Whitehorse knitters make hats and mitts for Syrian refugees

Syrian refugees will face many challenges if and when they settle in Whitehorse, but one of the first will be the bone-chilling Yukon winter air that hits them as they step off the plane.

"They probably don't know how cold it can be," said Sophie Jessome, who's been working with a knitting group — "Sticks, Strings and Stewardship" — to prepare to greet refugees.

  

"We thought of welcoming them with warm hats, scarves, mittens and as much items as possible, just so they're warm," she said.

A local group, Yukon Cares, has raised money to sponsor a family of ten Syrians to come to Yukon. The Riverdale Baptist church is also planning to sponsor a family. It's not clear yet when any might arrive, but the knitters are ready.

"I've got 12 hats, I've got two and a half scarves — I'm still working on one — and I've got a number of pairs of mittens," said Jo Stewart, another member of the knitting group.

More than just a warm scarf

Two small groups gather weekly to work on the clothes, but Jessome says people are also picking up kits at her yarn store, to work at home then return the finished product.

Hats are a "big hit", Jessome said, because they're easy and quick to make.

If the group ends up with too much winter gear, they'll donate it to similar groups elsewhere in Canada, such as Calgary's 1300 Stitches For Syria.

For Stewart, it's a way to "pay it forward" while doing something she loves.

"I can't manage a day without knitting," Steward said. "My fingers tingle when I get a new pattern or a new yarn that I'm working with."

Jessome agrees, and says greeting refugees with hand-made clothes is also a powerful way to demonstrate support and community goodwill.

"It's a lot more than just the warmth of the scarf," Jessome said. "It's also, to me, the warmth of human beings, from one to another.

"We care about each other even if we don't know each other."