[cingris]

(bringing this over: posted by Karen and the GFA Team):

GFA is thrilled to announce that it is once again time for our blanket drive. If you're a regular supporter of our drives or if you're new to the project, we welcome each and every one of you. It's your chance to take part in one of our most heartwarming experiences. Over the next several weeks, Grobanites everywhere will have the opportunity to make or purchase blankets for needy children, including the children of Siyawela, the care center in South Africa, which receives support from The Josh Groban Foundation. These children have won our hearts and we're excited to be able to show our love for them by blanketing them with warmth once again this winter.

The details of the blanket drive are listed below. We'd love for everyone to participate, and if you have any questions, you can PM or email me or any of the GFA team members and we'll be glad to help. Let's show Josh how much we support his efforts to help the children of Siyawela by making sure that every single child there has a soft, warm blanket for the winter!! We only have a few weeks to make this happen before cold weather, so let's get busy!!

Due to shipping costs and customs restrictions, we may not be able to ship all the blankets we receive to South Africa. We will ship as many as we can there, and donate the rest to needy children here in the US. But, we are also encouraging monetary donations for purchasing blankets in South Africa to accompany the handmade ones, so that we can provide as many of the children there as possible with blankets.

BLANKET GUIDELINES:

Blankets *must* be HANDMADE only (due to customs regulations/fees regarding "gifts". (See below for alternate opportunity to donate money for purchased blankets).

Preferred sizes: Baby/child......45" x 58" (approx 1 1/4 yd long) Teen..............54" x 60" (approx 1 1/2 yd long)

Warm and washable materials: Soft, bright fabrics and/or yarn. (White is difficult to keep clean).

Patterns: Please avoid large or loopy knitted/crocheted stitches, as they are not as warm as tighter stitches. We ask that you make fleece blankets double layered for warmth, as the South Africa winters can get very cold. Also, please keep in mind cultural/religious issues when choosing your patterns.

Quilts: Sturdy cotton, yarn tied or machine quilted.

"No-sew" blankets: These are very popular, because they're quick and easy to do and don't require a sewing machine. You can usually obtain instructions on how to make these where you buy the materials, or at any fabric store.

Mailing: Please mail your blankets to the GFA team. They MUST be received by GFA no later than March 15, so that we will have time to repack and ship to SA for them to get to Siyawela in time for cold weather. Remember, we'll ship as many as possible to SA. The remainder will be given to needy children here in the USA.

Please email me or Kim Levin and we'll give you the shipping address, or PM one of us here on the boards:

Karen: cdldds@cox.net
Kim: penguindreams8@hotmail.com

Photos and cards: We encourage you to include a personal card and/or photo of yourself. We will forward these to NOAH to be given to the staff at Siyawela. Also, we will be posting some of the photos we receive of you and/or your handiwork on the GFA website, the GFC newsletter, and here on the boards. Please also feel free to post pictures of your completed blankets here on this thread.

Customs Declaration: Please keep a record of material costs and send them along with your blanket, as we will need this information for Declared Value for SA customs officials.

Monetary Donations: We will also be accepting monetary donations for blankets that will be purchased in SA to accompany the handmade ones, and to help with the shipping costs. As you know, there are hundreds of children now under the care of Siyawela, and we won't be able to ship enough blankets to SA, due to exorbitant shipping/customs fees, to accommodate all the children. Fleece blankets can be purchased in South Africa very inexpensively, and we plan to do that for Siyawela, so if you'd like to contribute for a purchased blanket, or to help with shipping costs, go to our website at www.grobanitesforafrica.org to donate, making sure that you note "2010 Blanket Drive" in the comment section.

Thanks, everyone! We know this drive will be a huge success because Grobies have a way of going above and beyond when it comes to kids who need help!

A huge thank you to each one of you,
The GFA team: Karen, Kim, Trisha, Harriet and Mary

[Song of My Soul]

Here's to plucking up the courage to try to make one this year.

Many heartfelt thanks to the ladies in GFA for doing this again. It's going to be another fabulously successful year!

