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Knitting helps Tom Daley switch off. Its mental health benefits are not just for Olympians

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-oshea-457947">Michelle O'Shea</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gabrielle-weidemann-91497">Gabrielle Weidemann</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p>Olympian Tom Daley is the <a href="https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/tom-daley/3y6lj3NwM4u2dORkh8DkXo#:%7E:text=Tom%20Daley's%20medals&amp;text=Tom%20Daley%20was%20the%20first,Paris%20with%20a%20first%20silver.">most decorated diver</a> in Britain’s history. He is also an avid knitter. At the Paris 2024 Olympics Daley added a fifth medal to his collection – and caught the world’s attention knitting a bright blue “Paris 24” jumper while travelling to the games and in the stands.</p> <p>At the Tokyo Olympics, where Daley was first <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/27/tom-daley-knits-a-tea-cosy-holder-to-keep-his-gold-medal-safe-from-scratches">spotted knitting</a>, he <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/07/29/nx-s1-5055677/tom-daley-olympics-2024-diving-knitting">explained</a> its positive impact on his mental health.</p> <blockquote> <p>It just turned into my mindfulness, my meditation, my calm and my way to escape the stresses of everyday life and, in particular, going to an Olympics.</p> </blockquote> <p>The <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01612840.2024.2364228">mental health benefits of knitting</a> are well established. So why is someone famous like Daley knitting in public still so surprising?</p> <h2>Knitting is gendered</h2> <p>Knitting is usually associated with women – <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02614367.2019.1579852">especially older women</a> – as a hobby done at home. In a <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.4276/030802213X13603244419077?casa_token=Y-MLTtrt_o4AAAAA:7c1Y6DSAd0XH19q0N-FBqqws68JFpgXYx5DACMMw24D3AuoqLkh0VVKMh7M6GNchmQpWSj1KR9tzCFw">large international survey</a> of knitting, 99% of respondents identified as female.</p> <p>But the history of yarn crafts and gender is more tangled. In Europe in the middle ages, <a href="https://www2.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/articles/nb82_knt.pdf">knitting guilds were exclusive</a> and reserved for men. They were part of a respected Europe-wide trade addressing a demand for knitted products that could not be satisfied by domestic workers alone.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www2.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/articles/nb82_knt.pdf">industrial revolution</a> made the production of clothed goods cheaper and faster than hand-knitting. Knitting and other needle crafts became a leisure activity for women, done in the private sphere of the home.</p> <p>World Wars I and II turned the spotlight back on knitting as a “<a href="https://theconversation.com/one-million-pairs-of-socks-knitting-for-victory-in-the-first-world-war-30149">patriotic duty</a>”, but it was still largely taken up by women.</p> <p>During COVID lockdowns, knitting saw another <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/02/well/family/pandemic-knitting-election-stress.html">resurgence</a>. But knitting still most often makes headlines when men – especially famous men like Daley or actor <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/01/ryan-gosling-hobby-knitting-interview">Ryan Gosling</a> – do it.</p> <p>Men who knit are often seen as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-17/men-who-unpick-knitting-stereoptype/11516016">subverting</a> the stereotype it’s an activity for older women.</p> <h2>Knitting the stress away</h2> <p>Knitting can produce a sense of pride and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01612840.2024.2364228">accomplishment</a>. But for an elite sportsperson like Daley – whose accomplishments already include four gold medals and one silver – its benefits lie elsewhere.</p> <p>Olympics-level sport relies on perfect scores and world records. When it comes to knitting, many of the mental health benefits are associated with the process, rather than the end result.</p> <p>Daley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wwXGOki--c">says</a> knitting is the “one thing” that allows him to switch off completely, describing it as “my therapy”.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6wwXGOki--c?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>The Olympian says he could</p> <blockquote> <p>knit for hours on end, honestly. There’s something that’s so satisfying to me about just having that rhythm and that little “click-clack” of the knitting needles. There is not a day that goes by where I don’t knit.</p> </blockquote> <p>Knitting can create a “flow” state through rhythmic, repetitive movements of the yarn and needle. Flow offers us a <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-32525-014">balance</a> between challenge, accessibility and a sense of control.</p> <p>It’s been shown to have benefits relieving stress in high-pressure jobs beyond elite sport. Among surgeons, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37150722/">knitting has been found</a> to improve wellbeing as well as manual dexterity, crucial to their role.</p> <p>For other health professionals – including oncology nurses and mental health workers – knitting has <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01612840.2024.2364228">helped to</a> reduce “<a href="https://cjon.ons.org/cjon/20/1/impact-knitting-intervention-compassion-fatigue-oncology-nurses">compassion fatigue</a>” and burnout. Participants described the soothing noise of their knitting needles. They developed and strengthened team bonds through collective knitting practices.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dTTJjD_q2Ik?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">A Swiss psychiatrist says for those with trauma, knitting yarn can be like “knitting the two halves” of the brain “back together”.</span></figcaption></figure> <p><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1062001/full">Another study</a> showed knitting in primary school may boost children’s executive function. That includes the ability to pay attention, remember relevant details and block out distractions.</p> <p>As a regular creative practice, it has also been <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01612840.2024.2364228#d1e1860">used in the treatment</a> of grief, depression and subduing intrusive thoughts, as well countering chronic pain and cognitive decline.</p> <h2>Knitting is a community</h2> <p>The <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.4276/030802213X13603244419077">evidence</a> for the benefits of knitting is often based on self-reporting. These studies tend to produce consistent results and involve large population samples.</p> <p>This may point to another benefit of knitting: its social aspect.</p> <p>Knitting and other yarn crafts can be done alone, and usually require simple materials. But they also provide a chance to socialise by bringing people together around a common interest, which can help <a href="https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/crre.7.1.11_1">reduce loneliness</a>.</p> <p>The free needle craft database and social network Ravelry contains <a href="https://blog.ravelry.com/2022-community-stats/">more than one million</a> patterns, contributed by users. “Yarn bombing” projects aim to <a href="https://www.artsnw.com.au/the-yarn-bombing-project">engage the community</a> and beautify public places by covering objects such as benches and stop signs with wool.</p> <p>The interest in Daley’s knitting online videos have formed a community of their own.</p> <p>In them he shows the process of making the jumper, not just the finished product. That includes where he “<a href="https://www.instagram.com/tomdaley/reel/C-LRgGYtbv3/?hl=en">went wrong</a>” and had to unwind his work.</p> <p>His pride in the finished product – a little bit wonky, but “<a href="https://www.instagram.com/madewithlovebytomdaley/?hl=en">made with love</a>” – can be a refreshing antidote to the flawless achievements often on display at the Olympics.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/236051/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-oshea-457947"><em>Michelle O'Shea</em></a><em>, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gabrielle-weidemann-91497">Gabrielle Weidemann</a>, Associate Professor in Psychological Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/knitting-helps-tom-daley-switch-off-its-mental-health-benefits-are-not-just-for-olympians-236051">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Mind

