Beaudesert’s yarnbombers are bringing small comforts to domestic violence victims and survivors one stitch at a time.
The Beaudesert Christmas Yarnbombers have been making colourful blankets for local charity, Defenders for Hope, which supports those who experience domestic violence.
Alongside one of their members Debbie Portch, yarnbombers including Yvonne Berry, Kym Rooks, Vicki McAteer, Anne Andrews and Jeanette King have been working on the side project since the start of the year.
They have made 11 rugs, with an estimated 20 to 30 hours of work in each rug.
Debbie said the side project, carried out with wool donated to Beaudesert Christmas Yarnbombers and also with wool purchased by volunteers, was a labour of love.
“I always do it and this year the Beaudesert Christmas Yarnbombers ladies decided to help, because we had wool donated to us that wasn’t in Christmas colours, and though we do get some donations, most of us buy wool to use as well,” she said.
“When families escape domestic violence, they leave their homes with nothing and none of the comforts of home, and this just helps a little bit.”
Sarah Grodecki applauded her fellow yarnbombers for making the colourful rugs, which she said would lift people’s spirits as well as keeping them warm through the cooler months.
“They’re doing it to show the people who receive these blankets that there are people in the community who care and support them,” she said.
“I’ve seen the ladies making these beautiful rugs for Defenders For Hope and really considering how to make them look nice – there’s a lot of thought that goes into it.”
Vicki McAteer said the rugs also carried a deeper meaning from the broader community.
“A lot of the donated yarn has come from older women who’ve passed on and their family have wanted to do something important with the yarn, so it’s also their generation passing it on,” she said.
For more information about the charity blanket project, contact Debbie on 0413 752 261.
To contact Defenders For Hope for support, visit https://defendersforhope.com.au/
Beaudesert Christmas Yarnbombers meet 9.30am Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Jubilee Park bandstand.
