Knitters raise awareness of domestic violence

Published on 01 June 2020

Blacktown City Council is putting out the call for knitters to take up their needles to raise awareness of domestic and family violence.

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale, OAM said, “Last year we organised ‘Yarn In’ groups of knitters who came together every week to knit or crochet colourful squares and pom-poms that were used to wrap the trees in and around the Blacktown Village Green.

“Under the stewardship of our Deputy Mayor, Councillor Julie Griffiths, the groups of women knitted more than a thousand squares during the six months of ‘knit ins’.” Mayor Bleasdale said.

“Despite many of us being in isolation we’re determined to ‘knit bomb’ Blacktown again this year,” Deputy Mayor Griffiths said.

“We want people to start knitting and crocheting now in their own homes and when the COVID-19 restrictions are eased, we’ll all get together for our ‘Yarn ins’.

“We want people to create as many squares and pom poms of all sizes and colours and we’re out to knit more than 1,100 squares.

 “They will all be sewn together and used to knit bomb Blacktown during the campaign in November to raise awareness about domestic violence.

“If you are a keen knitter, or even a beginner, you can be part of our awareness raising campaign.”

“The ‘Yarn Ins’ also provided a wonderful and informal meeting place where people could discuss issues surrounding domestic and family violence.” Deputy Mayor Griffiths said.

Knitters are asked store their completed squares at home and if restrictions aren’t eased in time to hold ‘Yarn ins’ they will be collected closer to the time of the installation.

The woollen squares will eventually be sown into blankets which will be distributed to local charities.