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What’s better than a hand-knitted jumper they’ll never wear?

<p>Grandchildren are so simple when they’re young. You give them all the things that their parents say no to – late bedtime, endless sugary treats and drum kits, for example – and you’re good to go. That special bond you share is strong, and you’re at the centre of their world. But as they start to get older, grandchildren can get a whole lot more complicated.</p> <p>What was cool last year is embarrassing this year, and who can keep up with all the technology and media they’re into these days?</p> <p>Yes, you could put some cash in a card, but this approach can lack that personal touch. And while a few fifties inside a birthday card, or something you knitted yourself, may seem like a safe and lovely gift, you know you can do better. That’s why Personalised Plates are an excellent gift idea that your grandkids will cherish for many years to come.</p> <p><strong>Show you really know them</strong></p> <p>The beauty of Personalised Plates is that you can tailor them to be unique and distinctive, making them the perfect way to show your grandchild that you care about them and their interests. More than just a random collection of letters and numbers, Personalised Plates give you the chance to celebrate your grandchild’s hobby, career, interest, identity, family nickname, or even simply just their name, in a way that’s fun and memorable.</p> <p>And unlike those fifties or that jumper, a personalised plate won’t be forgotten by this time next year – it will be around for years to come.</p> <p>Something else that makes Personalised Plates a great gift is that they’re practical. Your grandchild will use it and be reminded of you every time they drive their car. </p> <p><strong>It’s perfect for everyone</strong></p> <p>Plus, it’s a gift that can suit anyone, regardless of their age or interests. That versatility means you can get one for each grandchild – for birthdays or Christmas, or perhaps to celebrate them passing their driving test or when they get their first car. It can be your thing – and you don’t have to think of a new gift for each grandchild. All you have to do is come up with a personalised plate idea for each one as they reach that milestone.</p> <p><strong>How to choose</strong></p> <p>When it comes to choosing the right Personalised Plates for your grandchild, the options are almost endless, but don’t let that overwhelm you.</p> <p>When you’re choosing Personalised Plates for your grandchild, the first thing you’ll need to do is check whether the plate combination you want is available. That’s the unique number and letter combination. You can check availability on the <a href="https://www.ppq.com.au/?utm_campaign=gifting&utm_source=over_sixty&utm_medium=fabulate&utm_content=grandparents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PPQ website</a>.</p> <p>Let your imagination (or family stories or your own unique relationship) be your guide here, but if you want some help getting started, some ideas you can use are:</p> <ul> <li>Name</li> <li>Initials</li> <li>Birthday</li> <li>Anniversary</li> <li>Family nickname</li> <li>Job or business name, or perhaps their career goal</li> <li>Hobbies</li> <li>Personality trait</li> <li>A family joke or shared memory.</li> </ul> <p>Then it’s time to choose the plate design. Choose from a range of different styles and themes to find something that suits your grandchild. Are they a big rugby league fan? An animal lover? Are they into DC Comics or Loony Tunes? Or do they prefer classic European or Japanese styling? There’s a personalised plate to suit all tastes. </p> <p><strong>Get creative</strong></p> <p>While many of the more popular names and words might be taken, don’t be afraid to get creative with the spelling, by using numbers or phonetics.</p> <p>Think P3TER, K4REN, D4V3. Or JESSSS or JOOLS.</p> <p>Plates really are the perfect personalised gift, because they’ll suit all your grandchildren, but they’ll never see another one quite like the one you’ve given them. And no matter what you choose, now and into the future, their Personalised Plates will be a reminder of your special bond, and your grandchild can be reminded of how much you care every time they hop into their car. </p> <p>It’s a gift that can last them a lifetime.</p> <p>Start designing your perfect personalised plate gift on the <a href="https://www.ppq.com.au/?utm_campaign=gifting&utm_source=over_sixty&utm_medium=fabulate&utm_content=grandparents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PPQ website here</a>. </p> <p>Or, if you want to give your grandchild the gift of Personalised Plates but you’re worried about making the right choice, give them a PPQ gift voucher and let them decide for themselves. Gift vouchers start at $100. <a href="https://www.ppq.com.au/products/gift-vouchers?utm_campaign=gifting&utm_source=over_sixty&utm_medium=fabulate&utm_content=grandparents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more here</a>. </p> <p><em>Images: Supplied.</em></p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">PPQ.</span></em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Fashion designer knits her own wedding gown

