Crafting group celebrates the Games with “Yarnlympics”
The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters spent months knitting, crocheting and crafting 37 postbox toppers to celebrate the Paris Olympic Games. Nicknamed the Yarnlympics, the toppers pay tribute to different events and aspects of the Games and include spectators, athletes, flags and medals.
The sporty tributes will be on display around Hertfordshire, England from 21 July until 11 August, with the group hoping to raise money for the Hertfordshire Breast Unit Appeal, according to The Evening Standard.
One topper shows triathletes competing while spectators watch in the background, while another shows numerous pairs of knitted legs poking out of a pool to represent artistic swimming. The project also includes 11 knitted para-athletes including wheelchair basketball.
Find all 37 Yarnlympic postbox toppers in Hertford & Ware!
Visit https://t.co/QWPsfbCyfx for maps, kids quiz & link to this year’s nominated charity, the Hertfordshire Breast Unit Appeal!#yarnlympics
#postboxtoppers
#olympics
pic.twitter.com/dbFQGAQnSx— Yarn Bomber (@YarnBomber100) July 22, 2024
“Sometimes we need something to smile about and we want to bring a bit of joy. We wanted something sporty but we are not really sporty, we would rather knit!” Marge Ellis, 74, a retired teacher and project supporter of the group, told the PA news agency.
Ellis said faces are the hardest things to create as they are “really really tricky”.
Look at this woolly boxing ring! Complete with referee!
Find all of them in Hertford in Ware!
We are fundraising for the Hertfordshire Breast Unit Appeal. Donate here: https://t.co/kMGb6jAb23
#yarnbomb
#hertford
#ware
pic.twitter.com/E1lf9HqkJx— Yarn Bomber (@YarnBomber100) July 21, 2024
“For one of our yarnbombs we actually had a face team because they were the people who could do faces. They were doing the faces because we wanted them all to be more or less the same,” she said.
The group meet three times a week where they drink tea and discuss their hobby, and have raised approximately £167,000 (€198,341) for charity over the last seven years.
The YARNLYMPIC para-athletes are playing wheelchair basketball!
We are raising funds for the Hertfordshire Breast Unit Appeal, please donate here: https://t.co/kMGb6jAb23
#yarnbomb
#wheelchairbasketball
pic.twitter.com/HUgiEW1yzd— Yarn Bomber (@YarnBomber100) July 21, 2024