Close knit group who meet to knit and chat
All in the spirit of fun and recreation: The knit and chat group. Pix by Amila Gamage
The Mount Lavinia Hotel will host an Avurudu sale of the Knit and Chat Group of Methodist Church Mount Lavinia on April 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sale will feature knitted items, crocheted items, apparel, household goods, most of it handcrafted by this group of lively ladies, including mothers and grandmothers.
It has been around 10 years since the Knit and Chat group began, says Sujatha Samarajiwa, a founding member. The group meets at the Church every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and charges a membership fee of Rs.350 a month. Christopher, the ‘Palli Appu’is very helpful and gets the place ready for the ladies to gather.
Most of the ladies have been professionals in their fields and are now retired. The group had started with a few people knitting, crocheting and teaching their art to others. It expanded by word of mouth and more ladies joined. “This kind of gossip is good,” says Mrs. Samarajiwa smiling.
Intricate designs
The Methodist Church of Mount Lavinia has been generous in offering a space in its premises for the weekly gathering of the group whose mission is to reach out to people that need help. The Knit and Chat Group offers companionship and support, it’s a place to relax and have a good time and we see the happy chatter and laughter that fills the room.
Ladies who come here to knit no longer need buy their gifts. They use their talents and the craft they learnt to create beautiful gifts with love. Their children are very appreciative of what they do here and their grandchildren think the world of these grandmothers, shared Mrs. Samarajiwa.
The art of knitting is an important physical activity which requires good hand-eye coordination and nimble fingers. Mrs. Samarajiwa is concerned about the welfare of the aging population since she feels that the government is not taking any serious action to address their problems. She hopes this sale will help create awareness of Sri Lanka’s senior citizens.
This is the third time the group is having such a sale at the Mount Lavinia Hotel that has always been supportive of this initiative.
For Rani Jayatilaka, a retired teacher from Ratmalana, the Knit and Chat Group is like a family gathering. “We always have a cup of tea and snack and we try to get together and go on trips. We have made arrangements so that at every gathering someone brings something to eat. From 9 to 12 we are enjoying life here,” she added, heartily.