Naughty Nitters turn village into woolly wonder

But this weekend the Naughty Nitters (an offshoot of the CCC) took part in a double whammy – International Yarnbombing Day coupled with the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations.

And bemused residents of Wing woke up to find the village’s inanimate objects covered in knitting.

A toy car outside the police station sported a carefully crocheted jacket, while bus shelters boasted sassy striped seats and lamp posts were festooned with everything from natty knitted ladybirds to bold bumble bees and gaily coloured bicycles.

“They’re called pole hugs,” explained chief yarnbomber Maggie Ryan, 46.

The Stoke Mandeville nurse and mother-of-five was involved in yarnbombing groups in Liverpool but decided to start her own three years ago.

“On Remembrance Day we yarnbomb the entrance to Wing church and last year included the village memorial.

“But it’s always been pretty small scale so this year we decided to go big,” she explained.

A group of 18 Naughty Nitters out of the 30-strong CCC embership was involved and the feedback has been positive. So Wing, be warned – they’re planning another major event next year.

Maggie said: “Wikipedia describes it as ‘graffiti or street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre rather than paint or chalk.’”
She added: “Our aim was to bring smiles to faces and we did.”

Maggie learned to knit at her mother’s knee and so have her own three daughters. Mum Jenny Roads is a member of CCC, as are her granddaughters.

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