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If you're a keen knitter and often have nothing to knitÌý - now is the time to take up ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Norfolk's Nutty For Knitting Challenge.

The station is looking for people across Norfolk to knit blankets until April 2008, for the special baby care units at the James Paget, Queen Elizabeth and Norfolk And Norwich University hospitals.

The blankets are created from 200gm of soft double-knit wool in any bright colours using size 8 UK needles, based on the knitting pattern you can download from this website.

The idea was inspired by the project Agents For Change, which encourages young people to give volunteering a try and make a difference in the community.

The stereotypical image of knitting is that of a pastime for mature ladies, but one team already signed up for the Nutty For Knitting Challenge is a group from Notre Dame sixth form in Norwich.

"When I went to a drama group in the summer I took my knitting and loads of people started bringing their knitting in because they could do it too," said sixth former Deita.

"I got into knitting because I went round my friend's house when I was younger and her nan was teaching her.

"I had a go and then I didn't do it for ages, but then later when Gabs [a sixth-form friend] started doing it she re-taught me and we both started last summer when we had loads of time. Now we do it when we're watching CSI and films," she added.

Note Dame knitting club

The idea to start a knitting club at Notre Dame soon followed.

"I think people are embarrassed because they like it, but they don't want to like it if you know what I mean," said Gabs.

"Yeah," added fellow knitter Laura. "That's because it's been portrayed as an old lady sport, but it's so not."

The trio of knitters are keeping it simple for now, creating bespoke scarves for themselves. But it seems knitting is also good for keeping off the pounds.

"You can't eat snacks while you're watching a film and knitting. We were supposed to be in the gym, but (it didn't matter because) we were knitting," they said.

Knitting challenge

Following in the footsteps of the Notre Dame knitters, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Norfolk is asking more groups of people in the county, of any age, to take part in the challenge.

If your community group or school would like to hold a knitting event or activity for the knitting challenge contact Janette Cooke on 01603 631631 or by e-mail. Blankets from individual knitters are also welcome.

Download the knitting pattern, and send the form with your completed blanket to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Norfolk, The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1BH.

If you can't download the pattern, ring the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Norfolk CSV Action Desk on 01603 631631 to have one sent to you by post.