It's been a great week for upcycling in our group with a range of no or low cost projects converting the unwanted into the delectable and desirable. For starters, Leo's Beanery cafe gave us a coffee sack. Old T shirts and pilled fleecy jumpers (all too worn out to recycle as anything wearable) transformed the sack into this cosy and colourful rag rug. We are sending it to Love in the Language of Yarn in Turkey in the hope that it will bring cosiness and cheer into the lives of a Syrian refugee family.
The sack makes an ideal base as it is double sided, has an inner waterproof lining to discourage any damp seeping through from the floor and comes already seamed to prevent fraying around the borders. The double layer means you can work through the top layer only, leaving the bottom layer as a protective base.
This was our first attempt at a rag rug and a useful learning curve. It uses the knotted method. Fleece is probably better than T shirt fabric because it is lighter, shrugs off moisture better and will be easier to wash and dry. Experimenting with design, drawing a pattern on the sack and then infilling it, rather than just having a random pattern will be the creative challenge for our next one. Rag rugging is a great project to leave lying around. Sort of like jigsaws used to be - family members tend to add a few strips in passing.
Contact us via the box on the right. Follow us on Facebook Craft Tea for Charity - Edinburgh Join us on Wednesday afternoons if you are in or near Edinburgh. We'd love to see you or hear from you!
Friday, 25 July 2014
Saturday, 19 July 2014
Accessorise!
Here in Edinburgh, even in the midst of the beautifully hot summer weather we are enjoying at the moment, we know that winters can be chilly things requiring cosy accessories. The sun shone brightly and warmly on us this week, but the latest newsletter from KAS (Knit a Square)
in South Africa reports that temperatures there have recently dropped
below freezing during the evenings in many parts of the country and there have been reports of snow on the mountains. In the Syrian refugee camps in Turkey the weather will start to cool down by November, which is not long when items have to be shipped to Turkey, sorted, then distributed to the camps. We are lucky to have
sponsor our overseas postage to these charities which means we can do so much more to help. So we hoisted up our needles and hooks and turned out our stash cupboards to make loads of hats, hand warmers, scarves and slippers to help people beat the cold ...
children's size. If you would like to make soft slippers there are several versions on our patterns page ...
hand warmers are so easy and quick and use up those odds and ends of yarn, but they can make a real difference to a child trying to hold a pencil in an unheated classroom. See our patterns page if you fancy making some ...
adult size hats in unisex colours plus a soft heathery scarf ...
a super slouch beanie for teenagers ...
and of course we can never get enough squares, so had to have some world cup inspired stripy ones ...
and lovely textured ones for their comforting feel as well as warmth and colour.
Follow us on Facebook Craft Tea for Charity for more news and updates.
If you would like to craft for charity our page of charities who welcome craft work (above) might have something that appeals to you. Many of the projects are simple, so you don't need to be an 'expert' - 20cm/8 inch squares for example are always in demand. There are also projects for crafters who like to challenge themselves.
If you are in or near Edinburgh and want to join us at one of our Wednesday afternoon craft meetings, contact us via the box on the right. We would love to welcome you. If you have always wanted to learn how to knit or crochet we can show you how. Sewers and quilters also welcome.
We are keen to expand our range of crafts and items we make so if you have a different craft that could help others, for example if you can make toys or educational items using other materials, then please do get in touch.
If you are a local charity who would like our help please email us on craftteaforcharity@btinternet.com or use the contact form on the right.
children's size. If you would like to make soft slippers there are several versions on our patterns page ...
hand warmers are so easy and quick and use up those odds and ends of yarn, but they can make a real difference to a child trying to hold a pencil in an unheated classroom. See our patterns page if you fancy making some ...
adult size hats in unisex colours plus a soft heathery scarf ...
a super slouch beanie for teenagers ...
and of course we can never get enough squares, so had to have some world cup inspired stripy ones ...
and lovely textured ones for their comforting feel as well as warmth and colour.
Follow us on Facebook Craft Tea for Charity for more news and updates.
If you would like to craft for charity our page of charities who welcome craft work (above) might have something that appeals to you. Many of the projects are simple, so you don't need to be an 'expert' - 20cm/8 inch squares for example are always in demand. There are also projects for crafters who like to challenge themselves.
If you are in or near Edinburgh and want to join us at one of our Wednesday afternoon craft meetings, contact us via the box on the right. We would love to welcome you. If you have always wanted to learn how to knit or crochet we can show you how. Sewers and quilters also welcome.
We are keen to expand our range of crafts and items we make so if you have a different craft that could help others, for example if you can make toys or educational items using other materials, then please do get in touch.
