Nutty knitters go woolly for Teddy Bear Clinic

“You don’t need to donate thousands to make a difference,” says Dr Efrat Barnes, a medical doctor at the Teddy Bear Clinic, “you just need a pair of knitting needles and some wool.”

When Barnes, who works with minimising the effect of abuse on children, met women from Knitting Knuts, she loved the idea that they would knit teddies for the children she worked with.

“Children often go for the knitted teddy bears over other fancy toys,” said Barnes. “There’s just something warm and snuggly about them.”

Teddy bears play the role of a transitional object for children at the clinic, Barnes said. “It’s essentially used to provide psychological support and comfort to the child during that difficult period when they first come into the clinic. Developmentally, all children will seek out some sort of transitional object or comfort object as they separate from their caregivers.” Additionally, hugging the teddy bears releases oxytocin, which stimulates feelings of love and happiness. “Interestingly, when a woman gives birth, oxytocin is released. That’s what allows the bonding to occur between mother and child.”

But Barnes had no idea how seriously the women of Knitting Knuts would take their commitment to creating these essential tools.

Hilary Sassen, one of the two founders of Knitting Knuts, created more than 35 years ago, and part of a group called Knit & Knatter, immediately got to work with her groups, as well as posting about the project on a Jewish women’s Facebook page. Sassen said about 70 women volunteered to knit teddy bears, while others donated wool to the cause.

“We have had such an unbelievable response to this project, and are so grateful to all the wonderful knitters involved,” Sassen said. “Knitting Knuts channelled its love of knitting into making a real impact on people’s lives.

“Knitting is what keeps me sane,” she said. “We also crochet, but would rather not call ourselves the Crazy Crocheters.”

When the group was started by Sassen and Doris Pollack, they began knitting squares for blankets. Helen Handel joined the group a little while later, and the trio, along with a few other group members, began knitting blankets as well as beanies, jerseys, and other items for those in need. “We’ve knitted for organisations like DL Link and the Union of Jewish Women,” said Sassen. “We also make a lot of beanies and things for premature babies. We’re always happy to knit for whoever is in need”.

Knitting Knuts has also recently knitted blankets for the Abraham Kriel Children’s Home.

• Those who need knitted items or wish to donate wool and supplies, can send an email to ehmudpuddles@gmail.com