Woman Crochets Over 100 Blankets for Hospital

Why this is here: Eliz Sandalls completes each blanket in about three days, carefully crafting them by hand despite her limited vision.

Eliz Sandalls, a woman in Ilkley, England, recently delivered her 100th crocheted blanket to the maternity unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary. Sandalls began the project as a way to thank the hospital staff who performed surgery to save some of the sight in her left eye. She lost vision in her right eye in 1987 and faced further vision loss before the 2023 operation.

Each blanket takes Sandalls roughly three days to complete by hand. Abbeydale Residential Care Home, where she lives, and Sandalls herself cover the cost of the yarn. Midwives Sophie Wainman and Katie Hurley visited Sandalls with gifts to express their gratitude for the blankets, which they say brighten the hospital wards.

Sandalls, originally from Buckinghamshire, moved to Ilkley in 2021 after her husband passed away. Despite being registered blind, she intends to continue crocheting the blankets for the foreseeable future, finding purpose and joy in the work. The hospital notes her craftsmanship is exceptional, and the blankets offer a personal touch to new mothers.