Yesterday a big group of knitters responded to Ballina Library’s call for a one day knit-in to help the charity Wrap With Love keep people warm this winter.
Liz Braz from Ballina Library told The Echo that Wrap With Love is an organisation that supplies free blankets to underprivileged people around the world. ‘Yes, in Africa, in South East Asia, in the Americas, and also for people in Australia that need blankets.
‘Today we’re hosting an event where men and women can come in and knit and crochet for a couple of hours or so,’ she said.
‘We’ve got wool that’s been donated by the people in the community to help us along.’
Ms Braz said it was the first time the library had got involved, and she was very pleased with the response.
There was already a full room of knitters at 11am, with 35 or 40 people expected to come through the doors and knit at some point through the day.
Ballina Library was supplying refreshments and knitting needles for those who didn’t come equipped.
Knitting and nattering
Liz Braz said it was a good cause, ‘and also a great opportunity for people to socialize with other people who like to knit and crochet.’
She explained there were two active craft groups who meet in the library on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, with members planning to finish any remaining pieces, and then send the knitted squares off to Lismore.
After the blankets were sewn together, they would then be distributed to wherever they were needed.
‘Wrap With Love has been going since 1992, I think,’ said Ms Braz. ‘They’ve made thousands of blankets for underprivileged people.’
The Echo spoke to a couple of keen knitters who came to the knit-in.
‘I’m here to knit and mix with other people and enjoy the morning,’ said Cheryl Rostron.
Her friend Maria Zorzo said, ‘I’m here also to knit and crochet and share my skills with the other group of ladies, meet new people, and have a good time. We’re just sharing our skills and our knowledge all together.’
She said another group of ladies had the responsibility of dealing with the ‘enormous number’ of knitted squares, which would be made into beautiful warm blankets.
Ms Rostron said she’d been knitting for many years. ‘It’s very rewarding when you finish something special.’
She said that she was used to making things that were a bit more challenging than squares, ‘but it’s an expensive exercise with wool, and you can get things much cheaper in the shops, and everything goes in the washing machine these days anyway!’
Find out more about Wrap With Love here.
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