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Kaitlyn Lalonde is a self-admitted yarn fanatic.
She’s the one waiting outside — rain, shine or snow — for the craft store to open, and later seen leaving with a huge bag of yarn, gushing about the new colours she just bought.
Lalonde, 28, specializes in amigurumi, a Japanese form of crochet that involves creating small, often cute-looking stuffed dolls and toys.
“Some say every amigurumi toy has a soul and is meant to be a companion and comfort to those it belongs to,” said Lalonde. “With that in mind, a couple years ago I started to try and brighten the lives of others in Ottawa through yarn.”
In 2014, buoyed by her love of crochet and a desire to help others, Lalonde joined a registered, non-profit international charity called Feel Better Friends, which helps children with cancer and other serious illnesses by making stuffed dolls that look like them. The dolls are custom crocheted by volunteers.
In the often overwhelming world of hospitals and doctors, Lalonde said the stuffed toys help young patients feel less alone.
“We’ve helped children with everything from the rarest of cancers, to autism, to third-degree burns, to heart defects and more,” said Lalonde. “We see a lot of stories that are heartbreaking, but also about hope and love.”
To date, Feel Better Friends has created and donated more than 2,500 dolls to families around the world, including those in Ottawa.
Lalonde, who lives in Nepean, has met with several local families through the non-profit, some facing “incredible odds.” She has also donated to auctions for local animal rescues, and particularly enjoys doing random acts of kindness.
“If you find a crocheted Pokemon at a Pokestop (a location in the mobile game Pokemon Go), or a surprise at your door after I’ve heard you’ve had a bad day, maybe I’ve been by!” said Lalonde.
This winter, Lalonde is joining up with Project Ottawa and the Northern Birthday Box Project, two charity groups helping those in need in different ways.
With Project Ottawa, Lalonde will be handmaking and distributing warm winter hats, mittens and scarves, particularly to those who are homeless. Some donations will be given to shelters and left in clear bags attached to poles in the area, which will allow those too shy to ask for help to take what they need, said Lalonde.
With the Northern Birthday Box Project, a group which helps support families in the North, Lalonde will be making personalized dolls and toys for a birthday box given to a child who otherwise wouldn’t get to celebrate as extravagantly.
Lalonde is also teaming up with Sable Creations Candle Co. to raise money for Jonathan Pitre, the “Butterfly Boy” from Russell who suffers from a severe skin disease that causes painful blisters. Sable will be making special candles featuring a buttery design, while Lalonde will be making butterfly plushes. Lalonde said she hopes to sell the items in several local shops in December.
Lalonde uses money out of her own pocket to craft the dolls and toys that are donated. She’s able to do so because of her small crochet business, called The Sewcial Kat, where she takes on a limited number of custom orders and reinvests what she makes into buying material for charitable projects.
“Acts of yarny goodness are part of what makes Ottawa so special to me,” said Lalonde. “There is a special magic about meeting other crafters and spending time making items, stitched entirely with love, for other people.”
If people want to donate or purchase one of Lalonde’s custom stuffies, they can go to her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheSewcialKat. If you want to find out how to crochet for local charities, you can contact Lalonde at thesewcialkat@gmail.com.
查看原文...
She’s the one waiting outside — rain, shine or snow — for the craft store to open, and later seen leaving with a huge bag of yarn, gushing about the new colours she just bought.
Lalonde, 28, specializes in amigurumi, a Japanese form of crochet that involves creating small, often cute-looking stuffed dolls and toys.
“Some say every amigurumi toy has a soul and is meant to be a companion and comfort to those it belongs to,” said Lalonde. “With that in mind, a couple years ago I started to try and brighten the lives of others in Ottawa through yarn.”
In 2014, buoyed by her love of crochet and a desire to help others, Lalonde joined a registered, non-profit international charity called Feel Better Friends, which helps children with cancer and other serious illnesses by making stuffed dolls that look like them. The dolls are custom crocheted by volunteers.
In the often overwhelming world of hospitals and doctors, Lalonde said the stuffed toys help young patients feel less alone.
“We’ve helped children with everything from the rarest of cancers, to autism, to third-degree burns, to heart defects and more,” said Lalonde. “We see a lot of stories that are heartbreaking, but also about hope and love.”
To date, Feel Better Friends has created and donated more than 2,500 dolls to families around the world, including those in Ottawa.
Lalonde, who lives in Nepean, has met with several local families through the non-profit, some facing “incredible odds.” She has also donated to auctions for local animal rescues, and particularly enjoys doing random acts of kindness.
“If you find a crocheted Pokemon at a Pokestop (a location in the mobile game Pokemon Go), or a surprise at your door after I’ve heard you’ve had a bad day, maybe I’ve been by!” said Lalonde.
This winter, Lalonde is joining up with Project Ottawa and the Northern Birthday Box Project, two charity groups helping those in need in different ways.
With Project Ottawa, Lalonde will be handmaking and distributing warm winter hats, mittens and scarves, particularly to those who are homeless. Some donations will be given to shelters and left in clear bags attached to poles in the area, which will allow those too shy to ask for help to take what they need, said Lalonde.
With the Northern Birthday Box Project, a group which helps support families in the North, Lalonde will be making personalized dolls and toys for a birthday box given to a child who otherwise wouldn’t get to celebrate as extravagantly.
Lalonde is also teaming up with Sable Creations Candle Co. to raise money for Jonathan Pitre, the “Butterfly Boy” from Russell who suffers from a severe skin disease that causes painful blisters. Sable will be making special candles featuring a buttery design, while Lalonde will be making butterfly plushes. Lalonde said she hopes to sell the items in several local shops in December.
Lalonde uses money out of her own pocket to craft the dolls and toys that are donated. She’s able to do so because of her small crochet business, called The Sewcial Kat, where she takes on a limited number of custom orders and reinvests what she makes into buying material for charitable projects.
“Acts of yarny goodness are part of what makes Ottawa so special to me,” said Lalonde. “There is a special magic about meeting other crafters and spending time making items, stitched entirely with love, for other people.”
If people want to donate or purchase one of Lalonde’s custom stuffies, they can go to her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheSewcialKat. If you want to find out how to crochet for local charities, you can contact Lalonde at thesewcialkat@gmail.com.
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