The 9th of June was World Knit in Public Day and London knitters came out in force to celebrate this woolly event. Us girls at Stitch and Bitch London decided to organise a London Knit Crawl taking in four of London’s most tourist-swamped venues to share the love of the knit. And it was a fabulously yarn-flavoured success.
Armed with needles, yarn and umbrellas, just in case, three of the Stitchettes (who run S&B London) turned up at magnificent St Paul’s cathedral as the clock struck noon. We were swiftly joined by knitters from all over raring to show the world their stitching skills. Not only that but two knitting terriers joined the fun, one of them sporting a fine knitted scarf. The public were intrigued, amused and altogether amazed; taking sneaky photos when they thought we weren’t looking and wandering over to ask just what we thought we were doing. We even impressed a passing priest.
Across the river to the humongous Tate Modern. We stationed ourselves at the top of the slope in the museum’s main turbine hall. At this point our numbers doubled, as late-rising knitters joined us to stitch in the arty atmosphere. Our youngest knit crawler, just 14 years old, sat down and proudly stitched up a storm. Were we some kind of exhibition? Were we knitting art? Well, we liked to think so…
Down the South Bank to the foot of the London Eye. Sunshine, stitching and sideshows galore. While jugglers and magicians did their thing we got almost as many looks just for sitting and knitting. The sun came out, the knitting was easy and a picnic air descended on the crawl.
Our final destination was the madness of Trafalgar Square where they were holding a peace demonstration for Palestine. We found a spot and plonked ourselves amongst the peacemakers and policemen. At one point a friend arrived with gigantic needles that had tourists clamouring for a photo. Jaws literally dropped at needles that were too huge to pick up, and certainly required a bit of skill to stitch with.
At the end of the day we retired to a nearby pub and had a well earned drink or two. Safe in the knowledge that an army of knitters had shown London what sticks and string could do. And wondering what on earth the folks back home would make of tourist’s photos of people knitting where they shouldn’t.
Related posts: London Knit Crawl for Worldwide Knit in Public Day | Worldwide Knit in Public Day
