Knit & Natter
Whitstable Yarn Bombers.
Before attending a creative event, in early 2016, friend Kerry Hales encouraged Anita Small to introduce herself as who she wanted to be. Inspired, Anita said: “I am a yarn bomber who wants to make people smile by covering Whitstable in wool. I’m starting a group locally – interested?”
To Anita’s complete surprise and joy many attendees were interested, and one Facebook page and a yarn bombing event later, the Whitstable Yarn Bombers had begun. The now flourishing page (@whitstableyarnbombers) has more than 600 followers, and is used to announce the group’s upcoming events and meetings to the local community.
“We also have 78 members in our closed Facebook group, used for discussing projects and meetings,” says Anita. “Around 30 regular members attend most of the meetings, but 10 of them are die-hard knitters and hookers who come to every single one.”
Meetings are held on the first Friday morning of every month, at The Umbrella Café, and the third Thursday evening of the month, in The Monument pub.
“We chose to have day and evening meetings to make the group accessible to both the working and retired, and those who don’t come out at night,” says Anita.
“The Umbrella Café is an eclectic mismatch of chairs and tables, much like our group,” says Anita. “We are a real mixed bag! Currently, we have women around ages 30 to 80 plus; some working, some retired, some stay-at-home mums, all colourful, busy and fun.”
In The Monument, the ladies have a cosy little back room all to themselves, to chat and craft away in. “We have plenty of light and lots of room to make and talk,” says Anita. “There is always a buzz in the room and everyone takes part in a project show and tell to kick the meetings off.”
Each meet-up, whether in the sun-lit café or the wine-filled pub, is filled with the sounds of laughter and chatting – intermingled with the odd pair of needles clicking away. “We’re always sharing ideas and techniques with each other,” says Anita. “We also share a fair amount of cups of tea and glasses of wine…”
You might have guessed from their name, but group projects are at the heart of this club. Last year, the ladies decorated and supported their town with everything from woolly fruit and veg to colourful flowers, and even cuddly body parts!
“We had a trail around the town last summer, to raise awareness for three great community projects,” says Anita. “There were maps for families to follow and spot our creations. We got sent a number of selfies with our decorated lamp posts and seafront!”
If you’re in the area, don’t miss the group’s new yarn bombing project this summer! “We are currently working on an underwater trail to bring together our community again,” says Anita. “Watch out visitors – there are rumours of an eight-foot-high woolly yellow submarine heading for Whitstable’s seafront!” For more information, visit their Facebook page (@Whitstable YarnBombers) or email Anita at anitajsmall@yahoo.co.uk. THIS ISSUE, OUR CLUB OF THE MONTH WINS A £30 BLACK SHEEP WOOLS GIFT CARD TO USE AT WWW.BLACKSHEEP WOOLS.COM!