A mum used her crafting skills to comfort her daughter who missed school during lockdown.
Samantha Jennings, a member of Romanby Women’s Institute, used her sewing skills and a 1970s WI pattern to make a Romanby Rabbit using an old school jumper for Emily.
Emily missed school, her teacher and her classmates so much during lockdown that she sometimes wore her uniform during home schooling.
Samantha, 35, said: “I used the school jumper because I didn’t have any furry material at home as the pattern instructed, but the school jumpers are that cosy sweatshirt material and I thought it would make a lovely toy to snuggle.
“Emily has quickly out-grown some of her uniform while the schools have been closed. I wanted to use the section with the school’s logo on it to remind my daughter of her lovely teacher and class-mates”.
Emily showed her bunny to her friends during a Zoom class chat, and the reaction was very positive, so Samantha made two more rabbits to be used as prizes for the Easter fundraising of the school’s sister charity, the Friends of Romanby School.
Samantha said: “The idea grew and I even ended up using some old school trousers to make some little bunny-sized pants, so he looks like he is wearing the uniform.”
The WI concepts of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle are close to Samantha’s heart.
She said: “Most of our school uniform has been handed down or second hand, so I was able to use quite a worn-out jumper that wasn’t really suitable for wearing any more”.
“I’d certainly encourage others to upcycle items, but please don’t use new and expensive clothes but rather old, damaged or disused items”.
The mum is vice-president at Romanby’s popular WI, which has around 60 members of all ages.
They meet, when restrictions allow, at Romanby WI Hall opposite the village school, and organise the award-winning Scarecrow Festival which is next taking place on October 23 and 24.
For anybody who would look to know more about Romanby WI, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RomanbyWI/
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