Anne Nel and Marie Lemmer have been knitting and crocheting for as long as they can recall. 80-year-old Anne and 88-year-old Marie have been best friends for about four years.

The women are both residents of Shepstone Place – Home for the Aged. While some residents at the home prefer to spend the many hours of the day in long discussions or watching a television programmes, these women stay alert and engaged by knitting. Anne says that knitting and crocheting brings her a peace of mind.

“It is meditative, the action of knitting is both calming and focusing for me and I can pray while I’m busy,” shared Anne.

“Knitting helps me relax, I love the feeling I get once I’ve completed something. The state of mindfulness is the best,” admitted Marie.

Their love for knitting has passed the hobby stage, they speak of knitting as a part of who they have become and not merely just an activity to pass time, it has brought these two very different women together in more ways than one. They both describe themselves as God-fearing women.

Marie is originally from Durban and was an Admin Clerk, while Anne, from the Cape, was a qualified midwife and general sister for 40 years. Their love for knitting is not all the pair share; the two were also born in the same month. It’s heart-warming to watch how the two help each other out.

Marie was first inspired to knit at an early age while at school. She first knitted her doll, a blanket; this is probably one of her fondest childhood memories.

“Throughout my life I’ve been knitting or rather knitting has taken me through life. From the word go, I took a liking to knitting,” explained Marie with a sparkle in her eyes

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Anne, on the other hand, thought learning the art of knitting and crocheting was such a beautiful thing.

“Once, while I was studying during 1961, I said to Sister Goosen, even if I don’t pass any test, I want to learn how to knit.
“My aunt would knit and bead doilies by candlelight, her handy work amazed me every time. She gave me one to remember her by and it was the most beautiful thing ever. Since then, I wanted to learn,” reminisced Anne.

Their fingers are never idle! If needles are not clicking together, you can find the pair busy in the garden, reading, praying or talking walks. Marie quickly pointed out, with a chuckle escaping her lips that it’s ‘just to keep fit’.

“Life is not a routine, so I enjoy keeping busy and learning new things,” said Anne.

Anne and Marie gave knitting and crocheting lessons to the public last year.

“My child and I returned from a lesson one afternoon and we were eager to give this a try on our own, and I valued each second of bonding,” said one parent who returned to the home to express her gratitude for the ladies.

The talented independent designers and best friends have taken pride in creating gloves, cell phone bags, coat hangers, shawls, bed socks, coats, hats, toys, scarfs, kiddie handbags and baby clothes. Any thing you can think of, they can knit it. Marie is currently making a cot blanket, soft pink and lilac rows are being woven together by hand.

The incomplete blanket already weighs warm and cosy in one’s hands. Anne has just completed a set of scarves and jerseys for friends in Scotland. Anne alerted Marie that it is time to pull out their crocheting hooks and knitting needles with a cup of tea for Marie and a glass of water for herself.

The two live their lives quietly otherwise and say they love residing at the home and have made new family there. To make any orders contact Debbie Potgieter on 036 352 191/2 during office hours.

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