Knitting Requests

Can You Help?

 

We often get requests from students, individuals and the media needing help to complete their projects. With your help, they can do this.

Below you will find requests for information on designer makers, knitting research, needles offered, yarn and needles offered and wanted.

Click here to place a similar request

Volunteers Needed For Craft Clubs In Schools (Urgent: Training Begins In February 2010)

The Crafts Council and the UK Hand Knitting Association are joining forces with the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) to help teach youngsters to knit.

Craft Club, launched 8 January 2010, is aimed at providing children and young people with the opportunity to learn craft skills from members of their community via free after-school clubs. Craft Club has been developed to ensure that craft skills still have a rightful place in the classroom.

Craft Club needs the support of schools and individual teachers and also relies on the enthusiasm and skills of the broader community in order to pass on craft skills and techniques to its participants, or ‘Craft Clubbers’. Volunteers will receive specialist training at workshops across the country and will then become involved in their local Craft Club.

Listed below are the dates of the training sessions around the country:

Friday 12th February, NFWI Denman College, Oxford
Thursday 18th February, NFWI, North East York Federation
Friday 5th March, The Bluecoat, Liverpool
Friday 12th March, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Friday 19th March, Crafts Council, London

All sessions to begin at 10.30am and end at 3.30pm

Click here to register your interest in becoming a volunteer to help teach yarn crafts in school

Click here for further information about becoming a volunteer

In The Loop 2: Knitting: Origins and Evolution: Research Papers Invited (Deadline February 1 2010)

In response to the success of In the Loop held at Winchester School of Art in July 2008, and the continuing interest in knitting, this second interdisciplinary conference proposes an exploration of knitting from a broad range of practical and theoretical perspectives within the theme of tradition and renewal.

We welcome new and recent research in the form of short abstracts up to 300 words from practitioners, knitters, historians, conservators, theorists, educators, curators, technologists and the industry. Abstracts will be considered for formal 20 minute papers.

Click here to request further details

Yarn and Needles requested for a secondary school in Coventry

Stoke Park School and Community Technology College in Coventry has recently reintroduced Textiles at GCSE level and the students new to this course have taken a keen interest in this subject.  Textiles are also taught at Key Stage 3 level and we also run a Stitch Club at lunchtimes to try and promote textiles within the school.  We are an inner City school so finance and resources are very limited. We would be grateful of any spare wool or knitting needles to help us encourage students and broaden their knowledge in this subject

Click here to contact Michala if you can help

Yarn donations requested for Millfields Community School, Hackney, London

I have been asked to run the knitting club at my children's school in Hackney, London. We meet once a week for an hour during the Play Centre hours. I work with 10 7-9 yr olds.
One of the initiatives I'd like to put out there is to ask knitters for donations of unwanted yarns for the club.

Click here to contact Gosia if you can help

Quilts 4 London: Quilts Welcomed As Gifts For Athletes Of The London 2012 Olympics

To most people the arrival of the Olympics means enjoying hours spent in front of the TV, sharing the glory of those who win a medal, commiserating with those who just miss out, and willing on the ones at the back, without whom there wouldn’t be a race. For some of the athletes it will be their one and only time to strive to achieve the seemingly impossible – standing on the podium to be awarded a medal. Traditionally in sport, competitors exchange Pennants as a sign of friendship. To continue this tradition, and as a memento of their participation in this event, we are undertaking a project to make a Pennant (or ‘mini’ quilt) for each athlete. The project gives quilters, felt makers, embroiderers, textile artists, in fact anyone who sews (or not!), the opportunity to express their support, through the medium of fabric, fibre and stitch, and become part of the whole Olympic event in London 2012.

Click here if you would like more information about providing a knitted/crocheted quilt for an Olympic Athlete

Hayfield Textiles

Paul Hepahathel has written in to ask for help with sourcing information for his final year's dissertation at Leeds University:

"The subject of this work is centred on the development of Hayfield Textiles, a former producer of hand knitting wools at Glusburn near Keighley. I would be grateful if anybody could shed any light on the qualities of Hayfield yarns from the eyes of the consumer. Would a prolific knitter of yesteryear stick to one one specific manufacturer ? Were the spinners all producing a very similar end product?".

Click here to contact Paul

UK Young Creative Entrepreneur Awards 2009-2010 (UKYCE)

The Secretary of State for Culture Rt Hon Ben Bradshaw MP launched eight of our UKYCE awards on 27 July 2009. These awards celebrate the role of young entrepreneurs in creating a sustainable and dynamic creative economy. The awards are open to individuals aged between 25-35 with at least three years industry experience. We are happy to accept applications from those who aren't self employed as long as they can demonstrate their entrepreneurialism within their organisation and from those working in the social enterprise and not for profit sector.

Click here for further information and details of how to enter

'Recycled Rainforest': Wanted: Donations of any hand knitted garments/blankets/ tea cosies/cushions/ UFOs /raffia/string etc (anything thread-like!) (July 09)

Recycled Rainforest is an exciting new schools project designed especially to herald the new Craft Club initiative being launched in the near future by the Crafts Council and the UK Hand Knitting Association.

