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SOCKS BY BOB” is what 88-year-old Bob Rutherford from Saskatoon, calls his life’s work.  He has knitted over 10,000 socks!  He had the help of his son and a few friends and a homemade knitting machine.  Every pair goes to homeless shelters across Canada.

The idea of a fast knitting machine was born out of a bet.   Bob was challenged by his friend Barney (who also helps him knit) that he couldn’t build a super fast sewing machine.  Instead, he built two, both of which can operate at a lightning quick 90 stitches a second.  But he never used them much until 2010.
“When my wife passed away in 2010, I felt the loss that everybody feels, and I had nothing to do,” said Rutherford. “(My son) said to me, ‘If you want to help yourself, help somebody else.'”

Knitting the socks for homeless shelters has given him a purpose.

That’s what this blog, Joy with Purpose, is all about!  By focusing on helping others, surprisingly, joy begins to bubble up within our own hearts.  Check out my Aunt Ida’s story HERE.  She crocheted over 3000 hats by the age of 98.

“There’s a lot of us, as we grow older, we sit at home and look at the wall with nothing to do.  And Socks by Bob has given me that something to do.  I think everybody has to have this.  I think people have to reach out and touch other people.   And I can do this by touching the socks.

For more on the story about Bob, check out CBC News – CLICK HERE

If you would like to read about more check out all the Charities and also all the Crafts that can be donated to charity that I’ve posted on JOY with Purpose.


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Mary

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