Terminal illness charity, Marie Curie, is calling on knitters to make socks for the 229 patients who will be spending Christmas Day in one of its nine hospices. The charity is hoping the socks will bring some festive cheer to the in-patients, some of whom will be trying to enjoy their last Christmas with their family and friends. A doctor at the charity began knitting socks for her patients after reading about three sisters who were selling special yarn in aid of the charity.
Dr Sarah Holmes, Consultant at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford and keen knitter, said: “Each year we give every patient who is staying at the hospice over Christmas a small gift bag. After reading about a special yarn in Marie Curie colours it sparked an idea – to knit socks using the yarn and then add them to the gifts bags on Christmas Day.”
While Sarah had set out on knitting socks for patients at the Bradford hospice she has now taken her challenge nationwide: “I’m now aiming to give socks to every patient who will be staying in a Marie Curie hospice on Christmas Day but need some help – I need to make 229 pairs in total. I can’t quite believe what I’ve started but it’s really great to see fellow knitters getting involved and sending me socks.”
Can you help Sarah achieve her goal? To buy the special Marie Curie yarn from cityknits.co.uk click here.
Sisters Sally, Caroline and Julie, who run Christine’s Woolshop, are donating £2 from every sale of the yarn to the charity, after their mum was cared for by Marie Curie Nurses. If you need design inspiration Dr Holmes has posted a pattern for the socks here on Ravelry. You can also use yarn in Marie Curie colours – yellow, blue and white.
Please send your knitted socks to: Smita Mistry, Marie Curie Communications Dept. 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP or you can contact her for more information on 020 7091 6650 / smita.mistry@mariecurie.org.uk
