Domestic Violence Awareness Month Contribution with Safe Horizon

On Friday October 21st, the delivery was made to a shelter of women survivors of domestic
violence. (My dad – chauffeur for the day – thanks Dad!)

sue rock originals EVERYONE!!! delivered
8 Afghans 4 tops
2 Vests & 2 Shrugs 5 Ponchos
15 hat and scarf sets and 40 pairs of earrings!

On entering the facility I was amazed at the decor – this particular location was fitted by Liz Claiborne and the Oxygen network. Contemporary wallpaper lined the walls as the
entire first floor was meeting area and various
offices. The administrative assistant helped carry the 7 duffle bags into the main meeting room. I began to lay the items around the area to allow the director to truly enjoy the items that had been created.

As the director was busy, (though her arms are featured here!) I met the social worker for the shelter – Dana, who shared with me some of the work the shelter does for the women of this facility.

As I continued to open more and more bags and pull out more and more items from pockets and side pockets, various administrators walked into the meeting room. Everyone was thrilled with the quality of the work and the volume of what was brought. It seems that this year there was not the volume of notice around Domestic Violence Awareness month and it almost as if these women were forgotten.

Once the director was available she was stunned. We had a wonderful phone conversation in planning the delivery but she didn’t think it would be like this. Administrator after administrator came in thrilled. They spoke of single women who would come in looking for items – and though there were many items for children – for the women there was barely anything.

The emergency shelters house women from all walks of life in separate apartments at a central location. Nondescript on the outside -warm and inviting on the inside – this was unlike anything I ever could have imagined! Though I did not meet most of the residents, they generously offered a tour of the facility. In addition to a number of offices, they offer a central meeting room (where these items are being photographed), a childrens play area with computer, four computers in the living room and four floors of private living spaces. As the Director Annie Bautista shared with me “This is just so if you or someone you know ever has to make a choice, they won’t think of a shelter as such an isolating experience – we really want it to seem less like an institution and more like a supportive shelter.”

Well they have succeded. I want to take this time to thank a number of people who made this possible. My dearest friend and sister Brenda “Al-Asia” Shelton, Amy Salant, Ramona Kearns, and Mei Ling. The constant support both spoken and unspoken of my husband Babafemi Akinsegun nurtured my freedom in exploring all the ways this venture could be done. Rebecca Timmel of Safe Horizon was great as are Annie Bautista – directors of this Shelter, Dana, the Social Worker and the other administrators.

Whoops, I would be remiss if I forgot Rose Fox – Rose Fox is a beginner knitter who felt more confident with her jewelry making ability and contributed 16 pairs of earrings!

Thank you, thank you all from myself and Safe Hoizon!

SUNY NEW PALTZ – REPRESENT!

Hello. I am very interested in working with this organization. I am currently attending SUNY New Paltz, however, and will be leaving shortly to go back to school. I, along with a friend, have created a knitting and
crocheting club at our school and if you are interested, we would be more than happy to work with you and help out in any way while we are in New Paltz, if this is possible. Currently we have a group of very talented students making newborn and preemie caps for infants at 2 hospitals, one
where my co-president’s mother works in New Jersey and the other at the local hospital where my roomates step-mother works in the New Paltz area. Again if you are interested please contact me at this phone number or email
address. Thank-you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon

And so began a unique concept for me which came from its own energy – the expansion of Sue Rock Originals to other states (no not the state of confusion!) – This wonderful young woman came with her brother to pick up yarn and BRING IT TO SCHOOL (and this two days before she was leaving!!!)

Well I just received this latest letter and photo from her crew there!

…after doing one last final count we have 13 skeins of yarn that you gave us. Our meetings have been going smoothly and just yesterday we started making hat/ scarf sets. We hope to be done with this by the end of this semester (roughly mid-December). We have mostly beginners so we expect it to take a while. Thank-you for your patience and I’m glad everything is turning out great. …

The party is just getting started I see!

AMAZING!!

Love you all

Sue

For the Love of PLAID –

I have been mentioning to my closest friends and anyone who would listen that I discovered this insanely easy technique to create amazing tweed/plaid. You see I am an advocate of the redemption of crochet from the cornball craft that it has been portrayed in every magazine from 1984 till now to the high end FLY artform that it is portrayed in every magazine before then.

While looking for what I would actually like to make for myself from my over 2,000 plus patterns, I came upon a unique pattern – now granted it was in Olive, Orange and Yellow – the theme colors it seems (with beige, cream and RED) for the early to mid seventies – but it was a unique concept: Create a crocheted mesh, a filet crochet if you will, but create it in Yarn and make a consistent stripe pattern – 2 Olive, 2 Beige, 1 Taupe, 2 Olive 2 Beige, 1 Taupe – you get the picture.