Please send any items listed above in time for the new Autumn Term 2009 to this address:

'Recycled Rainforest',
The Beeches,
The Square,
Stow On The Wold,
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire GL54 1AF

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, 22nd - 25th October 2009

Now in its second year, the Fair features over 130 exhibitors showcasing the finest works of contemporary craft, creating an inspirational mix of jewellery, interior and fashion accessories, ceramics, glass, metal-work, furniture and more. Established makers and emerging talent have been selected by a panel of experts to ensure work is both innovative and of the highest quality.

Click here if you would like more details about being an exhibitor

Winter Warmth 2009: Call For Submissions, Closing Date Monday 13th July 2009 (June 09)

Now in its fifth year, “Winter Warmth” has built up a reputation for showcasing original, high quality art and design work from a  wealth of artists, designers and craft makers in Scotland and the UK. Building on the successful format of previous years, the exhibition will take place over two sites; the Park Gallery and the exhibition gallery of Callendar House. This year’s exhibition will focus on textile design, in all its forms.  We intend to highlight contemporary textile design and the original and innovative use of textile materials and techniques in all areas of applied arts and crafts, from UK artists.

Click here for more details  

Donation of yarn

Mary Jones of Basingstoke has lots of odd balls of knitting wool that she would like to donate to anybody who knits for charity

Click here to contact Mary

Stitches On The Bridge: 'Luib na Lùan' Invites Knitters To Help Cover The Skye Bridge In Knitting

You are invited to knit or crochet items of particular dimensions: large panels, scarves/wraps, or smaller rectangles. All the items will eventually be sold to raise money for local charities.

Click here for more details of how you can take part

Manchester Craft And Design Centre: Community Knitting Project 'UKDIY' Deadline 25th April 2009

To accompany the UK Craft Mafia’s exhibition, ArtYarn will be installing a yarn wrapping round the 1st Floor banister of the Manchester Craft and Design Centre to celebrate the many versatilities and techniques of knitting and crochet from around the world

How to take part:

Knit or crochet your knitted strip to measure 7cm wide x 40 cm long. Any colour, yarn and technique is accepted, the brighter and wackier, the better.

Write us a small note stating your name and location. Each knitted strip will house a small label stating the maker’s details

Click here for more details

Made: Brighton's Design And Craft Fair - 19th - 22nd November 2009

Applications are invited from Designer Makers. Deadline 31st March 2009

Click here for further information

Moray Firth Gansey Project: Patterns, Information and Stories Needed (February 09)

"We hope that people will come forward with information, stories, patterns etc, so that we can record these. It is so important that old examples of ganseys are not thrown away - it does not matter if they are well worn! The important element is that we get to record the patterns and the style so that we can build up a complete picture around the Firth."

Click here for more information about this project

Click here for Press Release

Click here to contact Dominic if you have any information about Ganseys

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair: 22-25 October 2009 (February 09)

Applications are invited from Designer Makers. Deadline Friday 1st May 2009

Click here for further information

Craft Fair: Glyndwr University Sports Centre Wrexham, North Wales: 28 November 2009

Hand Knitting designer-makers are needed for this crafters market.

Click here if you would like to request details about a stall

Click here for further information

Gox Fashion Fix: Series 2

Rob Kelly, a member of the Production Team on Series 2 of Gok's Fashion Fix, for Channel 4, has written looking for women to feature on the show:

"We know that looking good can make you feel great, but not everyone gets it right when it comes to fashion. We want to help guide The Great Women of Great Britain, who’ve fallen foul in the fashion stakes and just don’t know how to dress for their shape and size.

If you’re a larger lady, who wants to be fashionable, but doesn’t know how, then get in touch.  Please email us and describe your fashion dilemma and why you’re worthy of the Mother of all make-overs."

Click here to contact Rob if you are looking for a make-over wearing some of the latest catwalk knitwear

2009

Machine Knitting Yarn Offered (East Sussex) (December 08)

Click here to request details if you are a school or charity needing yarn

Designer Makers Of Contemporary Knitwear Wanted at: 'Festival Of Crafts': 17-18 October 2009 & 'Gift': 27-28 November 2009

Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey (Deadline 1 May 2009 & 1 June 2009, respectively) Click here for further details (Festival Of Crafts)

Click here for further details (Gift)

Scottish Textile Tourism Research (November 08) Live until February 2010

Research is currently being carried out on behalf of Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s national economic development agency, into the development opportunities for textile tourisim in Scotland. By textile tourism, we mean people who visit textile attractions (e.g. Costume museums) or purchase Scottish textiles (e.g. Cashmere, tartan) while visiting the country.
 
As part of the research, we (R/GA) are trying to contact people interested in textiles and potential visitors to Scotland, to determine what motivates people to visit Scotland, what they do there and if they have visited, or would be interested in visiting, Scotland’s textile attractions. This will help use determine any gaps in the market that could be filled and what would help make Scotland a more attractive place to visit, for those interested in textiles.

Click here to take part

All responses would be completeley confidential and will not be used for any other reasons other than this research.

Donation Of Yarns and Patterns Offered (Chelmsford Area, Essex) (November 08)

Click here to request details if you are a school or charity needing yarn

Unravel: Knitting Event To Be Held At Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey 21.02.09 (November 08)

The main event will be a fair to showcase the best English yarns, spun and dyed in the South of England. Activities will also include talks, workshops and a knitting surgery.

Click here to contact Céline Gagnon, Creative Communities Co-ordinator at Farnham Maltings if you would like to take part, either as an exhibitor or by giving a talk or demonstration.

2008