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Sheila’s Shawls
The New Brunswick Silent Witness Committee was inspired by an idea that they read about on the American Silent Witness website called ‘ Sheila’s Shawls”. These shawls were being knit in tribute to social activist Sheila Wellstone and her husband, Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, who died in an airplane crash in October 2002. A friend of Sheila’s came up with the idea of knitting shawls to comfort the relatives of domestic homicide victims and later survivors of family violence. Later it was suggested that “ Paul’s Scarves” could be made (sew or weave) for men who had lost sisters, mothers, or daughters to domestic violence. Finally, the idea of making quilts for children whose mothers had been murdered in acts of domestic violence was introduced.
Some of our Silent Witness members have now begun to knit shawls to present to a family member – a mother or a sister - of a New Brunswick woman who was murdered in domestic violence. We think this is a caring, compassionate gesture – a better practice.
If you are interested in:
- knitting a shawl to donate (Note: some simple patterns are available on the USA site at - http://www.silentwitness.net/sub/Sheilas_shawls.htm),
- sharing a shawl pattern,
- donating a scarf ,
- donating a child’s quilt, or
- making a donation to help us cover the costs of materials
Please feel free to contact us for information... info@silentwitness.ca