Introducing the Fernleigh Knitters

A dynamic quartet of ladies, the Fernleigh Knitters, have been making blankets and hats to support good causes in their local area and beyond.

The Knitters are part of a larger crafting group based at Fernleigh, a living complex for the over-55s in Witney, which comprises 80 one and two-bedroom apartments. Members of the crafting group meet regularly to take part in a range of activities including knitting, lace making, tapestry, cross stitch , crocheting and other artistic pursuits.

Four members of the crafting group decided to focus their efforts on knitting and started to produce blankets that were sent overseas to help with emergency appeals.

The Fernleigh Knitters, as they became known, have supported their local community by making blankets which are used on mini-bus and coach trips organised by the nearby Millers Grange Care Home.

In 2022, one of the Knitters spotted an email from the special baby care unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford which called for blankets and hats to help keep prematurely- born babies warm.

The ladies at Fernleigh wasted no time in answering the call and have been supplying items to the hospital ever since. In recent months, the Fernleigh Knitters have been hard at work and have so far knitted

• 18 blankets
• 117 hats

Louise Harvey, the House Manager at Fernleigh said “It is amazing to see the impact that the Fernleigh Knitters have had. Their dedication to supporting the community is wonderful to see and the hospital are very grateful for all their hard work. As well as helping others, the ladies in the knitting group have formed strong friendships and have a good laugh while they are making lovely garments.”

Among other amenities, Fernleigh benefits from an onsite restaurant serving freshly-cooked, tasty nutritious food, a large communal lounge with adjacent cinema room and a fully equipped hairdressing salon.

You can find out more about Fernleigh here.