Last year the ‘Anything Goes Knitting Group’ made headlines after they knitted 700 colourful squares to cover the trees at Leith Links for the “cool wool” part of the Leith Festival.
But what does one do with all those squares after the event?
The circle of knitters, all over 50, have not been idle.
They have recycled the patches and donated them to a number of local organisations: the Early Years Nursery in Leith (creating cot blankets, pram blankets, hats, jackets, scarves and gloves), the Seafield Dog & Cat Home (blankets) and the New Restalrig Church Christmas Shoe Box Appeal (hats, scarves, knitted toys and pencil cases).
The most recent beneficiaries of the group's needlework are the residents of Marionville Court Care Home, which is run by the Council. The home is being donated 12 knee blankets, six shawls, one bed jacket and one single bed size throw for a raffle prize.
“It’s great that Anything Goes has decided to recycle the squares which were such a hit at the Leith Festival," said Councillor Paul Edie, Health Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council.
“I’m sure the residents at Marionville will love their colourful designs and I would like to thank all the knitters for spending so much time putting together these lovely blankets and shawls.”
Anything Goes Knitting Group is part of the Edinburgh Ageing Well Project which promotes healthy lifestyles for people over 50 years. The project, a partnership between NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Leisure and Pilmeny Development Project, aims "to increase the expectation of good health and social wellbeing in later life... by encouraging and supporting participation in physical activity."
Having started with just two people they now have 14 regular knitters and have just celebrated their first anniversary.
The group were highly commended for their contribution to Innovation Openings at the Get Up and Go Awards in 2011.
Jan Brunton, from ‘Anything Goes Knitting Group’, says activities like knitting for the residents of Marionville Court is "lovely".
"I really feel this has involved me in the local community as well as keeping my hands busy and out of the biscuit tin! It's also great that most of this lovely knitting has been made from recycled wool.”