Knitted with love for orphans around the world

By Thom Kennedy, Cumberland News
Last updated 05:18, Friday, 31 July 2009

THOUSANDS of children around the world will go to bed with a warm jumper on tonight –thanks to one woman from Carlisle.
Margaret Chamberlin, 76, has spent the last two-and-a-half decades giving her time hand-knitting jumpers and cardigans for poverty stricken children in orphanages and hospitals in Third World countries.
She currently has a box full of 200 hats, cardigans and jumpers to sent to young people in destinations such as Romania and Kenya.
And it is just one of dozens of boxes she has knitted herself and sent out over the last 27 years through the Scottish Christian care charity Blythswood Care.
Mrs Chamberlin, who lives in Clift Street, off Newtown Road, said: “I never knit two the same. Every one is different and flashily coloured as I think children relate to colours and can identify their own jumpers.
“I can do a jumper or cardigan in two nights, and including hats I can do about 300 or 400 a year. It’s just a case of how often I sit down and knit, and how much I do at a time.
“I’m sure I’ve sent thousands of items, but I’m glad I can’t count the exact amount. I was asked to go out to Romania once but I couldn’t go. I’m too soft-hearted anyway, I don’t think I would want to go into those hospitals. It must be heart-breaking to see. You do the best you can but you can’t do everything.”
She used to use a knitting machine, but an accident stopped her using it – so she sent it to Kenya.
Now all her jumpers, hats and cardigans are made by hand. As well as her knitting, Mrs Chamberlin makes cot blankets out of old materials, which are also sent to the countries.
Because her achievements have become so well known among friends, Mrs Chamberlin rarely buys wool or material.
She said: “I never need to go and buy wool, as different people bring it to me.
“It’s surprising how many people call up saying things like ‘I’m changing my bed, do you want a duvet?’ and I can cut it up and make it into a cot blanket.”
A van from the charity comes to Carlisle every month to pick up goods donated by members of the public, including medical supplies and clothes collected by other people in Carlisle, and throughout the north west and Scotland.

Scrumptious new buttons...

Knit and Sew now have gorgeous colourful and monochrome buttons in stock.

All made from natural horn, and about 40mm diameter, these Natural World buttons come in packs of 2 and would be ideal for cardigans and jackets.

With a choice of 24 designs, add some individuality to your knitting!!

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NEW Sublime Luxurious Woolly Merino

Available now in a range of 8 delicious colours - gorgeous texture (shown here in Pink Floyd and Moody Blue)...£4.70 a ball

Fabulous patterns!

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Knitting Club - Llanelli/Swansea area

Meets every Wednesday 5.30-9.00pm.

Bring your wool & needles and join the group! Make friends and learn a new skill. A great opportunity to enjoy your hobby, catch up with friends and be able to ask advice on your latest knitting or crochet project.

Refreshments available.

The Joiners Arms, Llwynhendy, Llanelli. For more info call: 01554 754594

Just arrived - Fashion Flower Corsages

Now in stock, Flower Fashion corsages in a variety of styles and colours. Choose from a range of fabric finishes including silky, organza, linen and sinamay.

Each flower is complete with a brooch pin on the reverse ready to attach to a special outfit, hat or bag.

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New Stylecraft Wools and Patterns

Knit and Sew is pleased to announce the arrival of a new selection of Stylecraft patterns and yarns.

Stylecraft Chunky Signature is a gorgeous new yarn available in a range of colours with a selection of supporting pattern leaflets for ladies including unusual cardigans, jackets and sweaters. Also there are new patterns in Stylecraft Life DK.

There is also a range of babies and children's patterns in Stylecraft Wondersoft DK, including gorgeous sets of cardigans, dresses, hats, shoes, socks and boots.

Knitting social group for over 50s starting up

July 2009

From the Exmouth Journal:

A CHARITY that fosters closer ties between young people and the over 50s is appealing for new members who can knit for needy children to join a new for a new social group.

Littleham's Howard Witts is the East Devon coordinator for RSVP, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme, the only UK wide organisation that offers the opportunity to everyone over the age of 50 to volunteer. And he is calling for new members to start up a new social group, to meet weekly in Withycombe.

The group will start up in about a month and members will get to have a cuppa and a chat while knitting clothes, toys and other accessories for underprivileged childrenHe said: "We want people over the age of 50 to come and join us, get together weekly in Exmouth, enjoy themselves and knit for children."

It could be for children in neo-natal units, hospitals, from poor countries and they could be items like garments or cuddly toys."We would provide the venue and all the materials and refreshments."

He said it would be ideal for people who liked knitting but didn't go out as much they would like and wanted to meet like minded people.He added that if the group was successful he would go start up other groups possibly in Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton.

Mr Witts also thanked volunteers who applied to the last programme - giving up their time to help children with literacy in schools - and thanked residents who had doubled the amount of volunteers since the appeal went out in February.

For more information call Howard on: (01395) 273692.

Teddy love fills police stations

The teddies will be handed to children brought to police stations

Cuddly toys will be kept at every police station in Northamptonshire to help children cope with stressful and traumatic situations.

Teddies with Love are hand-knitted by the Mothers' Union from the Peterborough Diocese.

The women have already knitted more than 1,000 teddies for child protection teams, family liaison officers and domestic abuse centres.

Now enough there are enough for every Northamptonshire police station.

'Friendly face'

Barbara Haynes from the Mothers' Union said: "The idea of Teddies with Love was formed when we saw a TV documentary about an ambulance service in the north of the country which gives teddies to children in times of stress.

"The teddies are knitted to help reassure children who may be experiencing trauma.

"In addition, knitting the teddies is a great way to get all our members involved, some of whom may not be able to get out much."

Sgt Sharan Wildman of Wellingborough Incident Resolution Team said: "It's the friendly face of the police, helping to reassure children and their families in times of need."

from BBC News