Woolmark-ACS support World Wide Knit in Public Day

10 Jun '11

3 min read

Julia Roberts does it, Sarah Jessica Parker does it, even David Arquette does it...knitting is without doubt in fashion once again.

As testament to the fact, the social networking site for knitters ravelry.com has over 1.3 million registered users and guerrilla knitting, or yarn bombing, is happening in cities and towns all around the world.

One of the major events on the knitter's calendar is the annual World Wide Knit in Public Day which was started in 2005 by Danielle Landes and takes place on the second Saturday of June each year. It began as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy each other's company to prove that 'not only grannies knit'!

This year, the event will take place on the 11th June through to the 19th June. There are over 15 countries taking part in the World Wide Knit in Public day with up to 20 events happening in each country.

Woolmark licensee Australian Country Spinners (ACS), that produces Patons and Cleckheaton hand knitting yarns, will be hosting the World Wide Knit in Public Day with events running simultaneously in Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday 11th June.

In Sydney the knit-in will be held at Martin Place and in Melbourne at Federation Square, both starting at 11am and running through until 3pm. 10 to 20 professional knitters will be in attendance at each event to teach people how to knit.

ACS will be providing knitting wool, knitting needles and at least 300 Save The Children "Born to Knit" kits which will be given away free of charge.

The objective on the day is to get people to teach more people to knit and knit squares for the Save the Children Foundation. The squares will then be stitched into blankets which will be distributed by the Foundation. All knitters participating will be provided with cards so they can write a message of hope and attach it to their square. These messages can also be added to Save the Children's page on Facebook.

In addition to World Wide Knit in Public day, there are a number of initiatives currently underway to support this resurgence. Iconic knitwear designer John Macarthur of Purl Harbour has joined forces with ACS to design their latest pattern book, 'Sweeeet!!'.

'There is nothing like wool, it is a natural fibre, it breathes, it has longevity, it is the only thing to truly warm you in winter, it can even be a summer fabric but people struggle with that notion,' explained John Macarthur.

'It breaks my heart to see people knitting beautiful garments with acrylic yarn knowing they generally will not wear well, will look sad and shabby after a few washes. I just love the idea of creating a shape, a solid fabric, from one strand of wool. It is a vehicle to express colour and texture.'

A 'Learn to Knit Kit' has been produced by Winning Wool, using wool produced by ACS, and is now available through Spotlight stores Nationally.

The Knit Kit includes, knitting needles, four balls of 100 per cent Australian wool, an easy to read instruction book and a carry bag. The kit also contains an instructional DVD by knitting teacher, Joanne Mansell, which shows you step by step how to cast on, knit plain then purl, and cast off.

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