Knitting craze in Horncastle grabs all generations -- from schoolgirl to 99-year-old Olive!
From ten-year-olds to 99-year-olds – they’re all getting involved in a knitting craze emanating from a care home in Horncastle.
The Tanglewood home on Louth Road launched a community knitting challenge earlier this year to raise awareness of dementia and donations for the charity, Dementia UK.
Residents and staff at the home started knitting items such as blankets and a giant scarf. And family and friends, including children, have caught the bug too.
"The knitting challenge is going amazingly well,” said a spokeswoman for the home.
"Amy Simons, aged ten, from Horncastle Primary School, has started to knit a scarf for us, while Olive Rodgers, a resident aged 99, is also enjoying knitting, so all generations are getting involved. Amy has taken a real shine to knitting and really enjoys it.
"We are running a weekly ‘knit and knatter’ group on Mondays at 1 pm, and everyone is welcome to come along. We are also planning a knitting party in the near future.
"We have even heard of passengers knitting on the ‘Louth Nipper’ buses, run by PC Coaches!
"Thanks to everyone for supporting the challenge and for all the donations of wool and needles.”
The craze all started when one of the elderly, bed-bound residents at Tanglewood was struggling with her sleep.
As a result, she learned to knit, with help from a member of the home’s care team. And before long, she was knitting a blanket for the home’s resident dog, Kevin.
More blankets followed for the furry, four-legged pets of relatives and visitors to the 54-bed home, which was then overwhelmed by the generosity of the local community in answering an appeal for wool donations.
Alice O’Hara, the home’s manager, said: “This is a fun project for all. The amazing charity is very close to the residents of the home, their family and friends.
"We are aiming to make a scarf big enough to go around the entire home for a warm hug.
"We are asking people to get involved and bring in their knitted pieces that we can attach together to make the scarf.
"Winter can be difficult for lots of people thanks to shorter, darker days. But if they can get out and visit us, we want to offer a warm space for friendship – and knitting of course!”