Pond Life Yarnstorm - Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group

Frog - Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group

 

The Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group are celebrating pond life in their yarnstorm this year. You can find it in the arbour by the tennis courts.

Water Lily - Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group

The Pond Life craft display was originally thought up by Rosemary Bentley who is much missed. Although she is no longer with us, the craft group wanted to continue with this theme in her memory.

Duck - Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group

Spider - Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group

Bird in Tree - Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group

 Pond Life - Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group

Check it out when you're next in the park and see what you can spot!

Rainbow Yarnstorm in Rowntree Park, York

Rainbow Yarnstorm in Rowntree Park, York

You may remember, back in April, I told you all about the Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group's plans for a Rainbows for Rowntree Park Yarnstorm and how you could join in.  Well, thanks to everyone who did because the yarnstorm is now on display in the park and looks fantastic! The display is a big thank you to the NHS, carers, key workers and anyone who has helped others throughout the last few months.  The rainbows are also a celebration of the park itself which has been a special place for many, especially recently! And it's to celebrate the Park's 99th birthday.  Rainbows are a symbol of hope and in some ways that was why the Park was created -  to symbolise a hopeful future for the people of York.

Firstly, there's a truly magnificent gigantic rainbow yarnstorm on the tennis court fence.  It's a collage of knitted, crocheted and stitched squares.

Rainbow Yarnstorm Detail

On top of these squares there's extra interest added in the form of flowers and other stuff.  See if you can spot the frog, the car and the whale! 

Check out some of the extra decorations

It even looks good from the back...

Back View

Fun facts - did you know there are 86 red squares, 77 orange, 64 yellow, 55 green, 42 blue and indigo and 49 violet.  That's more than 370 altogether!  The whole display was made by over 40 people, from primary school age to over 90, from all over the city and further afield.

Rainbow Bench

You can even sit on the rainbow bench and have your photo taken which quite a lot of people were doing when I was there.  It seems to be proving very popular!

Lots of people like the yarnstorm

You can then move on to see the individual rainbows which are hanging in the arbour.  Here's a sneaky peak...

Rainbows in the Arbour

and a bit more detail...

Rainbows in the Arbour

Don't forget to take a look at the display board by the cafe...

Display board by the cafe

because there's alot of interesting rainbows and rainbow coloured pieces there too!

Detail from the Noticeboard

The Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group hope to keep the yarnstorm up until the end of August so you've got plenty of time to take a look.  Why not take a pic of yourself with the rainbow and post it to social media with the hashtag #RainbowsforRowntreePark. 

Thanks to the Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group and all who took part for such a fabulous display! 

Rainbows for Rowntree Park - A Yarnstorm

Knitted Rainbows - pattern from Knitting by Post

 

A Rainbow Yarnstorm

I have been asked recently what yarnstorm I was organising this year and I had to say I wasn't organising one, but it turns out I know some people who are!  The Friends of Rowntree Park Craft Group are creating Rainbows for Rowntree Park as their project for these challenging "lockdown" times.

 

Why Rainbows?

The Craft Group plan to create a giant rainbow to go on the tennis court fence in Rowntree Park, York and to have a rainbow display in the arbour as a way to say thank you to the NHS, carers and everyone who has helped us during this pandemic and as a celebration of the park itself.  The rainbows are also a symbol of positivity and hope which will be a great welcome to visitors to the park.

How Can I Join In?

You can join in by making 6 inch/15cm squares in one of the rainbow colours - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo or violet...

Blue, Indigo and Violet Knitted Squares

It can be knitted, crocheted, stitched or felted and you can make them as simple or elaborate as you like...

Red Stitched Square

Or you can make a flower in a rainbow colour.  There are some knitting patterns for flowers on my blog here and here - just adjust the colours as appropriate...

Orange & Yellow Knitted Flowers

But you can use any knitted or crocheted flower patterns that you like - or make one up or stitch one...

Green Stitched Flower

Here's what I've had a go at...

Rainbow Offerings

All the single coloured squares and flowers will be collaged together to make the giant rainbow for the tennis court fence.

However, if you prefer, you can knit, crochet or stitch whole rainbows to hang in the arbour...

Small Knitted Rainbows - Knitting by Post Pattern

You can use your own patterns or make one up but I've also posted some links to patterns if you'd like to use these. There's a link to a Ravelry crochet pattern - Rainbow of Unity - from Kerry Jayne Designs here and a link to easy knitting patterns from Knitting by Post here (there are small, medium and large knitting pattern options). Why not check out their other patterns too - you may want to buy one of Kerry Jayne Designs or Knitting by Post's patterns as well!

Why not post pictures of your makes on whatever social media you use with the hashtag #RainbowsforRowntreePark - it will be great to see what everyone's making!

Where do I send my makes?

As Rowntree Park Cafe is closed at the moment you can't leave or send your makes there.  However if you are local to York there is a lidded box at:

118 Bishopthorpe Road

York

YO23 1JX

where you can leave your makes if passing while on your daily exercise, going to shop for necessities or going to work. If you are further afield you can post them to that address, marking them Rainbows for Rowntree Park.  Please have your makes delivered by the end of June 2020.
 

When will it go up?

It is hoped that the display will go up in time to celebrate Rowntree Park's 99th Birthday on Saturday 18 July 2020.  Keep your eye on the Friends of Rowntree Park Facebook page for more information or you can sign up to my mailing list for my regular newsletters where I'll include info about the project.  You can sign up from my blog or the Hippystitch Facebook page (fill in your details and tick to keep in touch by email).

More Information...

If you need more information about this project you can message the Friends of Rowntree Park Facebook page or you can contact Sara from the Craft Group on 07723722868.

Stay safe and happy making!