THIS Viennese cover measured over six feet in diameter, and the longest row in it contained 3,024 stitches, said the paper in 1951. It had been knitted by Mrs Herta Rigby, 15, Athlone Avenue, Astley Bridge, who had come from Austria, but who had lived here since she married a Boltonian.

"Mrs Rigby is entering the cloth at the Harwood Show, but like many other articles she has 'worked', it will come in for the time when she and her husband move into a home of their own -- at present they are with in-laws", said the report.

"For those who like to know about these things, the cloth was knitted in 31oz of blue silk, it was started on eight stitches, and the pattern (London Pride) was worked on a round needle 42 in. long."

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