SYDNEY, N.S. — If you love to knit, you may want to consider attending this year’s Community KnitFit Community Knit-a-thon at the McConnell Memorial Library on Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
This will be the 13th year for the event which brings together those who wish to knit and/or crochet warm winter items for local charities while supporting children’s and teens programs at Cape Breton Regional Library branches.
Participants are asked to gather pledges to raises money to support literacy programs at the library such as the summer reading programs, teen and tween programs, special programs and baby, toddler and preschool programs from across the region. Pledge sheets are available at all CBRL branches and on the website (www.cbrl.ca). If you don’t wish to ask for pledges, you can donate yourself to participate.
All library branches accept donations of yarn, tools and patterns that aren’t needed anymore. At the Knit-a-thon, donated yarn is available for use during the day or to take home to continue making items for charity. Many people bring in the items they have been working on over the previous year too, so that hundreds of hats, mitts, scarves, sweaters and more are donated to local charities that provide free clothing for those in our communities who need them. Donations are accepted year-round, and items that are received by Christmas are donated to charities in time for their Christmas parcels.
Over the last 13 years, more than 9,300 items have been donated to 14 Cape Breton charities through the library by local crafters, and almost $18,000 has been raised to fund children’s literacy programs at CBRL.
Also, local grocery stores (Sobeys and Atlantic Super Store) and bakeries (Tony’s and Harold’s), Starbucks and others, have generously donated lunch and refreshments for participants. There will also be door prizes donated by various local and regional businesses as well as patrons.
A special lace sock pattern designed by Barb Kelly Landry will be available for sale at the knit-a-thon and the Bobbin Tree with all proceeds going to CBRM children and teen programs. There will also be demonstrations of hand spinning of yarn by the Unspun Heroes Spinners and hand weaving by the Sydney Weavers Guild.
