29 July 2020

Stitched with love

Sewing skills and COVID down time have been put to good use.

St Paul’s resident Valerie Gadsby was part of a crew who sewed and donated gowns for premmie babies at nearby Caboolture Hospital.

The fabric used was part of donations made earlier this year when residents made pouches for baby wildlife caught up in the bushfire disaster.

Valerie sourced premmie patterns from the Mater Little Miracles program and said she has spent more than 18 hours crafting the pint-sized outfits.

“I’ve been sewing for a long time, since I was a teenager when I taught myself,” Valerie, 85, said.

“The hospital needed some premmie gowns and it takes about an hour to sew each garment together… but I just can’t believe how tiny the gowns are.”

St Paul’s Creative Programs Coordinator Natalee Webber said residents had loved being involved in something so meaningful.

“This is a fantastic initiative that our residents have really enjoyed being a part of,” Natalie said.

“In a year full of so much uncertainty, the St Paul’s community has banded together to sew gorgeous premmie gowns for bubs who need it most at the nearby Caboolture Hospital.

“All up we’ve made more than 18 little outfits and we hope this will brighten the lives of local families who are going through more than enough in 2020.”