It’s been a productive time for the Māngere Bridge Library Craft Group! Recently 52 items were dropped off to the Middlemore Foundation for distribution to new babies, inpatients and community. There were 7 baby cardigans, 5 blankets, 16 child and adult hats, 2 baby hats,1 pair of booties, 1 child’s knitted slippers, 6 knitted toys, 9 grab bags and 5 fidget squares.
At the Easter morning tea held by the Middlemore Foundation for their knitters and sewers, our group had picked up about 100 peggy squares to be sewn up into blankets. The finished results are fabulous, but our enthusiasm for sewing them up quickly waned. We have decided we would resist collecting squares in future! Another project collected there was 4 half-finished baby cardigans. MB local Hilly made a super job of these, despite not having the pattern to assist her. These pure wool cardies will soon be keeping 4 little babies warm. She enjoyed the challenge.
And the ‘fidget squares’? These are small knitted squares with buttons and ribbons sewn onto them that can comfort and calm people with dementia or other cognitive problems.
As well as all these items for the Middlemore Foundation, some of the group have made beanies for the children at a Hamilton East kindergarten. Several bags of colourful wool were donated to the group by a long-term Hamiltonian who could no longer knit. The Craft Group decided to use some of the donated wool to make 20 knitted and crocheted beanies to acknowledge this gift. These beanies will keep the preschoolers warm when they play outside.
The group has grown lately and sometimes there are 15 people gathered on a Thursday afternoon in the Library to do their sewing, knitting or crocheting plus plenty of lively chat. A homeschooling teen has joined up to get help with her knitting. Honey inherited her grandmother’s knitting bag complete with several unfinished garments which she plans to finish. Members of the group are happy to help and share their knowledge.
The group meets every Thursday in the Māngere Bridge Library 2:00-4:00pm, and every 3rd Saturday from 2:00-3:45.
Read more…
- Fidget Squares Debut at Craft Group
- Tap n Shake Repair Café March 2026
- Crafty Graft at the Library
- 2026 Begins at Māngere Bridge Community Orchard Working Bee
- Save the dates! Lots of Wastewise events coming up!
- Two Years of Crafty Work – and Counting
- Summer at the Māngere Bridge Community Orchard Working Bee
- Green Thumbs at Māngere Bridge Community Orchard Working Bee
- Sew Good!
- Māngere Bridge – A Busy and Rewarding October
