Strathaven folk knit themselves a room

from here

Imagine a room with 50s decor where everything's made from wool. Knitted cakes, teapots, cups and biscuits - even a knife and loaf of crusty white bread - while over in the corner sits a knitted valve mantel radio. The big question is - why?

Life in an old people's home sometimes needs a focus. Residents feel they've outgrown their usefulness, but don't want to just sit around passively. Imagine then if you could recreate the past, taking yourself back to a gentler time when life was simple, people were decent and fair. Now imagine if you could do it with just a few balls of wool...exactly as they've done at Hobart's Strathaven Home.

Film maker Robin Carney swapped media to pass on her creative guidance to the folks at Strathaven home for the elderly. A group of ladies from the home, some volunteers and friends from the local community have recreated a living room set in the 1950s - all knitted, mind you - there's even a knitted window with a knitted rural outlook.

Robyn told ABC's Trevor Jackson: "I think it was a good thing people were sitting down when they saw the display the first time otherwise they'd have fallen down. They had no idea what beautiful and colourful displays they were creating. It's total creative chaos. You walk in and there are people crocheting and knitting and looming and chatting and drinking tea and coffee and exchanging news".

One of the residents, Dot, told us: "I don't think they thought we could do this kind of work. I think it's wonderful - it makes you feel good. You don't feel as though you're just sitting here doing nothing - that's the worst thing out".

The creativity on show is amazing. There's an Elvis album cover with an actual vinyl record half out of its sleeve. All knitted...and knitted very, very well: it must have taken a lot of work and a lot of imagination. No patterns exist to create something like that.

It's self-perpetuating, too, says Robyn: "The minute one person comes up with an idea, somebody else gets an idea feeding off from that, so it just expands and grows. Knitted Wellington boots, knitted potplants, a knitted sink, a knitted stove - knitted Vegemite jars and jam jars. I bet everyone in the room could add another ten things that remind them of where they were in the 1950s".

Colleen, who's one of the volunteers, considers herself an experienced knitter but never thought she could do anything without a pattern. Instead, she’s excelled herself: she’s knitted the radio, the record cover and an umbrella – now she’s working on three ducks on the wall – very 1950s, and her idea too.

The weekly knitting sessions may have a chaotic aspect but there's companionship, friendly chatter, challenges and successes woven into every stitch.

And the best thing about working on this 1950s room? "It’s the company you meet and the things you learn – and we don’t sit and do nothing, we try to do something".

Denise Hallam, the program coordinator of the program, is convinced of its worth too. "I think the residents have now seen that they can be involved in a project that they can be proud of, one that can be displayed in a professional way. It shows the public that entering a nursing home doesn't mean that life finishes – it can be a new beginning leading to meaningful lives and experiences. Life just doesn’t finish – it can begin anew when you enter a nursing home".

Strathaven's two sister homes, Strathglen and Strathdevon are just as enthusiastic about The Knitting Room. Residents at Strathdevon near Latrobe specialise in latch hook rugmaking, contributing some magnificent rugs for the display. Nearby Strathglen folk frequently join the Thursday workshops as well as having their own small knitting group.

Strathaven and Strathglen are both at Berriedale in the South. Their phone numbers are listed under 'Strathcare'. Residents, family, volunteers and friends are welcome each Thursday afternoon for these craft sessions.