Covering a Bridge with Knitting for Charity
Stitches on the Bridge takes knitting for charity to new heights
Participate in this large guerilla knitting project and say you helped pull the wool over the Skye (Bridge, that is).
In what might be the most original knitting for charity idea we've come across, a textile art group in the Skye area of Scotland is looking for volunteer knitters to help cover the Skye Bridge with knitting.
When I first heard about Stitches on the Bridge, I had a mental image of somebody whispering in my ear--Psst. Hey lady, wanna buy a bridge? But over in Scotland, they're not trying to sell the bridge, just the knitwear that's going to cover it.
It's All about the Links
Yup, it's true. Luib na Lùban (In Amongst the Stitches) is inviting knitters from Scotland and around the world to join together in this ambitious project. They plan to tie this into Homecoming Scotland 2009, a celebration of Scotland's contributions to the world. If you think this project sounds bizarre, consider the rationale behind it.
Just as with knitting, the project is all about links. The Skye Bridge links the Isle of Skye with the Western Highlands on the mainland of Scotland. They're linking Stitches on the Bridge with Homecoming Scotland 2009. And knitting links people together, both on a local level with knitting groups, and on a worldwide level with Internet groups like Ravelry and blogs like Knitting for Charity. It also links us generationally and culturally, as the craft is passed down from grandmothers and aunts.
If you're interested in participating, be sure to follow the guidelines at the Stitches on the Bridge website. There are specific dimensions for the pieces that need to be followed. Participants can choose to knit a full panel of 200 centimeters x 133 centimeters (78 3/4 inches x 52 1/4 inches), or a scarf or wrap one of four widths wide. The pieces will then all be sewn together, backed by fabric and draped over the ramparts of the Skye Bridge.
Local Charities Will Be Helped
Although they haven't yet designated what charities will benefit, the founders of the project intend to sell all the knit pieces after the event, and donate the funds to local charities. They also hope to put together a book on the project to raise money for the charities.
All of the staff and volunteer organizers are involved in some capacity with Rag Tag n Textile, a local registered charity that works with people suffering mental health problems. Rag Tag n Textile teaches them traditional textile skills to create a range of products from bags to pillows, using recycled materials.
Knitting a Worldwide Web
Thanks to the power of the Internet, word of Stitches on the Bridge is spreading quickly. The group has a presence on Ravelry, Facebook, MySpace, Knitting Network, and Yahoo. And, according to messages left on their website guest book, they've got knitting recruits in Spain, San Francisco and England whose needles are already clacking.
Why don't you sign up to participate too? After all, it's our favorite kind of event. A little knitting, a little charity, and one impressive knitting for charity endeavor!