During these times of uncertainty and difficulties, random acts of kindness go a long way.
In Newport Pagnell, one lady has spent her days knitting up a storm to make a difference, and her efforts have brought a collective smile to residents.
Details of the mysterious creative behind the brilliant initiative are woolly at best, and the townsfolk know her only as 'Knitting Nana', but her needles are clickety-clicking at pace – she has hidden 100s of plastic packages filled with knitted niceties around the town.
Recipients regularly use Facebook to share their finds with others, and Knitting Nana, known as the Banksy of the Knitting World, has a fan club which eagerly scours the town in the hope of finding one of her items.
In 2021, she has celebrated Easter by distributing knitted bunnies and birdies filled with mini chocolate treats; took up the Captain Sir Thomas Moore challenge, and knitted poppies for the cause; supported Team GB at the Olympic and Paralympic Games by knitting medal pouches, and her Halloween spookies were wonderful!
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She also knitted 100 poppies in red (and in purple, to remember the animal victims of war), and her batch of teddies, ducks, piggies and bees, and England footballers (who can forget the Euros this year?) were beyond brilliant.
But her creativity has been supersized too; and her spectacular postbox toppers are the talk of the town.
Fans of Knitting Nana will be pleased to learn that she has no plans to put down her needles any time soon.
“I am inspired to keep going with the knitting tradition as I get as much pleasure in seeing folk finding the knits as I do making them,” she told Total MK.
“Knitting has really helped with the stress of the current situation as well.”
And 2022 is looking like it will be another busy 12 months for this secret crafter – she already has all kinds of ideas...
“I do,” she promised, “Valentines hearts, Easter knits of course, and I’m planning a Queens Jubilee post box topper, World Cup football knits and anything else that comes to mind!”
For a gallery of Knitting Nana's work click here
