Knitter's Magazine
is proud to announce the winner of
2006 Knitter of the Year award.

STITCHES East; Baltimore, MD; November 4th, 2007; 8:29 pm

Under the dimmed lights in the Grand Ballroom at the Baltimore Convention Center, the more-than-600 attending the STITCHES East student fashion show fell silent. Knitter’s Magazine editor Rick Mondragon announced, “We need to take a short break and make a phone call.” A few seconds later, Rick spoke again. It was in a thoughtful tone that let the crowd know that something big was coming.
“Every year,” Rick explained, “we announce our Knitter of the Year, someone who has made a difference in the world. This year we are pleased to recognize Ann Rubin, founder of afghans for Afghans.” The reaction was immediate and heartfelt. Cheers, applause, and even a few tears assured us that she was the perfect recipient of the Knitter of the Year awarded by Knitter’s Magazine.
As the applause died down, Rick put through a speakerphone call to San Francisco-based Ann Rubin and congratulated her on the award as well as her tireless efforts for the people of Afghanistan. She graciously spent the next few minutes talking to the audience about the volunteers and knitters who have done so much for the cause. “You should see these sweaters,” she said. “Not only are the garments practical but they are also beautiful and well made. These knitters are giving the gift of warmth and respect to the Afghan people.”
This sentiment is echoed in the book Knitting for Peace by Betty Christiansen where Ann is quoted: “I don’t focus on numbers,” says Ann. “I focus on the one-to-one connection. This is an expression of friendship and concern from U.S. and Canadian knitters. It’s about the dignity of the individual,” she adds, stressing that these are not merely handouts, that the recipients are not just destitute refugees. “The Afghans are a proud people with a rich history,” she says. “Our point is to make something new and special for them, something more than warm clothes. Each item is a unique gift, given from one individual to another.”
In that same chapter, afghans for Afghans volunteer Candace Key adds, “And I always hope that the Afghans know that this came from a stranger who wishes them well, who wishes them warmth, and health, and freedom and security. I’m sure they can’t read all of that into these items. But if they just read a little of it, then a connection’s been made, and that’s why we do it.”

How Ann Rubin got involved…
In 1999, Ann visited Peshawar, where many Afghan refugees live and have had to sell-off their exquisite textiles. A highlight of the trip was traveling to the top of the Khyber Pass and playing with the Afghan kids who traded money there.
When war came to Afghanistan, this memory was vivid and Ann knew she had to do something to help. This was the start of a humanitarian people-to-people project that has sent tens of thousands of hand-knit and crocheted blankets and garments to the people of Afghanistan.
Since Ann started afghans for Afghans in 2001, we have all admired her hard work and dedication. So it is with pleasure that we recognize her as Knitter of the Year 2006.
Ann’s most recent project was the 900 Sweaters & Vests for Kids Campaign, which ended on November 3rd, 2006. With the support of the knitting and crochet community, afghans for Afghans surpassed this goal with 3800 garments and blankets in total.
From the start, afghans for Afghans has partnered with the San Francisco office of the American Friends Service Committee, the Quaker-based humanitarian agency which receives knitters' packages from across the US and Canada. Afghans for Afghans works with various relief organizations to transport and distribute the handmade gifts in Afghanistan. This year, blankets and garments have been sent to Afghanistan with Afghans 4 Tomorrow, Afghan Relief Organization, International Orphan Care, and International Midwives Assistance, all U.S.-based nonprofits with operations in Afghanistan. To date over 40,000 items have been sent by afghans for Afghans, their partner organizations.

For information on their next relief project, please visit www.afghansforAfghans.org

Excerpts from Knitting for Peace courtesy of Stewart, Tabori & Chang / STC Craft.
Text © Betty Christiansen.