Sandy de Goede finds closure in crochet at Rosebank Union Church
After the loss of her husband, Sandy de Goede turned to crochet, not just as a hobby, but as a journey to find healing.
A ball of yarn and a crochet hook may seem simple, but for 78-year-old Sandy de Goede, they have become powerful tools for healing, connection and renewed purpose.
A resident of River Club in Sandton, De Goede moved to the area in 2022 with her late husband, Brian.
Just months after settling into their daughter’s home, she suffered a devastating loss of her husband. Faced with grief and a sense of loneliness, she began searching for something to help her cope and found comfort in a lifelong craft.
Read more: River Club woman finds healing through crochet at Rosebank Union Church
Originally from Durban, De Goede first started knitting in her 20s. “My boss at the salon I was working at taught me how to knit. We had a staffroom where she would stay and do knitting, and she would ask me to knit with her when I wasn’t busy with clients. That’s where my knitting journey started.
“When I was pregnant with my first baby boy, I used to make little jackets for him in between doing hair. When I had my son, everything came to a standstill, and so my knitting came to an abrupt stop.”
After taking a long break to focus on family life, De Goede returned to knitting in her later years. “I started knitting again in my 50s into my 60s, and then it started heading towards my 70s.”
Months after losing her husband, De Goede said she started looking for something to do to keep her distracted. Her search led her to the group of women called KnitWits 4 the Needy, meeting weekly at Rosebank Union Church to knit and crochet blankets and clothing for underprivileged communities.
“A couple of months after we moved to River Club, my husband passed away. I was at a bit of a loss and decided I needed a group to join and to start doing something. Just a meeting place to have coffee and knit or crochet.”
Also read: This is how a local mother took up crocheting to support her family
Now a member for four years, she described the group as more than just a social gathering. “These girls are amazing. They do so much work for the destitute people of Johannesburg, especially in the wintertime. It’s very, very cold here, and they need blankets badly, so I joined the group and started crocheting.
“I now actually prefer crochet to knitting, and it actually becomes very addictive. It’s actually a healing process, especially if you’re going through something such as your husband passing away.”
Her message to others, especially those facing loss or loneliness, is that it’s never too late to begin again.
“It’s never too late to start something new or to reach out. Crochet is definitely a healing process and a good addiction. So, anybody who takes up this hobby will be doing themselves a huge favour. You are allowed to come and join us at Rosebank Union on a Saturday morning.”
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