Kangas sold out...

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fabric1.jpg

fabric1

The second batch of Kangas in the ">Esty shop sold out, but the next batch will go up around the end of April, so be sure to bookmark us!Kanga (CAHN-ga) cloths provide a lot of the beautiful color of East Africa and also preserve a unique cultural heritage. They are used to make tunics and skirts, baby slings, head scarves, hand bags, shawls, tablecloths, and more. You also see Kangas hung on the wall inside a house like works of art, made into pillows and blankets, and even decorating the outdoors while flapping gorgeously on clotheslines.Included with each purchase is a history of the Kanga and a “Kanga Patterns” PDF with a gridded wrap skirt pattern, plus instructions for an A-line, side-zip skirt: 

kangaskirt5

kangaskirt5

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kangaskirt1

Note that there are two types of Kangas available at three different price levels:

  • Cotton-poly Kangas (80/20 blend of a weight similar to American muslin) for $19.95

  • Thick 100% cotton Kangas (the highest quality and similar to a linen-cotton blend) for $24.95

Each double Kanga measures 44" wide by 112" long, so you get two full panels joined in the center. Each panel contains a Swahili "jina" or saying. You'll receive a PDF with the English translation of the phrase on your Kanga (these are also shown in the listings on Etsy).With clever cutting, you can also make adorable girls' dresses that use the border for fantastic sleeves and hemlines: 

BelleKangaDress

BelleKangaDress

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thIMG_9197

 All proceeds from the sale of these Kangas go to fund the Forever Grace Sewing Guild, which partners with Hosanna Revival Church in Nairobi’s Kibera slum to provide work for widows, single mothers, and other needy women. The ladies who work with Forever Grace receive free instruction in pattern cutting, sewing, and marketing. They are treated as independent contractors and are able to work from home on their own time schedules (no sweat shops!).

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Over time, we hope to help these ladies develop a line of clothing with a marketing plan for in-country sales and export to the US and other markets. Thanks for helping to launch Forever Grace and enable these ladies to care for their own children while working from home. Be sure to follow Sense & Sensibility Patterns on

Facebook

, as we’ll post photographs from the sewing guild from time to time and showcase the work these ladies are doing!

kangaladies

kangaladies

The Kangas will be listed over the course of the week (ending Saturday) to give more people a chance to get one (they sold out in less than five hours last time!).