Tree-rugger had them all licked

HELEN Gross and her delicious tree jumper took out first place in the excellence in knitting and or crochet section of this year's “tree jumper” competition.

Helen Gross and her tree jumper design: ‘It isn’t really a day out unless you have an ice cream’. Picture: Erin Smith

HELEN Gross and her delicious tree jumper took out first place in the excellence in knitting and or crochet section of this year's "tree jumper" competition.

Ms Gross has done a lot of tree-rugging over the years, having entered a jumper in every festival.

"I was surprised," she said.

"I don't ever expect to win."

Ms Gross said she had been working on the tasty piece for many months.

"I have been doing bits and pieces on this one since January," she said.

The jumper is titled 'It isn't really a day out unless you have an ice-cream'.

"This is one of my favourite rules of life," she said.

"It was taught to me by a very dear friend who is no longer with us.

"I in turn have taught it to my friends and family."

Ms Gross took up knitting when she was a child.

"My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was 10 years old," she said.

"I like to knit while watching TV.

"It's relaxing and it helps me keep a link with my grandmother."

Ms Gross said some of the wool used in the piece actually belonged to her grandmother.

The jumper is keeping a tree warm outside the Kodak shop on Palmerin St.

"My friend Jess Thompson and I shared the tree the first few years," she said.

"There were years when only I decorated it and years when only she decorated it, but it has always been our tree.

"Next year, for the 10-year anniversary of Jumpers and Jazz, Jess and myself are hoping to collaborate.

"But we haven't got any ideas yet."

Free tree jumpers tours leave the Warwick Art Gallery at 1pm on Thursday and 11am on Saturday.

Originally published as Tree-rugger had them all licked