The knitting club is located in a very picturesque, small town in Lincolnshire, where most of the beautiful old buildings are built traditionally, of stone. A group of wonderful women from the club gather at Stamford Unity Centre. As I approach the building, I notice a piece of white paper with my name on it, making me feel welcome here. “A special welcome to Rosa’’ — it says. They were waiting for me.
This club is not just about knitting. It is about kindness, solidarity and purpose. In addition, by helping Ukraine, the women here also help each other; no one feels lonely, visitors find new friends, and everyone has a sense of belonging and something meaningful to live for. The rhythm of knitting needles has become a language of care and unity, bringing together those who might otherwise feel isolated.
Fiona Parker is the woman I met when I first entered the premises. She wears hoodie with a Ukrainian flag on a sleeve and tryzub – one of the Ukrainian national symbols. Fiona is the creator of the idea and the one who created the knitting club.
“People in town know me as someone who sews. Many assume knitting and sewing are pretty much the same. Around two years ago, someone donated more than 160 skeins of yarn to St. Olga’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. They were all in the same colours. The church didn’t know what to do with them, so they contacted me. I agreed to take them — though, to be honest, I had no idea what to do either. I thought: if I say ‘no’ to opportunities, no one will ever ask twice. Later, I discovered several knitting clubs in Stamford and shared my idea of knitting together to support people in Ukraine. I also felt it was important to dedicate this to the Ukrainian church that had given me the yarn. After seeing those dreadful images from the frontline, I knew that I had the strength and ideas to bring the community together to do something meaningful. My heart goes out to Ukrainians, and I wanted to make a difference in my own way.”
This is how the knitting mission began. The women meet every week to talk and knit. They make hats, sweaters, toys for children affected by the war, and blankets for internally displaced people (IDPs).
“As usual, we cooperate with organisations in Ukraine — for example, Sustain Ukraine, which distributes our pieces to children’s hospitals and orphanages or H.U.G.S., which has a program called SMART (Sport, Music, Art, Recreation &Technology) for young individuals, who were forced to evacuate or relocate from the dangerous zones. We send children’s sweaters, toys and hats. The elderly in shelters, IDP centres and hospitals especially need blankets and sweaters. Soldiers get our knitted hats, socks and blankets.”
Just this Saturday, they sent 78 kg of knitted items and humanitarian aid to Sustain Ukraine — a remarkable amount for a small community team working with needles and yarn.
The project benefits not only those who receive the parcels but also those who create them.
Sarah Davis used to attend a knitting club at the local library. She says that after Fiona came up with the idea of knitting for Ukrainians, the project gained deeper meaning.
“I used to knit before, but now I feel I’m doing something significant because there are real people who receive and need our work. Fiona’s idea gave it a special purpose, and I’m happy to be part of it.”
There are three more Knit & Natter groups in Stamford, each with 8-10 participants. Sometimes they help knit for Ukraine as well. The Sunday group meets in the afternoon at the Unity Centre, while the Monday afternoon sessions take place at Welland Mews off Water Street, though these are for residents only. On Wednesday evenings, knitters gather at the Borderville Sports Centre, and on Friday mornings, a group meets at the Stamford Library, which is currently full due to high interest.
Most participants are local women, but some are Ukrainian refugees who moved to the UK after the full-scale invasion.
‘’Stamford has a vibrant and welcoming Ukrainian diaspora, and friendships have blossomed between locals and newcomers,’’ Fiona says.
Ukrainians in Stamford often meet for English lessons, social events, singing, dancing, workshops, and group outings — creating a true community beyond nationality or language.
I sit next to Halyna, a Ukrainian lady who is also knitting. She came to Britain after the war began, to live with her daughter, who has been here for 12 years. She admits that her English is not strong enough to join every conversation, but she feels needed here. Through knitting, she has found British friends and feels part of the community.
The club sends warm clothes — hats, scarves, mittens, and sweaters — during winter, and blankets in summer, as they help people stay warm in basements while hiding from bombs. Fiona says she usually sends parcels once or twice a month, sometimes joining regular shipments organised by HOUF (Helping Our Ukrainian Friends).
“We’re lucky because our items don’t weigh much. Sometimes we send 4–5 kilos at once. Our fundraising activities help us to pay for the delivery, making the project a little bit more self-efficient,” she explains.
But what keeps her going are the heartfelt responses from Ukraine. “When I see photos of people wearing the things we made, it feels special. It reminds me that our work is truly needed, and I especially love helping children. Knowing that our little sweaters or toys can bring them warmth and comfort gives me motivation to continue.”
Sometimes Fiona and the Knit & Natter women participate in local events to raise funding for the knitting project and donations for Ukraine. Last week, they took part in Stamford’s local Christmas Market for craft-makers, presenting handmade knitted hats, blankets, Christmas tree decorations and other items. Ukrainians who found refuge in the UK also participated.
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