Scarves for EEROP!

Scarves Galore!!!
Here is the picture of the 12 scarves that I knit for the orphans at Easter European Russian Orphans Project. I really hope that they enjoy the soft and warm scarves as much as I enjoyed knitting them.  

I really enjoy knitting simple items like scarves because I find it easier to travel with them, hence getting more knitted to donate.

Knit Around the World Update!!!
I've been working on the non-profit hard but I'm still trying to understand some of the legal loopholes that surround my application to register for solicitation so that I can get donations as well as setting up my bylaws and applying for my 501(c)(3) status to get tax deductions.
I have been reading the book Start Something that Matters by Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS, which is a phenomenal book. I find it incredibly inspiring to read and I love getting a push to work harder on the non-profit. I really hope that you consider going out and buying this book or at least visiting the site.
I have started a logo contest to hopefully get a logo by the end of the weekend and there have been many submission and I really like some of the works. I really hope this is a good step in the right direction!

Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel!

Malawi Donations!

Knitted Donations!
As promised here are pictures of the adorable children that received the knitted items that I donated to the Crisis Ministry Nursery. The children are incredibly precious and I just want to take them home with me, for now I will have to be sated with donating knitted items for them. I want to thank my friends at World Camp for Kids for bringing my knitted items over to Malawi and giving them to the Crisis Ministry Nursery. Enjoy!

Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel!  

Baby Showers Galore!!

Knitting Projects
I went to 2 baby showers for cousins over the past two weekends. You may be asking yourself, what does this have to do with knitting? Well, part of the presents I gave at the shower were knitted items. They are usually a hit because they are soft and cuddly and lets face it, everyone loves soft cuddly things. The first baby shower was for a cousin that is having a daughter. I didn't manage to finish everything I wanted to give in time for the shower to the hat will be sent later. Here are pictures of the knitting items: 

Baby Blanket

Baby Blanket with Tiny Hedgehog

Cute Flower Cap

For the next baby shower the couple decided they wanted the sex of the baby to be a surprise so I knit a brown hedgehog in addition to a few other gifts, one of which was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (one of my husband's favorite books!)

Brown Hedgehog

 I hope that the children really enjoy their presents!

Charity Knitting Updates!
I know that I've been doing a lot of work recently focusing on my non-profit, Knit Around the World, and although that's incredibly important to me I don't want anyone to think I've forgotten about knitting for charity, the reason for the blog!  There will be another post later this week that will feature the photo's from the donations in Malawi at the Crisis Ministry Nursery. I have also been directed towards another charity Eastern European Russian Orphanages Project, where I will be working on knitting items and sending them for children that live in orphanages in Russia. Please check out their websites!

Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel!  

Amazing Advances!!!

Amazing Advances!!!
It has been a whirlwind month for Knit Girl and Knit Around the World. At the beginning of the month we finally got our letter of incorporation so Knit Around the World is now official!!!!! It's really exciting to see the first step in my dreams coming true but it's just the tip of the ice berg at this point there is so much still to do to actually get over to Malawi and start teaching. I've already had my first board meeting with 2 great board members and we are still trying to flush out the mission statement but we are heading in the right direction. I never realized how much work needs to be done in order to start a non-profit.

Here are just a few of the things that are needed to get started:
-Federal Employee Identification Number (from the IRS)
-apply for 501(c)3 (so people donating can get a tax deduction) there is a big fee that goes along with this
-register for charitable solicitations (in VA at least) also a fee here
-prepare by laws to submit with registration
-open a bank account
-start keeping financial records for next year's renewal of registration
-organization logo
-email addresses

There are also things that I need to work on just for Knit Around the World:
-solicit yarn and knitting needle donations
-contact groups interested in working with KATW in Malawi
-see about being able to use someone else's knitting directions (images) to teach knitting
-get up to date shots to travel

At this point I'm willing to take any additional help in terms of understanding the law and getting things set up for the non-profit in Virginia. I have another board meeting on Monday so hopefully we'll solidify some more information to get started on a lot of these tasks that need to get done.

I did have a wonderful fundraising idea pop into my head, let me know what you think about it: kNickles for Knitting, where people would donate nickles in a jar to be donated to Knit Around the World.

Great News!
I just shipped off a lot of knitted items to be brought over to Malawi and given to the children of the Crisis Ministry Nursery. Here are pictures of the 2 blankets and 41 baby hats that I knitted them. Hopefully the kids will love this.

 
I will hopefully be able to post a little more often but I'm swamped with things to do.
Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel! 

Newest Blanket... and a joke!!

New Blanket!
I just finished a new blanket to be shipped off soon to World Camp with a variety of hats and the other blanket I knitted a few months ago. When I actually pack it all up I'll have more pictures.

I will also be starting to knit many baby blankets for a number of babies being born in my family. I'm also working on a large blanket for a friend who's birthday was earlier this month. I also knitted a few wash clothes that I'll be sending soon to a friend and I will have pictures in my next post.

