Knitter keeps kids’ heads warm this winter
‘‘This is number 71,’’ says Shirley Stirton, holding up a half-finished blue beanie, one of several dozen she has knitted for pupils at Avalon Primary School.
Stirton, who has been knitting the beanies since last September, says she can turn them out at a rate of one every one or two days ‘‘if nothing holds me up’’.
The donated beanies were given to new entrants this winter.
She said she got a lot of enjoyment out of doing something for the pupils.
‘‘I just wanted to something for the kids. Times are hard out there.’’
Her son suggested she start knitting for the kids after she made a couple of beanies for her grandson.
‘‘So I went to the school to see if they were interested and they were’’.
She hadn’t picked up her needles in years, but you wouldn’t know it, with each hat knitted using a different pattern.
‘‘The designs come out of my head. There’s not two the same but I’m running out of ideas now,’’ she joked.
She knits the hats in different variations of blue, maroon, orange and white - the colours of the school’s letterhead and branding, an idea of principal Dirk Winnie.
Even Winnie received a beanie with a specially made pompom at his request.
The hats were greatly appreciated and Stirton’s relationship with the school was a special one, Winnie said.
‘‘I think it’s amazing. It’s an example of someone doing something small that’s making a lot of difference.
‘‘It’s really valuable because we are a low decile school. The kids love them. They’re not expecting them, so it’s like a gift.’’
Winnie said they had enough beanies to last them at least to the end of the year.
Stirton said she was happy to pay for the materials and was determined to keep knitting for the kids.
‘‘I think I’ll carry on until I can’t carry on, or until they don’t want them anymore. I like doing this for them.’’