Knit, Knit, Knit your Bit!

by Sarah Ferrie of WildWorks Theatre Company.

Our merry band of knitters continues to grow and knitted & crocheted squares of blue have started to arrive … all this casting on and casting off is part of one of our community participation projects around this summer’s show 100: UnEarth.

The show, which will be at The Lost Gardens of Heligan from 3rd to 22nd July, is a story of war, love, loss and hope. It explores what happens when war is over. It’s been co-commissioned by Heligan and 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary. 100: UnEarth forms part of 14-18 NOW’s 2018 season marking 100 years since the Armistice.

During WWI people back home were asked to do many things, work in factories, work the land and knit. They were asked to knit items to send to the troops overseas. Women were also tasked with working in munition factories. We’ve combined the knitting and the munition historical references and will be creating a knitted torpedo – an artwork that will feature as a part of the show.

The project includes a series of ‘Knit-ins’ where people can come together at Heligan to knit or crochet together. You can bring your knitting or crocheting to begin a square or continue what you’ve started.

So with all those busy hands and knitting needles we need a lot of wool. People have been donating blue wool … thank you and we’ve just had some great woolly news.
The wonderful people at Sirdar, a UK knitting yarn manufacturer, have donated 11 kilos, check that, 11 kilos – of blue wool!  We’re over the moon and this donation should see us through all four Knit-Ins. Sirdar, who are located near Wakefield, know a thing of two about wool – they’ve been manufacturing it since 1880 so we’re delighted to have them as a sponsor.

‘This donation from Sirdar is brilliant and will really push our work forward. Their support means our talented team of knitters can continue with their squares and it saves us valuable time and resources. As with all arts projects the support from the private sector is vital and we are very, very grateful. We can’t wait to share the finished article with them!’ Ellie Williams,

There are four Knit-Ins this June, they’re all on Saturdays and all 10.30 until 1.30 at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, including 9th June which is World Wide Knit in Public Day. The dates are;

Saturday 2nd June
Saturday 9th June
Saturday 16th June
Saturday 23rd June

If you can’t make a Knit-In but would like to send in a knitted or crocheted square please just pop them in the post to;
100:Knitting
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Pentewan, St Austell, PL26 6EN

Your square can be any style, any blue or a selection of blues. Be as creative as you like. Each square should be 20x20cm (8x8inches).

Thank you!

Tickets for 100:UnEarth on sale now @Hall for Cornwall