November 19, 2025
Who could say no to grandma’s hand knitted sweater?
There’s certainly no pushback from the Ashburton Maternity Ward, who are the recipients of an initiative started by a few folk at the Radius Millstream carehome.
About five knitters have spent the past month knitting clothes and blankets for newborns at the ward.
Amongst them is Glenys Nicol, who’d been knitting for hospitals of her own volition since she arrived at the home.
“There’re so many cute patterns - the latest is the little ugg boot. Adorable!”
Nicol’s passion for the initiative is personal, having worked at the old Christchurch Women’s Hospital and caring for premature babies.
Plus, it's something to keep her hands working.
“I’ve got a bit of arthritis. I think use it or lose it.”
Radius activities coordinator Elyse Mcfaull said the original plan had been to send them Christchurch’s way.
“We’d thought about doing it for the NICU unit in Christchurch, but it was so hard for us to all get there,” she said, “so we thought we’d take them into Ashburton.”
Any clothing that was too small for our local bubs will get shipped to the city.
So far, the women have knitted beanies, wool singlets and mittens.
“I’ve already taken one bag of things,” Mcfaull said, “they were over the moon.”
Bassinet blankets are the next item in demand from the ward.
Mcfaull said the home is grateful to the numerous friends and family who’ve donated wool for the knitters.
“People donate wool to us, and we want it to keep happening, because we are giving [back] to the community.”
“We’re lucky here, because the wool is given to us,” Nicol agreed. “I would never knit acrylic.
“You want the babies to be warm.”
The knitting group runs every Friday in the home, and will continue to knit for the ward in the foreseeable future.
By Anisha Satya
Who could say no to grandma’s hand knitted sweater?
There’s certainly no pushback from the Ashburton Maternity Ward, who are the recipients of an initiative started by a few folk at the Radius Millstream carehome.
About five knitters have spent the past month knitting clothes and blankets for newborns at the ward.
Amongst them is Glenys Nicol, who’d been knitting for hospitals of her own volition since she arrived at the home.
“There’re so many cute patterns - the latest is the little ugg boot. Adorable!”
Nicol’s passion for the initiative is personal, having worked at the old Christchurch Women’s Hospital and caring for premature babies.
Plus, it's something to keep her hands working.
“I’ve got a bit of arthritis. I think use it or lose it.”
Radius activities coordinator Elyse Mcfaull said the original plan had been to send them Christchurch’s way.
“We’d thought about doing it for the NICU unit in Christchurch, but it was so hard for us to all get there,” she said, “so we thought we’d take them into Ashburton.”
Any clothing that was too small for our local bubs will get shipped to the city.
So far, the women have knitted beanies, wool singlets and mittens.
“I’ve already taken one bag of things,” Mcfaull said, “they were over the moon.”
Bassinet blankets are the next item in demand from the ward.
Mcfaull said the home is grateful to the numerous friends and family who’ve donated wool for the knitters.
“People donate wool to us, and we want it to keep happening, because we are giving [back] to the community.”
“We’re lucky here, because the wool is given to us,” Nicol agreed. “I would never knit acrylic.
“You want the babies to be warm.”
The knitting group runs every Friday in the home, and will continue to knit for the ward in the foreseeable future.
By Anisha Satya
