Yarn Me Calm Community

We have the most amazing group on Facebook called Yarn Me Calm (YMC) Community.  Many of the people in the group epitomise the values and ethos of Yarn Me Calm on a daily basis, they are constantly giving back to their community and so many of them use yarn to do this!

As part of the group I pop up a give away every month with a relatively random prize and the only requirement is participation!  For February 2019 the following was asked of YMC Community members:

List some ideas on how yarn can be used for good.....

What are you doing, or what can you do?

If you're not currently doing something, that's ok! We'd love to hear some ideas!

How do we use yarn to support others? Is it via community get togethers, making for charities etc.

Their responses are below with links (where possible), please note that I have not included their names as I was wanting to ensure their privacy (feel free to identify yourself if you like!).  

• YMC supports KOGO (knit one give one).

• I use yarn at my mother's church craft group they use all types of yarn for all kinds of craft, they sell the products on a table and that money goes to the church restoration, the bigger products like blankets are raffled for charities of all kinds but mainly for the local cancer treatment cottage, which I have donated some of my crocheted blankets for them, we also help some of the aged care facilities. 

• I decided to answer this one from discussions I have had with my four year old. Yarn keeps my baby doll warm when she is in bed cause she gets cold. Yarn is also good to tie to things so I don't get lost. I use yarn to crochet (she ties knots in yarn as her version of crochet) and also as a pillow for my baby doll. I like to play with yarn because it's pretty and feels nice. I take my mums yarn from her stash so she has space to put it in when she buys more yarn.

• The amazing Gumleaf Crochet is currently collecting 8 inch granny squares to make blankets to support the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners. I am currently making up some squares to contribute to this phenomenal cause that Gumleaf Crochet is championing.  

• As a matter a fact I’m starting at our local library to teach anybody who wants to drop in on Mondays. I just want to be available for whoever, and it’s a great opportunity to give back. Looking forward to it too.

• Well.... I use yarn for snuggle rugs for the RSPCA and a local cat rescue so the Pawphans can be cosy. My shorter balls go to a friend who makes twiddle muffs for dementia patients. I also try each year to make, or at least donate yarn, for the Guardian Pharmacy projects (beanies, scarves, etc). I support the Oncology Clinic where my brother works, with beanies/scarves for the patients, or I'll send in some yarn as there are needles and hooks available for patients or relatives to use. Don't think I've actually made or kept anything for myself for quite a while, planning on this year do just that with some nice yarn from Yarn Me Calm.

• I knit blankets for nursing home where l work and crochet octopus for prem babies.

• I haven’t used yarn yet to donate or help community. But I have been part of a group of gourmet crafters who made a few quilt as you go quilts. Loved doing that. You may ask why we called ourselves Gourmet Crafters. Cause we did more eating at our get togethers than craft.

• Yarn can bring back a persons memory, my mum has dementia, she hasn’t crocheted in more years than I can remember, she spent 4 months in hospital from a fractured femur, since coming home I gave her some yarn and a hook, amazing she started crocheting again, she’s turning out so many little blankets, we’ve decided we’d donate them to a dog and cat rescue centre.
  This is what I think has helped my mum contribute to the community (animal).

• I knit teddies for the Red Cross to go to emergency departments and could use the yarn for that. Also I knit premmie beanies and crochet for Octopus for a Preemie. Another thing I do is crochet snails for victims of domestic and sexual abuse (children) to go in a pack for them. Also I am looking into the organisation which makes articles for angel babies 👶. 

• Lamb jumpers for our farmers ( the little lambs have been having such a hard time ) . You can get patterns for them in knit but am yet to see a crochet one ( may be some way to convert the knitted pattern or a dogs jumper to fit them). As always the dog shelter blankets are a much needed item all year round.

• I knit and crochet toys and beanies. The toys are for foster children and those in domestic violence situations. All my left over bits are turned into what I call Bista Beanies, these go to Alice Springs and are given to many different people from kidney dialysis to domestic violence situations to children in need.