Our awesome project harnesses the efforts of teams of Sydney knitters and crafters, who’ve recently turned their creative talents towards handcrafting hot water bottle covers, to keep displaced people in Ukraine warm, during the depths of winter.

Over the last four years, Good Neighbours Australia and an army of volunteers, from crafty kids to knitting nannies, have pledged to fill a shipping container full of hand-crafted blankets, beanies, gloves, cardigans, socks and wraps, to send to war-affected Ukrainians each year.

Meeting in local libraries, community halls, churches, schools and homes around Sydney, the crafters share their patterns, skills, resources, friendship and generosity, building community spirit both here and abroad.

In mid-2026, a special request was made by our Good Neighbour’s distribution team on the ground in Ukraine: Can Australians please send some hot water bottle covers to meet our deep need for warmth?

Knowing that hot water bottles can keep someone warm for 6 - 7 hours, Sydney knitters and crafters enthusiastically rallied to the cause. The Knit One, Warm One project was born.

As the war in Ukraine has evolved over four years, access to water, electricity, heating, healthcare, education and social protection has been stretched. That’s where Sydney-siders are stepping up, to stand with the people of Ukraine, and provide real warmth.

The Knit One, Warm One project will also spread encouragement amongst some of the most vulnerable parts of the war-affected population including: internally displaced people, people with disabilities, the elderly, single parents and orphans - many who struggle to meet even the basic essentials of life, including staying warm during the bitter winter months.

The project is also galvanising Sydney school students (who decorate gift bags and write cards to the Ukrainian kids) along with the craft groups who donate the raw materials, like yarn, plus their time, skills and enthusiasm to the project.