It’s common to feel a need to change things, to do something to fill the time, when your spouse dies. Bob Rutherford, an 88-year-old in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, started knitting socks, not by hand, but with his own low-cost sock knitting machines.
The machines, made out of tubing and other parts, can knit up to 90 stitches a second and make tubes that are cut down to sock shape and distributed to homeless people across Canada — more than 10,000 pairs, to be exact.
Rutherford knits with his buddies 92-year-old Glynn Sully, 85-year-old George Slater and Barney Sullivan, who’s a young guy, around age 65.
He says the connection to the group of other knitters keeps him doing it, and that the socks have given his life a purpose.
This is such a great story! I just wish he’d release the instructions for how to make the knitting machines so more people could benefit from them; wouldn’t that be something?
[Photo via CBC News.]
Looking for more knitted socks designs and patterns to keep you warm this winter? Check out these knitted sock patterns Etsy. And these Knitting Pattern books
on Amazon.
Looking to buy your Yarn online? Check out these online yarn specials.
Where I live, Windsor, Ontario, a 9-year old girl, Sarah, began collecting socks for the homeless. I think she is 15 now and still going strong. I have never been homeless but I have suffered sock failure and know how special socks can be!