Knit & Natter

Frances contacted us reaching out as she needed creative activities and connections in the community as she is struggling with early onset memory loss. Thrive was the perfect option for her, and Frances brought along her knitting bags and soon fitted right in.

Social Prescribing partners had asked us for Knit & Natter sessions and they had been request and as Frances was so keen to share her skills and help in any way, we thought who better to lead a Knit & Natter session than Frances. So we asked her if she would like to come to a second session a week, and be the lead volunteer.

Frances has been knitting since she was a child, and was sad when none of her children wanted to learn, so she gets such joy teaching various Knit & Natterers how to knit or share her basic crochet skills.

After a short promotion, the door opened on the first Thursday, and along came our first punter. Pauline had not long moved from Norfolk to live with family near the hub and she comes faithfully every week and has enjoyed making friends reconnecting with the community. Pauline used to run the butchers on Turlin Moor, 40 years ago, and we love hearing her stories about her time there. She’s good at coming up with ideas too! In fact all the Knit & Natters are keen to make things to sell …

Frances taught Heather to knit who started with a scarf, and then made a blanket for her soon to be born grandchild. Such joy for them both!

And not only does Frances teach knitting skills, she has loved learning more advanced crochet tips … and sharing with everyone her fantastic yarn winder … such fun!

In July the Knit & Natterers were joined by Hazel from Museum of London Archelogy who are commissioned to work in Poole for an oral histories on the changing shape of the coastline. Hazel loves knitting so wanted to catch two birds with one hand (it’s much kinder!) and have a lovely time knitting and connecting.

The session runs so Creative Wellbeing participants can join in, some making a day out of it, and enjoying fresh homemade soup by our wonderful volunteer Jill … and now with produce from Cornerstone Patch.

Frances, Pauline, and Heather have also sorted through all our wool and knitting needles and crochet hooks. There is plenty there to borrow and wool is free!

As a special thank you for all Frances is doing, after falling in love with our knitting basket as she wanted one just like it, Alix had great joy in finding one in charity shop and gifting it to her.

We love you Frances! Thank you for all you do.