There has not been such a gathering of the craft community since Lord Kitchener commissioned Queen Mary to knit socks for soldiers UK hand knitting
gets behind a legal remedy Huddersfield to Ukraine Humanitarian Aid.
When the conflict in Ukraine began, many knitters and crocheters wondered what they could do to help. Bringing items into the country is complicated and it is almost impossible for us as individuals to know where they would work best.
UK Hand Knitting was recently approached by St Andrews Motor Company in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with the perfect solution. The company founded “Huddersfield to Ukraine, Humanitarian Aid” and has been collecting donations, accepting aid supplies and distributing them to the people of Ukraine since March 2022. The team sent five convoys to Poland and Ukraine with medical supplies and dried hygiene products. Groceries, baby milk and formula, stretchers, wheelchairs, crutches, candles… the list is endless
The organization emailed UK Hand Knitting because of a desperate shortage of socks and hats for soldiers on the front lines and civilians in need. They are appealing to the craft community to get their needles and hooks ready to help make as many socks and hats as possible to ship to Ukraine. According to Our Media’s Craft Intelligence, 7 million people can knit in the UK so I’m sure there will be an impressive response.
The socks Must be at least 75% wool Since soldiers put them on overnight to keep their feet dry and warm, this helps with trench feet. They don’t need heel shaping, they can simply be a knitted tube with one end sewn shut to keep feet warm.
Beanie hats can be made from any fiber, but they ONLY HAS TO It can be dark grey, navy, khaki, dark brown or black to allow soldiers to remain inconspicuous on the front lines.
The UK Hand Knitting website has free patterns for a hat, a DK sock and a tube sock for knitters to use.
The address for knitted or crocheted items is:
St Andrews Motor Company
273, Leeds Street
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD1 6NS
If you would like to learn more about Huddersfield to Ukraine, humanitarian aid or donations you can join their Facebook group here.
Contact for press information:
Julia Bernard
07778 397902
Notes for editors
UK Hand Knitting (UKHK) is a non-profit organization representing yarn wholesalers in the UK. Established in 1940, UKHK supports yarn shops, the jewels of the high street, and promotes the craft of knitting and crocheting nationwide.
