Members of the Scottish Women’s Institutes (SWI) are helping families supported by Home-Start UK stay warm through hand-crafted knitted and crocheted clothing.

This Winter’s #StitchedWithLove campaign saw SWI members create hats, gloves, booties, and other winter essentials, which were then delivered to their local Home-Start offices across Scotland. 

In total, 740 items, including hats, gloves, booties, and even hand-made teddy bears were donated by members across Scotland. 

Nineteen Home-Start offices served as drop-off points, ensuring that families from Orkney all the way to Wigtownshire will benefit from the warm clothing provided. 

To help encourage wider participation, Louise Pritchard of Bow Fiddle Yarns designed exclusive patterns specifically for SWI members, allowing those less confident in their knitting skills to join in and contribute to the appeal. 

The appeal builds on a strong tradition of partnership and community support within the SWI. In 2022, members united to knit trauma teddies and blankets in support of families affected by the conflict in Ukraine. 

Diane Cooper, CEO of the Scottish Women’s Institutes, said:
“We’re thrilled to have collaborated with Home-Start as part of our #StitchedWithLove appeal. When partners join forces with SWI, they gain a strong platform to connect with a vibrant community of women across Scotland, unlocking opportunities for outreach, education, and meaningful collaboration. Together, these initiatives show the real power of partnership, creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and amplifying SWI’s impact across Scotland.” 

Yvonne Thorogood, Learning & Engagement Officer at Home-Start UK said: 

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved in the Stitched with Love appeal. These handmade donations will make a real difference to families with young children, offering warmth, comfort, and a tangible reminder that their community cares. 

Gestures like this mean so much to the families we support, particularly during challenging times, and we’re proud to be part of such a thoughtful, Scotland-wide effort. I know as a crafter myself that each stitch would have a piece of someone’s heart put into it, and seeing the photographs shared by members of the SWI makes me smile.” 

Collaborating with SWI offers access to a diverse and engaged membership rooted in communities across Scotland, with a long-standing tradition of skills-sharing, learning, and participation. Through partnership, organisations can benefit from SWI’s extensive reach, trusted reputation, and member-led approach, enabling initiatives to be shaped collaboratively and delivered at both local and national levels. 

Scottish Women’s Institutes (SWI) encourages organisations seeking meaningful and productive partnerships to reach out for collaboration opportunities and to connect with its nationwide network of women. 

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