He's been in the programme for about three months, having joined not long after he arrived in the prison.
"We can't do it like Robyn," he said looking to where the 72-year-old is busy helping one of the other inmates with his knitting, deftly knitting a row without looking.
Robyn Anderson runs the weekly volunteer knitting programme at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison and says they've formed a "tight-knit" group of friends. Photo / Gianina Schwanecke
Robyn Anderson has been knitting since she was a girl but she doesn't consider herself a "good knitter".
Knitting had been taught at the jail before she approached Corrections about becoming a volunteer at the prison but the current programme has only been going for about two years.
The group meets for about two hours every week, where she teaches the men to knit a basic peggy square to get them warmed up. They then progress to making a beanie, which is donated to charity.
From there they can knit a beanie for themselves or for family.
"I learn something every day," she said, adding that they become friends and a "tight-knit circle".
Robyn Anderson has been knitting since she was a young girl, and despite being able to do so without looking, doesn't describe herself as a "good knitter". Photo / Gianina Schwanecke
She said she sometimes has to temper the men's expectations – one man wanted to knit a full-size adult onesie.
"The men are much more particular.
"I have difficulty fudging or smoothing anything over with them - it's got to be perfect."
Knitted items have included beanies in a variety of patterns, sizes and colours, as well as scarves, booties, slippers, gloves and baby vests.
Inmates at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison are hooked on the volunteer-run knitting programme. Photo / Gianina Schwanecke
In the past year they've knitted more than 150 beanies for charity.
She said the men were "very happy to give", with items donated to the Yarny Army and Re-Source.
Yarny Army - linked to Plunket, Salvation Army and schools - donate many of the beanies to children in need, and Re-Source donates the adult beanies to agencies who work with homeless people as part of necessities packs.
It's a circular economy, the two groups also supporting the programme by supplying needles, patterns and wool.
Just as well said Anderson, as "wool is very expensive".
Wiremu's dream knitting project would be to make a "big blanket" with all sorts of colours, using possum and merino wool.
"It's old school."
The men are passionate about using real wool but also grateful for the various wools donated by Re-Source.
Bob* is knitting a pink beanie to be donated to one of the prison's charity partners working with vulnerable children (Yarny Army) and those sleeping rough (Re-Source). Photo / Gianina Schwanecke
Bob* said it was about becoming more self-sufficient and giving the men a skill they could use on the outside.
It's only his third or fourth session but he's busy finishing a soft pink beanie to donate.
After that he wants to work on something for his pregnant daughter's new baby.
"You've got to give before you receive."
He said the hardest part was keeping the tension consistent, adding he used to watch his nanny and aunties knitting.
"When you bugger up you have to go back and start again."
On the table opposite, George* is about halfway through a pink scarf for his partner, which is already 90 centimetres long.
George* has been working on a scarf for his partner, which is close to a metre in length. Photo / Gianina Schwanecke
The men talk about anything and everything while knitting, their focus on the knitting needles in their hands allowing them to open up.
In an hour and a half, they cover the situation unfolding in Afghanistan, the housing crisis and some of their own experiences that brought them to the prison.
Karyn Teddy, the prison's regional volunteer coordinator, said the men were positive and engaged around the ability to produce items for those in the community who need extra support.
The "giving back factor" was especially important.
"We've had a few items knitted for newborns that dads are yet to meet, others for their children and we've had a few items knitted for terminally ill mothers."
She said men often describe the sense of wellness and mindfulness that comes with knitting.
During level 4 lockdown last year, the men were given access to the knitting resources with supervision from staff and were able to produce a number of items during that time. There is a strict protocol of counting out and in for the needles so all items are accounted for.