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A newlywed has revealed the painstaking process behind making her wedding dress over the nine months leading up to her big day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fashion designer Esther Andrews knitted her wedding dress every day while commuting to and from work.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The designer, who creates “slowly made knitwear for the modern bride” shared her story in a video posted to TikTok.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I hand-knit my wedding dress on the New York subway for nine months and this was the journey,” Andrews said in the video.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrews explained the inspiration behind the gown was a “silly and fun” design of “space pirate” meets a “tomato patch” while panning over sketches of her dream dress.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NlnAsAZ6u/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NlnAsAZ6u/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Esther Andrews (@estherbollerandrews)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She revealed she used more than 6.4km of mohair lace yarn to make the dress, with a single ruffle on the gown using 1.6km on its own.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When it came time to sew it together, I was scared because I could only trust that it would fit - no time to go back,” Andrews said, while confirming she managed to finish the garment just before the wedding.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The below-the-knee dress featured a v-neck line, multiple ruffles, and a fitted bodice, all decorated with tiny tomatoes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I will always cherish this dress and the time that went into making it,” Andrew wrote, sharing images of her and her husband at their wedding on Instagram.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a second video, Andrews showed off her hand-beaded stockings, designed to look “like a starry sky”, which took several weekends to make.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Viewers shared their support for the designer, calling it among “the most unique of our generation”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The most creative and iconic American wedding I’ve seen,” one user commented.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m crying now, this is so sweet.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of Andrew’s biggest fans had to be her husband, who commented, “Just so you know I’m the HUSBAND!! And if you’re thinking I’m lucky, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THE HALF OF IT.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrews also designed her husband’s suit for the wedding, taking inspiration from NASA’s Gemini space suits.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4P97cKoGSi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4P97cKoGSi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Esther Andrews (@estherbollerandrews)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 54-piece pattern suit took Andrews a week to make and was finished just five minutes before guests arrived. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Esther Andrews / Instagram</span></em></p>

Relationships

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Australia’s drive-ins: where you can wear slippers, crack peanuts, and knit ‘to your heart’s content’

