Group of women knit scarves, cowls for Indian soldiers

Passion for knitting got 36 women from different walks of life to knit 175 scarves and cowls for Indian soldiers who safeguard the country in extreme cold.

All these women were united under ‘Knit For Our Soldiers’ WhatsApp group with Sabrina Britto Hougaard as group admin. An 84-year-old Marie D’Souza is the oldest member of the group.

"The scarves and cowls are ready and will be dispatched to Bengaluru on Tuesday, and then those will be taken to New Delhi for our soldiers," Sabrina told DH.

"Each member in the group has contributed to the process of knitting scarves and cowls. Some contributed money for wool. Though I was interested in knitting, I could not knit properly when I was young. My mother, a doctor, used to stress on how knitting keeps brain alert and creative, as knitting involves actions of both left and right hands," she recollected.

It has a constructive and positive impact on the brain, Sabrina said.

"A year ago, I met Cecilia Shresta, fondly called Leela, to learn carpet making and knitting. But I could not continue due to lockdown. When I went back to Leela and informed her on having learnt the art of knitting, she told me about a project of knitting scarves for soldiers and asked me to knit two scarves while she would knit 25," she added.

Tracing the journey of knitting scarves for soldiers, Sabrina said, "I had informed my friend Lions Club Mangalore Cauvery president Dr Kalpana Ashfaque about the project. With the help of Club members, my family and friends, we raised Rs 30,000. When Inner Wheel Mangalore president Nirmala Pai learnt about the project from a member, Vasanthi Kamath, they pooled Rs 15,000."

"I knitted 35 scarves. It was indeed a thrilling experience to see all members posting their knitting based activities in the WhatsApp group launched on January 23," Sabrina recollected.

"I was knitting and engaged in needlework all the way during the period. It takes three hours for me to knit a scarf, while experts like Leela completes it within one-and-a-half hours," she said.

"Our goal is to continue the work and knit around 300 scarves for the soldiers next year. Individually, I and Leela will do a project of preparing woollen dolls for kids in the pediatric wing of Wenlock Hospital," Sabrina added.