Sight loss no barrier to Pauline as she leads Malawi knitting drive

Charity: Angus woman fronts group that knits blankets and clothing for needy communities in Africa

An Angus woman has shown sight loss is no barrier after fronting a knitting drive for Malawi.

Pauline Cadger started up Knitting For Malawi group in June.

Fifteen people have now come forward to knit in support of the group and others have offered donations of wool.

Dundee-based charity The Raven Trust attended at Barry Church Hall yesterday to uplift the first four boxes of items from Knitting For Malawi.

The group is knitting a range of blankets, clothes and other goods for adults and children of needy communities.

Pauline said her sight problems were first detected at just seven months old before deteriorating over time.

She said she started knitting two years ago when a friend suggested it would be a good hobby when she was laid up in hospital.

Pauline – who has what she calls

I thought it would be a good idea to help the people of Malawi and this seemed perfect. PAULINE CADGER

the “white and dark sight” – took to it straight away with her friend reading out the patterns and now she can knit without any help.

She said: “I thought it would be a good idea to help the people of Malawi and this seemed perfect.

“I’m very proud of the people that have come forward because in the first week there was just the two of us.

“I’ve also started to crochet and hope to finish a blanket for Malawi – it’s all been very rewarding.”

On hearing of Knitting For Malawi, Arbroath couple Greta and Tommy Knox donated a variety of knitted goods including about a dozen teddy bears.

Another major contribution came from members of Forfar East and Old Church, who donated a quantity of unsold knitted goods from their charity shop.

All items will be shipped to the African country through a partnership with The Raven Trust, which has already dispatched more than 100 container loads of items on behalf of the church and other groups throughout Scotland.

Anyone unable to attend the group on Monday afternoons but interested in supporting this venture is asked to phone 01241 437034 to discuss how they can get involved.

“I would urge anyone who is interested in knitting to join our group,” Pauline said.

“Knitting is very relaxing and it’s all going to a very worthwhile cause.” gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: Paul Reid. From left: Sylvia Knowles, Marie Wilson and Agnes Millar are part of the group Knitting For Malawi at Barry Church Hall.