Latest Blanket Podcast Episodes
Becoming a volunteer
Knit-a-Square - March 26, 2022 14:58 - 29 minutesWe are blessed to have so many big-hearted people volunteering at the barn. In this episode, Norma shares with Leanne what first drew her to Knit-a-Square and what it was like to become a regular on opening days. We hear, too, how it felt for Norma when she got to go on her first distribution at...
Rising to the occasion
Knit-a-Square - March 15, 2022 06:00 - 40 minutesLong-standing KAS members Pam Johnson and Elaine Jones share with Leanne the process they followed in setting up a Shropshire-based charity called “Knit for Life”. The charity makes it possible for them to send large quantities of squares to South Africa on behalf of dozens of local knitters. Re...
Dancing children
Knit-a-Square - March 01, 2022 06:00 - 32 minutesThe sounds and feel of Athelé’s visit to Perfuri near the northern tip of the Kruger National Park are captured in this episode as she chats to Leanne from her spot under a tree. We hear the excitement of the children who receive toys, and feel with Athelé her wish that more could be done to rea...
Led by curiosity
Knit-a-Square - February 15, 2022 06:00 - 33 minutesIn this episode, Leanne chats to Valerie Zalewski in France. Valerie has been a member of KAS since 2012 and is a keen crocheter, using her large stash of yarn to make squares and toys for the children. Of special interest is Valerie’s story of how she came to learn about Knit-a-Square in the ...
Doing what feels meaningful
Knit-a-Square - February 01, 2022 06:00 - 35 minutesAnna has been a volunteer at the Knit-a-Square barn for about three years and is passionate about compiling squares into blankets. In this episode, she chats to Leanne from a friendly coffee shop in the midst of her morning’s routines, explaining how she came to be involved and what motivates he...
Back for another season
Knit-a-Square - January 18, 2022 06:00 - 18 minutesIt’s been a long break, but I’m back with another season of the Knit-a-Square podcast, sharing news and interviews with our wonderful members from South Africa and around the world. In this episode, I review some of the conversations I’ve had with members in previous seasons, then share some of ...
Therapeutic benefits of knitting
Knit-a-Square - September 07, 2021 06:00 - 30 minutesLeanne’s daughter Tammy joins her on today’s podcast to chat about their morning at the barn. Tammy is a psychologist in training and has experience working with patients with anxiety. She shares some interesting findings regarding knitting, crocheting and other fibre arts. This is the final e...
The backbone of any blanket
Knit-a-Square - August 24, 2021 06:00 - 33 minutesJoy Evans is a keen knitter of PJ’s and is glad to know they are welcomed as the backdrop to beautiful picture squares contributed by other members. Speaking to Leanne from her home in Arkansas, she shares her passion for Knit-a-Square and the chance to let the children know that someone cares. ...
Dangerous conditions
Knit-a-Square - August 10, 2021 06:00 - 29 minutesJuly is Mandela month in South Africa, but this year’s Mandela Day was marred by social unrest. Listen to what the volunteers at Knit-a-Square have to say about it, now that things are returning to normal, and experience some of the lively atmosphere in the barn as they open parcels, fold blanke...
The world needs our help
Knit-a-Square - July 27, 2021 06:00 - 36 minutesGrace Weir has been a member of Knit-a-Square for 11 years, and her friends in Dorchester, Dorset have helped her contribute many blankets and accessories for distribution. As she shares with Leanne her love of yarn, knitting, card-making and a range of other crafts, her enthusiasm for helping o...
Keeping it real
Knit-a-Square - July 13, 2021 06:00 - 47 minutesIn this episode, Athelé tells us about three distributions that she and Estelle managed to do before the latest level four lockdown occurred. Blankets, beanies, hand warmers and toys were handed out to vulnerable children in the settlements of Hammanskraal and Lion Park on behalf of our generous...
Castles and picture squares
Knit-a-Square - June 29, 2021 06:00 - 38 minutesMarion Davies lives within sight of the historic Conwy Castle in North Wales and shares with us her passion for crocheting picture squares to incorporate into the beautiful blankets that get distributed to orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa. She also tells Leanne about an unfortu...
Blankets to keep out the winter chill
Knit-a-Square - June 15, 2021 06:00 - 31 minutesThe term “informal settlement” is frequently used in describing where our vulnerable children live but the actual location, history and conditions relating to such settlements seldom get discussed in our reports. This episode goes a little deeper into the challenges our children face, both physi...
Kindness in action
Knit-a-Square - June 01, 2021 06:00 - 34 minutesKnit-a-Square is an amazing community of caring people, brought together by our shared commitment to keep South Africa’s vulnerable and orphaned children warm. This episode of the podcast celebrates our connections at every level. Susanne Leverton was raised by her mother to think of others an...
Volunteers at work
Knit-a-Square - May 18, 2021 06:00 - 31 minutesIn this episode, Leanne chats to several of the volunteers at the barn. Ronda measures herself against a mountain of blankets, Sue bubbles over with wonder at the creativity of so many contributors, Wandi anticipates packaging up 90 bundles for distribution at two separate crèches, and Estelle s...
