Kennet Valley Guild's Community Project

Since 2016, Kennet Valley Guild has been sending blankets, knitted jumpers, hats, mittens and socks to Christian Hope International at Romford and over the years they have worked with other charities distributing these to refugees. Some of our things went out on the first shipment to Aleppo and now things got to Moldova.

We also make knee rugs and shawls for the elderly in our local hospitals to enable them to get out of bed. These patients can take them home when they're discharged. The knee rugs are 3ft (or 1m) square.

With our white wool, we knit clothes and make red, orange and green hats for premature babies, again for our local hospital.

We'll be at The Southern Wool Show at Newbury Racecourse in September and it would be wonderful if you'd like to make things for us and bring them along. The blankets we make are 3ft x 4ft (1m x 1.20m). We're also knitting and weaving strips for our yarn bombing at the show which will be 6ins x 18ins (15cms x 46cms) and these will be sewn or crocheted together. If you'd like to knit or crochet 6ins squares that will be fine.

Here are the instructions for my garter stitch squares:

• DK yarn, 4mm needles
• Cast on 2 stitches
• Knit 1 row
• Increase in the first stitch of each row until you have 40sts (44sts if using 4ply)
• Then decrease at the start of each row until all the stitches are gone!
• Please sew in the ends!

... This is a great way to use up odd bits of yarn, we love stripes!

If you're not able to visit the Southern Wool Show, please do check with your local hospitals or homeless charities to see what they need. Remember it will mean a lot to those who receive what you have made knowing that someone cares. Especially important at a time like this.

We'll be in the innovation area at the Southern Wool Show so we look forward to collecting in your donations. Whilst with us there, or at our stall in the Berkshire Stand, please have a go at spinning or making a braid or try some weaving. Please look at our website www.kennet-valley-guild.com to see what we've been doing during lockdown.

Stay safe and look forward to meeting you all in September.