UK Hand Knitting Home

Preparations for National Knitting Week gather pace as more and more knityarn shops and stores plan their events for what promises to be the biggest celebration of hand knitting ever held in the UK.

Sponsored by the British Hand Knitting Confederation and backed by a nationwide programme of media events and press coverage, knitting will be in the fashion spotlight from 10th -16th October, providing retailers with an unparalleled opportunity to reach out to their customers, lapsed customers and newcomers of all ages.

In the last few months, there has been a growing number of retailers registering their intended events on the BHKC website:

www.nationalknittingweek.co.uk

Anyone who is thinking of staging workshops, demos, charity events, promotions, or displays of any kind, should log on to the site. If you need further information, or advice, to the BHKC direct:

www.ukhandknitting.com

It is well worthwhile taking a look, not only to register your own plans, but also to find out what is happening in your own area.

Here are some of the ideas in progress:

One of the most ambitious, to date, is a wedding ceremony made entirely out of wool. This will form part of a new interactive exhibition staged by the Pump House Gallery, Battersea, London, from 1 7th August-9th October.

Entitled Ceremony, the event explores aspects of planning a wedding, including cake decorating, flowers and jewellery, plus a film show of weddings that have taken place at the gallery.

The Cast Off Knitting Club for Boys and Girls will undertake the task of knitting the bride’s dress, cake, confetti and wedding buffet, with the help of visitors to the gallery and the bride herself, artist Freddie Robins, who will tie the knot with her partner, Ben Coode-Adams, in a ceremony on 9th October.

Plans are underway for a major knit-out at Lands End and John O’Groats, and knit-ins are proving popular for local promotions around the country.

The Atlantic Village Shopping Outlet, Bideford, North Devon, will be holding all-day gatherings to create a rug/wall hanging with a rural theme, from October 11th - 1 6th, and Heaths Country Store, Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, will host daily St’n’Knit sessions to raise money for charity, and in-house “taster” sessions to teach children how to knit.

A Get Your Knits Out! Fun Day will take place at the Brew Coffee Shop, Preston, on 9th October. Knitters are invited to show off their favourite handknit item, while willing hands will teach newcomers how to knit.

The Twist Fibre Craft Studio will hold a Knit-In at Newburgh on 15th October. Lots of talented knitters will be on hand to offer advice and there will be mini workshops teaching circular knitting, cables and other techniques, as well as crochet. A raffle, neck massages and a group knitting project will all raise funds for Macmillan cancer relief.

Also on 15th October, the Lochee Old & St. Luke’s Craft Fair will fundraise for the children’s summer club and Christmas show.

The Alford Heritage Centre will host The Great North Knit-In at the old livestock mart on 9th October, providing an afternoon of events, including exhibitions, a work session with Jean Greenhowe and sales table, with proceeds going to Help the Aged and the Alford Heritage Association.

Hands-on events are always popular, whether one-to-one, or in larger groups. John Lewis, Oxford Street is holding a workshop session run by Rowan on 14th October, and a Knitting Knowhow event will take place at St. Peter’s Centre, Iver,

Bucks, on 10th October. The Woolgatherers Club will demonstrate machine knitting and embroiderery, plus hand crochet, at the Village Hall, Thriplow, Hertfordshire, on 12th October. Tuition on the machines will be available and visitors are invited to wander round a display of work and sales tables, while enjoying a cup of coffee.

The support of knitting clubs is vital to the success of National Knitting Week and an encouraging number of retailers have already registered their plans on the website. More are needed, so please get together with your members to think up schemes that will attract the public eye and spread the image of knitting as a sociable, pleasurable activity.