Big-hearted crafters have stitched together more than 20 knitted blankets for youngsters in need.
Barnard Castle’s Crafty Knitwits, who meet each Wednesday morning at Andalucia on Galgate, donated the blankets to Project Linus, a national charity that works with hospitals, care homes and fostering services.
The blankets, described as “a hug you can keep”, go to seriously ill, abused, bereaved or traumatised children, from premature babies to teenagers.
Lori Henderson, the Durham area co-ordinator, shared some tales about how much the blankets meant to some of the youngsters.
“We had one little boy and they gave him a red-and-white blanket and he just started crying,” she said. “We asked what was wrong, and he said it was the first present anyone had ever given him. Stories like that really make you stop and think.”
Locally, Project Linus donates to hospitals in Durham and Sunderland, as well as the County Durham Fostering Service.
Crafty Knitwits started as a Knit & Natter circle in 2019, but after that group had to stop, it was re-established last year.
Now it has a regular core of about 12-15 members, supported by Christine Taylour at Andalucia, who provides a meeting place free of charge.
As well as supporting Project Linus, the group also makes cardigans, sweaters and hats for babies.
These are mostly donated to Cambodia as part of a scheme set up by midwife tutors at the University of Lancaster.
