Tis the season to pick up your knitting needles and crochet hooks for the greater good.
The Rotary Club of Murrumburrah-Harden are asking the community to “get loopy” by contributing knitted or crocheted squares to be made into knee rugs for the local hospital nursing home’s residents ahead of another blustery winter.
Rotary Secretary (soon to be President) Rita O’Connor says they are looking for enough squares to make at least 20 rugs, one for each resident.
“It’s a community project and anyone in the community can join,” she says.
“The squares are going to be 10 inches (25 centimetres) each and need to be made from eight poly acrylic [yarn].”
For a small knee rug, Rita says they will need 16 squares, for a large one that might be able to cover a wheelchair, she says they will need 27 squares.
“We are trying to get as many squares as possible,” she says.
For keen crafters, the sky is the limit in terms of designs, so long as the completed square fits the 10-inch measurement. So, it’s the perfect opportunity to use up scrap yarn or try out a new pattern…
“It really doesn’t matter what sorts of squares people make, they can be either knitted or crocheted, and we’ll do both with whatever we get,” says Rita.
The only consistency required (outside of sizing) is ensuring the squares are made from eight ply acrylic, guaranteeing the finished knee rugs can be washed and dried easily for next day use.
Rita says her dad serves as her inspiration for the project.
“My dad used to be a resident in the nursing home, and he always liked to have a bit of a knee rug, so I thought everyone else might as well,” she says.
Her idea was instantly approved by the staff at the nursing home, and Rita says she has since reached out to the local schools and other community groups to pick up their needles for the cause.
There is no limit to how many squares each person can donate, in fact, Rita says the more the merrier.
“They can be dropped off at the Book Nook on Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 10.00am to 4.00pm, or I can be called,” she says.
Organised by the Rotary Club, Rita says many of their members will be hard at work to pump out some squares for the blankets.
Although no deadline exists for the squares to be completed by, Rita says their goal is to have the lap blankets completed by the end of winter.
“If we got squares in the next couple of weeks and could make two rugs, we’d take those rugs up to [the residents] and will make the next lot as they come in,” she says.
“We just want to make sure that they’ve got them for winter, so that [the residents] can put them on and be comfortable.”
The nursing home currently has 20 residents, although Rita says if they have more donations, she wants to share the blankets with whoever needs them.
As for the timing, with the recent cold snap, Rita says it’s the perfect time to bunker down with some yarn.
“People are at home a lot more and it’s an opportunity for anyone who’s got a bit of time to be doing something,” she says.
To contact Rita about square donations, please call 0407 227 140.
Elizabeth Kovacs
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