COMMUTERS travelling through a South Side station will have had their day brightened by some unique graffiti.

Queen’s Park station has been decorated with a colourful array of knitting – in a project put together by local charity South Seeds.

The work of around 30 volunteer knitters, the “knitffiti” – a cross between knitting and graffiti – is a celebration of both the environmental charity’s work and the development of the South City Way.

It was the brainchild of Anne Morrison, the project’s yarn expert, who supported the knitters to produce pieces and source wool that would have otherwise been discarded.

Debbie Ruzzak, who runs Seamster Vintage on Pollokshaws Road, designed and created knitting patterns for the artwork.

Until recently, Seamster Vintage sat on Victoria Road opposite the South Seeds headquarters and Debbie had been impressed by the work of the environmental charity.

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When she saw the call-out for knitters, she knew she had to get involved.

Debbie, who is a knitwear designer and lecturer, said: “What South Seeds does locally is incredible.

“Last year at the Queen’s Park Festival I saw at their stall they were looking for people to help with a knitting community art project – and knitting is what I do.

“I was more than happy to get involved and help.”

After discussing design ideas with Anne – which included knitting a train and people on bicycles – they settled on the current artwork.

It is made up of chevrons directed into and out of the station; flowers to represent the work done by South Seeds; and bicycle spokes to link in with the South City Way.

An appeal for knitters saw around 30 people come together to get involved, including volunteers from South Side groups and businesses The Wool Haven, Gold Thimble and South Side Knitters, Crocheters and Crafters.

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And it was funded with cash from Sustrans, which has given small grants to local groups doing work connected to the new bike lane running from Queen’s Park to the Merchant City.

The project began in May last year with volunteer knitters meeting over the summer to discuss ideas before working on their knitting over the winter.

Debbie added: “The design was developed in such a way that anyone would be able to get involved.

“There are knitters who can turn their hand to anything and others who might take two months to produce one square.

“If you look closely, some of the squares are a bit squiffy but they look good as part of the whole, and that’s like community: on our own we might be fine but when we come together it does create a much bigger impact.”

For the knitters, the scheme gave people company during lockdown with a WhatsApp group helping everyone stay in touch.

Lucy Gillie, from South Seeds, said: “The 30 local knitters were very enthusiastic and enjoyed trying new patterns and shapes to make the pieces for the display.

“The chevrons show the one way system for entering and leaving the platform and the wheels link the station to the new cycle route which connects with the station.

“The knitters were delighted to be part of a public art project.”

Anne and Debbie took three days to sew the artwork onto the fencing at the station.

That had been planned as a day-long project for the 30 knitters before social distancing rules.

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Michael Melton, Sustrans Infrastructure Coordinator, added: “The South Seeds knitffiti shows what can be done when a local organisation has a great idea and gets together with enthusiastic local people.

“It’s really going to brighten up the area as we step into the winter months.

“It’s been great to see groups from Govanhill and Queen’s Park come together to deliver projects like this as part of South City Way’s Small Grants Fund, supported by Glasgow City Council and Sustrans.

“We hope that people can enjoy all of the projects over the years to come.”