Knit Around the World Update!
I have filed my articles of incorporation papers and now I'm just waiting to hear back about whether I've been incorporated. I have a wonderful board of directors that are really helping me solidify my vision for my non-profit. It's a little overwhelming because I have so many ideas and I really want it to be successful and help people in need. I am really looking forward to traveling and making a huge impact on people's lives.

Christmas Knitting
It is also the time of year where it is starting to get hotter outside so that means I need to start my holiday knitting projects. I have yet to figure out what I will be knitting for this years Yankee swap but I should start looking soon.

Knitting Joke!
A man and his wife were sitting in church, the man was sleeping and his wife was knitting.
The priest asked "Who created the Earth and man?"
The woman poked the man with her knitting needle and the man screamed, "GOD!"
The priest looked at him and said, "That's Right."
Then he asked "Who is God's son?"
Once more the woman poked her husband with the needle, he woke up and screamed, "Jesus Christ!"
Again, the priest said, "Correct."
Finally, the priest asked, "What did Eve say to Adam when she didn't want anymore children?"
The knitter poked her husband again, but this time he screamed "Poke me with that thing one more time and I'm going to rip it off!"
The priest smiled and said, "That's right."

Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel!

Calling all potential Board of Directors Members!!!!

Board of Directors
Have you ever wondered what a member of the board of directors at a non-profit does? So did I! I'm going to take a little time to explain the purpose of the board of directors and how it would work with Knit Around the World. I'm hoping that this will peak some interested about people who are interested in knitting, Africa, and international aid to volunteer to be on the board. Of course, you don't have to be interested in those things to be on the board, but it would help because as a director you'd help shape the direction of the non-profit.
Directors are important because they can be legally, financially and morally responsible for the company. As a director you would help fundraise for Knit Around the World and help spread the word and help build connections preferably to help spread internationally. I'd really love to have someone with financial experience and can help guide the money management as well as grant writing possibilities. I also have the positions of Tresurer and Secretary available if anyone is interested. There would be monthly board meetings with the minutes recorded to dicuss any concerns and the direction of Knit Around the World. These board meeting can be held through a conference call or most likely Skype if we can't all get together as the same time. I really want people commited to help this organization grow and not just using this position to pad their resume. Currently there is no monitary compensation for this position and that will most likely not change. There is also no time limit to serve as director.
Please let me know if you are interested in being a board director by sending me a short email with a short paragraph about why you want this position and what you'd be able to bring to Knit Around the World. I will let you know if you are selected, most likely will happen, and will need your name and address to be listed on the articles for Knit Around the World that will be submitted to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Other KATW news!
I have submitted a request to reserve Knit Around the World as the name of my non-profit and when I get the Board of Directors finalized I will submitt the article of incorporation then on to submitting information to the IRS and setting up the organization!!!!!

...And a joke!

Three pregnant women are sitting chatting and knitting jumpers for their expected kids.

The first one says "I hope that I have a baby boy, because I'm knitting a blue jumper.

"The second says " Well I hope that I have a girl because I'm knitting a pink jumper" The third woman says "I hope my kid is spastic, because I've F@*%# up the arms" Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel!

Non-profit updates and a Joke!

First off...
Please, please, please take the time to vote on the side of my blog for the name of my non-profit that I'm trying really hard to start. it would mean the world to me.  Okay that was me on my soap box.

Starting a Non-Profit... Most likely the scariest thing I've ever done.
So I'm reading this book about how to start a non-profit and I need a board of directors and to fill out a lot of forms (which for me isn't bad at all) but the whole concept is incredibly scary. I feel a little dumb but I kinda want to talk to a lawyer and ask whether I need to have employees if I'm volunteering to go over or have the non-profit pay the cost for me to travel and teach knitting. Silly, I know, but it's one of these dumb questions that I feel compelled to ask. If anyone knows these answers please, let me know.

On to the joke...
A cop car chased a speeding car and when he caught up with it he saw a women inside knitting.  He began to yell to her "Pull Over! Pull Over!."  The woman yelled back to him "No!  It is a cardigan!"

Winner: World Camp! Non-Profit Name Voting!!!

Winner
Well the winner by a clean vote is World Camp, I will donate the blanket with the little baby hats that I am knitting for the orphanage.

Knitting News
Another explanation in  case you aren't a knitter about how knitters are attracted to many different projects and how it is common to have multiple projects happening at the same time.

