Knitting makes a comeback

Traditional pastimes like knitting are making a comeback as a way to stay warm, says Sally Brooker.
It's officially winter - the season of skyrocketing power bills and the accompanying anxiety.
North Otago Budget Advice co-ordinator Marge Giles says anything that cuts electricity costs is worth investigating. That includes going online to www.powerswitch.org.nz, which shows consumers if they would be better off with another supplier.
Mrs Giles said the cheapest power is usually available in cities. Although electricity options are probably less plentiful in smaller towns and rural areas, there are often fewer regulations on wood-burners. She said a fireplace with a wetback to heat a water cylinder is a double advantage.
Since the recession began to bite, many people have reverted to time-honoured ways of keeping warm, says Mrs Giles. They're wearing woollen clothing, often found in op shops at bargain prices.
Knitting has undergone a renaissance, with a new generation of people learning the skill. If you don't know anyone who can teach you, why not contact a local Women's Institute or handcraft club - there's bound to be someone who'd be delighted to share their knowledge and keep such traditions alive.
If the price of new knitting wool is off-putting, try op shops for raw materials. There could be balls of wool for sale, but the other possibility is finding jerseys that you can unravel then re-knit into something more current and flattering. As long as you like the wool's colour and it's in decent condition, it's good to go.
Mrs Giles said vege gardening is another skill making a major comeback. There are two motivators: saving money on food bills, and reducing ingested chemicals.
She said growing your own food is being promoted and demonstrated by community and school gardens New Zealand-wide.
Information on how to establish a garden is available online, in books in every public library, or by contacting a gardening club, or neighbour, or relative with green fingers.
Once you've got a good supply of vegetables, warming winter meals are easily produced. Soup is a terrific way of using a variety of crops. If you have a glut, make a big batch and freeze it in meal-sized portions for an instant nourishing hit for later.
Quiches are a good way to take in plenty of vegetables, and an assortment of vegetables cut into chunks and roasted with a sprinkling of herbs is a delicious winter side dish or lunch. If you leave the oven door open after they're cooked, you can help warm the house as well.
Mrs Giles says although power and food costs are a big component of a household budget, phone and internet costs must also be factored in.
She advises people to shop around for a service provider. Many of the large companies have consumers locked into expensive contracts, while much cheaper options have since become available. The same is true for mobile phones, she says.
However, people in financial hardship can be released from such contracts, along with hire purchase agreements they're struggling to honour. They can apply to any courthouse to have them overturned, through the Disputes Tribunal.
If you're worrying about your finances, don't hesitate to call the nearest Budget Advice service, she says. A trained independent adviser can look into your situation and see where improvements can be made.
It's also a chance to air concerns that could be putting you under stress.
Mrs Giles says people should know they're not on their own and that there's always someone happy to help them in their time of need.