Cosy COVID comp concludes

A VERY warm winner has been chosen for Interknit’s Lockdown 2020 competition, which asked the public to design commemorative pandemic beanies ahead of winter.

Amber Lynch’s submission, The Virus, won the popular vote. The Mount Clear College visual communication design teacher said she was inspired by the spiky, magnified appearance of COVID-19, seen all over news reports.

“In the graphics, we see a floating ball with little nodules, and the layout on the beanie design makes them look a bit like snowflakes,” she said.

“It’s a bold, simplified version of that molecule look, with little faces on them, to give it a game kind of feel, and a wider appeal. They’re a bit like an emoji.”

As part of the prize Mrs Lynch is receiving a $100 Interknit gift voucher to spend instore or online, and has been given the chance to select a charity to receive 15 per cent of profits her beanie generates, going on sale to the public for $25 each.

“I want to support a small, local charity that doesn’t get as much funding, so I’ve chosen WRISC.”

Working in a school, she sees families that need assistance, and is also mindful of exacerbated family violence while people are at home isolating throughout the pandemic.

In years to come when she’s wearing her beanie, Mrs Lynch said she’ll remember the adaptability and creativity that the COVID era brought to the fore.

“Especially from a work perspective with remote teaching and learning. That was a pretty quick turnaround, with a lot of trial and error,” she said.

“I’ve been more creative, even with entertaining my son.”

Plenty of Mrs Lynch’s colleagues have expressed interest in buying The Virus beanies, and she’s hoping to see them pop up regularly during campus yard duties.

Visit interknit.com.au/competition to show your support.