A Finished Object that I wish didn't have to exsist

A Finished Object that I wish didn’t have to exsist

I’m not a watcher of news. I should be but I often am just so disgusted by it because so much of it is bad.

Well if I was ever wondering if it could get worse, I was shown just how bad it could get in the afternoon of December 14, 2012 when the children of Newtown Connecticut lost some of their innocence. The fourteenth of December was the terrible day a gunman came into an elementary school and killed twenty children and six adults at that school.

What do knitters do?

We can not undo what happened, as much as we want(ed) to. God…who wouldn’t want to undo it? But since our knitted items give some degree of comfort for its recipients, why not make things for the surviving children?

That’s when 600 Monsters Strong came to life. I am a very proud member.

600 Monsters Stong’s Ravelry Page
600 Monster’s Strong Facebook Page

Sarah Waller Martin created this group to “bring monster-friends for children affected by gun violence and other traumatic situations through the generosity of crafters worldwide.” About a week after this tragedy, the town of Newtown was stating that they’re overrun with donations, making me wonder if our monsters would be put to good use. Martin decided to use this tragedy and give monsters to children affected by gun violence world wide. I hate that it was so easy to find another population of children to donate out monsters to.

At first I was all “monsters?? Really?? ” But, unlike some, I took a few seconds before I jumped the gun. I looked at the pattern pages and just fell in love. This book was mentioned:

Oh my goodness!! HOW CUTE ARE THEY?!?!? They remind me of monster’s from the movie, Monster’s Inc.

I was so proud of my friend, Jess, too, when she said she wanted to join in and make a monster! Look at our finished ones:

Since we met in the office, I only found it appropriate to take a shot of our monsters near our time-stamp thingie in our office

The blue chica on the left is Ginny (Turnip in the book More KnitWits) and my monster on the left is Scout. She’s a dragon and can be found in the pattern Fireball.

Pattern: Fireball by Katie Boyette from the book More KnitWits

My Ravelry Page

Yarns(s): Lion Brand Cotton Ease

Colorway(s): Peach Pink

Needles(s): US 7 – 4.5 mm

Casted On: December 22, 2012

Casted Off: March 17, 2013

Modifications: None

Notions: I got the felt from Amazon and if anyone reading this needs some felt for a monster, let me know in the comments and I’ll send you some.

Making this was bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s a super cute toy but man did I hate why I was making it! Doesn’t help that ignorant people who clearly do not know me couldn’t get over the word monster. Sure…if I were creating this foundation, I don’t think I would have used the word monster just because of the instant association. People who say Adam Lanza was the monster are not wrong. Also, when most would ask me about the monster, I’d quickly say “think Monster’s Inc….not Thriller” and that would be it. Some wouldn’t. I got upset at one person in my life over an ignorant comment she made but then I realized…she doesn’t know me. If she thinks I’d add to anyone’s trauma by giving them something scary, much less do this to a child, she doesn’t know me. I wouldn’t want to have a violent sneeze around anyone who has been through a trauma.

This is how I help people. I knit for them. I’ve knit shawls for friend’s mothers to wear when they get chemo treatments. If you’re cold, I’ll knit for you. That’s just how knitters roll

If you want to help but can’t make a monster, they can use some help through other sources. Take a look at their Amazon Wishlist and help them out!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 20th, 2013 at 20:03 and is filed under Knitting, Toys. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Comment

Jess says:

March 20, 2013 at 20:29

Well said/written. I’m so glad that we (including Maggie) were able to do this for the kids. It’s true that it is depressing and disheartening and disgusting that it is necessary, but I am happy that we are able to lend whatever small level of comfort that we can give our cuddly little monsters. We can wordsmith til we go blue in the faces, but that is not even close to what matters. What matters is that we are giving cuddly loving little friends to children in need. How can that be anything but awesome?