Knitting an Arctic Tern – a bird called Elvis
I have been knitting an Arctic Tern for the last couple of days for Bird Yarns. This is a community of knitters that has been brought together by Deirdre Nelson, a textile artist and is in response to the changing migratory patterns of seasbird’s across Scotland’s islands. The idea is to have an installation of knitted Arctic Terns who will be on Tobermory Pier, on the Isle of Mull from 18-24 June 2012. Further details are available at this website.
With this in mind, myself and a friend received a knitting pack, consisting of wool from Ardalanish in Mull, a pattern and an instruction to be creative when creating the beak and legs (using recycled material if possible).
I knitted the tern over a weekend and my partner created the legs for the birds from some old pipe cleaners and 2 pence pieces (to give some weight to the legs, so that the bird could stand up). I then knitted two red tubes to cover over the pipe cleaners and an extra long beak. My bird looked a bit like Elvis! I am looking forward to seeing all of the knitted Arctic Terns and seeing if I can spot my Elvis in the crowd.
World Wide Knit in Public Day – Charity Knitathon
It is World Wide Knit in Public day tomorrow (9th June) and we will be at the charity knitathon at the Welcome Centre in 47 Parkside Coventry (from 9am to 9pm). The Knit A Thon is being held to support the ongoing and new transformational projects of Next Level International across Europe. The creations, squares to blankets, will be provided to the less fortunate across Europe. More details are available on the website – http://www.nlieurope.com/letsgetknitted/ There are prizes for the longest time knitting, prettiest square etc. Please support this worthwhile cause.
Earlsdon Festival Fundraising Disco
We attended a disco with a difference on Saturday 10 March, 2012. The disco was to raise funds for the Earlsdon Festival which this year takes place in Earlsdon High Street and surrounding venues on Bank Holiday Monday – 7 May 2012. Funds are needed to put on the festival itself and ensure that the high street is closed. The festival is bigger and better than ever as a number of events take place in the week starting 30 April, with plenty of music including The Ripps and The Tones and Lieutenant Pigeon! There will also be talks (including one from David Moorcroft), quiz nights and film shows. Further details are available on the Facebook page and website.
The Yarn Cafe were asked to bring along some rather large needles (27mm in width and 700mm in length) and get the audience to do some Extreme Knitting. We had done a little sampler (which may end up as a cat rug!) and decided that more strands and more wool was needed.
The Yarn Cafe Stall with sample of Extreme Knitting
We were joined by Ellie’s Cakes, Jams and Preserves, who had created beautiful cup cakes and two fruit cakes with the Earlsdon Festival logo; and Tinderbox Toys and Trinkets, who ran a tucksop. The disco went well and raised more than £300 in all.
Extreme Knitting in action
Coventry Knitathon 2
Last year I was involved in the Coventry Knitathon to set a record to have the most people knitting for 20 minutes and raise money for Comic Relief. BBC Coventry and Warwickshire (in particular the Vic Minett show) are organising a Knitathon to raise money for the Myton Nurse appeal and set a new record. Further details are given on Facebook, but it takes place on Thursday 12th April at 5.45pm in Coventry Cathedral.
Please help to support this worthy cause.
Get Ready for The Big Knit
The Big Knit is back this week with little woolly hats adorning Innocent Drinks bottles. The hats have been knitted by people across the country and for every be-hatted bottle bought, 25p will be donated to Age UK. The drinks will be available in Sainsburys and Boots stores. Innocent Drinks are hoping to raise £1 million this year. Further details are available on their website.