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Leeds knit girls aim to bring craft back in fashion
Back in the 19th century, wool was at the heart of Yorkshire's industry, putting cities such as Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield on the map.
Now, more than 100 years later, knitting is making a comeback at Granary Wharf – one of the key sites in the city's industrial past.
Sheep shearing will be one of the highlights at the Big Knit, expected to attract hundreds of knitting fans to the Pannier Market.
Around 30 volunteers will provide wool, needles and free lessons to visitors on Saturday, June 12, as part of Worldwide Knit in Public Day.
The Big Knit, from 10am until 4pm, will also feature demonstrations from spinners, hand dyers and felters, as well as sessions with specialist tutors at Holmfirth-based yarn giant Rowan.
Organiser Verity Britton, owner of Headingley wool shop Baa Ram Ewe, said: "Granary Wharf was very much at the heart of Leeds's wool industry and linked the canal to the Aire-Calder Navigation, which meant it had a similar role to the M621 today.
"The wool which put Yorkshire on the map all those years ago was transported along rivers, so it's very much part of our heritage.
"It's so exciting to be able to take knitting back to Granary Wharf, reliving those times and restoring it to its former glory."
As reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post earlier this year, knitting is currently experiencing a boom in popularity in Leeds.
Baa Ram Ewe opened almost a year ago in response to the demand for wool, while classes in the city are fully booked for months.
Verity added: "There's definitely an appetite for knitting and crochet is also really popular.
"People who have mastered basic knitting always want to develop and learn more. It's also a great seasonal craft, with people making themselves summer cardigans and scarves.
"The Big Knit is a rare opportunity for people to be taught the skills for free and I really do think it's impossible to turn down."
In Seacroft, pupils at Parklands Girls High School are spending their lunchbreaks learning knitting skills from a group of local pensioners.
In Burley, a world record attempt is also underway to create the world's biggest cardigan out of hundreds of knitted patches.
The project, organised by the Cardigan Centre, will mark the 20th anniversary of the venue on Cardigan Road.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
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Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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