The knitting revolution. Grandma's sock brand gave jobs to 203 seniors

press release ~ Elpida ~ 29 January 2018

Knitting Revolution. Last year alone, knitted socks from 203 Czech grandmothers warmed 10,243 pairs of feet

Elpida helps seniors become a respected part of society. One of the projects is Socks from Grandma, which gives work and the joy of feeling useful to 203 Czechknitters, while also supporting the running of the Elpida Education and Cultural Centre. Knitters knitted more than 12,000 pairs of socks from grandma in 2017 alone, so they warm you up twice - on your feet and on your heart.

More knitters and socks
The goal of the project, which is based on the idea that seniors support other seniors, is to involve another 50 knitters from all over the country, even from the most backward solitudes, for 2018. "We would like to welcome male knitters into our ranks, they are still missing," says Broňa Hilliová, head of Elpida's cultural projects, with a smile.

Getting rid of gloom and old sweaters - how it works
The knitting itself is preceded by the collection and recycling of unwanted wool (for example, from old sweaters), which is then sent to the knitters. They knit it into original warm socks. And because Elpida cooperates with more than 200 grandmothers from all over the Czech Republic, every piece is original - both in terms of colour and knitting style. Each pair has the name of its author on the label, and everyone can see the story of the sock author on the website.

"I live in a home for the elderly, and I'm the type of person who always has to have an activity of my own. I was introduced to knitting four years ago by VITAL magazine. Even then I was knitting socks - it's a job that makes me feel better and makes me think. And then came the offer from Elpida to knit with recycled wool. I enthusiastically accepted," says knitter Marie Hrobařová, describing how the preparation process works. Coming up with colour combinations is the most fun I have. Sometimes I knit three pairs at once. " But the number of knits is not the most important thing for the activity, the social factor is much more important - some knitters are vital and knit several pairs a week, others knit from bed because of their poor health.

Legs and heart warm
Because the socks are thick and warm, they are sold especially in autumn and winter, when they travel from Elpida to Christmas markets andparties, but there is a growing trend for companies to buy them in company colours as thoughtful Christmas gifts for employees or clients: "We see a lot of potential in just this kind of collaboration, which is why we also organise workshops in companies that are led by the grandmothers themselves. Our knitters like to pass on traditional handicraft skills and spirit across generations - knitting inIt brings back memories, both for those who buy the socks and for the knitters themselves," explains Broňa Hilliová. In addition, the proceeds from the sale go both to the knitters themselves and to support the running of the Elpida Educational and Cultural Centre. the donor and the recipient, along with a practical gift, will get a warm feeling that they have supported a good cause.

Cuddle up and fall in love
And since the temperatures won't be rising for a while, Elpida has decided to prepare a limited edition of love socks through which invites couples and friends to spend more time together - how else but with their feet warm.

Smooth turns - in February, Norwegian style
Intergenerational knitting and crochet workshops called Smooth Pulls are organised by Elpida in collaboration with journalist Veronika Ruppert. Visitors will learn how to knit socks directly from the grandmothers of the knitters involved in the project. During the February workshop on Saturday 17 February, the grandmothers will teach people how to knit warm socks and sweaters with a Norwegian pattern. As an added bonus, young designers Tereza Rosalie Kladosová and Hana Frisonsová are also looking forward to meeting the can try out the simpler crocheting of hats and scarves, or embark on more complex designs according to their own imagination. In addition to meeting traditional hand techniques, the workshop is an opportunity to recycle and collect wool. If someone has unused balls of wool lying around at home that are just taking up space, they can pass them on to new hands at the workshop.

When winter asks
"This year we also introduced a limited edition of hand-knitted vests, which was created in collaboration with Veronika," mentions Broňa Hilliová. The pattern was a waistcoat that Veronika Ruppert's grandmother Idunka knitted for her more than 15 years ago. The author is a knitter from Plzeň. "The waistcoats met with huge interest, mainly girls ordered them, but we also received photos from several men, which made us really happy."

With grandmothers to the stars
To close out 2017, Elpida prepared a little space thank you for grandmothers and supporters: a virtual boarding pass that will take them "to the stars" - to Mars. Their names will be inscribed on the microchip of the robot that will be heading to the red planet this year.

Old's Cool
The brand Socks from Grandma is part of the Old's Cool programme, which aims at long-term projects promoting intergenerational dialogue and active life for seniors. Elpida, for example, organises a festival where young and old not only participate in the programme itself, but also meetIt also organises exhibitions connecting seniors with contemporary visual artists or sponsors the Elpida choir, which consists of 24 ladies aged 60 to 85. For example, the popular band Please The Trees performs with the seniors.

Media contact
Lada Brůnová ~ lada.brunova@elpida.cz ~ +420 739 659 456

Elpida
Elpida means hope in Greek. But it is also the name of an organisation that helps seniors become a confident and respected part of society. In the spirit of the Old's Cool motto, Elpida is changing the way people look at old age - it runs the Elpida Educational and Cultural Centre for seniors fromPrague and the Senior Crisis Line, founded the brand Socks from Grandma, publishes the magazine VITAL, and organises the intergenerational Old's Cool festival. In short, she is trying to make Czech seniors lead a full & happy life.