By NICOLE VALICEK
81-year-old Eileen Matthews’ handicrafts are distributed to people in need. 102226 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
EILEEN Matthews has hand-crafted more than 2000 knitted items to help people in need in the last few years and her hands aren’t done moving.
The 81-year-old has knitted for a long time, but took it up again 10 years ago to make hand-knitted clothing for her 13 grandchildren until they grew up and didn’t want the wares.
Not wanting to give up her craft, she heard about the Louis Joel Art and Community Centre in Altona’s call for knitters who donate their goods to a number of charities and organisations.
In the last two to three years she has been busy knitting beanies, pull-on slippers for the elderly in nursing homes, rugs and scarves and using the last scraps of wool to make woollen head-bands.
In total Mrs Matthews has knitted 20,360 garments. Knitted items are passed on to hospitals for premature babies, nursing homes, and other organisations including the Vulnerable Children of the World project.
“It’s a good pastime and it’s keeping me out of mischief … it’s keeping my fingers form arthritis,” she said.
“You’re only watching television – might as well be doing something if you’re sitting there.”
The centre recently put a call out for donations of wool and Mrs Matthews was tickled pink to have a big bag of new wool ready for her to get her fingers into.
“I’ve got to knit up all this wool I’ve got.”
She said she felt absolutely “fantastic and terrific” knowing the items were going to those in need both here and overseas.
“I don’t have to see a photo – I can picture the kids running around with them on. I’m more than happy.”
As for her knitting, she doesn’t see an end in sight.
“I won’t be stopping, no.”
