Craft Club News

Calling all craft enthusiasts - we need your help to make this campaign a huge success. Sign up for Craft Club online and help spread yarn craft amongst young people.

The autumn 'Train the Trainer' days have been received very well. Email if you would like to train volunteers to run a Craft Club in your area or if you could spare a little time to pass on your skills locally.

Claire Hoey finger knitting at Derby training day

Here is what Claire has to say about her new Craft Club in Bamford, Derbyshire: "I just thought I would drop you a note to say that we had our first craft club yesterday. The teachers at our school decided that they didn't want any of the children to miss out by doing it as an after school club so we are doing it on Tuesday afternoons in lessons a few at a time so that everyone gets a go. I got 4 parent helpers and we taught 12 children to finger knit. They loved it. Even the boys that came in saying it was for girls - got so enthralled that they were SO quiet and then got really competitive about the length of their knitting!" … Click here to read on.

Exeter training, 14 September 2010

"Just wanted to say a big thank you for Wednesday. I came away very motivated. Thank you. It was very well done. All the best, Hesta" - Hesta Singlewood, participant on the 'Train the Trainer' day in Devon.

Dilston Grove, London

"Such a wonderful scheme, thank you to you all for setting it up." - Alison Mure, who registered her craft club this September for 11-14 year olds in Sion-Manning Girls School, London.

Craft Club has a new interactive map! Add your Craft Clubs, events and knitting groups to the new Craft Club map and you could win the free prize draw. Click here to find out more.

Craft Club is at the Design and Technology Show, 18-20 November, NEC Hall 10, stand no. E11.

Knitted Textile Awards

Celebrating and rewarding textile graduates across the UK.

Selected finalists at the Alexandra Palace showcase in October

Overall Prize Winner: Deryn Relph, Winchester School of Art

This annual competition showcases innovative design in knitting and crochet. Congratulations to all of the selected finalists.

• Overall Prize Winner: Deryn Relph, Winchester School of Art
• Fashion Prize: Samantha Brooke, Nottingham Trent University
• Hand Knitting Prize: Emma Philpot, Nottingham Trent University
• 3D Home Furnishing Prize: Cassie Anne Worman, Loughborough University
• Craft Council Award: Cassie Anne Worman, Loughborough University
• Craft Council Award: Amber Hards, University of West of England
• Craft Council Award: Orawee Choedamphai, Buckinghamshire New University
• Debbie Bliss Award: Orawee Choedamphai, Buckinghamshire New University

For images and information about all of the finalists, click here. The first showcase was at The Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in October and will also be exhibiting at Harrogate 25-28 November.

Knit 1, Pass It On - Volunteers Needed

Will you be attending these shows?

• Knitting & Stitching Show, 25-28 November 2010, International Centre, Harrogate

Click here if you can volunteer for Clothes Show Live.

The UK Hand Knitting Association needs knitters and crocheters who can give a few hours of their time to pass on their skills to newcomers to the craft. You don't need to be an expert, as long as you have basic skills in knitting or crochet (not necessarily both). It is your enthusiasm that is more important than anything else.

Click here to read more about becoming a volunteer at these or future shows.

Local Knitting Groups

Wondering where your local knitting group is?

Look no further, the UK Hand Knitting Association now has over 300 knitting groups listed on our Knitting Groups page - the largest number on any UK website. All groups are listed by region, making it easier to find the one nearest you. Check that your club is included and if not, get in touch!

The Love Yarn Knitting Group in Andover, Hampshire, busy knitting hats for The Big Knit

If you want to start a group and would like to attract new members, we can help!

Coronation Clickers Knit and Natter Group, Radcliffe, Manchester

"Although we only began meeting in August 2010 we have just handed over over 100 knitted items plus a large amount of yarn and knitting needles to a local woman who collects them for charity. The items are bundled and sent to those in need around the world [currently Afghanistan and eastern Europe] by Rotary International." Dina Newton-Edwards, Radcliffe, Manchester.

Knitting News

Keeping you up to date with all things woolly.

Did you know…? Knitters are being encouraged to knit a hat for The Big Knit (Innocent Smoothies) to help raise money for Age UK. The hats will be for sale for three weeks in Boots and Sainsburys from 3 November.

Did you know how popular Yarn Bombing is becoming in all our major towns and cities…?

Read about these and many more knitting stories on the Knitting News page.

Keep an eye on the What's On page to find out about knitting and crochet events, workshops and classes in your local area.

National Knitting Week, 11-17 October

National Knitting Week has succeeded in spreading knitting to those that couldn't knit, while at the same time raising money for BLISS and other good causes.

We heard about lots of National Knitting Week events taking place including spinning workshops in Staffordshire, and how to knit and crochet with wire and beads in Hampshire. Many wool shops joined in and gave free knitting lessons throughout the week.

Did you hold an event during Knitting Week? If so we'd love to hear about it and see your photos.

Campaign for Wool, 11-17 October

Jigsaw, the fashion store, have been knitting in their shops to raise the profile of British Wool

Lesley Prior from Devon Fine Fibres was asked to show her Bowmont sheep in Savile Row during Wool Week. Click here to read more (20 September 2010).