A group of West Leeds knitters are keeping busy making things for charities while staying home during lockdown.
The Hookers and Clickers (do it for charity) group of female knitters usually meets regularly at Unit 11 in Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Park, but has been unable to do so because to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Joanne Brophy, from Bramley, asked for donations towards buying protective gear for NHS workers and also ran a raffle of wooly loveliness on the group’s Facebook page. They raised £500 in just 48 hours. Joanne said:
“We had a day where people could donate to the H & C PayPal account & the following day I did a raffle for a wool prize.”
Joanne said the normally sociable group is continuing to keep busy and knit to support charities and good causes, despite lockdown:
“At the moment we are making blankets for Operation Orphan and they will be distributed around 16 countries. We are also making small blankets, cardigans & mitts & putting together small care packages for trafficked girls who get dumped on the streets when pregnant. The babies are usually premature.
“We send our items to a hospital down south who have a dedicated team to care for for these girls. We are making for KipBag too. They make up bags for the homeless & distribute around UK cities.”
If anyone wants to help but don’t knit or crochet there is a Hookers and Clickers (do it for charity) PayPal account if they want to drop a pound or two in. It goes towards buying wool for the ladies and postage to the charities. PayPal address is – hookersandclickers@gmail.com.
Unit 11 in Kirkstall are also hoping to run online meetings for the group during lockdown.
(Please note: Main photograph taken 2018, before social distancing)