The Framework Knitters’ Museum on Chapel Street has just gained an international accolade – a TripAdvisor ‘Travelers’ Choice Award’ for 2023! Each year the travel comparison website recognises favourite attractions around the world, based on reviews and ratings collected over the past year. These TripAdvisor reviews have elevated our museum into the top 10% of visitor attractions worldwide. The preserved Ruddington heritage site one of very few places left in the country where you’ll find the working and living conditions of the once large framework knitting industry. Sarah Godfrey, creative and…
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Museum Volunteer’s Lasting Legacy
Ruddington’s Framework Knitters’ Museum has had some very special visitors from America this month – the family of a woman whose generous gift greatly helped to make its recent expansion plans possible. Many villagers will already know that our internationally famous tourist attraction has been transformed in the last couple of years by the purchase of the former ‘Gunn Cottage’ at the end of Chapel Street. It’s been converted into an impressive new entrance and reception area – plus shop and cafe – acting as a proper ‘gateway’ into Ruddington’s…
Read MoreHappy Anniversary at Parker’s Yard!
It’s now twelve months since Ruddington’s The Split Screen Coffee Company began operating the café based within Ruddington’s Framework Knitters’ Museum (FKM) – and its owners are pleased to report their business is going from strength to strength. The independent coffee roasting company was founded in 2015 by village resident and former teacher Jennifer Walker. She sums up her entreprenaurial experience as a massive learning curve – having left the teaching profession to gain a better work-life balance and spend more time with her family. The Split Screen Coffee Company began eight years’ ago as…
Read More‘The Big Swap Shop’ in Ruddington
Recycling and re-using are at the heart of a special ‘pre-loved’ clothing event coming to our village next month. Ruddington’s award-winning Framework Knitters’ Museum is teaming up with ‘The Big Swap Shop’ to host a swap and ‘slow’ fashion event on Saturday 10th June from 6pm to 9pm. Organisers say it will be ‘family-friendly’ event, which will be held at the museum on Chapel Street. It will see a ‘twilight’ evening with a fashion mini market as well as local slow traders. Guests will also experience textile demonstrations and an…
Read MoreFabulous Feedback from ‘The Big Sing’
Ruddington was alive with the sound of music yesterday – as around 170 voices demonstrated the joy of singing at various venues around our village. Organised by Ruddington Community Choir, ‘The Big Sing’ was back – after a five year absence due to COVID-19 and other factors – and it seems participants from near and far quickly and eagerly picked up from where it had left off. The big day (Saturday May 20th 2023) started with a ‘Mass Workshop’ in St Peter’s Church where singers learned ‘I’m Into Something Good’ and…
Read MoreA ‘Yarn Bomb’ Fit For a King
It’s only a month since their last ‘Ruddington Yarn Bomb’ for Easter, but our local knitters, pom pom and tassle makers, crocheters and sewists from the ‘Handmade in Rudd’ Facebook group and beyond have been working flat out, before and since, to create their latest display in time for The King’s Coronation. The now famous ‘Ruddington Yarn Ninjas’ have created lots of brand new pieces to adorn the village centre, as well as an update to last year’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee church railings ‘royal balcony’ tapestry to reflect the key Royal players this time around. Chief…
Read MoreAdopt a Flower Bed!
An imaginative volunteering idea has been unveiled by a Ruddington tourist attraction aiming to get all generations involved at its village centre heritage site. The Framework Knitters’ Museum on Chapel Street has launched a campaign to find two ‘green fingered’ families over the summer holidays. Those chosen will adopt a flower bed, in the museum’s gardens, and be given British cottage flowers to tend to once a week throughout June, July and August. Families will also explore and identify the type of plants and flowers, how best to care for them, their…
Read MoreInternational Women’s Day Award for Helen
Ruddington’s Framework Knitters’ Museum is celebrating its long-standing textile artist and technical demonstrator, Helen Brownett, by presenting her with an achievement award for International Women’s Day, which is TODAY (Wednesday 8th March 2023). The accolade is in recognition of Helen’s 28 years of service here, inspiring thousands of visitors and encouraging many to become interested in knitting on the museum’s hand powered ‘Griswold’ machines. Helen is best known for her elaborate ‘office’; which is filled with hundreds of yarns of wool, creating a unique and vibrant workspace! Museum manager Sarah Godfrey…
Read MoreCosy Traditional Christmas and See Santa!
Entrance for this festive day will be FREE at the Framework Knitters’ Museum and Parker’s Yard from 12-noon until 6pm on Saturday 17th December. This year’s ‘Cosy Traditional Christmas’ attractions are roasted chestnuts, Victorian mince pie making, a Christmas choir with a mini orchestra, Father Christmas and festive treats from The Split Screen Coffee Company. There’ll also be a ‘Tombola of crafted dreams’ and the organisers say “we are accepting any handmade items. We have had an incredible response already, Ruddington is obviously a craft Mecca!” There’ll be no pre-booking to see Santa, just turn…
Read MoreRuddington Remembers
A new poppy display by the now famous ‘Ruddington Yarn Ninjas’ is among the ways our village is paying its respects this year to those who gave their lives to defend our country. Adorning the railings in front of St Peter’s Church, near the War Memorial, the Ninjas have had a little extra help creating this one. Ninjas’ spokesperson Emma Scott {who provided the photos top and below left} explains: “We have over 100 poppies on the giant poppy all made by the yarn ninjas and members of the WI.”…
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