Hooray for Knitting and Crochet!

To celebrate National Wool Week, we will be screening Yarn (PG), a film which is reinventing audiences’ relationships with knit and crochet on Saturday 15 October. Yarn weaves together wool graffiti artists, circus performers, and structural designers into a visually-striking look at the women who are making a creative stance while building one of modern art’s hottest trends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_44B_AwU3gU

Before the film ECHO will be in the foyer demonstrating weaving and providing materials for people to knit, crochet or pompom their way through the film. Lisa from ECHO tells us more:

“We are delighted to be working with the Courtyard on the pre-screening activities for Yarn – the movie. At ECHO, an important aspect of our work with Adults who have a learning disability, is that we create opportunities for social inclusion and find ways for collaboration to make them feel valued members of the communities in which they live.

First-hand experience in our many projects, where we also work with a large number of volunteers, tells us crafting can offer the perfect environment to remove barriers that might exist in other situations.  Both our Clever Betsy shop in Leominster and Rose Tinted Rags shop  in Hereford work  to support participants to improve their skills, mostly working with materials that have generously been donated by the public. There is something special about working with yarn that literally does knit people together. Yarn is so versatile, there is always a way to use it whatever ability people have and we’ve made some wonderfully colourful displays in the shops and around the town. These not only showcase people’s talent but raise awareness for our charity at the same time, bringing us to the attention of other organisations that we can partner with, such as Borderlines Film Festival and the Courtyard. Two pieces of successful partnership working this year.

It has been scientifically proven that the rhythm of knitting or crochet focuses the mind and produces a calming, meditative effect. We know this already and have a sign which says ’10 rows a day keeps the psychiatrist away’! Plus you rarely see an angry knitter. Yarn is such a wonderful thing to work with and we are delighted to have this opportunity to come to the Courtyard to encourage people to have a go. There’s something very special transforming a ball of wool using your eyes and hands into an object to wear, display or giveaway.”

Yarn (PG) will be screened in the Studio Theatre on Saturday 15 October at 6pm with pre-activities from 4pm. For more information visit the event page.