Knitting and crochet may not seem like the most traditional of summer activities - although certain crowd members at Wimbledon may have disagreed – but with last month being reportedly the wettest June in the UK since 1910, there is surely no better excuse to stay in the dry and get hooked on some creative projects for The Donkey Sanctuary.

Over recent years, many of the charity’s supporters have picked up their needles to create wonderful, donkey-themed, knitted and crochet projects to raise money to help donkeys worldwide. The resulting woolly donkeys, keyrings, phone socks and tissue holders have been flying off the shelves in the charity’s Visitors’ Centre in Sidmouth, Devon, and online at www.donkeyworld.org.uk.

The free patterns for these fun and quirky projects are great to get cracking with if you already know your ‘garter stitch’ from your ‘stocking stitch’, but what if your ‘slip one, knit one, pass slip stitch over’ leaves you with your needles in a twist and your knitting in a tangle on the floor? The Donkey Sanctuary has the answer.

The charity is hosting ‘Knit and Natter’ sessions at its Sidmouth headquarters on 18th July and 19th September between 1 - 2:30pm for knitting novices and enthusiasts alike. These gatherings are the perfect opportunity for beginners to pick up the basics and more advanced knitters to tackle new and more complicated projects, all whilst having a good natter and finding out about the charity’s global work. No charge is made for these sessions, although donations are gratefully received to help fund the charity’s work to help donkeys in need the world over.

For further event details, activity prices and booking, please call 01395 573156 or visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/visit. All proceeds from events help fund the worldwide work of The Donkey Sanctuary.

For more information about The Donkey Sanctuary’s donkey-themed knitting and crochet patterns, please contact the charity’s Volunteer Fundraising team at VFR@thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk.

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