Non-Profit Update!!!
So I've been working hard on further developing the idea in terms of what the newly learned knitters can do with their final projects. I have reached out to Ten Thousand Villages and they are currently all full on Fair Trade Partners but I will look into other possible partnerships. I have been thinking about reaching out to Blood: Water Mission about developing knitting communities in the many countries that they work with in Africa. I have also received a book about how to start up my non-profit in the mail and when I finally get it set up I will give out all the information about donating and ways that everyone and anyone can help. I do have a friend that is reaching out in Malawi to help see how plausible my plan is within the communities there. I have also been thinking about teaching knitting them providing micro loans to those who want to start up their own business and sell their wares at the fabric market place.
I have been giving considerable thought about the name of the non-profit and decided to leave it up to a vote, so don't forget to vote on the name that you like the best!!!
I am also hoping to reach out to people about forming a board of directors and possibly some friends to help me set up a website, logo, email, and marketing strategies for the non-profit. I would love to pay people for their efforts and if they don't mind waiting until I start getting some donations I could. Please let me know if you are interested on being on the board of directors!!! Well I hope to update with more information soon!
Don't forget to check out my etsy store!!!
Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel!

Linus Project Vs. World Camp for Kids Showdown!

Stash
If you don't know this about knitters then I'll educate you, we all have stashes of yarn. The stashes are very valuable to us and we will protect them, cause you can never have enough yarn. This picture is a perfect illustration about how we feel about our yarn.

 

I decided that others could benefit from my copious stash of yarn, I know my husband agrees, and so I set out to make a child size blanket with the remnants of my stash and now it is time to decide who should get the blanket, Project Linus or World Camp for Kids. You should have a week to vote on this and when the voting is finished I will blog the results. 

Here is the blanket!

Non-Profit Update

I've been doing a lot of thinking about this and doing some research. I plan on reaching out to more contacts this following week. I've been looking a little at grants and other organizations that help social entrepreneurs, so there is some progress being made. I will keep you updated!

Shop Update!

I have also now listed the blanket that was featured on the last blog post. Feel free to heart it and Pin it!!! And maybe even.... buy it?

Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel!

Knit Girl, All Over the World!

Knitting Accomplishments
First, I want to start this post by celebrating this blog that is now over a year old! Hooray!!! I have been working very hard to complete a variety of projects that were unfinished when I started my Christmas season knitting. I just finished another blanket, like the purple one I knit last year except it is of the green and white tones. I will have this blanket for sale at my etsy store later this week or the beginning of the next. I have already started making another blanket with scraps of leftover yarn to then donate the blanket to Project Linus!

It covers a full size bed!

 

New Non-profit Idea

As many of you know I have now taken on the endeavor of knitting full time since I'm no longer working. As a result of a conversation with my husband and my desire to save the world through knitting it was suggested that I should look into starting a non-profit organization to this effect. Understand that I only had this conversation yesterday but I have been thinking about the possibility nonstop! My husband even suggested his best man as a possible business partner. My idea for the non-profit would be a combination on Heifer International and Kiva. Instead of just providing others with knitted items my goal would be to teach them how to knit, crochet or sew to provide their own livelihood. Like the Chinese proverb "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." I would not stop just there though, because yarn is hard to come by in underdeveloped countries so if I provided a community with an alpaca, sheep, or rabbits and teach them how to shear the animals and make their own yarn it creates more jobs and a larger sense of community. I am also interested into whether beneficiaries of this non-profit might be able to make fishing nets and possibly mosquito nets.

I would be interested in starting the implementation of this non-profit in a place that is very near to my heart, Malawi. I would need to contact others to learn about making yarn and shearing animals as well as ways to watch out for the health of the animals to that they might be able to provide future offspring to continue the cycle. There will need to be a lot of thinking, planning and trial and error to possibly make this dream a reality. I will keep everyone appraised of any and all progress made on this front. 

For now I will leave you will this quote: "Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice, which make philanthropy necessary." Martin Luther King Jr.

Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel!

Yankee Swap and Love Presents!

Yankee Swap Blanket!

The morning of the yankee swap the blanket was finally finished!! After working on this present for a very long time, it was time for battle. Much to the rules of the battle the present is done after the 3rd steal, that does not include the original opening of the present. Like all of my past knitting yankee swap presents this one was picked multiple times and the winner was my sister!

Red, Blue and Green were used to knit this blanket!

Love Presents
Last time I visited my Mother-In-Law I spoke with her about one of her blankets that was her least favorite and I told her that I would knit her a new one with colors that she liked that would provide her with warmth and would be really soft and cuddly (which what everyone wants right?). I finally finished this blanket and now it is ready for snuggle time.

I was even able to sew in a label to the corner to mark that is was made with love!

This beautiful label was made by MommieMadeIt!

I have also been knitting for For Knit's Sake! and now I have an item for sale. I am also working to get back into my charity knitting. I have been nicely awarded plenty of time to knit so I'm trying to take advantage of the time and the plethora of yarn! I was also very lucky to have a great turn out for the bazaar at Grounded Coffee Shop that has allowed me to continue my true goal, knitting to save the world!!

Until next time...same knit time....same knit channel!