The Mens Knitting Project

The Mens Knitting Project has been established to commemorate the Anzac Centenary in Australia during April 2015. The centenary project is called War & Peace–The Men’s Knitting Project and organisers are calling for donations of 250 knitted samplers made by men on the theme of war and peace (they provide instructions on their website). The knitted samplers will be sewn up to form a wall hanging to be displayed at the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery in April, 2015. The project currently has approximately 40 male knitters registered but we are guessing they will need some more to make their target. Men who register for the project are asked to make a small discretionary donation to the Soldier On charity.

This could be the best chance you ever have to see the men in your life knitting. The deadline for completed samplers is less than a month away on Friday 19th December, 2014.

The project has a Facebook page for more information about how the sampler tally is progressing.

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Knit One Give One

Knit One Give One (KOGO) is a Melbourne based charity started in 2004 that accepts knitted clothing, toys and blankets for distribution to disadvantaged people in Australia. Initially they were sponsored by Australian Country Spinners who supplied yarn but the rapid growth in the response from knitters meant that KOGO stopped supplying yarn to their volunteers in 2010. This didn’t deter the volunteer knitters who sent in an even greater quantity of items in 2011!

KOGO now provide items to bushfire survivors, women’s refuges, the homeless, disadvantaged mums and children through over 100 different welfare agencies. KOGO has distributed over 35,000 items this year and have recently teamed up with with Foodbank Victoria, a food relief organisation. Working with Foodbank will expand KOGO’s distribution to include more regional areas.

Knitting Patterns can be downloaded from the KOGO website or you can make what you prefer and they will find a home for it. The pictured knits were donated by a KOGO volunteer. KOGO distribute the winter woollies from March until mid-September but will collect items all year around from designated collection points all over Victoria listed on the website. To keep up-to-date with KOGO news you can register for their e-newsletter. If you want to learn more about how KOGO started and is progressing there is an interview with its founder, Ros on their website. Or if you just want to knit something for someone in need over summer you can make it and send it to KOGO at: P.O. Box 2156, Caulfield Junction VIC 3161 and it will be greatly appreicated.

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