Given Ruddington’s famous framework knitting heritage, what better way to showcase our village to the world than by displaying a giant knitted scarf created by its residents on a circular sock knitting machine dating from 1860?
At least, that’s what Framework Knitters’ Museum assistant Helen Brownett thought when she came up with the idea! Helen says: “I do make quite a few scarves for the different events we have around the museum, to string up across the buildings and in the workshops. So ‘a scarf along the street’ came into my head as a way of greeting the riders in the Tour of Britain. In the 19th century half the Ruddington population were knitters, so it just seemed quite appropriate.”
This most “Ruddington” of creations is, of course, to be put up along the route that 120 of the world’s top riders will be taking through our village during the penultimate stage of this year’s OVO Energy “Tour of Britain” cycle race on September 8th. It’s just been announced that these will include Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas and fellow Brit Chris Froome – racing together in this prestigious event for the first time since 2009. Between now and then, visitors to the museum are getting the chance to sit and turn the mechanical handle to knit their own section of the unique scarf in their own chosen colours – although there is a deliberate predominance of yellows to match the overall cycling theme.
“On the day, the scarf will be put into the Frame Breakers pub – still attached at one end to the machine – go out of the door and be draped along the High Street” explains Helen. Everyone’s handiwork is likely to be seen by a global TV audience of millions. The idea of an excessively long scarf has another amusing Ruddington connection – as a favourite garment worn by the 1970s incarnation of Dr Who played by former Ruddington resident Tom Baker!
Museum manager Nicola Wood told us the scarf is already 85 feet long. “By the time of the cycle race we expect it to stretch over 200 feet! We’ve had people from as far afield as China turning that wheel and helping create it. If you want to come along and join in making the knitted scarf there’ll be no museum entry fee – just let them know at reception and we’ll bring you in to have a go!”
Please note the “knitting” dates and times on the poster below:-
For full details of the cycle route – and other ideas of how to get involved – you can go to www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/tob. Of course, we’ll also bring you further news and updates between now and the big day here at RUDDINGTON.info!
