Wool Craft Group
Every other Monday, 12:30-13:30, Queens Senior Common Room (20.11.23, 4.12.23, 18.12.23, 8.1.24, 22.1.24, 5.2.24)
and every Thursday 12:30-13:30, Online video call on Zoom
We are an informal group of like-minded knitters, crocheters, needle felters, patchworkers of all abilities from all around the university including academics, professional services, PGRs and temporary staff. This group provides an opportunity to meet other crafty colleagues, share tips and get advice on your latest project. You can bring your own project or contribute to our charity knitting projects (see below). It is free to attend.
For more information and to receive the links to the weekly video sessions, email Isabel Castle (I.Castle@exeter.ac.uk)
Human beings have always enjoyed making things together, in groups. Such group activities play many roles in our lives – they provide us with a safe space to be in with other people who are like us; they bring us companionship, and facilitate the sharing of problems and concerns in a non-judgmental atmosphere; and they allow us to take part in the making of something that can be of value to others. Each of these benefits – being in a safe space, sharing and caring for each other, and altruistic activities, are known to improve health and wellbeing.
— Professor Paul Dieppe, Professor of Health and Wellbeing, University of Exeter.
Charity knitting project ideas
We support a range of charity knitting projects - perfect if you fancy something new, want to support the community, or forget to bring your own project in. All materials, yarn, needles and hooks are provided for the charity projects. Below are a selection of projects you can have a go at.
The innocent Big Knit. This year innocent smoothies are running their the innocent big knit again to raise money for Age UK. They are asking people to make little hats to put onto their smoothie bottles. For every bottle and hat sold innocent will donate 25p to Age UK.
Blankets for the homeless. Blankets for the homeless take knitted and crochet squares and sew them together to make blankets. So you only have to make a 6” square not a whole blanket! The blankets are then distributed out to the homeless.
Twiddlemuffs. Twiddlemuffs - hand warmers with buttons and beads attached - for people with dementia. The picture shows a selection of the twiddlemuffs we have already made, with more in progress.
Past events and news
May 2020 - The Devon Country show won the Guiness World record for the longest knitted bunting at 14,279m. Some of our group contributed to this effort.
November 2018 – To commemorate Armistice day we made poppies for the Exminster WI’s memorial to remember those who gave their life in the wars. The finished project was on show over memorial weekend.
June 2018 - We had a stall at the Staff Life festival on Streatham Campus. It was one of the beautiful summer days we enjoyed this year, not a cloud in the sky, hence the hats! We knitted and crocheted all day and thanks particularly to the wonderful Jo, we recruited 25 more people to the group, including some of our regulars.
November 2017 - We held a week long “knitathon" to knit cupcakes for the Northcott Theatre's Dick Knittington campaign for the Christmas Panto of Dick Whittington. Altogether the theatre received over 1300 knitted and crocheted cupcakes from groups across Devon. As a thank you to all knitters Northcott Theatre teamed up with housing providers DCH and Home-Start Exeter and East Devon to offer 500 free pantomime tickets to families who would not be in a financial position to come to the theatre at Christmas