[menderle]

Love this project! The blankets always look so wonderful & they are so needed.

[indaymen2]

What about sending them to Haiti this time instead...?

[Sabrina]

this is great!! i'm a supporter for all kinds of Joshy charity works! and i'm totally with you

[sami]

That's a very thoughtful suggestion, Luz, so I don't want it to go unanswered. The function of GFA is to support JGF with projects for the children in Africa. Because this is an annual project, the children and staff at Siyawela look forward to the arrival of the wonderful, homemade Grobie blankets with happy anticipation each year, so we don't want to disappoint them.

The JGF has already provided assistance in Haiti, and will continue to do so. There is another thread in this forum that details ways we can support the terrible disaster in Haiti. Hopefully, the always generous Grobies will be able to provide some support to both of these very worthwhile efforts.

[sami]

For anyone needing instructions on making the no-sew blankets, here they are:

Fleece Throw No Sew Pattern, Step One Although the throws can be made in any size desired, since most fleeces are sold in approximately 54' widths, the ones I've done are 54" by 54. Gather supplies · 1 1/2 yards of patterned fleece · 1 1/2 yards of coordinating (solid) fleece · sharp scissors · large straight pins Fleece Throw No Sew Pattern, Step Two Instructions · Spread out both pieces of fabric on a large flat surface. · With right sides facing OUT, smooth fabric out until there are no wrinkles or fabric bunching. · Pin the two pieces together a few inches from the edges, don't worry if one piece is slightly larger than the other.
Fleece Throw No Sew Pattern, Step Three Trimming the edges · Trim off the unsightly selvage edges of the fabric · Also trim the fabric so that both pieces are the same size, · After trimming, smooth fabric out again so there is no bunching or wrinkles in the two pieces
Fleece Throw No Sew Pattern, Step Four · Cut a 4" square out of each corner of the fabric. Fleece Throw No Sew Pattern, Step Five
The size of the fringe depends on your personal preference. The width and length can be adjusted to the look desired. Do a few test "ties" before cutting all the fabric. This picture shows the reverse side of the throw, with 5" cuts. · Cut 4" to 5" slits in the fabric, approximately 3/4 to 1" wide · If a 5" cut provides the desired look, you will have to adjust the 4" corner cut to a 5" corner cut. Fleece Throw No Sew Pattern, Step Five -- Reverse Picture Right side of the throw shown with 5" cuts.
Fleece Throw No Sew Pattern, Step Six Now the fun part -- tying the fringe. · Starting at one corner tie the first two pieces of fringe together. Remember you are tying the patterned fleece to the plain fleece. · Tie with a double knot -- the knot shouldn't be super tight. · Tie a few fringes in on each corner (which helps keep the fabric straight). {li]Finish tying the rest of the fringe around the throw.
Fleece Throw No Sew Pattern, Step Seven The Finished Product! for a baby or toddler, purchase 1 to 1 1/2 yards (in each of • two fabrics) • for a child, purchase 1-3/4 yards (in each of two fabrics) • for a teen or adult, purchase 2 yards (in each of two fabrics) • Note: If you have a taller or bigger person that will be the • recipient, buy more fleece! Large blankets are always • appreciated!

[monarchs4michelle]

Excited to get my first grade students involved with this project, again! We tied fleece pillows/created cards for a hospice during November, so I know that they are up for the challenge. One question, should cards be attached to the blankets? (Last year, somebody needed to match each card to each blanket in Africa, which seemed like a bit of work)! What would be the most helpful way for us to send corresponding cards?

[sami]

Michelle, I'm so happy that you and your class will be making blankets again this year. Please also include the cards as you did last year - they were just precious. Custom regulations require us to send the cards separately from the blankets, but the people at Siyawela understand that and don't mind matching them back up with the blankets when they arrive. It's really the only way to do it.

monarchs4michelle, on 18 January 2010 - 04:43 PM, said:

Excited to get my first grade students involved with this project, again! We tied fleece pillows/created cards for a hospice during November, so I know that they are up for the challenge. One question, should cards be attached to the blankets? (Last year, somebody needed to match each card to each blanket in Africa, which seemed like a bit of work)! What would be the most helpful way for us to send corresponding cards?

