09 May 2025
The Miller Library is thrilled to announce a new service initiative in support of the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation. For over six decades, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has been dedicated to transforming maternal health care, ensuring that every woman can live free from childbirth injuries. Each patient at the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia receives a colourful, cozy, hand-knitted blanket as part of their care package. We invite our students to contribute by knitting 20cm squares which will be stitched into a blanket.
These squares will count for five hours towards their service-learning goal. By participating, students will not only support a wonderful cause but also enhance their own wellbeing, as knitting is known to be a great mindfulness activity that also improves concentration and fine motor skills. Students can visit the Miller Library during lunch and recess to learn how to knit and borrow one of our knitting kits to get started. Each kit includes a ball of yarn, how-to guides and the instructions below:
- Knit squares in garter stitch using acrylic yarn in bright colours, with No. 4mm (UK No. 8) needles.
- Cast on 40 stitches to create a 20 cm square.
- Please use DK acrylic yarn (8 ply). Avoid using thicker ply as it makes the blankets too heavy.
If knitting isn’t your thing but you’d still like to support the cause, we’ll gladly accept donations of colourful 8 ply acrylic yarn, the more vibrant, the better! Join us in making a difference, one stitch at a time!
Katherine Pitkin
Head of Library & Archive Services
