The magnificence of Central Australia has inspired a Territory health worker to create an award-winning beanie, now on display at the Northern Territory Library (NTL).

Clee Tonkin, 33, knitted the beanie, titled ‘Rutjubma’, earlier this year before entering it in the 2016 Alice Springs Beanie Festival.

The beanie is 100 per cent pure Australian wool, knitted in linen stitch on 2.25mm needles, and finished with some embroidery.

The theme for this year’s Beanie Festival was ‘Spirit of the Land’.

In entering the competition, Ms Tonkin said: “I walked the Larapinta Trail from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder in September last year. Solo, but never alone, such is the spirit of the land.”

“The day after I finished the 223km walk, the idea came to knit a beanie for the 2016 festival.

“The idea to replicate an Albert Namatjira watercolour soon followed and it was a book of his works found at the Northern Territory Library in Darwin, titled The Life and Work of an Australian Painter, that inspired ‘Rutjubma’ which is the Western Arrernte name for Mount Sonder.

“Rutjubma is based on one painting, an uncomplicated sky/horizon with a good balance of distinctly different colours as the range of colours available in yarn is somewhat limited compared to watercolours.”

Araluen Cultural Precinct director Dr Mark Crees said this year’s Beanie Festival was the most successful yet with 7000 people viewing the exhibition with record sales as well.

“I think it’s great that Ms Tonkin was inspired by the Larapinta Trail and the NTL’s resources featuring Albert Namatjira’s art to produce this incredible, winning beanie,” Dr Crees said.

“I look forward to seeing what Ms Tonkin’s next creation might look like, she’s very talented.”

Rutjubma will be on display at the Northern Territory Library until 30 October 2016.

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Authorised by Hugo Leschen for the Department of Arts and Museums, 9-11 Cavanagh St, Darwin