It’s hard to imagine that the 600 handmade beanies donated to the Werribee Mercy Pediatrics Ward, on Thursday, June 30, were all knitted by the same person.
Helen Shaw began making the bright and dainty babies hats on behalf of the Werribee Rotary Club about seven years ago, when she was introduced to knitting by a friend.
“That’s how it started and I can’t stop…some days I knit one, some days I knit two or three,“ Ms Shaw said
“It’s meant for as soon as the babies are born, they just give them a quick wipe and they put the beanie on their head to keep them warm because they lose a lot of heat that way.
“I just liked knitting the colourful ones because a lot of the babies now are from different backgrounds, the mums of these babies love them because they’re so colourful.“
Ms Shaw said it was lovely to see her beanies finally at the hospital, but is adamant her hobby is just as beneficial for her as it is for others.
“It’s good for the knitter as well as the babies, because it keeps them doing something active when they get older,“ she said.
Ms Shaw moved to the Sunshine Coast a few years into her project, and mailed down the remainder of the beanies, but hopes there are residents in Wyndham who would keep the initiative going.
“The pattern is so easy, if they can knit and curl, that’s all they need really,“ she said.
“The more people you have knitting, the more you get for the babies.“
Fatima Halloum