<p>We have seen many changes in Australian’s consumption of media during isolation.</p> <p>There has been an <a href="https://thinktv.com.au/news/bvod-viewing-surges-to-monthly-record-as-more-advertisers-embrace-online-tv/">increase</a> in television viewing; cinemas were <a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/asia/coronavirus-australia-orders-cinemas-close-1203541732/">forced</a> to close (although some have crafted a <a href="https://athome.lidocinemas.com.au/page/what-is-at-home/">new approach</a>); Hollywood release dates were <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/03/coronavirus-movie-release-calendar">postponed</a> or shifted to <a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/g31871914/movies-streaming-early-coronavirus/">streaming</a>.</p> <p>Across the world, there was also another surprising change: a resurgence of the drive-in. Attendance in South Korea <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2020/mar/26/south-korea-booming-drive-ins-in-pictures">boomed</a>. In Germany, you could attend a <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/german-club-holds-drive-in-rave-to-circumvent-coronavirus-restrictions-2658551">drive-in rave</a>. In America, there was even drive-in <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-strip-club-offers-drive-thru-service-during-us-lockdown-11986446">strip-clubs</a>.</p> <p>With rules against “unnecessary travel”, Australia’s drive-in cinemas were forced to close. With a heightened sense of personal need to social distance, even as more cinemas across Australia start to reopen, is it time for the drive-in to shine again?</p> <p><strong>The beginning</strong></p> <p>The drive-in phenomenon <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110223234709/http:/www.babyboomercentral.com.au/icons_driveins.htm">began</a> in the United States. Richard M. Hollingshead Junior, whose family owned a chemical plant in New Jersey, initially commenced tests in his driveway in 1928, before opening a drive-in on June 6 1933.</p> <p>It ran for only three years, but was the start of a trend that spread throughout the country – and then the world.</p> <p>Australia’s first drive-in would not open for another 20 years.</p> <p>The first drive-in in Australia, the Skyline, opened February 17 1954, in Burwood, Victoria, with the musical comedy <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043882/">On the Riviera</a>. The first night created <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49416937">traffic jams</a>, as <a href="https://maas.museum/inside-the-collection/2016/02/09/remembering-australias-drive-ins/">2,000 cars</a> vied to gain access to the 600 spaces.</p> <p>The Argus dedicated a <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/1766401">two-page feature</a> to the opening, calling it:</p> <p><em>probably the most interesting development in entertainment here since the advent of sound pictures, the drive-in theatre provides the ultimate in relaxation and comfort for movie patrons.</em></p> <p>Unlike the cinema, said The Argus, there was no need to dress-up: slippers and shorts were fine. Drive-in patrons could smoke, crack peanuts, and knit “to your heart’s content”.</p> <p>Not everyone was happy with the introduction of the drive-in in their neighbourhood. Later that same year, a resident of Ascot Vale <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23431367?searchTerm=drivein&amp;searchLimits=l-decade=195">wrote</a> to The Argus against a local screen:</p> <p><em>Surely the experience of people in the Burwood district should be sufficient to prevent similar mistakes being made in other districts. The place for these latest improvements in our cultural life is well beyond outer boundaries.</em></p> <p><strong>The rise …</strong></p> <p>Within a year from the opening of the Burwood Skyline, another three drive-ins in Victoria and one South Australia opened. Within 10 years, the number reached 230 across the country. At its <a href="https://maas.museum/inside-the-collection/2016/02/09/remembering-australias-drive-ins/">peak</a> there were 330 drive-ins in Australia.</p> <p>The uptake and success of drive-ins in Australia corresponded with the <a href="https://chartingtransport.com/2011/08/07/trends-in-car-ownership/">increase</a> in car ownership in Australia. As more people owned cars, the whole family – even kids in pyjamas – could jump in and enjoy a night out. Parents didn’t need to find a babysitter, nor worry about their kids disturbing other patrons.</p> <p>I have fond memories of growing up during the 1980s and 90s in Shepparton, Victoria, and attending the <a href="https://www.myshepparton.com.au/drive-in-theatre.html">Twilight Drive-in Theatre</a>. I vividly remember the large white screen at the front with the playground directly underneath, and the kiosk in the middle of the lot. And who can forget the large <a href="https://collection.maas.museum/object/160821">speaker</a> you had to attach to the window?</p> <p>But, like many, the Twilight Drive-in closed to make way for a shopping centre.</p> <p><strong>… and the fall</strong></p> <p>There is no one villain we can point to in the downfall of drive-in popularity.</p> <p>In the 1970s, there was a new addition to TV: colour. Australia had one of the the <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/223584982?q=Invention+to+Institution%3A++A+Comparative+Historical+Analysis+of+Television+across+Three+National+Sites&amp;c=book&amp;sort=holdings+desc&amp;_=1591659253520&amp;versionId=249549460">fastest</a> uptakes of colour television, taking a third of the time compared to the United States to reach a 60% saturation rate. The rise of the VCR in the 1980s allowed even greater flexibility in viewing films at home.</p> <p>Daylight savings was <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-18/daylight-saving---still-arguing-about-it-50-years-on/10265160">also introduced</a> in the 1970s, restricting the hours drive-ins could operate during the summer.</p> <p>Drive-ins were affordable to run because they were generally on the suburban fringe. As Australia’s cities grew, land value <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=gWuMYKzvnOEC&amp;printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&amp;q=drive%20land&amp;f=false">also increased</a>; using this land for a cinema was a less attractive proposition than development.</p> <p>There are now just 16 drive-ins running across Australia, and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/15/drive-in-movie-theaters-have-revived-in-the-coronavirus-pandemic.html">only 30</a> in the United States – down from their peak of over 4,000.</p> <p><strong>A viral resurgence?</strong></p> <p>The Yatala Drive-in on the outskirts of the Gold Coast <a href="https://mailchi.mp/fivestarcinemas.com.au/movies-are-back-on-yatala-drive-in-open-this-weekend?e=a03cb88b05">reopened</a> in early May. More recently, the Lunar Drive-in in Dandenong reopened on June 1. Even in the pouring Melbourne rain – normally a sure sign people will stay away – the <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/culture/movies/australia-s-drive-ins-have-the-chance-to-shine-even-in-pouring-rain-20200601-p54yfh.html">audience came</a>.</p> <p>As our lives begin to return to “normal”, and more states and territories allow people to return to indoor cinemas, will drive-in attendance continue? I hope so. Experiencing media across different screens provides us with new experiences and new memories which can be far greater than just the film on the screen.</p> <p>Drive-ins offer us a glance into Australian history, a hit of nostalgia, and, of course, the simple act reviving our love of the silver screen.</p> <p><em>Written by Marc C-Scott. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-drive-ins-where-you-can-wear-slippers-crack-peanuts-and-knit-to-your-hearts-content-139876">The Conversation.</a> </em></p>

