Knitters make blanket appeal

Organisers of August’s two-day Celtic Women Fest music event are hoping for donations from the close-knit community of Carmarthenshire.

They are in need of wool for their Knitting Rhythms workshops at the event, which takes place at the National Botanic Garden of Wales on Sunday and Monday August 25-26.

There is a collection point for wool, needles, thread and crochet hooks at Aardvarks health food shop, in Lammas Street, Carmarthen. Founder and creative director of Celtic Women Fest, Cheryl Beer said: “The plan is to have some quiet, creative sessions at the back of the music tent and, as we don’t have any budget, we thought we’d make an appeal for wool. We’ll be knitting blankets for the Young Mums Projects in South Wales.”

Carmarthen-based Petra Wood is in charge of the collection: “We’re hoping for lots of donations as it is in a good cause. The plan is that non-knitters can also join in and be taught to knit.”

Petra has been knitting and crocheting since she was a little girl at home in Germany. She said: “I still knit now and have been involved with other knitting circles locally. There is a profound, grounding, nurturing element to women getting together and being creative in this way; something we have done as women since ancient times.”

With enough donations, knitters are also hoping to take to the trees and do some ‘yarn bombing’ – a mix of knitting graffiti and art installation.

The Celtic WomenFest is a two-day musical event in the National Botanic Garden of Wales on Sunday and Monday August 25-26. This year’s event features singer-songwriter Amy Wadge and a host of other female artists.

The National Botanic Garden is open daily from 10am to 6pm. For more information about the National Botanic Garden of Wales, go to www.gardenofwales.org.uk or email info@gardenofwales.org.uk or call 01558 667149.