Not since Lord Kitchener charged Queen Mary with knitting socks for soldiers has there been such a mustering of the craft community, as UK Hand Knitting
gets behind an appeal from Huddersfield to Ukraine Humanitarian Aid.
When the conflict started in Ukraine many knitters and crocheters have been wondering what they can do to help. Getting items into the country is complicated and knowing where they would do most good is almost impossible for us as individuals.
UK Hand Knitting was contacted recently by St Andrews Motor Company in Huddersfield West Yorkshire with the perfect solution. The company set up ‘Huddersfield to Ukraine, Humanitarian Aid’ and have been fundraising, and accepting and distributing aid to the people of Ukraine since March 2022. The team have sent five convoys to Poland and into Ukraine with medical supplies, hygiene products, dried food, baby milk and food, stretchers, wheelchairs, crutches, candles……the list is endless
The organisation emailed UK Hand Knitting because they are desperately short of socks and beanie hats for the soldiers at the front line and for civilians in need. They are appealing to the crafting community to get their needles and hooks ready to help make as many socks and hats as they can to send out to Ukraine. According to Craft Intelligence from Our Media 7 million people in the UK can knit, so there is sure to be an impressive response.
The socks must be at least 75% wool because the soldiers put them on overnight to keep their feet dry and warm, this helps with trench foot. They don’t need heel shaping but can simply be a knitted tube with one end sewn closed to keep feet warm.
Beanie hats can be made using any fibre, but they MUST ONLY be dark grey, navy, khaki, dark brown or black so that soldiers can remain inconspicuous on the front line.
The UK Hand Knitting website has free patterns for hats, a DK sock and a tube sock that knitters can use.
The address to send knitted or crocheted items to is:
St Andrews Motor Company
273, Leeds Road
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD1 6NS
If you want to find out more about Huddersfield to Ukraine, Humanitarian Aid or how to make a donations, you can join their Facebook group here.
For press information contact:
Juliet Bernard
07778 397902
Notes To Editors
UK Hand Knitting (UKHK) is a not-for-profit organisation representing wholesale yarn companies in the UK. Formed in 1940, UKHK supports yarn shops, the jewels of the high street, and promotes the crafts of knitting and crochet nationwide.