Movies

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Woman makes ‘monstrous’ knitted masks to encourage social distancing

<p>An Icelandic woman has promoted social distancing through a novel, innovative way: knitting.</p> <p>Knitwear designer Ýrúrarí Jóhannsdóttir has gone viral after sharing her knitted masks and other isolation creations on social media.</p> <p>The 3D masks – which feature knits of mouths, teeth and jutting tongues – have been described by fans as “grotesque”, “<a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/icelandic-knitwear-designer-tongue-masks-yrurari-johannsdottir">trippy</a>” and “<a href="https://10daily.com.au/news/a200505cmtfy/woman-makes-grotesque-knits-to-scare-people-into-social-distancing-20200505">freakish</a>”.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_DKJ3xgUWt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_DKJ3xgUWt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">I’ve been experimenting with some of my sweater ideas to wear on a face, always interesting to see the outcome 👽 It has been fun to see masks inspired by mine, good use of quarantine time to knit💜But a reminder again, my masks are not made for safety, knitted masks are not safe to start with! Take care 🦠❌🦠❌🦠 #mask #knitting #fashionforbankrobbers</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/yrurari/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Ýrúrarí</a> (@yrurari) on Apr 16, 2020 at 10:00am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-4JbBOABY5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-4JbBOABY5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ýrúrarí (@yrurari)</a> on Apr 12, 2020 at 3:22am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The 27-year-old designer said she has always been interested in tongues because “they are kind of rude, sticky, and strange”.</p> <p>She extended her work from sweaters to face masks due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>“I didn’t really make the masks to wear,” she told <em><a href="https://mashable.com/article/knitted-face-mask-tongue-lips/">Mashable</a></em>. “In my mind they are more like wearable sculptures, not made for safety [but] more as a fun approach to the rule of keeping distance.”</p> <p>“If you look scary enough people will stay away!”</p> <p>Jóhannsdóttir said the masks promoted the idea that “using masks can be fun”.</p> <p>“Everything we put on us can also be fun if we want it to, and bringing smiles to people’s faces in times like these is also important,” she told <em><a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/icelandic-knitwear-designer-tongue-masks-yrurari-johannsdottir">Vogue</a></em>.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_PcEsSAByb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_PcEsSAByb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ýrúrarí (@yrurari)</a> on Apr 21, 2020 at 4:27am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_aQTE0gOyo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_aQTE0gOyo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ýrúrarí (@yrurari)</a> on Apr 25, 2020 at 9:16am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote>

Art

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Knitting fans: Lisa Curry shows off quirky way she’s protecting herself from coronavirus

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Olympic swimmer Lisa Curry has encouraged her followers to make their own face masks after the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>The 57-year-old took a selfie of herself with her husband Mark Tabone on Wednesday as they donned her handmade knitted facemasks.</p> <p>She urged fans to use “whatever” they had to fashion themselves a face mask like she had after experts urged the public not to purchase masks worldwide.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B92sAyHBIEo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B92sAyHBIEo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">If you need a mask or can’t buy a mask ... then make one ! 😷Crochet, knit, use an old shirt and cut it up with some elastic, use a bandana ... whatever.🤷‍♀️ And .... STOP HOARDING FOOD and 🧻 💩 Just buy the food you need for a week at a time . And..... STOP abusing sales staff in supermarkets... it’s completely unnecessary and very Un-Australian.👎 A few of my friends work in supermarkets and they are completely drained. Don’t bite the hands that feed you !! Take care of each other and continue to support local businesses. 😊</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/lisacurry/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Lisa Curry AO</a> (@lisacurry) on Mar 17, 2020 at 5:14pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“If you need a mask or can't buy a mask... then make one,” Lisa wrote on Instagram.</p> <p>“Crochet, knit, use an old shirt and cut it up with some elastic, use a bandana. Whatever!”</p> <p>Curry then went on to condemn people for “hoarding food” as well as “abusing” supermarket staff.</p> <p>“Stop hoarding food and just buy the food you need for a week at a time. And stop abusing sales staff in supermarkets. It's completely unnecessary and very un-Australian.</p> <p>“A few of my friends work in supermarkets and they are completely drained. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Take care of each other and continue to support local businesses,” she said. </p> <p>Although we applaud Lisa's creativity and encouragement, according to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/face-mask-coronavirus-covid-19-facts-checked" target="_blank">The Guardian</a></em>: "wearing a face mask is certainly not an iron-clad guarantee that you won’t get sick – viruses can also transmit through the eyes and tiny viral particles, known as aerosols, can penetrate masks. However, masks are effective at capturing droplets, which is a main transmission route of coronavirus, and some studies have estimated a roughly fivefold protection versus no barrier alone (although others have found lower levels of effectiveness).</p> <p>"If you are likely to be in close contact with someone infected, a mask cuts the chance of the disease being passed on. If you’re showing symptoms of coronavirus, or have been diagnosed, wearing a mask can also protect others. So masks are crucial for health and social care workers looking after patients and are also recommended for family members who need to care for someone who is ill – ideally both the patient and carer should have a mask.</p> <p>"However, masks will probably make little difference if you’re just walking around town or taking a bus so there is no need to bulk-buy a huge supply."</p> </div> </div> </div>

