In November I released four new accessories patterns I designed for my friend Theresa’s organization WORK+SHELTER, a women’s shelter in India dedicated to getting women in need a fair wage and shelter for work they do producing products. They are in training right now, learning to knit in order to produce the first collection. It’s pretty amazing to think that there are women on the other side of the world knitting up projects I’ve designed, and that those products are going to help them live a better life.

Knit Picks Dishie in Conch

I’m knitting up four new sample products for a new line right now, and working up the patterns. This time two sweaters are included! So the sample knitting is taking a lot longer this time. But I’m chugging along!

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in my Yarn Bowl!

I’ll have all the samples knit up and shot and patterns written up and ready to debut in February. Because the shelter is still in it’s beginning phases and isn’t able to produce many products to sell yet, pattern sales have been one of the only ways it’s making money. I’m so happy to report that to date pattern sales have earned WORK+SHELTER nearly $1000! And most of that is due to the fact that my patterns were included in Knit Pick’s weekly email last week.

Lace Stitch Pattern Stripes

So thank you for purchasing my WORK+SHELTER patterns. Every little bit helps, as you can see, and even $2 a pattern adds up. I can’t wait to get these four new projects finished and written and ready to start helping with their sales, too!

And more than that? I’ll be traveling to India this fall to lend a hand where I can! Hopefully I can teach as well without knowing the language as I can in English. I’ll keep you posted, of course!

I’m also knitting up the three patterns I’m contributing to the first Holla Knits collection, and you can get progress pics on the Holla Knits Blog.

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