As part of the RSE-funded project ‘Knitting in the Round: Hand-Knitted Textiles and the Economies of Craft in Scotland’ we are seeking hand knitters-of all skill levels-for a University -wide community knitting project for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.  (Please feel free to forward this email along to any members of the extended community that you think may be interested.)

WHAT ARE WE KNITTING?
Knitters will sign up to knit flags of Commonwealth nations participating in the Games. These will eventually be joined together into a large bunting that will welcome Commonwealth visitors to the University during the Games.  More details about the flags are below.

WHEN?
Sign-ups and assignments for flags will take place between today and Friday 13 June. Flags must be completed by WEDNESDAY 9 JULY. For shared inspiration, advice, yarn swap, and camaraderie, we will hold a lunchtime flag ‘knit-in’ on Monday 23 June, 12noon-2pm, Level 5 of Sir Alwyn Williams Building.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Have a look at the flags of nations participating in the 2014 Games and see what you might like to knit. (You can follow the link to ‘Detailed Flags’ for larger views.)  Write to us with your top three choices and we will write back to you with your flag assignment.

Flags assignments will be on a first-come, first-served basis, but we would ask that more experienced knitters might leave the less involved flags for novice knitters to adopt, and take on one of the more challenging options! However, novice knitters should not be daunted– see further details below for some suggestions.

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT IS THE ‘KNITTING IN THE ROUND’ PROJECT?

THE FINE PRINT:

  • Although the exact size/scale will depend on the flag you knit (the detailed views will tell you the exact ratio of your flag), completed flags should be roughly the size of an A4 sheet.
  • The flags need to be reversible, so you can either knit two of the same flag and tack them together back to back; OR you can knit both sides together in the round (ideally with a false seam stitch or two in between so that it will be easier to hang flat); OR you can use two-sided double knitting if you are that skilled!
  • A good number of Commonwealth flags are quite complex; do feel free to carry out the detail work with overstitching, embroidery, appliqué, good old fashioned cut and paste, etc, as long as the basic textile structure of your flag is hand knitted.
  • Knitters are responsible for supplying their own yarn (a good way to use up those odd bits of stash!). However, if you are looking for yarn, Glasgow’s newest yarn shop, Queen of Purls at 91 Saltmarket, will offer a small discount for flag knitters buying yarn for their flags; they will take 10% off Jamieson’s of Shetland and 5% off Drops, both of which come in a good array of colours. In order to get your discount, please present the email you receive from us with your assigned flag.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED ABOVE?
Write to us

First published: 4 June 2014

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