dalmuir libra knit & natter group

We chat to Margaret Reid, who runs two knitting groups in Dalmuir, Clydebank – each one filled with wonderfully supportive friendships

Dalmuir Library Knit & Natter is in its third year of running. It was set up by Margaret Reid after she couldn’t find a local knitting group with times to suit her. “An arts and crafts hub opened up locally,” she explains, “So I discussed with them the possibility of a knit and natter group running, which they embraced.” Three years on and the club is thriving, and Margaret’s even set up a second local group – the Golden Friendships Knit & Natter group at a local social inclusion charity. “My son attends the disability club and I wanted to give something back,” says Margaret. “The Knit & Natter group fundraise for the club and I organise fundraising craft fairs throughout the year too.”

CHARITY WORK

The Dalmuir Library group also does plenty of charity fundraising all year round. “We knit poppies to raise funds for veterans at Erskine Home,” says Margaret, “And we knit hats for the homeless, prem baby hats for local hospitals, and we provide our local care home with warm knitted lap blankets for residents. We raised funds by knitting hedgehogs and finger puppets, then bought the local care home three garden bird feeders for residents. We were so happy to hear that they purchased a book on birds so they could identify all the ones visiting the feeders, as the residents were taking such a keen interest in the birds. We also knit trauma teddies for Police Scotland, which they give to children as a first comfort in traumatic situations, and we worked for months knitting sea creatures and flowers and making pompoms for a yarn bombing project at Bowling Harbour Spring Fest event.”

LOCKDOWN KNITTING

Of course, the recent lockdown meant that the usual meetings at the library couldn’t take place, but that didn’t stop Margaret or her knitters. “During lockdown we still kept ourselves busy – it’s been good to have a shared focus and purpose to our days at home,” she explains. “We keep in touch via our group Facebook page and group video chats, and myself and a couple of members knit hearts for Covid patients and families to bring a little comfort in their separation. I also knit NHS scrubs dolls and raised funds for Erskine Home, and another member has been busy sewing scrubs and theatre gowns.”

Want to know more? The Dalmuir Library Knit & Natter usually meets on a Wednesday from 10am-2pm, and plan to start again as soon as it is safe to do so. Visit them online at www. facebook.com/groups/866743080380077. The Golden Friendships Club meets on Mondays from 11am-3pm, www.facebook.com/ groups/450013368946912.