Chelsea and Westminster Hospital have teamed up with a group of artists in a community scarf-making project, to prepare people with respiratory illnesses for the coming winter.

With the colder months and a second wave of coronavirus on the horizon, nine artists are designing scarf patterns to help patients with respiratory diseases prevent COPD, asthma, and COVID-19-related attacks.

According to the hospital’s official charity, CW+, mouth and nose coverings can improve respiratory problems as scarves warm up the air during inhalation.

Therefore, a selection of artists has been asked to create and donate unique scarf patterns in quirky styles, which can be turned into a knitting or crochet pattern for members of the local community to download for free.

Volunteer community knitters will make and donate these scarves to the hospital so that patients can collect them when going in for appointments.

Gary Davies, Medical Director at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, said: “As we head into winter, it is important that patients with asthma and COPD, as well as those recovering from COVID-19, are able to protect themselves from cold air and respiratory illnesses,”

“Thanks to these artists and our volunteer knitters, we hope that this initiative will support our patients over the winter and reduce the number of exacerbations.”

The CW+ #ScarfUp project is inspired by the Asthma UK #Scarfie campaign, which encourages asthmatics to wear scarves around their mouths and noses to help prevent asthma attacks.

Scarves crafted for #ScarfUp will not replace obligatory face coverings worn to help protect people from catching coronavirus but should be used in addition to face masks.

Currently, nine artists have designed scarf patterns for the #ScarfUp project, including London-based contributors Denzil Forrester and Michael Landy.

“With different designs from so many talented artists, we hope that there will be a scarf to suit everyone,” said Trystan Hawkins, Director of Patient Environment at CW+.

“Our main aim is to help patients with respiratory diseases, and to send them a message of love and wellness using these unique scarf designs,” he added.

If you want to get involved in the #ScarfUp project you can find out more here.