A good yarn: Kilkenny knitters to make blankets for charities

A project to create  blankets for charities in Kilkenny and Africa is calling out for local volunteers to get their needles out.

Kilkenny County Council’s Arts Office is looking for volunteers around the county to knit or crochet squares for the Elkana Charity in South Africa as part of ‘Knitted Together II’.

In 2020, the Arts Office ran the original Knitted Together and saw more than 180 volunteers knitting and crocheting at home during lockdowns, creating close to knitted 4000 squares which made up the colourful blankets for the Elkana Charity and for local Kilkenny charities.

Volunteers are asked to knit or crochet 8-inch squares (8 inches across by 8 inches down) using double knitting yarn and 4mm needles or 4mm crochet hooks, which will then be joined together to create the blankets.

The Arts Office is organising online get-togethers and tutorials for anyone who wants to get involved, and will help out with materials if people are having difficulty sourcing wool or needles.

Some of the Kilkenny organisations that benefitted from the project last year include: the Amber Women’s Refuge, Good Shepherd Centre, O’Neill Centre, St. Canice’s Homes for the Elderly and St. Marys Homes for the Elderly.

‘Knitted Together’ is funded by Creative Ireland and supported by Age Friendly Kilkenny and Healthy Ireland Kilkenny programmes.

Anyone interested in being part of the project is asked to email: bernadette.roberts@kilkennycoco.ie.