Women warmer than most
When you hear the words twiddler muffs, many things may spring to mind - wool probably Isn’t one of them.
They keep your hands warm and are designed to keep the hands and minds of dementia patients busy too.
And for a knitters’ club that gathers once a week in New Plymouth, the muffs are just one of a raft of handmade woollen wears members create to donate to local charities. The quirky-looking hand warmers are softly textured with bits and bobs attached, which is why they are useful for those with dementia.
The tightly knit bunch of woman are as vibrant and warm as the singlets, blankets, mittens, scarves, beanies, and twiddler muffs they create.
Up until a year ago, they were complete strangers. They came together after responding to an article calling for people skilled in the handy art. Since then their numbers have dwindled from 16 to eight, ’’stayers’’ steadfast to the knitting cause.
‘‘I’ll be coming to knit ‘til my fingers drop off,’’ Hickling says.
Hopes are it won’t come to that, especially as their woolly products are set to benefit so many people in the community including; Age Concern, Plunket, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and a new charity on the block, the Nurture Centre.
The knitters want nothing in return for their hours of hard work, bar knowing their wears will be worn by those in need. ’’I would just love to be walking up town and see a baby wrapped in one of my blankets, that would be simply delightful,’’ Hickling says.
For Fleming, who travels from Okato, it’s not only the knitting that keeps her going each week. She says they are all good friends now who yarn and laugh about all kinds of things.
One woman’s talent for baking is a drawcard too.
‘‘A couple of us are widows and it’s a nice way to fill in time on some of those long nights,’’ Hickling says.
The mature women insist there’s been a real resurgence of people wanting to knit, they say it’s not simply knitting, crochet was growing in popularity also.
Despite all the sheep in NZ new wool is a pricey commodity, anyone with the odd ball of wool lying around can contact a.chickling@xtra.co.nz - the women would be happy to have them.