Eastleigh Library – Knitting breasts for charity

08/07/2008 12:00:00

Members at Eastleigh Library have been keeping themselves busy by knitting breasts at their weekly knit and natter group, all in the name of charity.

Eastleigh Library has teamed up with the premature baby charity, BLISS, to help knit 500 breasts to celebrate World Breast Feeding Week (1-7 August).

The knitted breasts allow nurses and other health professionals to easily show women important massage techniques that let them stimulate their milk production and express their valuable first drops of milk. They are particularly helpful when there are language barriers.

500 knitted breasts will be enough to supply each neonatal baby unit across the country with at least 2 knitted breasts as a teaching aid.

Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Communities, Councillor Margaret Snaith said: “Credit has to go to Sara Greaves, Library Assistant at Eastleigh library who started this unique knitting club, not only does this support such a worth while charity, it brings members of our own community closer together. Hampshire County Council is proud to be able to support initiatives such as these which fit into our wellbeing agenda and what great fun it must be to knit something other than a cardigan.”

Knitter, Trixie Batten, from Bishopstoke, saw an advert for the group and thought it was a great way to knit with a purpose. Fellow knitter Georgina Robertson from Mansbridge said: “I love knitting and wanted to get out and meet new people, I feel like the knitted boobs are really comical! Trisha Court from Eastleigh has been knitting for years: “I wanted to knit the boobs to show that it isn’t just the youngsters that can have some fun. If other people laugh as much as we have then they will definitely be having fun.”

Over 300 knitting patterns are now available for loan from Eastleigh Library for just 20p per pattern which can be kept until the garment is completed.

Anyone interested in joining the group, visit Eastleigh Library located in the Swan Centre in Eastleigh Town Centre o click on to the website www.hants.gov.uk/library.

Please find attached two images for your use. Knitted Breasts (from left to right): Georgina, Sara Greaves (Eastleigh Library Assistant), Trisha. Knitted Breasts 2(from left to right): Georgina, Sara Greaves, Trisha, Nora and Trixie.

Looking after Hampshire, looking out for you www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre Issued by Julie Gosling Media Communications Officer (Recreation & Heritage) Tel: 01962 846006 Email: julie.gosling@hants.gov.uk

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