Crocs, clowns and smiles for children
An 87-year-old Kenmare woman knits to ease the pain of her son's sudden death and in return brings smiles to the faces of broken children.
An inspiration for others.
This is the impression one gets when seeing how 25 colourful knitted toys light up the living room of the 87-year-old Kenmare resident Pat Payton.
“My dad raised me differently,” she said while picking up a knitted green crocodile that is sure to capture a child’s heart.
She said thanks to her upbringing she was able to cope with the sudden death of her loving son Roy, an adventurer who died of malaria after a visit to Mozambique.
“My dad always told me and my siblings we always should keep our hands busy. We were not even allowed to sit for long periods, not even while reading.”
As a qualified dressmaker who taught herself the skills of crocheting and embroidery from patterns she got from books and magazines, she added knitting to her skills at the tender age of 14.
“There is always something to keep yourself busy with. If I see how many youngsters just sit around, saying they have nothing to do, then I get a bit cross because you must not say ‘I can’t do nothing’.”
In 1994 at the age of 66 she knitted toys for abused children and from this left-over wool donated to her 21 years ago she knitted toys.
“After my son’s death in June last year I sat on the veranda of my home where I spoke to God, and He instructed me to search for the wool and my toy book and start knitting.”
Pat said these toys will be given to homes and charities for abused children. Some will be given to children in her family as gifts.
“I am not as active in all my other skills such as embroidery, dressmaking and crocheting as I used to be – my hands told me they needed a break.”
But as long as she can knit, which takes much less time and effort, she will continue doing so.
“I am busy knitting a clown and look forward to knowing that it will bring a smile to a child’s face.”
