03/06/2026
When temperatures plummet, several local women keep warm at parkrun in socks, beanies, scarves and gloves they have knitted themselves.
For Janice, Brenda, Bronwyn and Margaret, knitting is a lifelong skill passed down from their mothers. Brenda learned to knit at just four years old, Janice and Bronwyn at around seven. Janice remembers her first project being a face washer “with many holes”. Bronwyn enjoys working with beautiful fibres such as merino, alpaca and silk, and even spins some of her own yarn. Margaret’s connection to wool extends beyond the knitting needles. Her family runs 2,500 ultrafine merino sheep whose wool is exported to Italy, and she is a passionate advocate for wool as a natural, biodegradable fibre.
All four women commented that knitting is relaxing and therapeutic, and agree that handmade winter woollies are essential for Stanthorpe’s frosty parkrun mornings. More than just keeping warm, their knitting carries memories of mothers who taught them the craft decades ago — a tradition that continues to bring comfort, creativity and connection today.
Janice’s advice - “Grab some needles and start knitting and enjoy wearing your handmade winter woollies”. “And if it doesn’t work out, you can always compost it”, adds Margaret.
