WATERLOO — Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky has been knitting up a storm as part of a city initiative to bring the community together.

"First time around I was taught by my mother back when I was in grade school because she was an avid knitter … and then the second time around my wife reminded me how to do it 40 years later," Jaworsky said.

As part of Project Brightspots, the city has been hosting knit-ins and asking residents to knit and crochet 12-inch by 12-inch squares that are being displayed in public areas in the city core.

Coun. Angela Vieth sat in at one of the knit-ins.

"It seems to be making sort of a comeback," Vieth said. "Maybe people knit all the time and don't share it or don't make it public."

She said the community building part of the plan worked.

"It was cool," she said. "You're at kind of a social gathering and people were talking about all kinds of things."

Some of the more than 500 squares have been assembled into larger panels to showcase them. Others dot the downtown.

Jaworsky said he hopes the project will also bring people into the core during light rail construction.

"It's key to decorate our uptown because LRT construction is there and we want to show everybody that there's plenty of free parking, great retailers, great restaurants and now they can come either contribute to the art or come see what other citizens have put up," he said.

The squares have been slapped on light poles, construction fencing and other items in the core.

Squares that are in good shape at the end of the project will be donated to the Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society in October.

Astero Kalogeropoulos, city manager of arts and culture, said the city has spent about $60 on materials.

"Most of the materials — needles and yarn — were donated by community members," she said. "Knitting instruction at the knit-ins has been done informally, with more experienced participants helping those new to knitting and crochet."

The final knit-in is scheduled for Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Waterloo Public Library on Albert Street.

The city is encouraging residents to take pictures of their favourite squares and post them on social media with the hashtag #pictureyourwaterloo.

Squares can be dropped off at Waterloo City Hall at 100 Regina St. S., Waterloo Public Library branches and the City of Waterloo Museum.

Other Project Brightspots initiatives include food truck lunches and programming at the city's Visitor and Heritage Information Centre on Father David Bauer Drive.

The goal is to create culture hubs in the city's core by highlighting them with different activities.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Brightspots came out of the city's culture plan, which recommended peacemaking in the core.

- Cambridge gives its Main Street bridge a knitted hug

- This is a yarn that is best told on a dull spring day