Workshop Day at Touchstones Rochdale

Yesterday was the workshop launch event for the Knitted Nature project at Touchstones Rochdale. A wonderful day of knitting and nattering, crocheting and creating, laughing and learning was enjoyed by all. And a flurry of flowers and foliage...

Our most gracious gratitude goes to everyone who attended the workshop, bringing along contributions of flowers and leaves and joining us to knit and crochet the day away.

Participants of the project so far:

• Rita Heys, Rossendale
  
• Doris Scott, Rochdale
• Isabel Lees, Whitworth
  
• Dorothy Forshaw, Rochdale
  
• Kath Thornley, Milnrow
  
• Margaret Stoneman, Rochdale
  
• Jane Wells, Littleborough
  
• Helen Chicot, Littleborough
  
• Robyn Chicot, Littleborough
  
• Miranda Johnstone, Cambridge
  
• Joshua Wilson, Bury
  
• Sarah McMahon, Manchester
  
• Gemma McMahon, Manchester
  
• Irene Popps, Prestwich
  
• Jenny Matthews, Bolton
  
• Cheryl Beswick, Rochdale
  
• Jenny Beswick, Rochdale
  
• Gwen Taylor, Rochdale
  
• Rosie Hunt, Rochdale
  
• Eleanor Cooper, Rochdale
  
• Anne Buczynski, Bury

Thanks also goes to Julian Jefferson and Yvonne Hardman at Touchstones for all your support. And for your contributions; Julian making many flowers with his expert crochet skills and Yvonne learning casting on, purl stitch, increasing and decreasing to produce some lovely little leaves.

The workshop in the gallery of the En Plein Air exhibition.

Gemma learning to knit with her Grandma Irene.

Miranda and Robyn making flowers with french knitting.

And a very special thanks goes to the members of the former Sunnycrest 'Knit & Natter' Group of Bacup. Sadly, the Sunnycrest community centre where the group used to meet has been 'reappropriated' by the local council and in temporarily disbanding, the group has so kindly contributed their knitted sunflower emblem to the Knitted Nature project.

And there is still plenty of time for you to take part in the Knitted Nature project by sending your flowers and leaves to Touchstones Rochdale. The deadline for donations is 27th May 2009.

The installation in the gallery that will compliment the En Plein Air exhibition will open on Saturday 6th June and news of further events and activities on the day will be announced very soon.

The 6th June will also see the finishing touches to ArtYarn's crocheted orange tree in Broadfield Park and perhaps a knitting session in the Bandstand to celebrate.