Knottingley knit-a-thon – could you knit the longest scarf?

Date:

To encourage older people in Wakefield to keep warm and well this winter, the Trust’s health and wellbeing development team have been holding knitting sessions in Knottingley and Ferrybridge throughout October and November, and challenging people to see if they can knit the longest scarf!

The team organised the knitting sessions to give local people an opportunity to get involved and engage in the creative challenge by creating their very own knitted section. Individual sections are then knitted together to make the scarf.

Over 70 people have taken part in the 19 knitting sessions that were organised, with many attending more than one! People have also been knitting at home and bringing in their sections for the scarf. All the wool used to make the scarf has been donated by local people and a local nursing home.

The scarf has now reached a massive 232 feet and weighs 12lbs!

Jackie Sharp, health and wellbeing development worker said, “A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the challenge and helped to knit the scarf or donated wool.

“We organised this event to highlight the importance of keeping warm during the colder months of the year. Ensuring that older people wear a hat, scarf and gloves when outdoors, will help them to keep warm and well this winter.

“We also decided to organise the knit-a-thon as an opportunity for people throughout the community to come together – as social inclusion and interaction can give a real boost to a person’s mental wellbeing.

“Now completed, the scarf is going to be made into 3 or 4 blankets that we are donating to the Hope Centre in Castleford, which provides space overnight for those without a place to sleep during the winter months.”

During the sessions the health and wellbeing development team have also been handing out winter warmth information leaflets and a free recipe book filled with ideas for meals that use ingredients found in your cupboard. Jackie said, “We hope that by handing out the recipe books now people will be encouraged to stock up their cupboards ready for the winter, so that they don’t have to go shopping during bad weather.”

Knottingley knit-a-thon – could you knit the longest scarf?

time to read: 1 min