When Muriel Sanderson was 14, her father taught her how to knit.
These days, she can be found every Tuesday at Knox Presbyterian Church, as a member of the Knotty Knitters.
“He was a First World War veteran who had learned to knit, and he taught me — the first thing I made was a pair of diamond socks,” said Sanderson, smiling at the memory.
And knitting is top of mind for Rev. Teresa Charlton, who was looking for a way of brightening up what can be a dreary month for many, and at the same time giving back to the community.
“I was looking through the closets and found piles of yarn and wondered what we could do with it,” she said.
She’s asking that anyone with yarn, knitting needles or crochet hooks to drop them off at the church. And those who need supplies are invited to help themselves. Charlton would then like to see warm hats, mittens and shawls made that can be donated to those in need.
“I figured if we have a closet full of yarn, others must as well,” she said. “So we’re doing a bring or take system — here is the yarn and we’d like to invite the public to drop off extra yarn, needles, crochet hooks and patterns.
“I had one lady pick up five half-used balls of wool and she figured they would make a nice prayer shawl. People often buy one extra skein of wool that goes unused, so there is usually a lot left over after a project.
“This helps me get through the dreary days of November before the busyness of Christmas begins.”
On display in the narthex is a hat Charlton crocheted for her daughter, a prayer shawl, an afghan, a bib and a tiny infant’s sweater, along with balls of colourful yarn.
Knitting and crochet enthusiasts are welcome to donate supplies and to help themselves. Knox has provided space to the Gleaners for their annual sock drive, which collects new kids’ socks, mitts, toques, scarves and underwear for orphaned children in Eastern Europe.
“So there are two way to go: you can drop off yarn or you can knit for charity.”
Knox is open Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon; if you can’t make it during regular hours, call the church office at 250-542-8613. Knox Presbyterian Church is at 3701-32nd Ave., off Alexis Park Drive.
