Once Upon A Needle: Newry schoolgirl’s heartwarming group spreading joy one knit at a time

A kind-hearted Northern Ireland teenager is hoping to bring people of all ages together throughout the summer months with a new community knitting group in her home city.

Emma-Clare Connolly from Newry has created 'Once Upon A Needle', a heartwarming knitting group where individuals from different generations can come together to create handmade baby clothes with love and care.

This non-profit project begins on June 25th at The Quays Shopping Centre, and every stitch knitted will help support local hospitals and baby units, providing warmth and comfort to newborns in need.

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The group aims to create a brighter future for these little ones through knitting. Both experienced knitters and beginners are welcome to join, as there will be skilled knitters available to offer assistance, and all necessary supplies will be provided.

Emma-Clare, a pupil at Our Lady’s Grammar School, inherited a love of knitting from her own granny who taught her the skill when she was only five years old. Now the talented teen wants to use her hobby to help others whilst also bringing the community together.

She told Belfast Live: "For older people in the community, we hope that it will help combat feelings of loneliness. In the summer, a lot of groups and classes tend to wind down so it will be an opportunity to meet with other people during the week.

"But it will be welcome to all ages and all abilities and we will even help to teach those who can’t knit how to do it. It's also all going towards something worthwhile that will make a difference.

"I hope that the group will bring people, young and old, together, and create these little keepsakes like little hats and clothes for babies’ memory boxes.

"For me there’s something very satisfying about doing things like this where you can see the finished product and overall, it doesn’t take that long to make them."

Emma-Clare has set up a JustGiving page to help raise money to buy knitting materials to get the group up and running.

"A lot of people have already signed up to get involved and many others in the community have been in touch to kindly donate wool that they're not using anymore after taking up knitting during lockdown," she added.

"Any extra proceeds will be donated directly to local hospitals. It’s lovely to have had such positive feedback and that makes me feel that what I’m doing is worthwhile."

While the group hopes to meet once a week at Quays Shopping Centre over the next ten weeks, plans are already afoot to expand to other locations after the summer.

"Together we can knit a brighter future for our little ones. Join us in spreading joy, one knit at a time! Hopefully, if this is a success I can help get more groups set up in other parts of Northern Ireland to donate to other hospitals," Emma-Clare added.

To register your interest, please fill in the form via this link. For further information, feel free to contact the Once Upon A Needle team via email at onceuponaneedlenewry@gmail.com or through Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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