homelessness

KnitRiot Knits ’em, Leaves ’em and Warms up the Needy

| Betsy

Below is a lovely little video about a Los Angeles group called KnitRiot who makes crafty items and leaves them for the needy to find and take. How wonderful is it to make something full of intent and care and love and then leave it for someone who needs it to take by placing it near a homeless shelter?! As you’ll also see in the video, they also placed a tree sweater on one lucky tree, placing various items to craft with for passersby to take… And most beautifully, when they returned to the tree, they found thank you letters for leaving craft supplies.

What a wonderful world, indeed.

[Apologies for the giant video, but there wasn’t a resizing option…]

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For more photos and information about KnitRiot, check their website: http://knitriot.blogspot.com/

Also, check out the LA Times article about them over here.

Crafting therapy in Boston homeless shelter

| Betsy

Have you seen this article about the homeless shelter in Boston that uses crafts as a therapy? And the article opening to get you clicking over…

Hers was purple, pink, and green with ruffled edges. Ina Kelley had to show off the shawl she crocheted for a daughter, because after a year of living between homeless shelters and the streets, it’s one of the only things she truly had.

“I’m still working on my blanket,’’ the 46-year-old said, dressed in nightwear and sandals, opening a bag full of colored yarn. “Being stressed, depressed with being homeless on the streets, it helps with your mind.’’

For more on the work of the Barbara McInnis House, please see their website.



Some other recent crafty links you might like:
*Alabama weaver who took inspiration from a Colorado rodeo
*Incredible Lady Gaga petit point by Francesco Vezzoli (via Jafabrit)
*Lovely post from The Textile Blog on traditions of Navajo Spinning & Weaving
* CRAFT: post from Average Jane Crafter on Small Notebook’s 4 Generations Quilt
*Results of study show that women have better sense of touch than men (thereby making them better at embroidery?)