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Purls of wisdom help mothers knit to quit smoking
FORGET patches, gum or good old-fashioned determination – a mother and daughter from South Yorkshire have found a more innovative way to quit smoking.
Doreen Bishop and her 16-year-old daughter Daneka Dixon have both kicked the habit, thanks to a pair of knitting needles and a ball of wool.
The Knit to Quit scheme was thought up by Pam Hancock, a specialist midwife for Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service, which has already helped about 80 pregnant women and young mothers to stop smoking.
Mrs Hancock, a midwife for 35 years, thought of the idea after women trying to quit complained of boredom and needing a distraction during the difficult times.
She said: "Some said they didn't know what to do with their hands, so I thought of knitting. Most young women have never done any knitting so I show them how to cast on and do the basic stitches."
Miss Dixon, from Norfolk Park in Sheffield, became involved with the scheme when she became pregnant and decided she wanted to stop smoking.
She said: "I knew I wanted to give up smoking for the sake of the baby. I had tried once before but it only lasted for about a day. I had never done any knitting before but Pam taught me the basics and it definitely helped."
Her mother, meanwhile, a smoker for over 35 years, had managed to stop for several months when she was pregnant, only to return to cigarettes afterwards.
Spurred on by her daughter, and with Mrs Hancock's support, she then decided to give it another try.
Mrs Bishop, 55, said: "I had knitted before but not very much and I could just about remember the basics. But Pam gave me the incentive to start again and I started buying patterns and wool."
Now the proud grandmother has knitted clothes for her new grandson, Keelan, as well as several hats and pairs of boots for babies in the special care unit at Jessop's Hospital, where Miss Dixon gave birth last week.
The Knit to Quit scheme has now got several enthusiastic members, said Mrs Hancock.
The midwife added: "I even had a call from one woman in a bit of a panic.
"I thought she was about to have a cigarette – but in fact it was because she didn't know how to cast off."
Anyone who wants to sign up to the Knit to Quit scheme can contact 0800 068 4490.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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