Latest news with #TheLongestYarn
Powys County Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Wonderwool Wales in Builth Wells one of the best ever
Builth Wells played host to the 19th annual Wonderwool Wales festival, which has been declared one of the best ever. The event, which took place last weekend, saw a record-breaking attendance as people from all over the country flocked to the Royal Welsh Showground. A large crowd on Saturday led to many exhibitors having to restock for Sunday, as customers were eager to purchase a wide range of wool-related products. Organisers were still finalising the figures from the event later this week, but the general view was that the show had broken records, helped by higher than usual attendance on the Sunday. Chrissie Menzies, Wonderwool Wales director, said: "We were delighted with this year's show in terms of both the attendance and the business transacted by exhibitors. "We received so much positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors, which is a tribute to the whole team involved in delivering this annual event, which is probably the largest of its type in the UK and possibly Europe." A special installation marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day was one of the highlights of the weekend. The 'Britain at War' exhibition, created by a group of knitters in France and across the world, was launched at Wonderwool Wales 2025 and will now tour the UK for the next 19 months. The exhibition opened with nine panels but will expand to 80 by Tuesday, September 3 as it visits six additional venues. The VE Day project has been organised by Tansy Forster from Normandy and her fellow knitters, who also created The Longest Yarn installation for D-Day. More than 1,000 knitters from around the world took part in that project. Wonderwool Wales had an international feel, with Kimberly Perkins from Cat Mountain Fibre Arts in Colorado flying in to showcase her hand-dyed, multi-textured yarn bundles, along with knitting and crochet patterns. Sheep Walk fashion shows, Woolschool workshops, demonstrations and have-a-go sessions run by some of the exhibitors all attracted strong interest from visitors. Wonderwool Wales showcases every stage of the creative process involving wool, from raw fibre to finished product. Exhibits of sheep, raw and hand-dyed fibres, yarn for knitting and crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes, and books can be found alongside finished textile art, craft, clothing, and home furnishings. Helen Hickman, owner of Nellie and Eve, Llanwrda, said: "It's such a lovely, well-organised show that gets better every year. "The standard and quality of exhibitors is very high. "A lot of customers were there for the weekend and many said they were amazed by how much can be done with wool." Phia Ingham, a fashion designer from the family business Window of Woolly Wonders, Bangor, said: "We absolutely love the show because there is something for everybody and the people here are so friendly." First-time exhibitor Kery Moyle from Ginger Pink Yarns, Frome, said: "It's like no other yarn show I have been to. "I didn't know what to expect but can't believe how big it is.
Powys County Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Wonderwool Wales 2025 set to be record-breaking event
Wonderwool Wales 2025 is set to be a record-breaking event in Builth Wells. The premier wool and natural fibre festival in Wales will be held at the Royal Welsh Showground on April 26 and 27. With 220 exhibitors and more than 6,000 visitors expected, advance ticket sales have already surpassed previous years. A highlight of the festival will be a special installation to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day. This project is being crafted by a group of enthusiastic knitters from France and around the world. The installation, which will be displayed in Hall 3, has grown significantly in size. Chrissie Menzies, Wonderwool Wales director, said: "It has grown from eight to 10 metres and could well be even larger by the time of the show. "People from around the world are knitting panels for the installation which is quite amazing." The VE Day project is the brainchild of Tansy Forster and her fellow knitters, who were also behind The Longest Yarn installation for D-Day. More than 1,000 knitters from across the globe contributed to that project. Wonderwool Wales will have an international flavour, with Kimberly Perkins from Cat Mountain Fibre Arts, Colorado, showcasing her hand-dyed, multi-textured yarn bundles and knitting and crochet patterns. She is the first exhibitor to fly in from America. Ms Menzies shared that there will be more than 15 new exhibitors at the event, including Paint-Box Threads from near Leominster and Cold Harbour Mill from Devon. Zoe Acketts, of Paint-Box Threads, specialises in hand-dyed threads and fabric for the textile crafting market. Ms Menzies said: "I'm sure we will all be coming away with some of Zoe's threads. "Her curated boxes of colours are just too good to use, you just want to display them in your studio and look at them." Cold Harbour Mill will be joining other working mill exhibitors who use heritage machinery to produce yarn collections and woven textiles. The British Coloured Sheep Breeders' Association will be bringing sheep for the first time. Limited places are available for some of the Woolschool Workshops.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Knitted exhibition tells yarns from D-Day
