General News
6 June, 2024
World Knit In Public Day
Nyngan will participate in the largest knitting event in the world this Saturday when the local craft group hosts an outside knitters session in Davidson Park (weather permitting) to celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day.
From 10 am on, knitters, want-to-be-knitters, crocheters, or just anyone who’d like to join in are invited to bring a chair and enjoy each other’s company to celebrate the world-wide celebration.
Wendy Clissold and Margie Dunn have both been knitting since they were young and are both happy to share their skills with beginners.
Both find knitting to be relaxing and point out that it can be done just about anywhere because it’s so portable.
“Knitting and crochet are very easy to do outside because you don’t need sewing machines, tables, or anything like that. You can just bring your needles and wool and a chair and sit and natter,” Wendy said.
World Wide Knit in Public Day was started in 2005 as a way for knitters to come together.
“Knitting is such a solitary act that it’s easy to knit alone somewhere and sink into your work without thinking about all the other knitters out there. Neighbours could spend all their lives never knowing that the other knits,” Wendy said.
Wendy also pointed out that it was a common misconception that “only grannies knit” and said there were young people and even men who enjoyed the craft.
“It’s something you can do without really thinking. Plenty of people like to knit as they watch television at night,” she said.
Wendy was taught to knit by her aunt at age 18. She is remarkable, as she knits almost one-handed.
Her right hand was damaged in a childhood accident, so she has developed a way of holding her right needle in place and knitting with her left.
“I remember the first jumper I knitted. It was all green. I don’t know what happened to it but I wore it for years!”
Wendy’s latest completed piece is a jumper for her great grandson.
“I’ll have to show his mother, my granddaughter, how to wash it properly so it doesn’t shrink. Just put it in the machine on a gentle cycle with some wool mix and cold water.”
Margie has made some beautiful pieces that are treasured by her family and friends, including a gorgeous shawl that was on display at the recent Nyngan Show.
For her, knitting is second nature and can be done while she concentrates on other things.
“I used to take my knitting up to the school when the kids were young. I’d go to the meetings and sit up and knit whilst I listened. The kids would look at me and say, ‘Oh, look, it’s the knitting lady’,” Margie said.
Both Wendy and Margie prefer to knit using wool as opposed to acrylic, but say it is becoming harder to find as the craft becomes less popular.
Wendy said beginner knitters could look in op shops such as Vinnies for needles, even wool, and patterns.
“I went into Nyngan Vinnies the other day and bought some needles but you can go to places like Spotlight in Dubbo or there’s a great shop in Talbragar Street called Yummy Yarn, which has beautiful wool.”
The Nyngan Knit in Public Day will take place this Saturday, June 8, in Davidson Park on the main street from 10 am.
If the weather isn’t obliging, the session will move to the Bogan Shire Youth and Community Centre (BYSCC).
“We welcome anyone, and if there are people who’d like to learn knitting or crocheting, there’s a few here who would love to get them started,” Wendy said.
The Nyngan Craft Group also meets every Tuesday at the BSYCC from 10am-12pm and all craftspeople are welcome to bring their work and some morning tea and enjoy the company of others.