KnitFit Community Knit-a-thon
2012
Frequently Asked Questions
Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all as excited as we are for the upcoming Annual KnitFit Knit-a-thon! Again this year the event will take place in two library branches, McConnell and Baddeck. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the event:
WHAT IS IT?
1) The KnitFit Knit-a-thon is a fundraising charitable event where knitters and crocheters can donate their time and talent to help Cape Breton families and support children’s literacy programs at the library at the same time.
2) This year it will take place at the McConnell Library in Sydney, on Saturday, February 25th, 2012 from 10am to 5 pm. Details on the Baddeck Library to follow.
3) Knitted/crocheted goods from the Sydney Knit-a-thon will be donated to the Salvation Army Clothe-a-Family, a charity that provides free clothes to families in need in Cape Breton County. Goods created in Baddeck will be donated to the Victoria County branches of the NS Dept of Community Services where they will be made available to clients in need.
4) Participants are asked to get people to sponsor them to come to the Knit-a-thon. A pledge sheet is provided. All money donated will be used to support Children’s Literacy programs at the CBRL. This could include the Summer Reading program, Storytime library programs for different ages, after school programs, an online teen reading program, teen programs and other programs we’d like to be able to offer.
WHO CAN COME? ANYONE!
5) Knitters and crocheters are welcome to come for all or part of the day. We are encouraging both new and experienced knitters to attend. We will have several experienced knitters helping new knitters with simple projects in the Nova Scotia Room at McConnell.
6) Knitters who can’t attend are encouraged to donate knitted goods anyway before the Knit-a-thon. We will count knitters, finished products and funds raised.
HOW DO I JOIN IN?
7) Patrons can pick up a Pledge form at their local library branch then ask friends and family to sponsor them. These funds will be used for Children’s Literacy programs at library branches in Cape Breton and Victoria Counties. Forms are available at each branch, or from http://knitfitknitathon.wordpress.com, or www.cbrl.ca. Cheques should be made out to the Cape Breton Regional Library.
8) Come to the McConnell Library on Feb 25th between 10 am and 5 am to knit or crochet. Donated yarn and needles will be available to use.
9) Participants can start knitting an item on the big day, bring one in progress, or bring finished items. Or they can come and watch, cheer the crafters on, or sponsor another knitter.
10) Participants are asked to please note on the form whether or not each sponsor requires a charitable tax receipt. Receipts for tax purposes can be issued for donations of $10 or more.
11) If unable to come on the 25th, participants can still send items or donations in through their library branch.
12) As we will not be getting the pledge sheets back until the day of the Knit-a-thon, we ask that interested knitters please let their branch know if they are planning to attend. If there is a storm, we can advise you of a rescheduled date if we have your phone number, and we can get some idea of numbers to expect for food. Thanks!
DO YOU HAVE TO BE A KNITTER TO HELP OUT? No!
13) As we said before, both knitters and crocheters are welcome to come for all or part of the day.
14) We are encouraging both new and experienced crafters to attend. We will have several experienced knitters/crocheters helping new crafters with simple projects in the Nova Scotia Room.
15) Anyone can support the Library and the Knit-a-thon by donating money to the branches, and yarn, needles, or knitted goods in the Donation Box provided to each branch before the Knit-a-thon date.
(good chance to clean out your closet!)
16) Anyone can donate money, yarn, needles, or knitted goods at the Knit-a-thon, as well.
WHAT ELSE WILL BE GOING ON?
17) At McConnell, our regular Saturday Storytimes will be on at 10:30 am and at 2:30 pm. Families are encouraged to attend, join in with the knitting, and/or expose the children to the craft.
18) A light lunch (finger food) will be provided from 12:00 to 1:30. We are currently approaching sponsors to provide lunch, tea, and coffee.
19) We are soliciting prizes for participants from yarn stores and producers, as well as local businesses. They are looking good!!
20) This will be a fun day, and probably not a quiet day, so conversation and sharing with other knitters and interested patrons will be encouraged to create a buzz! Participants don’t have to be really quiet in the library today!
21) We will be using the whole library! We will be setting up groups of chairs for knitters around the libraries, starting in the children’s section and spilling out into the adult section if necessary. Some sections will be reserved for other patrons; look for the “Crafters welcome here” signs.
22) The Program Room at McConnell will be used for the light lunch. The registration table, donated yarn and tea will be set up in the Nova Scotia Room, and prize draws will occur here later in the afternoon.
We ask participants to keep food and drink in these two rooms.
23) At Baddeck, lunch, tea and donated yarns will be set up by the windows. Registrations and monetary donations will be taken at the main circ desk.
24) If products are not completed during the day, participants may finish them at home and bring them to the library during the following week.
25) If patrons have any finished items that they would like to donate, they would be very welcome. They can drop them off at your library before the Knit-a-thon, or bring them to the Knit-a-thon on the big day!
WHO’S IDEA WAS THIS ANYWAY?!
26) The KnitFit Knit-a-thon was the idea of two young knitters from Sydney, Carrice Suomu and Sidney Reid. It began as a challenge from the website www.ravelry.com when one person offered to send out a ball of yarn a day so long as the recipient used the yarn to make something for charity. Carrice took up the challenge and decided, “Why stop there!” And here we are…! The Cape Breton Regional Library, Every Woman’s Centre (2008, 2010), the NS Dept of Community Services (2010), and the Salvation Army “Clothe-a-Family” program(2009), thank Carrice and Sidney for their vision!
If you have any questions, please contact:
Chris Thomson, CBRL Programmes, 562-3279, cthomson@nssc.ns.ca
