About the Knitters

Pamela has been knitting for over 70 years.  Her mother taught her when she was a little girl, and ever since then Pamela has been knitting for herself and her family. "In those days you couldn't buy hats and gloves easily, so I knitted them.
"I used to enjoy knitting especially when the kids were little," she says. "I made their jerseys with Fair-Isles patterns - some of the jerseys had dogs around the edges - at the hems - or fluffy ducklings. One time I did a yellow jersey for my son and put brown elephants around the bottom.  He loved it. And I loved knitting those jerseys." These days Pamela does her knitting while watching television.
Whenever she travels down the North Island, Pamela always calls in at The Wool Company in Taihape - one of her favourite stopping places when touring through New Zealand. 

Julie is an enthusiastic promoter of women's crafts – the skills which grew out of the necessity in long-past years to provide clothes and warm coverings for family. Like many of our knitters her mother taught Julie how to knit when she was little. "She knitted all our jerseys and cardigans. My sister and I are still keen and we crochet too." "Women who knit these beautiful items deserve all credit. Knitting is a skill honed over many years keeps us warm and cosy in the Winter and yet we rarely acknowledge those who create these garments."
It was Julie's idea for HeadsforRED when she realised how popular her beanies were and figured that these could probably be sold nationwide if there was a group of knitters to keep the supply going, and if they were promoted on a website. HeadsforRED are now doing socks, gloves and scarves as well.

Marie is a crafty woman. She lives in a home surrounded by her craftworks. Embroidery, crochet, scrap-booking, and of course, knitting.
Her knitting is of an extensive range as well – knit and purl, cross-stitch, rib, cable, fairisle, garter – you name it, Marie can do it. And now Marie is knitting beanies for HeadsforRED. Like Pamela, Marie was taught by her mother and in those days quite a long time ago, her mother knitted for her entire family – from baby clothes, through to children's gear and for the men in the family.
Marie often knits while watching television. "I don't like to watch TV and do nothing," she says. And the little children's garments she shows us are testament to both her skill and her industry.

Jill's story is slightly different from other knitters: it was her grandma who taught her to knit. Jill's four-year-old sister came back from a visit to Grandma showing off her knitting skills. At five, Jill was not going to have a younger sister beat her, so she asked Grandma how to knit as well.
"We started out knitting scarves and blankets for our dolls. I still like doing scarves and hats as I can take my knitting with me. I usually have at least one on the go and take knitting with me every time I go anywhere," says Jill who, as a union coordinator, travels all over NZ.
"Knitting is relaxing. I guess you could say it is an obsession. I am always thinking about the next project. I often make up patterns. While I have been laid up with my broken leg, I have knitted Jerome's baby a Warriors jersey and hat. It is not a replica as the actual jerseys are complicated these days, but it is recognisable as a Warriors jersey."

Like most of our knitters, Nathalie was taught by her mother, and has been knitting since she was a child. She also likes doing crochet work. "I knitted my dolls' clothes, then I knitted my own jerseys, I knitted for my own kids, and for my grandchildren … and now I'm knitting for my dog," she says holding up a red dog jacket she has begun.
"I just like knitting. I find it relaxing," Nathalie comments as she sits back onto a hand crocheted patchwork rug in a glorious kaleidoscope of colours, with her dog Archie.

Denise has been knitting since she was seven years old. "Both my English born grandmother and my mother taught me how to knit with lots of love and patience.
"Over the years I have knitted jumpers for the men folk in my family, and when I worked at Counties Manukau DHB I knitted bonnets and booties for the Neonatal Intensive care unit. So often the babies are born unexpectedly and prematurely, and the parents and family haven't had a chance to prepare for the arrival.
"Apart from knitting beanies for HeadsforRED, I am currently using up leftover yarn to make cot blankets for babies and will donate them to the birthing unit here in Thames."
Denise says she mostly enjoys knitting for her nieces and nephews who range in age from newborn to 4 years of age, and there are currently 5 of them. Following a tradition started by her grandmother, Denise has knitted baby shawls for her nieces when they had their first babies which she hopes will be passed down their families as an heirloom.
Denise says she doesn't have any other crafting skills but does enjoy baking and gardening. "I also enjoy a good book and a glass or two of wine".