, threads, needles, pins, scissors
• rovings, drop spindle, bobbins
  
• canvass or linen, embroidery hoop, threads, needles and little scissors
  

Free downloadable patterns (no breaking copyright please!), project bags, sewing boxes or needle books would also be helpful. Think primarily about portable and handwork projects for now - we might branch out to bigger things as we progress.

Make sure you clearly label your donation with re-stash a crafter, and the type of craft suitable for your kit (knit, crochet, felting, sewing, toy-making, embroidery etc).

go to the excellent http://handmadehelpsout.blogspot.com to find places you can drop these kits.

To give you other excellent ideas of what to donate, this comes from Liz Tilley, a survivor of the Canberra bushfires a few years ago:

If you’re thinking of what else to give, put together a first aid kit for the home, or an office kit (containing sticky tape, scissors, notepads, pens, stapler etc), or a toiletry bag (with toothpaste, toothbrush, nail scissors, shampoo, etc), or a make-up kit with make-up, eye make-up remover, lip gloss, mascara etc), or a hair care kit for a child with a brush, hair ties etc, or a sports kit for a child (drink bottle, hat, lunchbox, sunscreen, soccer ball), a kitchen kit (mixing bowls, cookbooks, cooking utensils, a good sharp knife, etc,), a tool kit (hammer, nails, screwdrivers, hacksaw etc) – these will be much appreciated.

you can read her whole incredible article here: http://www.examiner.com.au/content/lifestyle/1254415/