When you have the width and length to your liking, starting from the center of the item – and with three strands of yarn REPEAT THE STRIPE – but VERTICALLY in and out of the holes of the mesh (always remembering to alternate with each vertical row (if one is outin out in, the next should be inout, in out). When I first started out, well, assured of my incompetence I was disheartened at the scary mishmosh that developed….but I plugged along.

when I finished the first side, I almost could not breathe

It was PLAID – and moreover it looked NOTHING like CROCHET!

And LIGHT? – the fabric of these skirts/jackets/scarves – whatever you want is so dense, yet so light – they don’t even need to be lined. I found that this is a wonderful technique for unknown yarns or acrylics that disappoint as well as with unknown quantities of yarns – these items create great volume without requiring much yardage – for each of these I barely used two skeins of yarn (grignasco sizes – 132 yards) and they are a size 2-6

Making sure I’ve got somethin’ ta’ wear!!

This is a HOT mini – I combined a slubbed and a rayon yarn together and WOW! (actually looking forward to putting it together with some boots!)

Because I am so crazed for EBAY I spent an ridiculous amount of money on a SLEW of yarn of which there was ice blue, lavender and purple chenille on cones (oh yeah, I can REALLY use that!) – Well I got over with this skirt – you’ve got to love the fact I found Light Blue Shoes!

Ah but the piece de resistance is this creamy concoction of Grignasco coral yarn with Orange and a Red thread running through to give it umph! I added the white band at the bottom to give it a prep feel (….. if it didn’t come off of my shoulders so!)

Finally I had to work on this beautiful wrap dress. Over a white blouse with a tie and a pair of black boots – it fits like a dream and the yarn was exquisite!

Afghans and Lap Covers

Shrugs and Ponchos

And Two Pullover Vests!

Round Throws – Wonderful!

This throw reminded me of something one would get on their wedding day……..

and then there is this one – I call it “Lessons in GREEN” – who knew Green could be so Warm?

However this one I call “EYE of GOD”……

Hat and Scarf Sets

I’ve got to get these pictures up – I’ll think of something snappy to say later!

Love – Sue

The gift of "YES"

The process of working with women and their creativity since the beginning of this year is an experience that is more rewarding tham I could have ever imagined. Waves of satisfaction and delight overcome, as I handle the hats and scarves and gloves and blankets that have been imagined out of thin air. Every woman I have worked with had understood the intent behind the action of creating these items. They brought their own insight to this venture, their own compassion. Many of the women, myself included, had never created clothing before – or had the courage to try something different – to challenge their talents and skills.

Time and time again – their ideas worked. Lap blankets became graceful shrugs…..too small sweaters became stylish vest/handbag sets……an accidently felted hat and scarf set became a high end children’s item…..Every setback IS truly a blessing that will be loved, nurtured and appreciated.
I find that I am surfing some other wave length in this project – a wave length that does not require ego or finances or the word “No”. This endeavor in my life has consistently said “yes”
– “I think I would like to make clothing for women in Shelters”
– Safe Horizons: “YES”,
– Red Heart Yarn: “YES”
– Volunteers found through the free website Craigslist: “YES”
– Volunteers invited through the free website EVITE.com: “YES”
and through the free site Volunteermatch:”YES”

The majestical, beautiful word “YES” has kissed me throughout this year in the encouraging creativity of engaging people who understand the pure intent of this work…..

as you can see……

“Yes” is a beautiful

and Powerful word…..

Simplicity Delivers – AND HOW

…..and SO…..Simplicity says that they “like” what I am doing and that they will be sending some patterns…..sure……I imagine a manila envelope with maybe 6 patterns of varying out of date styles and look forward to their vintage charm….

I didn’t expect the wealth of what was to come…..

when my husband told me the patterns had come……….

I did not expect a BOX!

Simplicity Pattern company – to the benefit of their administration sent 9 DIFFERENT STYLES of patterns – with a minimum of SIX of each style!

Speechless – I began to go through the selections. All children’s clothing, the items included knits, wovens, pinafores, pajamas, items for girls and boys and wonderfully, thankfully and perceptively, all for warm climate locations!

As you can see from these images
there are enough pieces to work with for classes of sewers. Each of the patterns is complete, as they indicated – simply last years items.

In turn I have contacted my daughter’s Alma Mater – Fashion Industries High School here in New York.
Through their mentoring program I hope to be able to work with young people studying tailoring and sewing and encourage them to make a difference in children’s lives in the South.