Debbie’s Very Complicated Crocheted Caterpillar is talk of the town!
POPULAR book characters including Willy Wonka, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Paddington Bear have come to life in yarn form.
Crocheters across the country paid homage to World Book Day by recreating characters who have brought joy to generations of readers.
Debbie Williamson has topped a postbox in Forest Town with her crocheted version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the food he eats – including a cherry pie, sausage and watermelon slice.
“It’s the book I used to read to my own children and they’re now 35 and 33, so we’ve all kind of grown up with it,” the 57-year-old, who provides administration support for her husband’s business transfer agency, said.
It took roughly 40 hours to make the postbox topper, with Mrs Williamson using various patterns online to make the different components.
“The caterpillar got through an awful lot of things we don’t have patterns for, like salami, so I used the internet and books to try and make some of the food,” she said.
“It took me an eternity to sew it all together.”
She said she “loved” seeing the caterpillar come together, which has a wire coat hanger running through the middle of it to keep the form and provides support for the snow or heavy rain.
The crocheted handiwork also has a mental health element, as “worry worms” – “squidgy caterpillars made of yarn” – have been pinned around the top of the postbox.
“Three of the ladies from a yarnbombing group I am part of – Forest Town Yarn Bombers – have made all the worms for me and 150 worms have been rehomed with local families already,” she said.
“We just wanted to give people a bit of emotional support when they’re feeling a little fed up or blue.”