Knitters stitch warmth into Kyalami community

The knit and natter initiative is making winter warm for the needy, by bringing together people who love to knit beanies, scarves, and blankets for those in need.

Sarah Welton-Blake, the founder of the initiative, said their thoughtful gesture is spread across two groups, one in Bryanston and the second in Kyalami.

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Welton-Blake explained that the group came from her volunteer organisation, Community Hours, where she was assisting young learners with gaining skills by teaching them how to knit in order to better their CVs for when they start looking for jobs.

The initiative has grown to more than assistance for learners, into a community engagement that does good for those in need.

“As we were teaching the learners to knit, they would get their grannies and aunties to come crochet squares for us. We’d make blankets from those, so, as I was chatting to some of the ladies, we saw fit for them to just come together and start knitting for people.”

The Kyalami group comes together once a month, on a Wednesday, to make these knitted items. Each group has at least 25 knitters who dedicate their efforts to making communities warmer.

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When they are done knitting, Sarah puts the knitted crafts altogether and distributes them to schools, charity homes, or mothers with new born babies.

The knit and natter initiative has brought warmth to the community, but the group also gets to have fun, meeting at Jackson’s and sharing a meal and laughter, whilst knitting their blankets, scarves, or beanies.

One of the members of the initiative, Linda Joseph, said she joined the group because she loves knitting and she enjoys being around people.

She added that the initiative has helped her use her skills, whilst doing good for people who need it.

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