World Knit in Public day is coming up on Saturday 8th of June and the Bogan Craft Group in Nyngan is ready to knit and purl in public to celebrate the day and share their skills with any would be knitters. 

Knitting, which originated in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean around the 5th century, saw the earliest artefacts in the form of Egyptian socks. From there the skill spread to Europe where male guilds used it to make religious garment.  

Over time it became an aspect of daily life, practiced by people of all genders and cultural backgrounds, although fast forward to today and it is mostly (but not confined to) a female past time.  

Knitting provided warmth and comfort through handcrafted clothing and blankets, socks, scarves and gloves, passing down from generation to generation with the unique cultural influences of the respective regions. 

“The craft ladies are hoping to promote this wonderful craft and share their skills with the community to keep the craft alive for generations to come,” said organiser Amy Edwards. 

“Everyone is welcome to come along to Rotary Park at 10am and either join in or just watch and have a yarn with the ladies. They are eager to share this skill and happy to teach anyone willing to learn how to knit or crochet.” 

“We will have knitting needles, crochet hooks and yarn on hand for anyone that would like a lesson,” added Mrs. Edwards. 

“The group invites seasoned knitters and crocheters to bring along their current or unfinished projects to show off or work on, on the day. Bring along a chair and morning tea.” 

Before knitting, there was a needlework technique known as Nålbinding (a Norwegian word meaning “needle binding) which created a similar fabric to knitting by looping and knotting yarn with a single needle. Associated with the Vikings, it was also practised in other parts of the world. 

Archaeologists found fragments of nålbinding from as early as 5th century Egypt to 9th century Norway and 7th century Germany proving its widespread use across the globe. 

Finger knitting was popular before the needle method took over and was also practised for centuries for those who didn’t have access to needles and children learning the skill. 

When knitting machines were designed and used in the Industrial Revolution, this made it easier to produce larger quantities of knitwear, however, hand-knitting still remained a popular and widely practised craft, loved by people from all walks of life. 

The Bogan Craft Club has been meeting for over 20 years and member Wendy Clissold has fond memories of the days spent knitting and crafting with friends. 

“We are really looking forward to the Knit in Public day. We love sharing our skills with people and because it has given us so much joy over the years, we hope we can pass it on for future knitters.” 

“We love our craft group,” said Mrs. Clissold. “This club is for anyone who does any kind of craft, but we mainly do Knitting or crocheting,” she said. 

“You can do paper craft hand sew binding on quilts, sew or knit or just come for a chat. It’s a great social morning to swap ideas, swap patterns, or just as a social outing.” 

“The Club has been going for over 20 years and we used to meet in homes and on people’s farms. It was such a great day we all loved it. Now we meet at the local Youth Centre and we have a luncheon once a month. We also support local businesses and do what we can to welcome new people,” said Mrs. Clissold. 

“Knitting brings people together while providing warmth and comfort, you can’t beat that,” she added. 

According to Scandinavian Group – Mother Knitter, there is much more to knitting than meets the eye.  

PHOTO: Some of the ladies of Bogan Craft Group - photo supplied by Wendy Clissold 

“Knitting is obviously a great creative outlet for self-expression, can provide a sense of accomplishment, and can boost one’s self esteem, as well as being a fun hobby that can be done alone or with a group.” 

“From a social perspective, knitting is a great way to bring people together and promote community building. Knitting groups are a popular way to socialise and form new connections while enjoying a shared hobby. Additionally, the popularity of knitting has helped revive traditional crafts and techniques, preserving cultural heritage and promoting cultural appreciation.” 

“Finally, knitting can also be a form of charity work, with many knitters using their skills to create items for those in need, such as blankets for children, scarves for the homeless, and hats for soldiers,” said the Group. 

Report have also shown that regular knitting sessions can help maintain cognitive abilities and slow down cognitive decline in individuals with dementia. Knitting can improve executive functioning, attention span, and problem-solving skills, thus the encouragement in Nursing homes for patients to take up knitting. 

“We are looking forward to sharing our skills with everyone, especially the kids,” said Organiser Amy Edwards. “We hope to see everyone there.”