Jo Nixon, beanie-ologist of note, and one of the Alice Springs Beanie Festival founding members, was the guest on The Fine Line broadcast on Tuesday 12th November 2013.
The Alice Springs Beanie Festival is a community- based event that began in 1997 with a ‘beanie party’ organised by Adi Dunlop. In the early years the festival was run on a volunteer basis by a group of friends including Pamela Blaydon, Merran Hughes and Jo Nixon. The core group has slowly grown into a committed band of beanie-ologists.
The Fine Line presenter Jen Standish-White asked Jo just what a beanie-ologist was and Jo Nixon responded that it was in fact not really a word at all; however, was to do with all things to do with making beanie’s.
At this year’s Alice Springs Beanie Festival, a challenge went out to knit, crochet, felt – you name it – the longest beanie in the world and Jo was able to tell listeners about this Guinness Book of Records attempt. With a way to go to create the 400 metre long beanie, destined to be worn by up to 3000 people, the challenge is continuing into next year and it is hoped that by the 2014 Beanie Festival the current American record of 277 metres will be broken.
There is a group of loyal beanie supporters in Lincoln in England, led by Erica Taylor who have now made 8 pieces for the Alice Springs’ world’s longest beanie attempt and there are more on the way.
Jen Standish-White talks with Jo Nixon, festival coordinator.
Broadcast: Tuesday 12 November 2013 at 12 noon on 8CCC Community Radio 102.1FM
Producer: Jen Standish-White