The songs of Grease filled Ster-Kinekor Cedar Square on September 19, as 123 Knitters and Crocheters swapped the usual cinema snacks for balls of wool, knitting needles and crochet hooks.

The latest Knit at the Movies event, hosted by Fourways non-profit organisation Community Hours, brought together crafters for an afternoon of nostalgia and giving back, with participants knitting and crocheting items that will ultimately support charitable causes.

For founder Sarah Welton-Blake, the event is part of a broader vision to make volunteering an intergenerational activity. “We don’t believe that volunteering should be ring-fenced to the youth. It should be completely intergenerational, so we started a variety of different knitting groups,” she said.

Read more: Douglasdale CPF salutes volunteer patrollers for selfless community service

Welton-Blake said the organisation explored ways to collaborate with communities to make volunteering fun and impactful while building social connections. At just R50 a ticket, Welton-Blake said the event is designed to remain accessible to anyone interested in joining. “If you’re a crafter and you love knitting and crocheting, or even if you just like a good throwback movie, you’re very welcome to join us,” she said.

For regular knitter Markell Michalakis, crafting has become closely linked to giving. “I knit every day, all day. Whatever I make, I donate,” she said.

Also read: ‘Knitwits’ meet for a knit-a-thon

Her commitment recently resulted in a generous contribution to Community Hours after she unexpectedly crossed paths with Welton-Blake. Michalakis arrived with a box of knitted items after hearing about the organisation’s commitment to a school in the Drakensberg, where 500 children needed beanies and scarves.

Welton-Blake described the donation as an amazing achievement, saying it showed how individual contributions can become part of a larger community effort.

For first-time attendees Charmaine Lupke and Heather Coskey, the event offered both entertainment and an opportunity to discover something new. “It was our first invite, first time coming, so we hope to do it again sometime,” they said.

The pair enjoyed the movie and joined in with the dancing and singing, while the experience also inspired them to consider taking up knitting.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!