Southern Cross Care residents are continuing to show that there's more to a knit and natter group than what it may first seem.
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Most of the time there is some very special and important work in progress.
The Parkes aged care facility runs a knit and natter group every Tuesday, during which more than 50 trauma teddies and dolls were knitted and last week donated to the Parkes Ambulance Station.
And then there's Rene Pearson.
Rene is a new resident to the village and for the last 10 years has been knitting baby clothes and bonnets for babies in Africa.
The now 91-year-old said she's among hundreds of women involved in the cause.
"It (the project) originally started in Forbes at the Catholic church with the nuns," Rene said.
"I used to do one a day - I've made hundreds of them. Now I only make three a week.
"If the babies don't have any clothes they are wrapped in newspaper."
Rene also attends the Parkes Uniting Church's 'meet and make' group, with whom she leaves her outfits.
The baby clothes are given to members of St George's Anglican Church who send them overseas.
"It keeps me busy," Rene said.
Another resident who's been busy knitting for a good cause is 96-year-old Marie Davis.
Marie is knitting squares that she donates to Craft Corner, Parkes' art and craft group that has a shop front in Clarinda Street.
Craft corner members collect the squares and make some themselves which are turned into rugs and blankets to give to charity.
It's part of the Wrap With Love program that Craft Corner has supported for several years.
In the past, rugs have been sent to those in need in 30 countries while others have been kept for people in Australia.
Marie said she has been knitting squares for four or five years.
"You need 28 squares to make a rug," she said.
"I just like knitting.
"I like to make something I know is going to be used."
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