The Stalybridge Knitted Waterwheel Project
For the Stalybridge Canal Festival 2022.
Thanks to everyone so far who has contributed to the project.
About the project…
To celebrate this year's Stalybridge Canal Festival and Stalybridge Town of Culture, artist Rachael Elwell is working with the local community to create a knitted installation, which celebrates the towns rich industrial heritage in the production of cotton textiles.
Since the first purpose-built cotton mill was constructed in 1776 (Soot-Poke), 40 further cotton mills were built in Stalybridge, making the town one of the most prolific centers for the manufacture of woolen cloth in Manchester.
Rachael's celebratory sculpture will feature the waterwheel as a symbol of power ; water-power as a vital source of energy, and economic power as Stalybridge developed into a successful mill town during from the early industrial period.
The sculptures will be on public view during the weekend of the 10th and 11th September , at the Stalybridge Canal Festival , at Armentieres Square, with a view to then displaying the sculpture at Stalybridge Civic Hall .
How to Take part …
Download the Mill Strip Pattern (pdf) by clicking here
Download Back Strips Pattern (pdf) by clicking here
To acknowledge the production of woollen textiles in Stalybridge, Rachael's Waterwheel sculpture will be hand knitted, and feature a knitted mills design and the 41 names of each cotton mill that was built in the town.
Rachael is looking to recruit knitters of all ages and abilities to help her construct the installation by knitting colorful strips of knitting to be included in the installation.
At the beginning on July a downloadable pattern will be available with all the instructions you will need to take part. If you are a knitting group and would like to participate as a group to knit one of the wheels, then please e-mail artyarnproject@hotmail.com and I can arrange this with you. All participants will be credited for their contributions to the project.
You can also attend one drop-in sessions on the dates and times stated below
handing in your knitting….
To return your knitting you can either drop them off at :
Astley Cheetham Art Gallery, Trinity Street, Stalybridge
SK15 2BN.
Or if you would prefer to post them to me directly, please e-mail : artyarnproject@hotmail.com
Please make sure your name and e-mail address is with your knitting, so i can give a big thanks to everyone once the project is completed!
Drop-In sessions…
If you would like to learn how to knit, or can already knit and would like to improve your knitted colourwork technique on order to participate, Rachael will be running several drop-in workshops to help you at Ashley Cheetham Art Gallery in Stalybridge. Please feel free to stay as long as you like with Rachael to knit your piece, practice your knitting and find out more about the project.
There will be three sessions :
Session 1 - Saturday 30th July, 10.30am-2pm
Session 2 - Saturday 20th August, 10.30am - 2pm
Session 3 - Saturday 27th August, 10.30am - 2pm
Location address :
Astley Cheetham Art Gallery
Trinity Street
Stalybridge
SK15 2BN