Knit and Knatter Group to host wool sale at Forest Arts in New Milton in memory of Sway knitting extraordinaire Ros Gear

A MOUNTAIN of wool will go on sale for charity at an event to remember a Sway knitting extraordinaire.

Ros Gear amassed thousands of balls of wool over a decade as leader of the Knit and Knatter Group, which meets at Forest Arts in New Milton. She kept them in a dedicated knitting room, piled floor to ceiling in bags and boxes.

Ros died in January this year, and the sale will raise money for Lymington’s Forca Strength Against Cancer in her memory.

Her knitting group friend Sonia Burton described Ros as a wonderful teacher who was “very patient and kind”, and always ready to welcome new members to the group.

Ros’s husband Alan said: “Ros had been knitting for a long time – it was her passion. She could knit anything and could look at a pattern and read it immediately – she was a very bright lady with a great mind for figures.”

Over the years she had knitted hundreds of garments for charity and good causes including clothes for Southampton Hospital’s premature baby unit, as well as jumpers, cardigans, soft toys and socks.

Ros’s huge collection of wool has now been organised by group friends Ann, Irene, Julia and Sonia ready for the charity sale. It includes double-ply, four-ply and sock wool.

Ros became ill last year soon after celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary with husband Alan. Following a number of trips to the doctors she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died very soon after.

Alan and her knitting group decided that all proceeds from the wool sale should go to Forca, which is based in Lymington.

The sale takes place at Forest Arts in New Milton Saturday 15th June between 9.30am and 1pm. There will also be tombola and live music, with refreshments available. As well as the wool, there will be patterns, needles and other knitting accessories for sale.