Beauty & Style

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Beginner knitting pattern: DIY winter scarf

<p>As we’ve <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/12/5-benefits-of-knitting/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">discussed previously</span></strong></a>, we’re huge fans of knitting here at Over60. Not only is it a fun way to pass the time, but it’s also a wonderful way to keep your mind in tip-top shape. So, pick up those needles and yarn<a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/knitting-crochet/product-type_yarn?utm_source=Over60&amp;utm_medium=in-article-link-knitting-crochet-yarn&amp;utm_campaign=Over60Shop&amp;utm_content=yarn" target="_blank"></a>! Here’s a simple, chic winter scarf tutorial from <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/garter-stitch-scarf-for-beginners-2116203" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Spruce</span></strong></a> that’s perfect for beginners.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Required knowledge:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>Casting off</li> <li>Garter stitch</li> <li>Binding off</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">You will need:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>One skein of super bulky yarn (or more depending on desired length of scarf)</li> <li>9mm needles</li> <li>Scissors</li> <li>Crochet hook (easier to use with bulky yarn than a needle)</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Steps:</span></strong></p> <ol start="1"> <li>Cast on 12 stitches.</li> <li>Knit every stitch and row until scarf is at desired length. If you wish to use another skein, <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-join-a-new-ball-of-yarn-2116492" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">here’s how</span></strong></a> to add in a new one.</li> <li>Bind off.</li> <li>Cut the yarn, leaving about a 15cm tail.</li> <li>Using the crochet hook, weave in the ends at the top and bottom</li> <li>Finished!</li> </ol> <p>Interested in giving it a try?</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, what’s the most challenging thing you’ve ever made?</p>

Family & Pets

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Giant knitting: the new crafting craze people can’t get enough of

<p>Hamilton woman Jacinta Stevenson doesn't like to do things on a small scale. </p> <p>With knitting needles a metre long and 45 centimetres thick, her knitting business called Plump &amp; Co is creating a new trend and proving size does matter.</p> <p>As well as selling giant knitting needles and crochet hooks for customers to create their own chunky knitted masterpieces, she also runs workshops, teaching people how to handle the large wool.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="496" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37480/2_496x280.jpg" alt="2 (179)"/></p> <p>The workshops help people get used to the scale, she says.</p> <p>Despite their Wonderland appearance, she says the needles are surprisingly easy to manipulate. </p> <p>Stevenson, who was taught to knit by her grandmother, says the size makes knitting accessible to everyone.</p> <p>"I'm not the world's best knitter, with this scale, everything looks beautiful. It still looks pretty when you're not following the rules. </p> <p>"Traditionally in knitting people feel they have to follow a pattern, we encourage a bit of rogue knitting. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37485/1_499x280.jpg" alt="1 (188)"/></p> <p>The idea for Plump &amp; Co began when Stevenson was a university student, studying textile design at Massey University. </p> <p>In her fourth year of study she created an installation piece, using ripped fabric to create an oversized "yarn".</p> <p>After graduating she worked in the corporate world for a time, but she missed being creative, and began knitting once more – at first as a hobby, then as a business. Stevenson thought there might be a market for a new kind of knitting – to tap into a global trend, especially among millennials, for all things handmade.</p> <p>Her goals for the business include managing growth, ensuring supply and strategic planning. There is potential to grow domestically and internationally, particularly in Australia and the USA.</p> <p><em>Written by Kelsey Wilkie. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. </em></p>

Art

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Seniors knitting beanies for children in need

