Knitting a community together

You can’t beat a good yarn-bombing story. This time Dereham in Norfolk has became home to the handmade mystery ‘yarn bombs’ – including a 32ft caterpillar!

After several months of careful planning, knitting in secret and hundreds of balls of wool, a ‘Celebrating Dereham’ yarn bombing event has been officially launched! And it’s all come about after the handmade mystery ‘yarn bombs’ started to appear overnight in the town, not only in high street shop windows but also on street furniture, lamp posts and bollards.

The enormous installation includes pictures of famous Dereham residents, including Bishop Bonner, Ellenor Fenn, William Cowper and St Withburga and a 32ft caterpillar.

And the display of knitted creations was created by Dereham Community Crafters and funded through Breckland Council’s Market Towns Initiative.

Members of Breckland Council and volunteers from the Dereham Crafters group have been out in Dereham to take a look at the ‘Celebrating Dereham’ yarn bombing event which has now officially launched.

Judy Rogers (pictured above, far right) from the Dereham Community Crafters, comments: ‘It has been an amazingly positive community project to be involved in, especially since the Covid pandemic and the various lockdowns.  As crafters we wanted to play our part and give back to the community, bringing some colour and joy back into the world.

‘The yarn bombs have taken several months of careful planning and knitting in secret and involved hundreds of balls of wool, so many I think we have lost count! A dozen local crafters have been involved in this project and I am immensely proud of the finished work. We hope the yarn bomb installation gives everyone a smile when out and about in our town.’

Shops taking part in the project include: Top Cuts, Green Pastures, Starlings, Bright and Beautiful Flowers, Ian’s Floral Studio, Daisy’s, Tall Orders, Haart Estate Agents, Railway Tavern and Penelope’s.

Cllr Paul Claussen, Executive Member for Economic Development and Growth at Breckland Council, adds: ‘With the reopening of the high streets after a very challenging period for us all, we felt this was a great opportunity to support a project that would bring people back into the town with a smile. Dereham is packed with history and what better way to celebrate our past, and have some fun in the present, by holding a yarn bombing. The installation is tremendous – and I’d like to thank Dereham Community Crafters for their wonderful efforts and I hope many people turn out to see the creations for themselves.’

The yarn bombing installation is expected to remain on public view until the end of September.