WITH computer games, Ipods and mobile phones occupying virtually all our children's time, it's refreshing to see a group of youngsters taking up something a little old-fashioned.

WITH computer games, Ipods and mobile phones occupying virtually all our children's time, it's refreshing to see a group of youngsters taking up something a little old-fashioned.

For members of Kingsfleet Craft Club at Felixstowe are more likely to be seen clutching a pair of needles than a Nintendo DS - and just cannot get enough of knitting.

“They sit there like little old ladies, their knitting bags beside them, clicking away with their knitting needles - they are addicted!” said Penny Parker, one of the leaders of the club.

“Every time they have a few minutes to spare they are knitting.

“It's quite strange really that they have become obsessed because it's not the sort of craft you would expect children to really enjoy, but they have really taken to it.

“A lot of them have said that when they drop a stitch or need help, they ask their mums but most of them haven't got a clue because they don't know how to knit because it seems to have missed a generation.”

One of the young knitters' first tasks though did have a modern twist - making little sock covers for their MP3 players.

Since then the youngsters from Kingsfleet Primary School have graduated onto woollen scarves and blanket squares.

“They love it if they can see it grow fast, so at the moment we have not been using huge amounts of stitches - we find 16 stitches keeps it simple and they can then see real progress, which is so encouraging,” said Mrs Parker.

“I think one of the reasons they really enjoy it is because of the real sense of achievement. They are making something themselves instead of sitting in front of a computer screen.”

Do you know youngsters who have turned their back on modern hobbies and enjoy a past-time from the past? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

FASTFACTS: Knitting

There is evidence that a form of knitting, or knotting, to create fabric began as early as the 3rd or 5th centuries in Egypt.

By the Middle Ages there was a large cottage industry across Europe producing knitted garments with silk stockings and gloves among their most appreciated products, and woollen caps, probably similar to those made today.

During the Industrial Revolution, the invention of knitting machines made mass production of knit garments possible.

It was not until the 1700s that the sweater or jumper was developed and is still a popular garment now.

Traditionally, women used to sit and knit at the foot of the guillotine in France while they watched the executions.

Knitting has seen a resurgence thanks to multi-coloured and glitter wools, and a number of celebrity knitters - including Julia Roberts, Winona Ryder and Cameron Diaz - taking up the craft.