Gifts of love
Learning a new skill
Practice makes perfect
A few of the finished beanies
Service is always better with friends
This year, with crochet hooks in hand, women throughout Singapore are engaged in making beanies for the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. The beanies are a welcome gift for premmies (prematurely born babies) and newborn babies. It is the 2014 service project chosen by the Stake Relief Society, and everyone is welcome to help.
Each year, the Singapore Stake Relief Society adopts a service project. According to Stake Relief Society president, Sister Chew Yian Woon, it is not easy choosing a project as many sisters already support service projects at a ward level as well as other good causes. With this in mind, the Stake Relief Society presidency searched for a project that could be done by women in their own time, yet still bring the sisters together and offer missionary opportunities.
Beanies for babies
Beanies for babies
The project for 2014 meets all these goals.
The first crochet lesson for beanies was in January at the open house of the Compassvale chapel. 20 sisters, including visitors, learnt how to crochet that day.
In April and May, regular crochet classes led by Dorothy Chen and Sabina Yuen, were run for anyone interested in learning this skill. From there, the ripples have continued to spread. The ladies of Choa Chu Kang ward often meet for an hour after church to crochet. Some mothers have taught their daughters. Other wards have taken the initiative to teach the Young Women. All of these ripples have brought sisters of all ages together and many new friendships have been formed.
How you can help
How you can help
Yarn is supplied by the Stake Relief Society to each of the wards. Each ward has a representative who is responsible for providing yarn to the sisters who request it. The representative can give you a simple pattern as well. If you want to learn how to crochet, just ask, there will be sisters willing to help. The ward representatives are also the contact when it’s time to hand in the completed beanies.
A beanie for a premmie takes from 1 to 1.5 hours. It might take 2 – 3 hours for a beginner. Some of our sisters who travel for work report that making beanies is a very satisfying way to spend time when they are stuck in hotel rooms.
Be warned, as well as being good for mental health, crocheting can be very addictive!
The Stake Relief Society plans to display all the beanies at the General Women’s Conference in October. All women are welcome to attend this conference. The Stake Relief Society presidency intends to make a presentation to representatives of the KK Women’s and Children’s hospital at this occasion.
Missionary opportunities
Missionary opportunities
At the open house of Compassvale chapel a number of visitors sat down and took up the chance to learn to crochet and contribute to this worthy cause. As members, we rejoice when others work with us to serve. The support from non-members for this project has been wonderful, with over 100 beanies donated by neighbours and friends.
One sister had the opportunity to tell her boss about the project. Imagine her surprise when her boss then brought in 20 beanies!
‘Charity never Faileth’
The worldwide motto for Relief Society is ‘Charity never Faileth.’ While it is obvious that charity will always benefit the receiver, it must also be remembered that selfless service will never fail to benefit the giver as well. Those who are engaged in good works are quick to observe the blessings they receive in return.
With all these helping hands the goal to have 500 beanies knitted by the end of September has already been exceeded, but the good work continues as the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital is happy to receive all donated beanies. We offer our thanks to those who have contributed to the beanie project so far, our encouragement to those still knitting and an invitation to those who want to pick up a crochet hook and give it a go. This is the perfect reason to crochet in Singapore!