An 80m-long (262ft) display made by knitters across the world recreating the scenes of D-Day has gone on display in Peterborough. The Longest Yarn was created with the help of about 180 crafters across the world, to recreate 80 scenes from the 1944 landings of allied troops in Normandy, France in World War Two. The exhibition is being held at Peterborough Cathedral from Tuesday until 1 April and will be the last time it goes on display in the United Kingdom. "The Longest Yarn is a moving tribute to the courage of those who served in the D-Day landings," a spokesperson for the cathedral said. "This knitted and crocheted installation captures the significance of that day, offering a respectful space for reflection. "It serves as a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice that shaped the course of history as well as a chance to remember those currently serving in our military." The exhibition has previously been on display in France before touring Britain. On social media, The Longest Yarn team said it would be the last display in the UK before it is taken on tour in the United States, after which it would return to its permanent home in northern France. In February, it was due to appear at the American Library based in the Millennium Library in Norwich, however, the event was cancelled due to safety concerns and a lack of space. At the time, Norfolk County Council said: "As potential visitor numbers began to grow, concerns emerged about the ability to host such an important exhibition in a relatively small space in a way that it could be fully and safely enjoyed by those wishing to view it." Entrance to the exhibition at Peterborough Cathedral is free but those behind the event "would be very grateful" for a suggested donation of £2.50 per person to go towards the upkeep of the venue. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Knitted D-Day display cancelled over safety fears Army of knitted soldiers raise awareness for D-Day Cartoonist's 'mission' to get more men knitting Queen of knitting's glorious treasures rehomed Globe attracted 'thousands' to cathedral Giant scale model moon hangs in cathedral The Longest Yarn Peterborough Cathedral
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Knitted D-Day scenes go on display in Peterborough Cathedral
An 80m-long (262ft) display made by knitters across the world recreating the scenes of D-Day has gone on display in Longest Yarn was created with the help of about 180 crafters across the world, to recreate 80 scenes from the 1944 landings of allied troops in Normandy, France in World War Two. The exhibition is being held at Peterborough Cathedral from Tuesday until 1 April and will be the last time it goes on display in the United Kingdom. "The Longest Yarn is a moving tribute to the courage of those who served in the D-Day landings," a spokesperson for the cathedral said. "This knitted and crocheted installation captures the significance of that day, offering a respectful space for reflection. "It serves as a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice that shaped the course of history as well as a chance to remember those currently serving in our military." The exhibition has previously been on display in France before touring social media, The Longest Yarn team said it would be the last display in the UK before it is taken on tour in the United States, after which it would return to its permanent home in northern France. In February, it was due to appear at the American Library based in the Millennium Library in Norwich, however, the event was cancelled due to safety concerns and a lack of space. At the time, Norfolk County Council said: "As potential visitor numbers began to grow, concerns emerged about the ability to host such an important exhibition in a relatively small space in a way that it could be fully and safely enjoyed by those wishing to view it."Entrance to the exhibition at Peterborough Cathedral is free but those behind the event "would be very grateful" for a suggested donation of £2.50 per person to go towards the upkeep of the venue. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Knitted D-Day display cancelled over safety fears
An exhibition recreating D-Day and the Normandy Landings in yarn has been cancelled due to safety concerns and a lack of space. The 80m-long (262ft) knitted and crocheted exhibition, called The Longest Yarn, was due to go on display in the American Library in Norwich's Millennium Library from Tuesday until 1 March. However, the American Library said on social media the event had been cancelled by Norfolk County Council, which runs the Millennium Library, "without consultation with the American Library staff or trustees". In a statement, the council said: "As potential visitor numbers began to grow, concerns emerged about the ability to host such an important exhibition in a relatively small space in a way that it could be fully and safely enjoyed by those wishing to view it." The American Library is a living memorial to nearly 7,000 personnel of the 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force, United States Army Air Forces, who were based in East Anglia during World War Two and were killed in action, as well as those who survived. The display was created by about 180 crafters from across the world, including the United States, Australia, Canada and France and recreates 80 scenes from the 1944 invasion. It is due to go on display at Peterborough Cathedral from 4 March to 31 March. Norfolk County Council said it sincerely apologised for the cancellation and wanted to "express our deep regret for the disappointment" it had caused. Its statement added: "All parties involved explored a range of alternatives, including other spaces in the library, and other sites in Norwich. "However, no suitable option could be found at such short notice that would do justice to this powerful visual display." The exhibition has been on display in France before touring Britain, and is due to go on show in the United States in April. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Army of knitted soldiers raise awareness for D-Day Cartoonist's 'mission' to get more men knitting Queen of knitting's glorious treasures rehomed The Longest Yarn
