The Pittenweem Community Craft project is an annual event where handmade items are sold for charity during the Pittenweem Arts Festival.
This vibrant community project inspires both local residents and visitors to make a wide range of items, sometimes learning new techniques.
It creates a wonderful exhibition of handcraft skills and it raises funds for many diverse causes. Since 2009 it has donated over £27,000 to local charities.
Project co-ordinator Anne-Marijke has brought together knitters, crocheters, patchworkers, sewers, embroiderers, cross stitchers and felters.
Each year they are inspired by a theme.
So far the group have made fish, tea cosies, hats, flowers, and cushions, and been inspired by hearts, thistles, Christmas, owls and cosy winter warmers. You can read more here.
Items are sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival which takes place annually at the beginning of August.
Proceeds are then split and donated to charity groups.
This year the theme is Feathered Friends and the the chosen charities are Kilminning Nature Reserve project in Crail and the DEC Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
Inspired by the Feather Friends theme I've created a huge bundle of knit and crochet patterns on Ravelry for ideas and here's a few things that have been handed in already...
A parliament of Owls is a cushion designed by Anne-Marijke. It uses Aran thickness yarn and features a classic 'owl' cable.
Copies of this pattern are available to buy in our Pittenweem shop if you'd like to make your own. Proceeds will be donated to the project.
Or you can buy this cushion during the Pittenweem Arts Festival!
A range of crafted birds will also be available to buy.
From cute knitted ducklings...
To fancy stitched birds by Kathleen...
Ducklings in teacups...
And flamingos too!
Both are inspired by Woollen Wave's free rabbit in a teacup pattern.
There are accessories to buy too.
This cowl is designed and knitted by Sunshine Stewart (aka My Mama Knits). It uses a striking Peacock Feather design.
You can buy the Peacock Cowl pattern on Ravelry.
And another cowl inspired by feathers is the Feathered Friends Cowl designed by Sabine Gruschow.
The pattern is written for a 4ply yarn.
This one is knitted in Vivacious 4ply (Deep Aqua) and is the larger size measuring approximately 45cm tall and 30cm wide (laid flat).
The pattern is easy to adapt too, for a different width, height and yarn.
I made one using a DK yarn (I just cast on 20 stitches less and used a larger needle).
It measures approximately 36cm tall and 30cm wide (laid flat). I used Rowan Alpaca Soft in shade 210 Rainy Day.
Both these cowls and others will be on sale during the Pittenweem Arts Festival in August.
If you'd like to make your own Feathered Friend Cowl the pattern is also available to buy on Ravelry and money raised will be donated to the project and distributed to this year's charities.
There's still lots of time to make and donate something to the project.
You can see lots of knit and crochet ideas in our Ravelry bundle.
To be successful (over £27,000 raised since 2009!) the group sells a wide variety of items. All experience levels can join in and you can hand in or send items to the Pittenweem shop.
It's a great opportunity to try out a new technique, maybe make something you wouldn't normally consider. You can make a dent in your yarn and fabric stash and support charitable groups.
And finally, there are lots of other ways to support this Community Craft Project:
- Volunteer to help with the exhibition - more info on this nearer the time.
- Share social media posts and tell your friends & family.
- Buy a pattern for the Feathered Friends Cowl on Ravelry and Parliament of Owls Cushion in the Pittenweem shop.
- Buy something at the Feather Friends exhibition during the annual Arts Festival at Coastline Community Church in Pittenweem 6th to 13th August 2022.
