Knitted bears to spread warmth, comfort at Operation Bobbi Bear
Raised in an orphanage, Gerda Laubschagne explained that making the bears to donate to children in need means a lot to her.
THREE months of knitting saw 22 beautiful hand-made teddy bears donated to Operation Bobbi Bear on Tuesday morning, 18 June.
This donation was made in the hope that these teddies will bring warmth and comfort to those they are gifted to.
Gerda Laubschangne shared more on her love for knitting and the reason why this donation means so much to her.
“I can’t see so well anymore so I struggle to read. Now when watching TV, I keep myself busy by knitting,” she said.
“I’ve been knitting since I was nine-years-old. I am left handed, so when in school they tried to tell me that I wasn’t able to knit. I made up my mind that I would and by watching those around me, I slowly taught myself.” Gerda knits teddy bears, jerseys, ponchos and anything else that she can, without needing to follow a pattern, and enjoys getting creative by using many different types of wool on each bear. Each bear is completely different to the next, possessing their own character.
Raised in an orphanage, the donation towards children in need means a lot.
“I know what these children feel. I understand how important it is to have something warm and soft to hold onto, to be tucked in with. When they hug these teddy bears, I hope that they feel that they’re being hugged back,” she said.
Gerda’s daughter Fran and granddaughter Ava are just as artistic and creative. Fran busies herself with painting; her artistic abilities can be seen on the wall of the Winklespruit Surf Lifesaving Club. Ava, who is now nine-years-old, has recently learnt to knit.
“My grandma showed me and I got it the first time around,” she said. Gerda noted that nine seems to be the age to take up knitting.
Looking forward, Gerda will begin restocking up on her handmade bears for her next project.
“I’ve made contact with a pastor from Hluhluwe who travels through to Iran and Iraque. He will be able to take these teddies from South Africa across to the children in war-torn areas,” she said.
Gerda shared that knitting the bears have brought her so much joy, and she hopes that it will bring those who receive them even more happiness.
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