A group of knitters in Te Puke, who are dipping into their own pockets to create and donate woollen clothes, blankets and toys to kids in hospitals, is appealing for financial help.

Founder Margaret Edge says the group of around 15 women have been gathering for two hours each Friday at Te Puke Library for more than three years.

'I'm proud of them; they do work so hard,” says Margaret. 'Our oldest lady is 88 years old. There are some who have problems with their hands with arthritis but we have a great time together.

'If you heard us sometimes, you wouldn't think there's a lot of work going on but our needles go flat out the whole time.”

Moreover, the knitting then continues at home in their spare time.

'We knit for premature babies and for Starship's cancer ward,” says Margaret. 'Mostly beanies, blankets and TV slippers. We send them to Ronald McDonald House, Middlemore, Waikato and Whakatane hospitals as well as Plunket in Whakatane and Te Puke.”

Te Puke Knitting group with some of the handiwork they have created. Photo: Bob Tulloch.

A $500 grant and a donation of $200 has covered the cost of some wool, but group members still often buy their own and pay for postage.

'Bags cost $11 and we're sending out five or six a month,” says Margaret. 'We could really use some financial help to cover that cost.”

The first thing Margaret knitted more than 60 years ago was a set of clothes for her own daughter.

'My late mother-in-law was a wonderful knitter and crocheter. When I was pregnant with my first child she told me: ‘I'm going to teach you to knit'. I actually knitted a complete layette set in fan stitch. I had my daughter in February and had made a dress, a coat, booties and mittens.”

Now, the satisfaction comes from knowing there are other parents out there grateful for the donated knitted items.

'Occasionally, we see pictures of new mums in the local paper with their baby wearing one of our beanies,” says Margaret. 'We get a lot of thank you notes or people call us. It's really lovely.”

To contact Margaret's knitting group, to provide support, phone 027 573 7499.