Port Purlers take up needles for Romania
KNITTING GROUP: Port Purlers knitting group at the Whistlestop Cafe with Margaret Galloway (head of table) and the Whistlestops Judith Cain (standing left). PHOTO: Mike Proudfoot MP121002 (19).
IT seems the south just can’t get enough knitting groups!
SOCKS (Society of Crazy Knitters) meets in the Albert Hotel, Port St Mary, every Friday afternoon, Knit+ meanwhile meets in Castletown’s Viking on the fourth Wednesday of every month and a new group – Port Purlers – began meeting every Tuesday afternoon in the Whistlestop Cafe in Port Erin last month.
Margaret Galloway formed Port Purlers and said: ‘I thought it would be nice thing to be happening in the community, it was nothing more than that really, I thought this would have a purpose with it as well. Also, I think there are a lot of lonely people out there.’
The Port Purlers may meet for the social interaction, but they are also on a mission and they knit garments for the Ethel Brolls’ Romanian Orphanage Appeal.
Margaret explained: ‘We have a cottage in Whithorn, in Dumfries and Galloway. I went to the charity shop in the village, there were lovely knitted things in the window, an elderly lady in there said they knitted them, the group is called the Knitwits, and they send the garments to Romania. I said what a lovely idea. She said there are groups all over the place, that was Ethel Brolls. She was so enthusiastic I think it was her enthusiasm.’
Ethel was inspired to form the charity after packing shoe boxes for Romanian orphans. She felt she could do more and, being an inveterate knitter, decided knitting was the thing to do. Since 2001, more groups have joined Ethel’s initiative and the charity has sent more than 60,000 items to underprivileged children in Romania.
Margaret’s friend Judith Cain, who runs the Whistlestop Cafe in Port Erin railway station, said that would be the perfect venue and Tuesdays are quiet, so a good day to meet.
Since then eight to 10 people have turned up every Tuesday between 2pm and 4pm to join Port Purlers and around 20 are involved altogether.
‘We have experienced knitters and people who come to learn,’ said Margaret. ‘We are knitting very simple things for up to 14 and 15-year-olds, when they come out of the orphanage they have to have something to leave with.’
When Margaret and husband Ian visit their cottage, they take bags of garments the Port Purlers have made and deliver them to Ethel, who then organisers lorry loads of deliveries to Romania.
Margaret said: ‘We would be grateful for any wool, needles, patterns, anything to spare.’
To contact her, phone 837946.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
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Sunny spells
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