Tragic events such as the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut often are covered in the media as so raw, it can be felt in the hearts of each person hearing the story. Dozens of members of military and law enforcement, reporters, and political officials are shown doing their jobs. Victims' families, teary and distraught, are interviewed just after they hear the news. As frightening as this is for grownups, children see these same images and are even more confused and terrified than adults.
The late Fred Rogers, Children's Television Workshop host and off-camera minister, was once quoted as saying, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” As interviews with heroes such as Kaitlin Roig, the teacher who calmed her students as she heard gunfire, start pouring in, it is a reminder that everyone has a hero within us. At a time of tragedy, we can all help.
Throughout the country, local yarn shops are collecting handmade items to donate to the Newtown community in an offer of comfort. Ewe and Company, a shop in Kingston Springs, Tennessee, is collecting prayer shawls, and The Yarn Barn, a store in Woodbridge, Connecticut, is collecting hand-knitted stuffed animals to distribute to the children of the community. Chicago knitters can help as well.
Knot Just Knits, a local yarn shop in Oak Park, is collecting handmade washcloths, stuffed animals, prayer shawls, and comfort toys for the families, friends, and victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Items can be dropped off during holiday business hours, and will be shipped and distributed over the next few weeks. Below are a list of free patterns for quick inspiration; you may make any of your own favorite patterns as well:
Monster For Your Love - This pattern, found on the Bernat website, requires registration to the website (it is free), and it is a monster hugging a stuffed heart.
Durb - Found on Ravelry.com, Durb is the main character in Skein N Bones, a comic strip about monsters who knit, written and illustrated by Evanston's Brent Perrotti. Search for "Durb" in the Patterns section of Ravelry.com.
Tiny Baby Bunnies - These Mochi Mochi Land characters take only a few yards of scrap yarn, and can be whipped up in any yarn. Better, children can carry them in their pockets or their backpacks to have a friend with them at all times.
Sheldon - This stuffed turtle, found on knitty.com, is actually in two pieces so it can easily be laundered in all places after a jaunt on the playground.
Red Furry Monster Washcloth - This cute cloth can double as a hankie and be thrown in the washing machine as often as necessary.
Love Washcloth - The name says it all. This easy knit is the perfect way to tell strangers you are thinking of them in their time of need.
Apple Washcloth - Wisconsin's own Susan B. Anderson designed this cute washcloth, which would be a great way to honor the teachers as our heroes.
The Original Prayer Shawl - Designed by Victoria Galo and Janet Bristow of the Prayer Shawl Ministry, this pattern has been used for donations for several years and can be embellished with your own loving touches.
Lion Brand Prayer Shawl - This easy pattern, found on the Lion Brand Yarn website, is a quick knit since it uses large needles. It can be knitted while standing in line, stuck at a train, or watching television.
Lacy Prayer Shawl - Found on Ravelry.com, this pattern has a three-stitch rhythm, making it an easy take-along knit to finish during downtime on lunch or while waiting for the bus.
The shipping address is as follows: Knot Just Knits, Re: Sandy Hook Donations, 1107-1109 Westgate, Oak Park, IL 60301. Any questions relating to the donations may be directed to the store during normal business hours at 708-948-7943, or emailed to amy.e.kaspar@gmail.com any time. All of the above patterns are intended not only to be quick and easy, but to provide comfort to someone in need. Thank you for rising to the occasion and forming a community at a time of loss and great need for compassion.
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