[upstatescjgfan]

I have one (a baby/toddler blanket) on the needles, but doubt I will finish it in time as I am a slow knitter. Guess I'll be making a monetary donation again this year.

[indaymen2]

Thanks Karen for the response ...I know how excited they are for the blankets to come . We Grobies will always look forward to our annual blanket parties!

Keep up the good work GFA!!

[sami]

I would like to make 2 suggestions that would be helpful to the GFA team and would make the Siyawela kids very happy.

If you would take a picture of your completed blanket and post it on this thread, it would save us having to take pictures of each blanket as they arrive (it becomes a task with close to 200 blankets so generously donated). Please add a note with your blanket to let us know whether or not you have posted a picture.

I received one blanket with a lovely note attached. She had a picture of herself wrapped in the blanket as part of the note. This will be so meaningful to the child who receives the blanket, and will make it more special for him/her. If you can, please attach a similar note to your blanket.

We are so grateful to each one of you who takes the time and gives the love to make these blankets. The pictures of the Siyawela children wrapped in the blanket they receive is so very heartwarming each year. We want to make this year even more successful than the last few years have been.

Thank you from the GFA team.

[HarrietforJosh]

 Me with Blanket for Siyawela SMALLER Jan-23-10.jpg (231.54K)
Number of downloads: 6 Our cold weather here in North Carolina brings it home again how much our warm blankets are needed by the children at Siyawela.If you can make one for them, wonderful! If not, please send a donation to help with the purchase of additional blankets in Africa. (We can send over only handmade blankets because of customs laws.) Donations can be made at www.grobanitesforafrica.org Please put "2010 Blanket Drive" in the comments space.

Here's a picture of me with the blanket I made for this year's blanket drive.

Hugs, Harriet

[MrsHonley]

Hey Everyone~

I'd be Happy to Hook for the 2010 Blanket Drive! I have two ready to go and I'll see how many more I can finish by the deadline!

MrsHonley
aka "the other" Harriet the Hooker!

[sami]

Thanks, Harriet, that would be wonderful.

[harmonic]

Here’s my contribution to the 2010 Drive. My first ever blankets for Siyawela children. It was a lot of fun sewing them (of course listening to Josh throughout the process; the hours were measured by the number of times ‘Closer’ and ‘Awake Live’ played ;-)).

And now I’m even happier to be a Grobie :-)

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•  sun_tree_S.JPG (132.42K)
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•  sun_tree_4Siyawela_S.JPG (80.17K)
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•  orange_note_4Siyawela_S.JPG (80.48K)
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[cingris]

I heard that the no-sews blankets at JoAnnes, the precut ones, are 50% off right now

[giuliana]

Every smile you share with us,
every smile you receive from us,
every smile you steal from those children,
every blanket that warms a child body,
everu blanket that covers an old man,
every soul healed,
will return to you giving strenght and will to go on,
... and every piece of heart, who was put by the people who made these blankets,
will grow up in those children's heart and will fill with love.

with respect,
Giuliana

[Cheeky]

I spent the afternoon at my sister Mary's house after hitting the sale at JoAnne's where the no-sew blanket kits were 50% off, so we made 5, 3 smaller and 2 larger sized. I'll get them in the mail this week. I'd do more but that was my limit this time. I hope you get enough to meed the needs.

I took a picture of her behind the blankets draped on her sofa, and she took one of me, I'll send them along with the blankets.

[MrsHonley]

Hey Everyone
I've crocheted 4 blankies and I'm shooting for 1 more before I send.
So, I'll post photos by the end of the week (if my little arthritic hands can hold the camera!!!)
kidding......

Harriet "the Hooker"
aka MrsHonley
aka Rose Hall Mom <- you all didn't forget that one, did you?