Councillor praises volunteer group making blankets 'with love' for Northampton charities

A Northampton knitting group has made 20 blankets since March for three Northampton charities.

Councillor Jane Birch (Lab, Trinity) gifted member of the congregation, Rosemary Tew, with a bag of yellow and purple wool she found in a cupboard.

It was here where Rosemary suggested to the church congregation at Holy Trinity and Saint Paul, in Edingburgh Road, that they should unite together for charity occupy themselves during lockdown.

Jane said: "This grew with the ladies rediscovering their hidden talents and skills to produce both knitted and crocheted squares, which have been sewn together to make a wonderful array of blankets.

"They have completed 20 so far and are not stopping. It has been a great community effort and has provided enjoyment and, perhaps, has also brought out some competitive sprit amongst the knitters of Trinity.

"The blankets will be donated to organisations supporting people through these difficult times and hopefully will bring some comfort to recipients knowing the blankets have been made with the love and good wishes of the Trinity Knitters."

Fourteen of the congregation knitted and crocheted at home to make the blankets within seven months.

Member of the congregation for 70 years, Rosemary Tew, 78, said: "It's given people something to do, it's taken us since when lockdown started and we've made 20 blankets.

"They are going to Cynthia Spencer, Symphony House Nursing Home in Queens Park Parade and Victim Support. It's made us feel like we've had a purpose. Many of the congregation have knitted lots and lots of squares and I've put them together.

"We usually have boxes in the church for people to put donations in each week for Victim Support. I think the project has been very helpful for everybody and they're all proud and they are all pleased that they could help."