open call
OPEN CALL: OUR FUTURE HERITAGE
Do you knit?
Would you like to learn?
Take part in my knitting project!
This project is for the Our Future Heritage commission with Our Big Picture, looking at creating contemporary art inspired by Grimsby’s fishing heritage. More specifically, I'll be looking at the meanings and relevance behind fishermens’ hand-knitted jumpers and creating artwork in response. The following website link explains the interesting history behind fishermens’ jumpers and the meanings behind some of the Aran stitches used in the jumpers:
https://notorious-mag.com/article/understanding-the-stitches-of-your-fisherman-sweater/
In order to put a contemporary spin on knitting as an art form, I plan on making a series of three knitted patchwork tapestries. My contribution to the tapestries will be larger knitted tiles showcasing designs I will create inspired by places Grimsby, showcased in both cable and Aran patterns as well as in colour work. The rest of the tiles that bind together the tapestries are where I need your help! Through the rough concept designs I’ve drawn up (shown below) I’ve worked out that I will need approximately 70 knitted tiles that measure 10x10cm.
These 10x10cm tiles can be in any wool weight, colour and stitch you would like depending on your skill level, but if there are some more skilled knitters interested in taking part I would love to have some Aran squares in the tapestries! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned knitter, I’ve included lots of helpful links below to tutorials to help you get involved.
Beginner
If you’re a total beginner, you’ll first need some wool and knitting needles! If you purchase your wool of choice first, on the label it should tell you which sized needles you will need for that wool thickness. You can get super cheap wool and needles from shops like Poundland and Wilko, where you can easily buy a ball of wool and a pair of needles for less than £5! Some charity shops also sell knitting equipment – if you’re a Grimsby local, Sense in town sells cheap needles! Whilst charity shops also sell second hand wool, I would recommend getting a ball of wool with its label still on if you’re a beginner just for the helpful information it provides.
To achieve a 10x10cm square, the labels on most balls of wool have a swatch recommendation to test your tension. Your tension in knitting is different for everyone, and basically means how tightly or loosely you knit. These swatch measurements are most often for a 10x10cm square, so I would recommend trying out the amount of stiches and rows recommended on your wool label and it should get you an approximately 10x10cm square! If your square is a little bit bigger or smaller than 10x10cm that’s no problem, I can make adjustments when attaching all of the tiles together. Below are a couple of images of what the swatch recommendations on labels look like so you know what to look out for, and what it means.
If you’re a totally beginner, I recommend learning how to knit garter stitch, this only requires you to learn the knit stitch. The following links are to tutorials for everything you need to know to start your square, how to knit the body of it, and how to finish it.
How to cast on: https://youtu.be/T-gdAUEjQjU
How to knit stitch: https://youtu.be/9852UYvkAQQ
How to garter stitch: https://youtu.be/2Gth9LGDvo8
How to cast off: https://youtu.be/F9b7KS9jaAo
After you’ve knitted and cast off your square, give it a measure and it should be around 10x10cm! (If it’s a bit bigger or smaller – that’s okay it can still be used!)
Skilled
If you’re a more skilled knitter, the following links are to Aran stitch tutorials that I find helpful if you’d like to knit a patterned square! I’ve also included a link to a website showing a pattern from an old Grimsby fisherman’s jumper that has been found and written out – the pattern isn’t for a 10x10cm square but if you would like to give it a go you can either alter it to make it 10x10cm, or even try out making a larger square. As long as the measurements are in multiples of 10cm I can use it in the tapestries!
Aran stitch tutorials:
How to knit cables: https://youtu.be/QG3E1-pacI0
How to knit honeycomb cables: https://youtu.be/FfUWq8EUUnk
How to knit diamonds: https://youtu.be/ZPf3LpKGcqI
Grimsby fisherman jumper pattern:
Contact and Postage
After completing your square/squares, please post them to the following address; if you’re local to Grimsby you can pop them through the letterbox!
Our Big Picture Ltd
17-21 Bethlehem Street
Grimsby
DN31 1JN
If you have any further questions about the project, please don’t hesitate to contact me via direct message on Instagram (@alicemayss) or via email, alicemays19@gmail.com
Thank you so much, I can't wait to see your submissions!
Workshops
If you're local to Grimsby - you can also take part in this project by attending my workshops at:
Our Big Picture Ltd
17-21 Bethlehem Street, Grimsby
DN31 1JN
I'll be hosting 2 FREE workshops Saturday 19th August and Saturday 2nd September 2023, email me at alicemays19@gmail.com to book your place!
Email me with your name, age, skill level, if you have your own needles and wool (materials will be provided if not), and which workshop you would like to attend (if you attend both, they will act as Part 1 and Part 2, looking at more skilled stitches in Part 2).
