With winter looming, Edmonton seniors knitting up storm for homeless

More than 100 seniors are knitting, crocheting, picking and throwing their favourite styles of mittens, toques and blankets for local charities.

The knitting club, part of the Greater Edmonton Foundation for Seniors, is donating this year's bounty of knitted items to Blankets for Canada, Ronald McDonald House and other organizations during the Great Knitting Giveaway event on Thursday.

The club meets Monday mornings, giving members a chance to tell old stories, socialize and knit for those in need.

"I think that if I couldn't help anybody I'd feel lost," said Rita Mowat, 81, who explained she never learned to read or write. "It seems that's all I could do is knit, because I can't grab a book or read a book."

Mowat serves as a mentor within the club, teaching the novice knitters how to make different patterns and stitches.

She is praised by others in the group for her ability to knit three pair of mitts per night, when it takes most members three nights to do one pair.

In the last push Wednesday before the giveaway, seven knitters at Rosslyn Place were all putting finishing touches on their garments.

"I must have knit about a hundred toques and a hundred scarves," said veteran knitter Isabelle Fleck, 76. "They'll be warm in the winter time when it really gets cold."

Fleck said she's pleased to offer a hand to the homeless.

"I just want to knit and give back to the people," she said.