Celebrations to cheer the children
Knit-a-Square - May 04, 2021 06:00 - 36 minutesAmy Pettigrew is one of our most active moderators, keeping members up to date with various discussions on the Square Circle Forum and regularly overseeing Knit-a-Square’s monthly themes. In this episode she joins Leanne from her picturesque home in Houston, Texas to chat about crocheting and he...
Where our blankets go
Knit-a-Square - April 20, 2021 06:00 - 32 minutesSquares sent in to Knit-a-Square get sewn into cosy blankets and distributed to vulnerable children at day care centres, crèches and informal settlements around Gauteng and beyond. In this episode, Leanne speaks with two of Vivienne’s contacts in the Northern Cape to discover more about their wo...
Friendships on the Knit-a-Square Forum
Knit-a-Square - April 06, 2021 06:00 - 42 minutesGloria Grandy, editor of the KAS Snippets, joins Leanne on this week’s podcast to talk about the wonderful people she has met on the Square Circle Forum and how her life has been enriched as a result of helping South Africa’s vulnerable children. We hear about her deep friendship with Anne Powel...
Reflections on a year like no other
Knit-a-Square - March 23, 2021 06:00 - 40 minutesEstelle has been at the forefront of operations at Knit-a-Square over the past year and chats to Leanne at length about what it was like, both at the barn and on distributions. We hear about some new volunteers who have joined the team and their impressions of opening days. If you like what yo...
The rewards of reaching out
Knit-a-Square - March 09, 2021 06:00 - 41 minutesPatricia Gribble shares with Leanne how her work with visually-impaired people led to a meeting with the Prime Minister and the establishment of the St Pancras Knitters in Plymouth. Her group has contributed 600 blankets to Knit-a-Square to date and formed strong relationships in the process whi...
A spell in the park
Knit-a-Square - February 23, 2021 06:04 - 37 minutesRonda and her husband Peter contracted COVID while visiting family in the Cape over Christmas. In this episode of the podcast, she shares with Leanne how they managed to make the most of a bad situation and benefit from the extra time with loved ones. Ronda also reveals her deep passion for the...
Finding freedom within limitation
Knit-a-Square - February 09, 2021 06:00 - 22 minutesWelcome to 2021, a very different start to the year from what we are used to. Everything is limited, from travel to access to yarn, and so we have to make adjustments. In this episode, Leanne takes the opportunity to share some thoughts from her own experience dealing with visual impairment. We...
Crafting in good company
Knit-a-Square - November 17, 2020 06:00 - 23 minutesIn the final podcast episode of the season, we get to hear the famous Knit-a-Square song, contributed by Gloria Grandy and members of her family. In addition, Leanne shares some of the feedback she's had from members about the Knit-a-Square podcast. She invites participation from other members...
How to stay sane during a pandemic
Knit-a-Square - November 03, 2020 06:00 - 42 minutesToday's podcast guest is Liz Geldenhuis, a local volunteer whose passion is sorting squares and sewing them up into blankets. Liz shares how she came to be involved in charity work and then a member of Knit-a-Square. We hear how she keeps herself busy during lockdown and the role that Knit-a-Sq...
Clever tips for creative knitters
Knit-a-Square - October 20, 2020 06:00 - 44 minutesThis week, Karen Gordon from the north-east of England chats to Leanne about the very important role that knitting has played in her life. Having had mobility problems from childhood, she learnt to make garments for herself then switched to knitting for charity. She describes how Knit-a-Square g...
A tough distribution
Knit-a-Square - October 06, 2020 06:00 - 43 minutesIn this episode, Leanne chats with Athelé about her recent visit to one of the roughest and most dangerous "squatter camps" she has seen. We hear about the dreadful conditions in which orphaned and vulnerable children sometimes have to live and the amazing people who help the community at JikaJ...
A summer harvest
Knit-a-Square - September 22, 2020 06:00 - 35 minutesThis episode features an interview with Mili Kus, a long-standing member of Knit-a-Square and an olive farmer on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. With charming grace, she describes her natural surroundings,, work in the olive grove, and passion for charity knitting. If you would like to particip...
42. Episode Forty-Three
Blanket Fort - September 15, 2020 11:25 - 46 minutes ★★★★★ - 1 ratingThis week the blanket term team sits down to reminisce about season 1 of Blanket Fort. Allen talks about the Navajo Alphabet, Dawn talks about her teacher's forbidden love with their project car, Abert admits his hatred for truck owners, and Brandon reveals his hatred for girls. Yo...
Celebrating our local volunteers.
Knit-a-Square - September 08, 2020 06:00 - 27 minutesIn this episode, Leanne chats to Ronda and Estelle to get a detailed update on post from overseas, numbers of squares coming in, and numbers of blankets, beanies, hand-warmers and soft toys going out. We hear about Ronda's move to her new home, the local companies and knitting groups that have...
41. The Red Kettle Society
Blanket Fort - August 25, 2020 10:00 - 44 minutes ★★★★★ - 1 ratingThis week the Blanket Term team sits down to talk about Allen's ASMR, Dawn's crazy note taking, Albert's Coffee Science, and we form our first secret society. You can check out everything Blanket Term does over at [Blanket-Term.com] (https://www.blanket-term.com). Send Questions via ...
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