THE normally quiet atmosphere of Shoalhaven Library was shattered yesterday by raucous laughter and chitchat to the background click clack of almost 100 knitting needles.
Nowra Wrap With Love and the Shoalhaven City Library hosted a knit-in yesterday.
More than 40 keen knitters joined in to help create knitted wraps to be sent around Australia and the world to people in need.
The concept of knitters creating wraps for victims of disasters and those in need started in the early 1990s.
Beautiful handmade wraps have been lovingly crafted by more than 25,000 volunteers throughout Australia and more than 157,000 wraps have been sent to people in more than 75 countries, including Australia.
Yesterday’s knit-in was an opportunity for those who have taken part by knitting individual squares which are stitched together to create the wraps.
Rae Watson who has been involved since 1994 said she was wonderfully overwhelmed by the participation in yesterday’s event.
“One lady brought in 300 knitted squares.
“We basically took over the library, we had people going in all directions.
“It’s great seeing so many people getting in and doing something for other people.
“You never see the end result but it doesn’t matter,” she said.
Mrs Watson said to create each wrap the group sews 28 knitted squares together.
Christine Brittingham who recently travelled to Madagascar, said she had seen a great need for the wraps overseas.
“I visited a local hospital and they have no sheets or blankets on the beds, no food, only what the patients or their families bring them.
“There is a desperate need in these countries. Now I am interested in finding a way to send some of these lovely wraps to Madagascar,” she said.
Nowra Wrap with Love meet in the library meeting room on the first Tuesday of the month, everyone is welcome and the group never says no to donations of wool or knitting yarn.
Shoalhaven City Library is a drop-off point for knitted squares and wool.
For more information phone Rae Watson on 44465577 or Lyn Thaler on 44460120.