If you are a local charity who would like our help please email us on craftteaforcharity@btinternet.com or use the contact form on the right.
Friday, 11 July 2014
Zing and Bling!
Colours and patterns rushed out to play in yesterday's warm Edinburgh sun.
A riot of pattern and warmth in our blanket squares. We always need squares (plain or patterned) as there as so many children around the world desperately needing warm blankets.
Pink and cheerful sweater to brighten a child's cold day ...
wonderful African colours in this 'go-over' top for Knit-a-Square (see our patterns page for a knit and a crochet version if you would like to make one) ...
and a sequin or two in our hats to reflect the sunlight!
Find out more and follow us on our Facebook page Craft Tea for Charity
If you would like to comment, make a suggestion or join us on our Wednesday afternoon get togethers, please use the contact form on the right.
Happy crafting everyone!
A riot of pattern and warmth in our blanket squares. We always need squares (plain or patterned) as there as so many children around the world desperately needing warm blankets.
Pink and cheerful sweater to brighten a child's cold day ...
wonderful African colours in this 'go-over' top for Knit-a-Square (see our patterns page for a knit and a crochet version if you would like to make one) ...
and a sequin or two in our hats to reflect the sunlight!
Find out more and follow us on our Facebook page Craft Tea for Charity
If you would like to comment, make a suggestion or join us on our Wednesday afternoon get togethers, please use the contact form on the right.
Happy crafting everyone!
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Another parcel on its way
Another wonderfully cheerful and helpful DHL
man arrived with his van this morning to uplift our parcel for Knit a
Square (KAS) in Soweto. Thank you DHL for your generous sponsorship of
our monthly overseas shipment which makes a huge difference
to what we can achieve and thank you also for having such lovely
employees. One of our group spotted this DHL plane at Basel airport last week - wonder if it's full of knitting for charity and Swiss chocolate - what a great combination that would be!
Friday, 27 June 2014
Squares and hats ready to go
We enjoy our weekly chat, tea and craft (mostly crochet and knitting, but other crafts welcome)

and knowing that all of the items we make will be going to help people in need keep warm adds an extra sense of satisfaction. The squares will be sent to KAS to be made into blankets for AIDS orphans in South Africa. The hats are for LILY who sends them to Syrian refugees.

If you would like to join us on a Wednesday afternoon in Edinburgh to enjoy a tea or coffee, friendly chat and make items for charity then just fill in the contact form on the right. We can provide you with patterns and help with crochet and knitting.
and knowing that all of the items we make will be going to help people in need keep warm adds an extra sense of satisfaction. The squares will be sent to KAS to be made into blankets for AIDS orphans in South Africa. The hats are for LILY who sends them to Syrian refugees.
If you would like to join us on a Wednesday afternoon in Edinburgh to enjoy a tea or coffee, friendly chat and make items for charity then just fill in the contact form on the right. We can provide you with patterns and help with crochet and knitting.
Friday, 20 June 2014
Handwarmers in the shade
Such a sunny day that we sat outside is some welcome shade to knit and crochet and sew while we enjoyed our tea and coffee and chat. Despite our sunshine we know that cold is a problem for the AIDS orphans and refugees who are served by the charities we send our stuff to. We are building up a good pile of handwarmers and hats ready to be sent off soon.
Also busy sewing and crocheting items for a stall at a fair at the end of summer and adding to the blanket squares we will send off at the end of June.
If you enjoying crafting and would like to join us in making items for charity over a friendly cuppa and chat then use the contact form on the right and we’ll let you know where you can find us.
Saturday, 14 June 2014
Sunshine on Leo's
Hurrah, the sun was shining brightly for our Wednesday get together to knit, crochet, sew and chat this week. The warm sunshine theme was reflected in the items produced . . .
bright hats with pretty detail to keep Syrian refugee children warm in Turkey this winter
and cheerful stripes going to Knit a Square in Soweto to make cosy blankets for Aids orphans.
If you would like to join us on our Wednesday cafe afternoons, please contact us using the form on the right. We would love to welcome you. You can follow us and leave your comments and suggestions on our Facebook page Craft Tea for Charity - Edinburgh too.
bright hats with pretty detail to keep Syrian refugee children warm in Turkey this winter
and cheerful stripes going to Knit a Square in Soweto to make cosy blankets for Aids orphans.
If you would like to join us on our Wednesday cafe afternoons, please contact us using the form on the right. We would love to welcome you. You can follow us and leave your comments and suggestions on our Facebook page Craft Tea for Charity - Edinburgh too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
