<p>Kind-hearted seniors at Taloumbi Gardens, NSW, have been hard at work knitting beanies for children in need.</p> <p>The beanies are being made to give to underprivileged children by the Camden Baptist Church as part of their Samaritan boxes. </p> <p>One resident Elizabeth Maguire crafts more than one beanie a week, bringing the group’s total to more than 50 beanies this year. </p> <p>“This is my first time contributing to the Samaritan boxes and it just gives me so much joy. I’ll keep knitting for as long as I can,” Ms Maguire said. </p> <p><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37466/taloumbi-gardens-resident-elizabeth-maguire_500x375.jpg" alt="Taloumbi Gardens Resident Elizabeth Maguire" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“I have become such a fast knitter, it takes about six to seven hours per beanie and I can even average two beanies per yarn of wool. </p> <p>“So far I have knitted almost 30 unisex beanies – I try to do different colour combinations to give the kids a bit of brightness in their boxes. </p> <p>“My advice to any future knitters out there is to just be happy doing what you’re doing and take it one stitch at a time.” </p> <p>Taloumbi Gardens Village Manager Sandra Luke said the residents love donating their time and skills to great causes.</p> <p>“The residents love to knit and what better way to put their quick knitting skills to use while donating to a worthy cause,” Ms Luke said. </p> <p>“Currently we have five residents contributing to the boxes but I am always on the lookout for more residents to join, especially as we head into the cooler months. </p> <p>“Knitting the beanies also has significant physical benefits for our residents – they have been able to increase their dexterity, improve their hand-eye coordination and expand the range of motion in their fingers and wrists.”  </p>

Retirement Life

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Retirees knit jumpers to keep chickens warm

<p>A Massachusetts retirement home has partnered with a local non-profit centre to knit jumpers for chickens to keep them warm.</p> <p>The winters in New England are particularly fierce and the cold can affect the health and egg-laying abilities of the chickens.</p> <p>The knitted jumpers keep chickens warms outside, especially the breeds that shed their feathers and grow new plumes during the course of winter.</p> <p>Knitter Libby Kaplan told ABC 13 News, "When they said they were gonna make these sweaters for the chickens, I thought it was the most foolish thing I had ever heard in my life and everybody that I told laughed at me. They couldn't believe it, but we made the sweaters for the chickens and I'm glad that we did."</p> <p>"I don't think in my wildest dreams I ever thought anybody made sweaters for chickens," said 76-year-old Barbara Widmayer. "It was actually very calming to me to work on this."</p> <p>Local farmers have reported an uptick in eggs so the chickens must be happy and warm in their cosy jumpers. </p>

Retirement Life

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91-year-old hospice patient knits hats for the homeless

<p>For most of us, a cold can be enough to strike us down and stop us doing what we love, if only for a few days. For 91-year-old Morrie Boogart, however, even skin cancer and a kidney mass aren’t enough to stop his charitable pursuits – the hospice patient in Michigan spends his days knitting hats for the homeless.</p> <p>Boogart has been helping the homeless for over 15 years, knitting an incredible 8,000 hats. And even though his illness limits him to producing only one hat every two days, he’s not stopping any time soon. “The only time I'm not doing it is if I fall asleep,” He told <a href="http://fox17online.com/2016/08/07/91-year-old-man-in-hospice-care-knits-hats-for-the-homeless/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">WXMI</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>His hats feature a special “rim” to help keep his homeless friends’ ears warm. He uses donated yarn to knit the hats, which are then delivered around the Grand Rapids area.</p> <p>Boogart doesn’t know how much longer he has left, but he’s using his remaining time wisely. “Why do I do it? It just makes me feel good.”</p> <p>Such a selfless man. Tell us in the comments below, what’s the most beautiful act of kindness you’ve ever seen?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/grandson-surprises-grandparents-with-brand-new-car/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Grandson surprises grandparents with brand new car</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/police-make-dinner-for-lonely-elderly-couple-found-in-tears/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Police make dinner for lonely elderly couple found in tears</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/bride-walked-down-the-aisle-by-man-who-received-her-fathers-heart/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Bride walked down the aisle by man who received her father’s heart</strong></em></span></a></p>

News

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11-year-old knits 50 hats for kids with cancer

<p>An 11-year-old boy has knitted 50 hats for kids with cancer who are being treated at the Children's Hospital Colorado.</p> <p>Garrett Lowry donated the hats last month, making headlines around the world for his charitable act.</p> <p>His mother, Sheryl Lowry, told The Huffington Post her son wanted to show the kids with cancer he cares.</p> <p>"It's really about giving back to them and giving them something to make them feel better," Sheryl said. "He just felt like it was something he could give kids who are going through chemotherapy to let them know someone cares about them."</p> <p>Garrett’s generous act started as a class project. The kids had to choose a way to give back and Garrett, who learned to knit from his grandmother, said he wanted to do something for children with cancer. His initial goal was to make 15 hats, but as you can see he quickly surpassed his goal with the help of his mother and grandmother.  </p> <p>Kathleen McBride, director of the Association of Volunteers at Children's Hospital Colorado, said that the gift meant a lot to those at the hospital.</p> <p>"This donation in particular was very meaningful as it originated from a donor of a very young age," she said. "It is so powerful for young people to give so generously of themselves for the benefit of their peers."</p> <p>Proud mum Sheryl says that Garrett has always had a big heart and had use his seventh birthday as a way to collect donations for sick kids.</p> <p>"He's got a very compassionate heart," Sheryl said. "He wants to do for others."</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/how-to-say-no-to-babysitting-grandkids/"><em>How to say no when you’re unable to babysit grandkids</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/04/important-things-to-let-little-children-do/"><em>7 important things little children should be allowed to do</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/04/what-i-hate-about-being-a-grandparent-today/"><em>Grandparenting in the 21st century</em></a></strong></span></p>

