Linda de Wit of Plumstead Rusoord retirement village has crocheted 370 blankets which daughter Karen Smit distributes to various hospitals and communities in need. Ms De Wit has bad arthritis in her hands but still crochets every day. She uses all her own wool that she has collected over the years.
“She is such an inspiration to myself, my three sisters and all her grandchildren, family and friends,” said Ms Smit who also lives in Plumstead.
“Mum always has a smile on her face and a happy attitude and is so proud of her accomplishments,” she said.
About four years ago Ms Smit collected 450 navy knitted beanies and scarves for an underprivileged school in Elgin. “The project was such a huge success that I decided to keep the knitting for charity group alive,” said Ms Smit.
Since then she has hosted fund-raisers so that she can buy wool for a group of women to help knit and crochet. “Most of the ladies are pensioners and cannot afford their own wool. The one thing they do have is time which they use to knit. During lockdown I would drop off wool at various retirement villages to help keep the ladies busy and help us distribute as many warm clothes as possible,” said Ms Smit.
She says they have called themselves Labours of Love and they supply various hospitals and communities in need with knitted baby clothes, beanies, and other items.
They are currently running low on wool and are asking the community for wool or cash to buy some. If you can help, contact Karen Smit, scrapbookct@webafrica.org.za, or 082 926 9397.
