National Magazines helping Essex Freemasons
Lodge Charity Stewards asked to encourage community involvement with a ‘Virtuous Circle’
Jessica Makin, the Deputy Editor at Practical Publishing International for both ‘Knit Now’ and ‘Crochet Now’ magazines, was delighted to receive a recent press release from Essex Freemasons about the ‘Knit and Natter’ campaign. Responding to David Barton, Press Officer for the Province, Jessica said, “We would love to put this in a news page to get the word out there to help you along! Could you please send over some images that we could use for the piece.”
For nearly 15 years and with over 260 magazine issues, ‘Knit Now’ and ‘Crochet Now’ have become the most popular knitting and crocheting magazines in the UK, offering essential patterns for crafters of all skill levels. With a combined readership of over 100,000 people across printed and digital formats, ‘Knit Now’ and ‘Crochet Now’ also have over 50,000 social media followers.
David Barton had been inspired by UGLE’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager, Livia Ferreira, who had compiled a journalist list which included a number of trade journals. Knowing local knitting groups do much good work, David authored Knitting is 'Knot' a problem for Essex Freemasons which is listed with on the Provincial website. It was an immediate success as the featured article went right across Essex on the In Your Area pages and also with Essex TV.
But there was also another surprise. On seeing the photos of the baby hats and bonding squares made by Knit and Natter groups, the ‘Knit Now’ and ‘Crochet Now’ magazines have offered their support to Essex Freemasons with a large collection of premature baby hats and
bonding squares for the Province to donate to NICU wards (neonatal intensive care units) in hospitals.
David thanked Jessica Makin saying, “Wow that’s fantastic! Yes, we’d be delighted to accept! We support many NICU wards with these items. Just lately the knitters we support have been knitting twiddle muffs and are already in the process of knitting lap blankets ready for the winter.” David added, “It would be great to get as many people as we can supporting these groups. Baby hats and bonding squares can be used all the time.”
From a Provincial perspective having the support of publications like these to help us help premature babies in NICU wards is a superb example of what can be achieved when Freemasons get actively involved with the community. It is a ‘Virtuous Circle’.
What is needed now are Charity Stewards whose skill can encourage their Lodge members to help support local groups by donating wool, knitting needles and crochet hooks. These groups can create essential items like lap blankets, hats for premature babies, twiddle muffs, bonding squares and other woollen gifts. The items can then be donated to residential homes, NICUs, hospitals, hospices and other community groups.
This is an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of individual lodges in particular as well as Essex Freemasonry in general and further promote the groups and charities we support.
For more information contact:
Knitting is ‘knot’ a problem for Essex Freemasons | InYourArea Community
Knitting is ‘knot’ a problem for Essex Freemasons - Essex-TV
Photos
Top: The Virtuous Circle.
Left: Baby in NICU with an Octopus comforter.
(Read more about these and other comforters in our story from June 2023
https://www.essexfreemasons.org.uk/news/tight-knit-group )
Right: Dave Barton with the Knitting Club.
