Spread the warmth with the Springfield Yarners

Dig out your knitting needles and join the Springfield Yarners knitting club at the University of Southern Queensland on Wednesdays to enjoy an hour of knitting, socialising and giving back to the community.

Club coordinator and Education Lecturer Nicole Todd said the group were knitting strips to join up for blankets to be given to the Salvation Army for the homeless.

'It is shaping up to be a cold winter and any help we can give to the community through knitting the blankets will amount to a lot of warmth to someone living on the streets,' Ms Todd said.

'Anyone can come along and knit with the group, you do not have to be an experienced knitter.

'We have had many people join up who haven't picked up a knitting needle since primary school, but they quickly get the hang of things and are knitting like pros by the end of the first hour.'

Ms Todd said if keen knitters can't make it to the knitting club they could still participate by dropping in their finished strips at the USQ Faculty of Education reception desk on Level 2.

'We are using 4mm knitting needles and 8 ply wool to cast on 38 stitches and then knitting (garter stitch) every row until the strip measures 1.5 metres.

'When we have enough strips we will sew them together to make a blanket.

'If people don't want to knit but would still like to help out they can bring along any spare 8 ply wool they have laying around.

'It is a fun group and we really enjoy helping out with the Salvation Army Blanket Appeal.'

The Springfield Yarners meet on Wednesdays from 1pm to 2pm at the University of Southern Queensland, Sinnathamby Boulevard, Springfield Central in the Student Common Room on Level 4.

Media Contact: Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0428 102 979