After posting about last week’s post about beautiful options from knit and crochet designers in Ukraine, I wanted to do a follow-up post to share more ways to support our fellow crafters in Ukraine as well as authors. I’ll also share which designs I have bought and added to my Ravelry queue.
Note: Ravelry links have ‘Ravelry’ in the text of the link. I tried to link to PayHip or other pay points as much as possible. I recognise my privilege in being able to use the website and in the list below I try to link to a non-Ravelry sales point whenever possible and it is clearly labelled. All images © designer/creator and link to their online shop.
How to Help
In compiling this, one Ukraine-based designer, Myla Vayner advised on her Ravelry page that these two organisations have people on the ground now and are reputable to donate to. This was helpful to know.
Ukrainian Authors
Before you dive into the post, here is a Times of India article sharing Ukrainian authors. Support their work if you’re an avid reader by buying/ordering their books. Again, this is a way to not create additional work for them in this time of crisis while also supporting their work.
Specific to English language readers, here is a piece on BookRiot of 11 Ukrainian books available in English translation. This list is a treasure with brief summaries of each of the 11 books to give you an idea of what tone you can expect.
CultureTrip compiled their own list of Ukrainian Authors Published In English. This seven-author list offers a very brief biography with notable titles by each author.
Etsy Shops in Ukraine
Though shipping may be impossible for artisans and designers in Ukraine right now, there are digital products available. Here is a link to Etsy shops based in Ukraine. And here are some digital download items that stood out as I scrolled through…
Ukrainian Storks Digital Art Print. Wall Decor Gift from HealthyLinen, $14.99
Watercolor set to Father’s Day. Unique clipart in PNG for instant download. from ArtMaslyanaya, $5.20
And these two are not digital, but preorder for when their shops are back up and running, your today self will have bought a present for your future self.
Mandala ceramic earrings from PushkarFamilyStudio, $38.00
Ukraine Designer KAL
The Ravelry group Never Enough Lace has started a Ravelry forum thread ‘Extraordinary KAL for our dear Ukrainian Designers’ to support an upcoming virtual event. The KAL, which starts on March 15, 2022, is jointly taking place in two Ravelry groups at the same time, Never Enough Lace Ravelry group and A Place to KAL my Own Ravelry group.
Sweden-based designer JennyPenny (Ravelry page) has launched a stranded colorwork mitten pattern Sunflowers for Solidarity (Ravelry pattern page) available for free with a suggested donation to support efforts in helping the people in Ukraine.
What’s in My Queue
It was a tough choice, but I focused on realistic knits for my time and lifestyle, as well as working with what I have in my yarn larder. I bought these two patterns today and already have eyed up which yarn I’ll use for them. I am a long-haul knitter with my projects, so it’ll take me a year to complete these and I’m ok with this because the process is just as enjoyable.
Dragon Tears mitts (PayHip) by Myla Vayner (available from LoveCrafts, Ravelry, and her Etsy shop too)
What’s Mine is Yours mitts (LoveCrafts) by Myla Vayner (available from LoveCrafts, Ravelry and her Etsy shop too)