Woman Crochets More Than 100 Baby Blankets to Thank Hospital That Saved Her Sight

May 20, 2026

A woman in England has reached a heartwarming milestone after crocheting her 100th handmade blanket for newborn babies.

Eliz Sandalls / Credit: NHS

Eliz Sandalls, who lives in Ilkley, England, recently delivered her 100th “wellbeing blanket” to the maternity unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary, where staff say her colorful creations have become treasured gifts for new mothers and babies.

What makes the milestone even more inspiring is that Eliz is registered blind.

After losing sight in her right eye in 1987, Eliz later developed serious problems with her remaining vision. In 2023, surgeons at the hospital performed an operation that preserved some of the sight in her left eye, allowing her to continue doing the hobby she loves most.

“While my vision is still limited, it allows me to continue with my crocheting and I am forever grateful to the BRI and surgeon, Helen Devonport, for saving some of my sight,” Eliz told NHS.

To thank her for her extraordinary kindness, midwives Sophie Wainman and Katie Hurley recently surprised Eliz with a visit at Abbeydale Residential Care Home, where she now lives. They arrived with a hamper full of treats and stayed for more than an hour chatting with the woman whose blankets have brightened hospital rooms and warmed countless newborns.

“Every time we get a donation of crocheted blankets from Eliz we are astonished at the craftsmanship,” Sophie said. “The mums on our maternity wards are absolutely delighted to receive the blankets as they brighten the babies’ cots, as well as our hospital wards and environment. They bring such a personal touch and we are forever grateful to Eliz for her donations.”

Originally from Bourne End in Buckinghamshire, Eliz moved to Ilkley in 2021 to be closer to her daughter after her husband passed away.

Crocheting has since become both a passion and a purpose.

“Crocheting gives me something to do as I can’t see to read books and talking books tend to send me to sleep,” she said with a laugh.

Eliz Sandalls / Credit: NHS

Each blanket measures about two feet square and takes her nearly three days to complete by hand. Abbeydale Residential Care Home helps cover some of the cost of wool, while Eliz buys the rest herself during walks into town. Every finished blanket is carefully packaged before being delivered to the maternity ward.

And for Eliz, the blankets mean far more than yarn and stitches.

“I get so much satisfaction knowing the blankets are going to good homes,” she said. “They are comfort blankets for little people because babies are not babies for long.”

She added that the project brings her joy, especially since she never had grandchildren of her own.

Despite her vision challenges, Eliz has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

“I really do believe if you don’t use it, you lose it,” she said. “I intend to carry on crocheting the wellbeing blankets for a long time to come. It’s so lovely to give something back to the hospital and to the babies.”