Nimble-fingered volunteer group "Knitting Angel" is using a relaxing pastime to support a good cause. The volunteers knit items to be sold at charity auctions to help raise money for seniors and low income families to buy daily necessities.
Knitting Angel is a voluntary project run by a local charity. The knitters use yarn supplied by commercial enterprises. Their creations, such as scarves and hats are given to seniors for the cold winter months. Nearly 2,000 knits were donated last year.
A great yarn
Knitting Angel co-ordinator Peggy Shum said the group expanded the scope of its support last year. It would collect knitted products made by volunteers and hand them out to the elderly. Now the volunteers also knit items to be auctioned at the annual Charity Bazaar community event to raise money for seniors and the needy to buy daily necessities like rice and oil.
Ms Shum noted that to become a volunteer you do not need to be an expert knitter since there are classes for those who have never picked up a knitting needle.
Knitting Angel recently collaborated with Youth Square to host a knitting class, and the coffee cup sleeves they created are being auctioned for charity.
Novice knitters
Knitting is generally perceived as being a woman's pursuit, but a growing number of men are taking up the hobby, like Teddy Lau who said the knitting class opened up a whole new world for him.
"It is difficult. I have never done anything like this. I usually play ballgames which don't need skilful hands. But it is worth a try!"
Fellow knitting student Deven Chan said he enjoyed learning how to knit while helping the needy at the same time. He put a positive spin on becoming a knitter.
"If a man knows how to knit, he may get bonus points from the ladies," he joked.
Volunteer tutor Yvonne Tsang said sharing her knitting skills with others is a rewarding experience. She was encouraged to see her students exploring advanced knitting techniques on the Internet after she had taught them the basics.
The students said attending workshops and creating something with their own hands gave them a sense of fulfilment and a confidence-boost, while others were grateful that the pastime had brought their family closer together.
"My daughter saw me knitting and then she wanted to learn too. She used to play video games all the time, but now we knit together, so I am really happy," said knitting class student Liu Miao-yan.
For the Year of the Monkey, the Knitting Angels have created monkey soft toys complete with bananas which will be auctioned to raise funds for seniors.
