Bring out the buttons, man the sewing machines and make
ready those knitting needles! At the National Museum of the Royal Navy we are
re-establishing the Department for Knitted Garments for the Royal Navy! We are
starting a community art project which involves getting the Navy and the nation
knitting, sewing and felting! The Museum together with the Arts Stop Café’s
Guerrilla Knitters, naval personnel and the community aims to create a huge
seaside themed ‘yarnscape’ for the Family Area at the National Museum of the
Royal Navy.
The project was created in response to discovering 1940’s
patterns from ‘The Department for Knitted Garments for the Royal Navy’ in the
collection along with wool pictures created by sailors in 1850’s, embroidered
slippers, naval collection of mascots and even toys made by the sailors
themselves for their children. There is a long history of crafts in the Navy
and the project is a way of drawing people’s attention to this cultural
heritage. One of the aims of the project is to continue this tradition by
asking anyone who is currently posted on a ship to knitting or crochet a sea
creature for the artwork.
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| Everyone can get involved |
Anyone can be involved in the project no matter their age or
location. If you love arts and crafts then get in touch and we will send you a
pattern showing you how to make your sea creatures or flower to add to our
Portsmouth Seaside ‘yarnscape’. We want the project to reach as far and as wide
as possible, so if you have any relatives abroad please pass the patterns on to
them to make the project truly global!
As part of the project the Arts Stop Café’s Guerrilla
Knitters will also be going out into the Community with museum staff to
encourage schools, WI groups, brownies, church groups, residential homes and
people across the area to participate. Free drop in sessions will also be run
at the Museum in September and October if you don’t know how to knit or crochet
or need a refresher don’t worry as the artists from the Arts Stop café will
teach you.
We’re also looking for businesses to sponsor or donate
materials and will be pleased to hear from anyone who can give us beads,
threads wool, needles or buttons.
The aim is to have a finished piece for the Family Area at
the National Museum of the Royal Navy and HMS Victory by January 2013.
If you would like to be involved, know someone who would be
interested in making something for the project or have any materials that they
can donate please call Jo Valentine, Community Engagement Officer on 02392
727595 or email jo.valentine@nmrn.org.uk and she will send
you additional information and the patterns you will need to create your art
piece.
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| Here's a pattern to get you started - downloadable from our website soon - watch this space! |
