Posted by Stella Gooch
“We need your wool! (lots of it) and any scarves, knitted or crochet panels etc to be handed in to Your Hospice Shop Hunstanton opposite The Princess Theatre.” This was the plea that went out on Facebook in February of this year. The reason for this request is now clear – Hunstanton is being yarn bombed by the newly formed “Hunny Yarns” group which meets at the new Cafe Blah Blahh (next to Sainsburys) at 2.30pm every Wednesday to “stitch and bitch”! Group founders, Amanda Knight and Sue Murkett, say that the idea for the group was born during a holiday in Iceland where they saw a tree that had been “yarn bombed” – decorated with colourful textiles.
The pair learned that yarn bombing is a form of street art using textiles as a form of creative self expression. The craze began in the USA and it has gained momentum globally. If you don’t believe such a thing is possible you should be convinced by the fact, there is going to be an international yarn bombing day on June 11, with the slogan: “May the yarn be with you!”
Having already yarn bombed their own front gardens, Amanda and Sue have decided to yarn bomb the rest of the town and the idea grew into a project to draw attention to public spaces nominated by the Town Council for dedication as Queen Elizabeth II Fields to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee.
At the request of Hunstanton Mayor, Carol Bower, the organisers set out to cover Hunstanton with a rainbow of colour as part of the celebrations to mark HM The Queen’s Jubilee. Yarn bombing the trees in the Spinney began in mid-May and volunteers were encouraged to come forward to help. The “decoration” treatment has also been meted out to the Princess Theatre as part of it’s reopening.
Anyone not wanting to stitch or knit can still support the group by donating wool to the Hospice Shop on The Green, or to other charity shops in the town.
