Penistone knit group

What started out as a single knitting group has grown into a regional hub of dedicated knitters supporting local charities and hospitals...

The Penistone Knitting Group first began as a virtual group on Facebook around two and half years ago knitting for premature babies at a local maternity hospital, Jessops, in She eld. Fast forward two years and the group has now grown to a total of over 20 knitting groups! Between them all, the groups currently knit for 12 hospitals and 13 charities and in total there are over 190 knitters, the majority being local to the region of Barnsley. These dedicated groups feature a diverse range of knitters at all levels, including expats who knit and send knitting back to their home country. Sheryll Dixon, who helps co-ordinate the groups, receives up to 200 items a week which are then washed, sorted and posted to the various hospitals and charities. Her hard work has been recognised, with three articles about her knitting published in local paper the

Barnsley Chronicle, and she has recently won the Proud of Barnsley volunteer of the year award.

GROWING IN STRENGTH

Penistone Knitting Group has come a long way in a relatively short time. The knitters have now branched out to support Western Park Hopsital in She eld, to knit twiddlemu s for dementia patients and to knit for newborn charity Emily’s Star who provide a box to parents of babies who weigh a delicate 3lb, 4lb or 5lb at birth. The knitters enjoy using a variety of yarns by James C. Brett, Woolcraft, Sirdar and King Cole and all the patterns are by mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot. com. The group is growing in strength, and in the last six months, thanks to local grants, over an incredible 6,000 items have been donated. They aim to keep going!

Want to know more?

Contact Sheryll Dixon on Facebook at @penistoneknittinggroup. And if you know about a fab knitting group drop us a line at simplyknitting@immediate.co.uk.