Wrap artists come with a variety of skills, all needed to help create a Wrap With Love.
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Some artists knit squares, some crochet squares, others create the squares and sew them together, while some take the donated squares turn them into blankets.
Wrap With Love is an international, not-for-profit organisation out of Sydney that began in 1992 with the idea to help as many people as possible by providing warm wraps to ward off hypothermia.
Gloucester got on board in 2006 and since then the community has sent off more than 550 blankets to people in need, some within the region and others across Australia and overseas.
Area coordinator, Deborah Brooks started crocheting blankets in 1990 on the Central Coast before moving to Gloucester. She said the group relies heavily on donated wool and volunteers.
“All wool is welcomed,” she explained.
Plies that aren’t used for blankets can be used for other charitable purposes.
“These include making beanies for Ronald McDonald House and premature baby clothing for the CWA hospital visitation committee,” Deborah said.
The volunteers are also a vital part of keeping the Gloucester group producing the much needed blankets. Volunteers like Barbara Mansfield, who Deborah said is an invaluable part of the network, creating blankets from donated squares.
Brenda Macdonald has been involved Gloucester Wrap With Love since the beginning, and according to Deborah, is the group’s most prolific wrap artist creating at least one colourful creation every month.
The finish blankets that aren’t needed for people within the community are taken, voluntarily by Denell Transport to the Hunter Depot in Charlestown where a label is sewn on stating it’s a gift from Wrap With Love before being taken down to the Sydney warehouse.
If interested in becoming a wrap artist, contact Deborah on 6558 4324. Donations of completed squares, blankets or wool can be dropped off at Gloucester Health Foods, 47 Church Street.
A Wrap With Love personal wrap comprises 28 squares, 25 cm x 25 cm (10 inches x 10 inches)
sewn together in 4 rows by 7 rows to size 100cm x 175cm (40 inches x 70 inches) completed. A Wrap can be knitted, crocheted, machine knitted or woven , with wool, acrylic or lined patchwork. One 25 cm (10 inch) square uses approximately 50g of 8 ply wool. Instructions are available on http://www.wrapwithlove.org/knitting-patterns/
Since 1992, Wrap With Love have wrapped more than 414,000 people with love and warmth, in Australia and around the world. Wrap With Love have the assistance of many partners who help us to get the Wraps to those who need them including: Mission Without Borders, MongolaAid, World Vision, ADRA, Settlement Services International, Providential Homes, Sister to Sister, and Rotary. The Council of Sydney City provides the accommodation at the warehouse.