Pittenweem Community Craft Project

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 display of handcraft skills and it raises funds for many diverse causes. Since 2009 it has donated over £30,000 to local charities.

Founded by Anne-Marijke it 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.

All the fibre handcrafts like knitting, crochet, patchwork, sewing, embroidery, cross stitch and felting are welcome.

All experience levels can contribute 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. You can make a dent in your yarn and fabric stash and support charitable groups.

To be successful (over £30,000 raised since 2009!) the group sells a wide variety of items - from beautifully simple to stunningly complex across a range of sizes and prices. 

Hearts & Crafts 2018

Each item is sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival which takes place annually at the beginning of August.

Proceeds are then split and donated to charity groups.

Beneficiaries have included local organisations like the East Neuk Community Trust and the East Neuk Food Bank as well as the local branch of national charities such as Marie Curie Cancer Care and Alzheimer Scotland.

The Arts Festival was cancelled due to covid in 2020 and 2021. However, another venue was secured at the Pittenweem Library and after two sale events £1189 was donated to this community led service. 

The Arts Festival did go ahead in 2022.

The project theme was Feathered Friends.  Read more about Feathered Friends on our blog.

The 2022 project raised £2281 for chosen charities the Kilminning Wildlife Reserve project in Crail and the DEC Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

The 2023 theme was 'How does your garden grow?'

It raised a whopping £3200. Money raised was split between Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and the East Neuk Food Bank.

The 2024 theme has just been announced - Winter Wonderland!

And the charities are Alzheimers Scotland and the East Neuk Food Bank.

There are lots of fun ways to interpret the theme.

You can take inspiration from a winter wonderland scene and create something using stranded colourwork, intarsia or lace.

Or make little winter characters like a snowman, penguin or polar bear.

Or think about what you'd like to wear in a winter wonderland - cosy hats, scarves, mittens and socks.

You could be inspired by the colours of a sparkly frost and snowy pine trees.

For inspiration, I've created a bundle of knitting and crochet patterns on Ravelry. I'll add more patterns to it in the coming months.

Everyone is free to come along!

Stay up to date with project news on Instagram and Facebook.

THIS YEAR'S EXHIBITION IS AT VENUE 83 - COASTLINE COMMUNITY CHURCH DURING THE PITTENWEEM ARTS FESTIVAL 3rd to 10th AUGUST 2024

If you'd like to be added to Pittenweem Community Craft mailing list contact the organisers at pittenweemcommunitycrafts@gmail.com.