News

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Meet the woman who knits woolly hats for homeless greyhounds

<p>Meet Jan Brown or as she is popularly known, “Knitty Jan”. She runs an online store called Knitted With Love, which sells a range of hand-knitted doggy hats and coats.</p> <p>Five years ago, the 52-year old from Sunderland in the UK began knitting coats to raise money and awareness for greyhound rescues. She has now hand-knitted over 300 jumpers for abandoned dogs. Each one can take up to 20 hours to complete, but one things is for sure: they are all made with love.</p> <p>She quit her job in 2012 to start knitting full-time and set up her shop, where a percentage of her profits go toward greyhound rescue charities, the site's Facebook page states.</p> <p>“I can’t think of anything I would rather do than knit woolly clothing for dogs,” Jan says. “I have spent over 4,000 hours knitting but it’s all worthwhile when I see them sporting their new jumpers and hats.”</p> <p>“It’s really sweet seeing them in their festive Christmas jumpers and it’s giving much needed help to the rescue centres,” she adds, explaining, “Greyhounds have very thin fur so they really feel the cold during the winter so my gifts help keep them warm during walks.”</p> <p><img width="451" height="338" src="https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/ad_189524534.jpg?w=748&amp;h=561&amp;crop=1" alt="This woman knits cosy hats and jumpers for homeless greyhounds at Christmas" class="img-align-none wp-image-5538551 size-full" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/baby-goat-learns-to-hop-video/">Baby goat learns to hop by copying human friend</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/the-oldest-cat-in-the-world/">Meet 121-year-old Corduroy, the world’s oldest cat</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/interspecies-animal-friendships/">15 unlikely friendships that will melt your heart</a></strong></em></span></p>

News

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Make your own simple ribbed scarf for winter

<p>In the cooler months, there’s something soothing about creating something warm using your own hands. For those who have the basics of knitting down, but haven’t picked up their needles for a while, this simple but beautiful scarf is a great place to pick back up. The generous wide ribs make for a luxurious scarf, and help to hide any mistakes.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What you’ll need:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>4mm knitting needles</li> <li>8-ply yarn</li> </ul> <p>PRO TIP: choose a yarn that slowly shifts colours. Not only will you get a wonderful effect as the scarf grows, it will help to hide any little mistakes or wonky stitches.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Cast on 76 stitches.</li> <li>Begin your first row – knit 4 (K4) stitches, then purl 4 (P4) stitches. Continue until the end of the row – finishing on knit.</li> <li>For the second row, begin with P4 and end with P4.</li> <li>Repeat these two rows until scarf is desired length.</li> <li>Bind off and sew in the ends.</li> </ol> <p><em><strong>To make a striped variation</strong></em></p> <p>Using two different colours of yarn, you can create a bold striped variation.</p> <ol> <li>Once you have completed 10 rows in your first colour of yarn, continue the same pattern using your second colour.</li> <li>Weave your first colour between the first and second stitches of every second row to carry it up, ready to begin again after 10 more rows.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/03/make-tinted-jars/">How to make your own colourful tinted glass jars</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/05/make-birdseed-wreath/">Make a birdseed wreath</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/04/how-to-make-play-dough/">Whip up a batch of homemade play dough</a></strong></em></span></p>

Home & Garden

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Pets help knit communities together

<p>The positive impact of pet ownership on our physical and mental health has long been recognised but now researchers are finding that pet ownership can help build community and minimize social isolation.</p> <p>A recent study published in the PLOS ONE looked at the results of an international telephone survey of approximately 2500 people in four cities across Australia and the USA which examined the way pets connected members of the community in ways which strengthened social bonds and built friendship.</p> <p>The study concluded that pets act as a “social lubricant”, creating a level playing field and icebreaker for members of the community who may otherwise have not interacted. Forty-two per cent of survey responders noted that they received practical and/or emotional support from others that they met through their pets.</p> <p>This sense of belonging wasn’t just limited to dog owners, the obvious beneficiaries, but owners of all different types of pets from the very small to the very large. Each provides a reason for social contact and commonality.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/pets/2015/09/crazy-goats-climbing/">Goats defy gravity on cliffs</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/pets/2015/09/caterpillar-beats-bulldog/">Watch: Caterpillar beats bulldog in fight</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/pets/2015/08/signs-your-pet-is-sick/">10 signs your pet is sick</a></span></em></strong></p>

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