Nimble Knitting Benefits while self-isolating

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Eileen has kindly put together some patterns to keep existing 'Nimble Knitters' busy making a variety of knitted articles to be sent to local hospitals and charities that support families in Sub-Saharan Africa.  She works with three charities: Breadline Africa, which supports those living in the poverty of the Townships surrounding Cape Town, InterCare, which majorly sends medical equipment and medicines, besides the valued knitting, to rural clinics in Ghana - Malawi - Tanzania - Zanzibar and Zambia and the Krizevac Project, a different kind of charity achieving lasting positive change for some of Africa's most needy communities in enterprising ways. Find out more at the charity websites: Breadline Africa - here, InterCare - here and the Krizevac Project here.

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The benefits of knitting are twofold. Many find knitting a great calming therapy, it can be of assistance during the suffering of depression, lifting negative thoughts, keeps arthritic fingers exercised and helps to create friendships as, in normal times, knitters link with local groups. The recipients very much need and appreciate the articles created; they brighten their lives and make them aware that others are concerned for them.

 

All Nimble Knitting received during the lockdowns has now been sorted and despatched benefiting all three charities.  Earlier despatches in containers to the Krizevac Project based in Blantyre, Malawi, have arrived safely.  Knitting sent out in InterCare containers has safely reached the hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi and rural clinics in the surrounding area.  The InterCare container despatched to Sierra Leone earlier this year, again carrying medical equipment and medications, plus our knitting for hospitals and rural clinics, has arrived safely in Freetown.  Eighteen large sacks of knitting, including tiny teddies and jelly baby dolls, were taken to the InterCare Depot in Leicester at the beginning of June and these will 
be included in their next container which is being sent out to hospitals and rural clinics in the north of Malawi in August.  Following the successful arrival in February 2021, although delayed by 10 months, of the ten parcels to Breadline Africa, based in Cape Town, nineteen further 2Kg parcels of colourful and cosy knitting have just been posted to benefit the desperately poor communities in the Townships around Cape Town and along the coastal areas.  Eileen would like to share with you the comments received from Breadline Arica on being notified of the despatch of these parcels – 
 

“Your lovely knitted items are always well received by the communities we work with.  We will surely let you know when they arrive.” 
 

“Please convey our sincere thanks to all the wonderful Nimble Knitters for their hard work and their beautiful items.  We love it.” 
 

“Words will never adequately express our gratitude to you and our Nimble Knitters’ family for all your wonderful support.” 
 

Selina Kleinsmith – Donor Care Manager 5th and 8th July, 2021 
 

“A huge thank you to all the special ladies.  The warm items will be so welcomed as we are in the middle of winter which has seen the heaviest rainfalls in six years already and icy weather.  Those most affected are in the informal settlements and more than 6,000 people were impacted by flooding and wind damage last week. Many children in our feeding lines in the informal settlements have so few warm clothes and receiving something personally made just for them is so special and appreciated. Thank you all so very much!” 
 

Marion Wagner – Breadline Africa Director – 9th July, 2021 

The nineteen 2Kg parcels reached Breadline Africa safely in the middle of September and the 
following letter of appreciation was received with a very special letter and ‘thank you’ sung by some 
of the recipients. 

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At the beginning of October the knitting, which had accumulated since the beginning of July, was 
dispatched on 13th October in the last container to be sent out this year to the Krizevac Family Project 
in Blantyre, Malawi.  It is hoped that any knitting received over the winter months will be sent to 
InterCare and possibly more to Breadline Africa in the spring. 
 

From the considerable quantity of knitting received over the winter months it was possible, during 
March 2022, to send nineteen full sacks of knitted items out to Sierra Leone, via InterCare, and 
eleven sacks to Blantyre, in Malawi, via the Krizevac Project.   Breadline Africa will be next to 
benefit from the next batch of knitting available. 

This is the last update on the distribution of the valuable knitting as the website is about to be 
archived.  The Nimble Knitting website will continue to remain online with the current content, 
however, at https://radiorepton.wixsite.com/repton-community thereby providing access to 
basic patterns which are so much appreciated.

Knitting is a great therapy, especially during uncertain times, so please continue to enjoy and send on to Eileen (contact via e-mail – eileenfs@hotmail.com) whenever possible.  She is so grateful for all 
the valuable knitting which has been produced up until now and for all to be received in the future.   

 

Wool, Sewing and Craft supplies - local supplier open: The Stitchcraft Centre in Burton 01283 540281

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Enjoy knitting for benefit - click the PDF symbols below for patterns: