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UK Handknitting News Spring
2005 |
BHKC sponsored UK Hand Knitting News and update Spring 05 HOW THE CURRENT BHKC CAMPAIGN BEGAN At the launch of the British Hand Knitting Confederation’s UK Hand Knitting initiative 3 yrs ago, the objectives were to raise the profile of knitting and dust down the dated image. The initial campaign focused on the association with the glamorous Hollywood set who were embracing their newly discovered yarn craft skills with true commitment and devotion. The ‘A’ list celebrities who have been spotted with their pins, from Russell Crow and Julia Roberts to Madonna and Gerry Haliwell, reads like a who’s who of the knitting fraternity. Proudly showing off their loving, caring side as a homemaker, the era of the domestic goddess dawned and consequently another good reason to knit. KNIT 2 TOGETHER In 2004 knitting made big news at prestigious venues. First with CRAFT ROCKS at the V+A and then at TATE MODERN with ART AND CRAFTS. Perfectly capturing the current trend, KNIT2TOGETHER has just opened at the CRAFTS COUNCIL, London and runs until 8th May 05. The first exhibition of it’s kind in more than 20yrs, the domestic craft of knitting has come back into fashion and is undergoing a world-wide revival – not only because hand-knits are fashionable but also because there is a vogue for the unique, handmade artefact in our increasingly mass-produced world. The young are picking up their needles and re-discovering the craft. The BHKC are supporting talks and events at the Crafts Council during this period. For more information visit www.craftscouncil.org.uk THE BHKC WEBSITE A visit to www.ukhandknitting.com, website for the BHKC’s promotional arm, provides ample evidence that knitting and crochet are hot trends and that increasing numbers of people are learning to knit-one-purl-one. This time around it isn’t just the hand crafted end result that has the pulling power but the entire process of knitting, the stress busting, satisfying experience that has put it into the realms of performance art. To aid this development the ukhandknitting website aims to be a point of contact for knitting groups as well as lone knitters seeking information on every aspect of yarn craft from basic techniques to updates on major knitting events. RELAX AND KNIT Many knitting enthusiasts give their time generously at the BHKC sponsored ‘Relax and Knit’ events held at creative craft shows with the support of Creative Exhibitions and ICHF. The BHKC provides a professional knitting consultant and stages an enticing display of yarns and all necessary equipment for volunteers to pass on knitting and crochet skills to the many visitors wanting to learn. Thousands of young people have been introduced to knitting and crochet at these friendly venues. Influenced by magazine articles featuring celebrities who have been snapped knitting, they are determined to master the basics. In the absence of mothers and grandmothers passing on yarn skills and scarcely seen on the school curriculum, the BHKC has taken on the task of making knitting accessible to thousands of people. Having discovered the joys of knitting for the very first time, the jubilant new knitters proudly showing off their first few stitches, is the catalyst for volunteers to continue this rewarding work. KNITTING GROUPS In the wake of this new-born domesticity and motivated by the Relax and Knit concept, groups are springing up everywhere and their memberships are rocketing. Knitting is fast becoming a very sociable activity on the university campus scene as well as with younger boys and girls in schools and clubs around the country. The beauty of knitting is that it is easily transported and for many it has become a constant companion. Castoff, a group of boys and girls who knit, were amongst the first to knit in pubs and clubs, making newspaper headlines by sitting in a carriage on London’s Circle Line and teaching passengers to knit as they travelled between stops. The BHKC have a website link with Castoff and support many of their activities. Hand Knitting UK is another group that started as a simple desire for 2 or 3 knitting friends to meet in a central location to knit and natter. The chosen venue was the Art Café at Liberty’s, London and on several Thursday evenings of every month between 5 and 8pm you will find a growing band of very happy knitters exchanging ideas and techniques, swapping tips and patterns and catching up on each other’s news over a cup of tea. These informal groups are the highlight on many a yarn crafter’s social calendar with as many as 30 knitters popping in for an hour or two at these impromptu gatherings. KNITTED TEXTILE STUDENT’S AWARD The Knitted Textile Student Awards, launched in 2003, give university students a showcase for cutting-edge design and innovation in all aspects of knitted textiles. The standard and variety of entered work is superb and entries are received from universities throughout the UK. Judged by leading figures in design, textiles and the knitting industry, finalist’s work is exhibited at Creative Exhibition’s Knitting + Stitching shows, Alexandra Palace and Harrogate. By pushing out the boundaries of convention, this award attracts considerable media attention and the finalist’s exhibition is a main destination for tutors and students as well as thousands of show visitors. From exquisite fashion to furnishings and lighting installations, the exhibited masterpieces are always full of surprises and the overwhelming response is “Wow! I never knew knitting could be like this!”
NATIONAL KNITTING AWARD A national hand knitting and crochet competition, open to everyone, was launched in 2004, providing a great opportunity for accomplished yarn crafters to show off their skills. A gallery space for finalist’s work is provided by ICHF at Sewing for Pleasure at the NEC in March and the theme for 2005 is “Spring into Summer”. Both the student awards and the national competition are an excellent forum for the general public to see how far the craft has come in the 21st century and both are co-sponsored by GMC’s Knitting magazine and supported by Creative Exhibitions and ICHF respectively. WORKING WITH CHARITIES The Children’s Society The Children’s Society’s Knit -a-Thon invites people to get sponsored for knitting. From blanket squares to more elaborate projects, those seeking a reason to knit could not find a more worthwhile excuse. Raising £7,000 in 2004, the Knit-a-Thon and the BHKC are working together to extend the campaign this year. Oxfam An enterprising Oxfam boutique manager in Surrey held regular ‘knit ins’ in the shop window last year. This inspired many a passer by to get knitting too! Oxfam boutiques, switched on to the value of donated fashion garments were the focus of a BHKC competition in the latter part of 2004. Hand knitted ponchos for ‘Knit a Festive Poncho’ competition, were donated to Oxfam boutiques or sold to friends, the knitter then donating the proceeds to Oxfam. The most festive designs won BHKC donated yarns for future knitting projects. SPEED KNITTING Recognising the need to celebrate those accomplished knitters and crocheters, the speed knitting challenge is all about checking the number of stitches achieved in 3mins against the current world records but above all, having fun! The Fastest Knitter Challenge draws people to Creative Exhibition’s Knitting + Stitching shows from far and wide to check their speeds in the UK heats, culminating every 2 years in the world challenge. The most recent world challenge took place on Sat 9 October 2004 at Alexandra Palace when the reigning American champions competed with our UK speedsters. Early in 2005 national heats are being held in Canada and Holland, ensuring that the outcome of the next global challenge, scheduled for Autumn 2006, will be even more exciting. Action pictures of the current record holders knitting and crocheting and all relevant information can be found on www.ukhandknitting.com WHAT NEXT? Many new initiatives to promote and endorse yarn crafts are planned for 2005. We embrace almost everything that keeps knitting in the limelight. Working with schools and youth groups is the next big challenge – click on to www.ukhandknitting.com for regular updates. Coming soon; Kool Kids Knit Klub (or 4k) (working title for 5 – 12yrs) School / youth clubs
Knit‘n’Chill (working title for 13 – 18 yrs) Teenage knit / trend
Knit Soc (working title for university campus knit clubs) Uni Knitter Natters The Big Brit Knit – a new approach to a community knit project National Knitting Week 1st national knitting week 10 – 16 October 2005 The UK’s biggest celebration of knitting, to coincide with annual knitting event – the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. For detailed information on all BHKC sponsored activities, click onto www.ukhandknitting.com Knitted Textile Student Awards National Knitting Competition Relax and Knit venues and dates at creative craft shows. Latest updates on knitting clubs, questions, suggestions and comments Knitting Events Speed Knitting Children’s Society Charity Knit-a-Thon and related activities How to knit and crochet Easy free patterns for complete beginners Media coverage incl. “Isn’t knit sexy”, “Knit Chicks” nat. newspaper headlines. BHKC members and contact details End. Important note; Please keep us informed on all knitting events and related stories. We like to ensure the website reflects all aspects of knitting throughout the UK. Contact the BHKC Press Office tel. 0118 973 6796 Editor’s note For more information, images and promotional ideas please contact; CK Media t. 0118 973 6796
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