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Photo Courtesy GP Stitch Club
By Tanner Smith
7,456 knitted items

GP Stitch Club sets another record with its annual donation

Sep 24, 2026 | 1:50 PM

The Stitch Club of Grande Prairie marked a quarter of a century of community service, setting a new record for donated knitted items.

Club President Anne Sawchuk says an estimated 13,000 balls of yarn created 7,456 knitted items, surpassing their previous record by almost 400; something the club has gotten used too, doing so every year since 2021.

“We have one lady in particular who says we just want one more than last year, just one more than last year, and this year we actually had 12 new members come, so we had 370 more than last year and 29,750 hours to make those items. So a lot of love went into those.”

Now, 57 local organizations are benefiting from the club’s hard work, however, with such a high output, they are now in need of donations for next year: “Our Bottle Depot number is 2280, and the 55 North Community Centre has agreed to be our drop-off spot for yard and fabric, and they’re open from 9 in the morning till 4 in the afternoon, Monday to Friday.”

Donations of cash or Michaels gift cards will also be accepted and used to buy yarn.

Photo Courtesy GP Stitch Club
Photo Courtesy GP Stitch Club (Image Credit: Photo Courtesy GP Stitch Club)

Sawchuk, who started the club in 2001 with four other ladies, says they have now grown significantly to 79 members and are always welcoming more.

Anyone who wants to join can call Sawchuk directly at 780-505-2252 or visit the Club’s social media page and send them a message.

She adds that they are always in need of help, even from those who don’t sew, as they have a team of yarn untanglers and take ideas from the club, with a lady suggesting dog beds for this year’s donation pile, leading to the creation of 69 of them in a day.

“So, I found homes for all these dog beds, and one of the shelters sent me a picture, and this dog is a Great Dane, huge, huge dog that cannot be adopted out, but he’s their kind of mascot, and he got a little tiny pillow, put his head on it, and this is mine, please do not take it away from me.”

Photo Courtesy GP Stitch Club
Photo Courtesy GP Stitch Club (Image Credit: Photo Courtesy GP Stitch Club)

Since the first started back in 2001, Sawchuk says they have donated over 59,000 knitted items, adding, “I think we’ve knitted to the moon and back.”

Now the club has already begun work for next year’s donation, with hopes of surpassing this year’s total.

Donation recipients:

  • 55 North Community Centre
  • Alberta Northwest Palliative Care Society
  • Alzheimer’s Society of AB & NWT
  • Animal Medical Centre North
  • Animals First Clinic
  • Aurora Court
  • Babies’ Best Start
  • Bandaged Paws Animal Rescue Assn
  • Bear Creek Animal Clinic
  • Bear Lake Kountry Kennels
  • Beaverlodge Christmas Hamper & Food Bank
  • Beaverlodge Elementary School
  • Beaverlodge Hidden Potential Society
  • Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital
  • Calling Lake Clothing Bank
  • Canadian Mental Health (Willow Place)
  • Caribou Child & Youth Centre
  • Central Peace Health
  • Coats for Kids
  • Emerald Gardens
  • Friends of the Grande Spirit Foundation
  • GP Bark Park
  • GP Care Center
  • GP Friendship Centre
  • GP Hospital (Cancer Clinic, Maternity, Neo-Natal Unit, Pediatrics, Psychiatric Ward, White Rose Program)
  • GP Jail
  • GP Youth Emergency Shelter Society
  • Heritage Lodge
  • Hythe & District Food Bank Society
  • Hythe & District Pioneer Homes Foundation
  • Hythe Continuing Care Centre
  • Ken Sargent House
  • Lakeview Seniors Housing
  • MacKenzie Place Continuing Care Centre
  • Morningview Vet Clinic
  • Mustard Seed Society
  • Northern Addictions Centre
  • Northreach Society
  • Oasis Fellowship
  • Odyssey House
  • Pearson Place
  • Pioneer Lodge-GP
  • Pleasant View Lodge
  • Prairie Lakes Seniors Community
  • Pregnancy Care Centre Grande Prairie
  • Rising Above
  • Ronald McDonald House
  • Salvation Army
  • Society for Support to Pregnant & Parenting Teens
  • St. Lawrence Center
  • Tiny Hands of Hope
  • Wapiti House
  • Wild Rose Manor
by Tanner Smith