Donor Spotlight: Deb Thompson

At Knitting in Recovery, all of our gracious donors mean the world to us.  They make what we do possible, so we wanted to take the time to highlight them and share our deepest gratitude.

Today we are spotlighting Deb Thompson.

Like many of us, Deb learned to knit from her mother when she was young.  She mostly put her needles down until she walked into Anacapa Fine Yarns and was suddenly inspired to knit again!  (Who can ever resist gorgeous yarn?!)  Deb has also taken up weaving, in part as a means to use up scrap yarn, and has even ventured into spinning her own yarn.  She is part of the Ventura Weavers and Spinners Guild.

Deb made a generous donation of vibrant wool yarn, including some that she had spun herself.  We are honored to receive this labor of love.

Deb’s hand-spun yarn.

Thank you, Deb, for helping our program succeed in helping other women in our community.

Gratitude Month Donor Spotlight: Basha Kooler and Kooler Design Studio

At Knitting in Recovery, all of our gracious donors mean the world to us.  They make what we do possible, so we wanted to take the time this holiday season to highlight them and share our deepest gratitude.

Today we are spotlighting Basha Kooler and Kooler Design Studio.

Kooler Design Studio loft space

For over 30 years, Kooler Design Studio has designed and licensed classic and perennial artwork for the needlework, craft, and giftware industries.  They are experts in creating needlework designs, charts, patterns and stitch guides for any application.  Kooler Design Studio’s team has produced hundreds of books and leaflets for craft publishers.  As a service to crafters around the world, the Kooler Design online store carries many of their kits, books, charts and related products gathered from their various clients and publishers, including over 400 needlework patterns available online as PDF direct downloads at www.koolerdesign.com.

Kooler Design Studio cross stitch patterns sampled on sachets

Basha has been the president of Kooler Design Studio since 2010, and continues its great traditions today: To bring quality needle art and craft design to the creative community worldwide.

Basha Kooler at Best of Kooler book signing

Basha was first connected to our founder, Lise Solvang, and Knitting in Recovery through Ruthie Marks, a dear friend and talented crochet designer who designed projects for many of Kooler Design Studio’s books for over a decade.

Donations to Knitting in Recovery come from Kooler Design Studio inventory.

Our sincerest thanks to Basha and Kooler Design Studios for helping Knitting in Recovery continue to serve our community.

If you would like to make a donation to Knitting in Recovery, please follow our “Donate” link on the lefthand side of the page.

Find this Basket!

Ok, Ojai friends, you know the drill.  Find this basket!  We hid it somewhere around town.  Once you find it, take a picture of yourself knitting the scarf and post it to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #knittinginrecovery .  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram @knittinginrecovery to be automatically entered into a raffle for a yarn basket of your own.

Hint: We’ll be sure to keep this basket’s whereabouts anonymous.

Once the scarf is finished, it will be donated to a local charity for our less fortunate community members.

Happy hunting!

Find this Basket!

Another one for Ojai folks–find this basket!  We hid it somewhere around town.  Once you find it, take a picture of yourself knitting the scarf and post it to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #knittinginrecovery .  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram @knittinginrecovery to be automatically entered into a raffle for a yarn basket of your own.

Hint: Knitting this scarf will make you feel restored, and your appointment will be a breeze.

Once the scarf is finished, it will be donated to a local charity for our less fortunate community members.

Happy hunting!

Find this Basket! (+Program Expansion)

Got a case of the Mondays?  Break up your routine by going on a scavenger hunt!

This year, we’re expanding the Community Scarf Basket program to Ventura!  This basket is at our first Ventura partner business.  It’s a super cozy spot with lots of goodies for you to enjoy while you knit.

Once you find it, take a picture of yourself knitting the scarf and post it to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #knittinginrecovery .  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram @knittinginrecovery to be automatically entered into a raffle for a yarn basket of your own.

Once the scarf is finished, it will be donated to a local charity for our less fortunate community members.

The basket in its location. Do you recognize the mural?

Happy hunting!

Donation from Twist Yarns of Intrigue

Knitting in Recovery just received yet another generous donation of tons of gorgeous, soft, and cozy yarn from Twist Yarns of Intrigue in Manhattan Beach.  We are so grateful to have such selfless community members supporting our program.

Just like any knitter or crocheter, our clients love getting new yarn.  Every time we bring in a donation, it’s like Christmas for them.  This time, some of the yarn from the donation might just be used for Christmas and holiday presents!  One of the best parts of Knitting in Recovery is that yarn donated to our clients is often used to make hats, scarves, and blankets that are then donated to others less fortunate.  It really is a community-strengthening process that spreads love to all it touches.

Many thanks again to Twist Yarns of Intrigue for the donation.

Prototypes Baby Blankets

One of our clients at Prototypes Women’s Center crocheted these beautiful baby blankets.  We know her little one will be nice and cozy in these.  And these blankets are all the more special since they were handmade with love and care.

Yarn Donation from Terri!

Knitting in Recovery teachers (and neighbors), Emily and Theresa, admiring the yarn and getting ready to take it to our clients.

We love getting yarn donations!  Many thanks to Terri Nigro from Ventura County for this very generous donation.  Once again, a donation that filled an entire car!

The yarn will be going to Prototypes, New Visions, The Wellness Center, Project Understanding, House of Hope as well as to Women in Recovery Knitting Groups who are knitting donations for our upcoming winter Season.

Even our fur friends like yarn!  Emily’s dog, Bishop, helping sort yarn to go to New Visions and the Wellness Center.

Yarn Donation from Twist!

July 24, 2017-Knitting in Recovery received an awesome yarn donation from Twist: Yarns of Intrigue in Manhattan Beach.  The donation filled up an entire car!  The biggest of thank yous to Twist!  Our clients do great things with this yarn and getting new goodies in makes them feel very special.

What a wonderful gift!

Worldwide Knit in Public Day 2016

June 18, 2016–Many thanks to everyone who came out to join us for our second annual celebration of Worldwide Knit in Public Day!

This year, we were graced with the presence of the longest crochet chain in the world, weighing in at 200lbs!  Thanks, Abby Niederhauser, for creating and sharing such a feat!

We are so grateful that so many community members came out to join us.  This event is always a great way to meet your neighbors, share what you know, learn from others, and spread joy!  And of course you could win great raffle prizes!

Finally, a big thanks to BookEnds Bookstore for hosting this event.  We couldn’t have done it without you.