Dorrie Gough of Crownthorpe was 7 when her nana taught her to knit - and she has wielded the knitting needles expertly since.
Dorrie is 92 and asked how the fingers were standing up to casting and purling and stitching these days she held them out with a smile and said "they're fine".
She arrived at the Napier office of Hawke's Bay Today yesterday morning carrying one bag of knitted goodies and her daughter carried three others.
"For the Christmas Cheer Appeal," she said.
"It is such a good cause."
Dorrie started dropping off knitted goodies for the cheer appeal about 10 years ago and has not missed a year since.
Dozens of beautifully created boys' and girls' jerseys and woollen hats are the result of her efforts over the past year.
"And I've already started knitting for next year," she said with a smile.
"I enjoy it - it's something for me to do."
The gift side of the appeal was also boosted through the arrival of a box of little adventure figures, dinosaurs and dolls and several bags of soft toys.
The collection points for the appeal have also reported gifts and goodies starting to roll in as the festive season feeling grows stronger.
"Every day this week I have arrived at work to my desk being covered with parcels and bags of Christmas goodies," Hastings cheer co-ordinator Jo Reyngoud, from Familyworks, said.
Collection points
Hawke's Bay Today offices; Hastings, Havelock North and Flaxmere public libraries; Family Works in Heretaunga House, Hastings; Paper Plus in Taradale; Curves in Greenmeadows; Napier Toyworld; Alexander Construction in Ahuriri; Napier Mitre 10 Mega; Community Development in the Napier Library building.