Comforting others one stitch at a time 

 

BY JULIA WADE

A close-knit group of crafty women have been making a long-time impact on the lives of many babies, families and even animals facing an uncertain future, through the gift of comforting woollen creations. 

For three years Mangawhai’s Peggy Purl (MPP) have met at Mangawhai Museum every Friday, the click of busy needles resulting in a variety of colourful knitted art in the shape of clothing, blankets and baby wear.  

Although the group mainly knit items for Plunket, MPP coordinator Lorraine Edlin says the 25 or so knitters also create essential items for Whangarei Hospital’s newest patients. 

“We knit for the premature baby unit and take clothing for the children’s ward at the hospital… there is a great need for clothing in the north. We also donate animal blankets to the SPCA,” she says. “This year alone we have knitted 335 cardigans, jumpers and vests, 67 blankets, 10 toys, and 13 mums and bubs wipes.” 

‘Peggy Purl’ was started in the 1930’s at the time of the Great Depression by four-year-old Peggy Huse who, by knitting small woollen squares for her dolls, became the inspiration for a national radio campaign to knit ‘Peggy squares’ to form blankets for the many destitute children and their families affected by the economic disaster. 

The knitting group saw a revival in 2012 by Peggy’s daughter Adair Eady and community development coordinator Lynn Dawson (Zonta Mangawhai’s nominee for a ’50 Women of Achievement Award’ in 2016) which has seen over a thousand blankets gifted to New Zealand children in need.  

Long-time knitter and craftswoman, local woman Maree Dunlop who lives with mental disabilities, has been attending Peggy Purl for only a few months. However she has donated her colourful creations including blankets, bookmarks and clothing, to hospitals and Plunket for many years.

Peggy Purl knitters are helping to bring comfort to Northland’s vulnerable residents including premature babies, young hospital patients and animals at the SPCA.