In March 2009 I held a knitting skill share day at the Encounters shop in the Sharrow area of Sheffield. For that weekend Encounters had turned the shop into a 'Swap Shop', sort of like a charity shop but instead of purchasing items you exchanged them for things you no longer needed. Alongside the Swap Shop events happened in and around the shop including pin hole photography tutorials, world music song share, a clothes swap disco (!), story swaps, skill swaps and compliment swaps. It was a fantastic weekend, lots of local people got involved and it really captured peoples imaginations.
On the day we formed a knitting circle around the table in the shop and provided needles, yarn, books and patterns for inspiration. Many people dropped in, some for advice, some to learn the basics, one girl to learn how to knit using giant needles in order to make the recycled t-shirt bath mat she'd be planning! Needles were available for sale courtesy of
The Wool Baa at Hunter's Bar.
I also took the giant french knitter along and some mini french knitters too in order for children to get involved and learn the basics. Again it proved a great hit with children and adults alike!
Encounters are an art group who work nationally but began locally. They specialise in urban intervention, participation and the recording of local histories. If you want to find out more about what they do click
here for their website.
In March 2009 I held a knitting skill share day at the Encounters shop in the Sharrow area of Sheffield. For that weekend Encounters had turned the shop into a 'Swap Shop', sort of like a charity shop but instead of purchasing items you exchanged them for things you no longer needed. Alongside the Swap Shop events happened in and around the shop including pin hole photography tutorials, world music song share, a clothes swap disco (!), story swaps, skill swaps and compliment swaps. It was a fantastic weekend, lots of local people got involved and it really captured peoples imaginations.
On the day we formed a knitting circle around the table in the shop and provided needles, yarn, books and patterns for inspiration. Many people dropped in, some for advice, some to learn the basics, one girl to learn how to knit using giant needles in order to make the recycled t-shirt bath mat she'd be planning! Needles were available for sale courtesy of The Wool Baa at Hunter's Bar.
I also took the giant french knitter along and some mini french knitters too in order for children to get involved and learn the basics. Again it proved a great hit with children and adults alike!
Encounters are an art group who work nationally but began locally. They specialise in urban intervention, participation and the recording of local histories. If you want to find out more about what they do click here for their website.