Knitting a helping hand
Pamela Tatt was once a knitting enthusiast with a desire to be part of a creative community.
Now, she is the head of a charity organisation with over 900 volunteers under her brightly coloured wings.
JULY 18 2014 – 11:25AM – Bendigo Advertiser by GRACE SERPELL
Pamela Tatt was once a knitting enthusiast with a desire to be part of a creative community.
Now, she is the head of a charity organisation with over 900 volunteers under her brightly coloured wings.
Her dream to give back to the community was realised when she founded Knit4Charities in 2004.
The charity was formed after Pamela and husband Des moved to Broken Hill.
Mrs Tatt said life in Broken Hill had started out quite lonely.
She decided to search for a communal knitting group in the area.
After searching online to no avail Mrs Tatt decided to take the boredom into her own hands by starting her own group.
Almost ten years down the track the foundation has supported thousands of charities big and small around Australia.
The charity is solely based online to increase it’s reach.
It has members in every state of Australia and representatives overseas.
The group meet on a social media platform called YahooGroups.
There they search for needy organisations in their local region then they post a call-out to the Knit4Charities site for knitters to unite.
The knitters are then required to answer the “wishlist” requested by the organisation in need.
As of July the group had 948 members knitting, crocheting and sewing for charities.
“Either it grew with me or I grew with it because before I knew it the group was huge,” Mrs Tatt said.
Mrs Tatt said she only had face-to-face contact with a handful of the charity members.
“Now, with our 10th anniversary almost upon us, I have a membership of more than 900 and we have distributed more than 160,000 recorded garments – with many more unrecorded,” she said.
Individual member donations have increased steadily since the charities first donations began in 2006.
The organisation has three designated charities per month who receive the donations.
The donations have increased from 5413 in 2006/2007 to 17,264 in 2013.
The organisation has donated a total of over 165,000 individual donations since 2006.
So far in 2014 members have donated more than 9100 individual items across the country.
July’s charities are Knitting for Brisbane’s Needy in support of Grant the Polite Guy (QLD), Animal Rescues Appeal (VIC) and Animal Welfare League (SA).
Mrs Tatt said members of the community were welcome to nominate charities for the group to support.
“No charity is too big or small for us to help,” she said.
“In fact, the smaller the charity the better because they are the ones who struggle and survive mainly on the goodness of others.
“Whatever you like to knot, crochet or sew I can find a needy body be it human or animal.”
Mrs Tatt also released a book titled The Gift of Giving in 2007.
The book looked at techniques used for different charity groups ie. premature babies at a hospital ward.
She is now working on another book of techniques titled The Gift of Giving Revised.
It is intended to support the members of the charity by teaching them new techniques.
The charity concentrates solely on giving to Australian charities.
“There is so much need in Australia,” she said.
“There are a lot of charities that need extra support.”
Mrs Tatt said one of the largest benefits for members of the organisation was the feeling they were contributing to something greater than themselves.
She said a lot of the members were house-bound because of illness, age or disability.
She said doing something philanthropic greatly added to their lives.
“It has actually given them a new lease on life,” she said.
“They’ve got a purpose.
“It is very special for both the giver and the receiver.”
All materials are donated by the volunteers for the nominated charities.
Mrs Tatt said the biggest problem the charity encountered was the cost of postage.
The charity has a raffle fundraiser once a year to pay for the cost of postage.
She said it was a frustrating aspect of the organisations nature.
Mrs Tatt said she hoped to gain more contact with charity organisations in Bendigo.
“I would like to have a contact person at the women’s shelter, the homeless shelter and a foster carers organisation,” she said.
“We really just want to help them.”
For more information, visit knit4charities.webs.com
“Whatever you like to knot, crochet or sew I can find a needy body be it human or animal.” – Pamela Tatt
Vivienne Moitie
05 Jan 2022We ” the Harrington Knitters” in NSW are a group of 8 ladies and wondered if you have a wish list for any charity? We would love to help….. regards Vivienne Moitie
Pamela Tatt
19 May 2023Hello Vivienne, If you look at our Project Calendar you will find lots to do. “If you can make it I can find a body for it” I always encourage people to make what they enjoy creating and either find a charity on our List that has asked for that garment or simply send it to me and I will distribute where needed. Hope this helps, Pam
Annaliesa desieno
19 May 2023how can i assist i have retired due to my health, and many shoulder surgeries.
i loved knitting but now can only do small projects.
i made small beanies for prem babies, i could crochet squares, if need be
Pamela Tatt
19 May 2023Hello Annaliesa, We have a couple of charities asking for squares on our Calendar. 25cm squares are best – a 10 round granny for example. Please consider joining our online group as all the information you need will be there and there are many helpful members too. Thanks for your interest, Pam
Mrs Joyce Chamberlain
29 May 2023Hi I’m new to Australia & living on the north side of Brisbane near north lakes …I have moved from nz where I have been with two knitting groups for charity for the needy pple & I would like to meet other knitters….can u plz help me
Kind Regards
Mrs Joyce Chamberlain
Pamela Tatt
29 May 2023Hello Joyce,
We currently dont have a Knit4Charities group near North Lakes but I do know there are a couple of other groups who knit for charity so I will ask around and see if I can get you a contact number.
I do travel up to Mango Hill regularly and drop off items to Seasons Retirement Village there and I know that they have a knitting group.
Leave it with me and I will see what I can find out.
Happy knotting,
Pam