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Flockton WI have long been leading the way on their yarn bombs as part of WOVEN in Kirklees.
For WOVEN 2025 they produced the most magical woodland experience ‘The Enchanted Woodland’, a knitted haven that was home to squirrels, birds of all kinds, stags, owls and rabbits, all hiding in the most lush foliage.
Although instigated and led by Flockton WI it was a true community enterprise with the WI members running workshops for local adults and children. The installation also echoed the WI’s environmental campaigns, such as Climate Change and Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife. The river running through the work was made of scarves that will be given to local charity shops and as gifts for vulnerable seniors and most of the installation has been donated to The Woodland Trust for use in schools and libraries.
WOVEN 2023 saw the creation of a knitted Flockton village. ‘We started knitting squares that sat for ages in my loft,’ said Liz Whitehead, long term member of the WI, ‘and then we got them all out and started joining them up.’
She made some sketches of the area and the result was a detailed 2m x 2.5m work of art that involved almost the entire village in one way or another, and drew in visitors from far and wide. ‘People would come and point out their houses.’
Pictures of the village were also made into postcards and greetings cards to generate additional income for the WI Funds and their chosen charity of the year and the local church.
In 2021, to keep WI members involved during Covid-19, Liz encouraged them to contribute to a giant rainbow joined up and on display on the church fence – a tribute to the hardworking heroes of the NHS. This rainbow had continuous use as a colourful display in the Emley Show in the craft tent.
WOVEN 2021 also witnessed a glorious cascade of flowers on Flockton church which later went on to be part of an exhibition at The West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.
The skills of the ladies who created these beautiful works are inspirational to other community groups. After an image of a Flockton Flower graced the ‘Get Planning Your WOVEN 2025 Festival’ flyer, Ravensthorpe Community Centre were eager to recreate these yarn wonders. Liz agreed to go in and run a workshop with the women at the centre so they could create their own yarn flowers as part of their own WOVEN 2025 yarn bomb.
Their influence spread nationally when they were featured in the May 2025 edition of WI Life.
"The magazine has just arrived, and the article is great, thank you so much. Already had comments from two members of our committee saying it is brilliant ! Many thanks to WOVEN for all the support that has been given to me and Flockton WI."
Watch this space for WOVEN 2027 – Liz says it will be something small this time – we’ll see!
Images by Studio Bokehgo
© WOVEN 2019 | Privacy Policy | Designed by Browndog