Cardigans from Cardigan scheme proves a big hit

Little more than 12 months ago, Eileen Johnson set up a community knitting project at Stiwdio3 in the town to knit and send 2,020 jumpers to children in desperate need to keep them warm for the winter of 2020.

And now 80-year-old Eileen has revealed that the total has topped 2,730, with more still coming in every day.

A total of 1,900 jumpers have already gone to refugee children on the Greek island of Lesvos, and another 600 are now sitting in Eileen’s dining room ready to go.

“It has gone mad and I never believed it would be so successful,” said Eileen, who has been knitting since the age of three when her mother taught her to pass the long hours sitting in candlelight during the Second World War.

Eileen can knit a child’s jumper in about six hours using a couple of balls of wool.

“I thought the target was a bit ambitious when we started and we might just about make it if I sat up to all hours and knitted like the clappers.

“But the community response has been overwhelming and I cannot thank people enough.”

Community groups and induvial knitters from around the area answered the call to help, following a simple pattern.

“I think the whole project has been fun for people and many have said how helpful it was to have something to do during lockdown and how therapeutic it proved. Otherwise they would have gone mad,” said Eileen.

“It has worked out well in so many ways, though parcelling up all the jumpers to send them off has been tough.”

Eileen herself has knitted dozens of jumpers, including one final special effort with a Welsh dragon on the front.

“It was put on display at Stiwdio3 and three Americans even tried to buy it,” added Eileen, who has also seen jumpers sent to her from as far afield as America and Australia.

“I never would have imagined it would have taken off like this but I have to admit I think I need a break now. I am not sure many people will be getting a jumper this Christmas!"