During the spring of 2007 thought gave birth to LOVE Knits. At the time I was between jobs and thinking lots about purpose. All of us have been blessed with different kinds of gifts, joys and passions, but what good are they if they don't serve a purpose? If they don't serve anyone but ourselves? How could I use what I’ve been given to love someone else? I looked down at my hands, and lo and behold it's as if my crochet hook was glowing! I worked at a summer sports camp and I recalled the summer before when I'd taught a few people to crochet in my spare time. It was a cheap, easy and social hobby people loved. I thought forward to the summer I was about to get into and the potential it held. I was one girl with one hook; but camp had over 300 staff, imagine the potential of hundreds of hands!!! Shying away from public speaking I infiltrated camp property at a cellular level, one staffer at a time. It struck me that if I could start teaching people to knit and crochet, I could simultaneously instill in them the vision to serve others with their newly acquired skills.

Not only did LOVE Knits challenge staff to create warm hats, mitts and scarves for those in need in the city of Toronto, it created a spirit of community within camp. Lessons were given during meals, free time, and on days off. Students became teachers, creating a ripple effect. Yarn was the most sought after item for staff to buy on their days off, perhaps second only to deodorant! By the end of summer boxes full of beautiful pieces had been collected for LOVE Knits. I was blown away with what I had seen unfold over a few short months, especially by how eager people were to participate in such a project. People were willing to invest hours upon hours of their free time making handcrafted gifts for those they did not even know.

The greatest thing about LOVE Knits was that the idea actually got bigger once camp ended. A few girls let me know they'd brought the idea to their high schools and school boards challenging the students to participate. They'd find a cause or a charity and have a goal to collect items for them. Others across the ocean and around the world were telling me they brought the idea to their neighbourhoods, challenging their communities to do the same.

What's with LOVE Knits now? As I sit here trying to finish writing up the history, I dream about the future. How can yarn, crochet hooks, and knitting needles make their way into the hands and hearts of those eager to move? I'm beyond thankful for the gifts of a fellow crochet lover who has been willing to help create an informative website that will hopefully encourage and instill the vision to LOVE our neighbours at home and abroad through acts of kindness and service related to knitting and crochet. By providing resources, stories and other useful links I hope to do just that!

Love knits,