We continue to be amazed by our faithful knitters who spend many hours creating beautiful hats, snoods and scarves among other items for the seafarers. Over the past year we have also received some children's clothes and toys which the seafarers love to send home to their families

Sam recently enjoyed a morning with the knitting group at Ballywatt Presbyterian, talking about the work, sharing lunch and being presented with 124 knitted hats and a number of gift packs. Over the Christmas period the hats were on display in the church. Sam was delighted to receive hats from Elizabeth and the ladies at Ards First Presbyterian... thank
you Anne for spending many hours sewing logo badges on over one hundred hats! 

Regular knitted goods are dropped into HQ by the '3C's: Craft, Coffee & Chat' group at Bangor West Church, and the 'Knit & Knatters' from Ballywalter Presbyterian and St Andrew's Presbyterian in Bangor.

While on deputation Colin collected hundreds of hats as he visited groups and individual knitters. Betty knits around two hundred and fifty hats each year for the seafarers! One knitting group knitted us 1000 woolly hats!! Thanks Doreen and friends!

Jae also received numerous hats as he took deputation meetings. A group in Irvinestown really embraced the "Woolly Hat" project! Not only did they make two requests for logo badges, but they contacted HQ a third time. Undeterred on hearing that we had depleted our supplies, they went ahead and purchased their own batch of logo badges! This was such an encouragement to SCFS. Jean McDermott, from Dublin, nimbly knit around five  hundred hats!

Our thanks must also go to a couple of individual supporters who have specifically made
donations towards purchasing more logo badges.

In Aberdeen, Iain visited a ship tied up in dock due to an emergency. The twenty crew members on board were delighted to be given hand made "bonnets". The simple act of gifting hats to the seafarers can really help to open the way for making new friendships and building on existing ones, particularly as SCFS begins to operate in new ports. Iain and Mike would love to hear from you  if you are interested in knitting for the seafarers they minister to in the Scottish ports.

Julia, Linda and the ladies at Bethseda Free Church and June along with the Bethan-On-Sea ladies, keep the Portsmouth team supplied with hats. These are very popular with the seafarers on the cruise ships.

Gordon recently called in at HQ to fill up his van with knitted goods and other supplies. It was great to fill it with bags of knitted goods and toiletries and to see Gordon head back to Limerick with replenished supplies.

Mike in Montrose recently received woolly hats and teddies from the knitters at 'Teddies for Tragedies' knitting group.  

It would be great to establish more knitting groups in Scotland, South Coast of England and Limerick. We would also love to share your knitting stories and photos on the website 'Knitters' page.