Zahira Atkins considers herself a slow knitter.
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She watches others churn out clothes at speed in amazement.
“They just go, bang, bang, bang.”
Ms Atkins likes to do what she calls ‘mindless knitting’, where she can improvise or knit out a scarf until it’s long enough.
“I like to use big size 12 needles that get the job done quickly,” she said.
The Exeter remedial massage therapist and trainee vet nurse spreads out a pile of knitted blankets and scarves on the floor at her home.
They’re the work of the Exeter Charity Knitters, a group that since 2010 has donated knitted items to homelessness services and animal shelters.
Ms Atkins started charity knitting two years before the group started, after dabbling in the craft since childhood.
Her mother taught her to knit and she also picked it up at school.
“I guess this is the longest time I’ve stuck at knitting,” she said.
At Christmas the Exeter Charity Knitters expect to donate their 5000th item.
The group calls homelessness services to see what sort of items they need, and members take a few months to knit them before delivery.
In November they’ll get in touch again to see if they need anything.
It’s nice to look back on stuff like that when you’re feeling, ‘am I making any difference?'
- Zahira Atkins
Ms Atkins doesn’t only enjoy the craft as a creative outlet. She thinks of it as a way to contribute.
“It’s nice to look back on stuff like that when you’re feeling ‘am I making any difference?’” she said.
“It doesn’t matter how fast you are, or what level you’re at, everything makes a difference.
“It’s about doing something you love and being able to help people at the same time.”
Ms Atkins, who also runs a cat rescue service, likes having something to do after work.
“If I’m sitting in front of the telly watching something, if I’m doing something with my hands, I’m not completely wasting my time.”
For elderly members in her group, knitting keeps their hands moving.
Ms Atkins usually works with three balls of yarn at once.
“You get the things you really like doing.
“It doesn’t matter what size or what colour you do it in, someone’s going to like it.”
It takes her two nights to knit a short scarf.
In three nights she can make a blanket for her cats to curl up on.
Rib stitches still trip her up, and she tries to avoid them.
“I really have to concentrate on the rib stitch.”
Eight knitters meet frequently at the Exeter Charity Knitters, and more assist with their knitting and deliveries.
The group is happy to teach people how to knit.
What hobby floats your boat? Email doug.dingwall@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Doug Dingwall
Doug Dingwall is The Canberra Times' parliamentary bureau chief. He writes about government and federal politics, and has an interest in integrity, industrial relations and foreign affairs. Previously he worked at The Examiner in Launceston, where he won a Tasmanian Human Rights Award for his reporting. Contact him on doug.dingwall@canberratimes.com.au
Doug Dingwall is The Canberra Times' parliamentary bureau chief. He writes about government and federal politics, and has an interest in integrity, industrial relations and foreign affairs. Previously he worked at The Examiner in Launceston, where he won a Tasmanian Human Rights Award for his reporting. Contact him on doug.dingwall@canberratimes.com.au
