Eye - 24 November 2023

From Beautiful bunting to Quirky Quaker monikers

Beautiful bunting

Spirituality and creative expression were highlighted in a recent display by Friends in Skipton Meeting.

A ‘festival of yarn and woolly creativity’ is held annually in Skipton and several Quakers in the Local Meeting joined with members of the Grassington Peace Group in staffing a stall there in September.

They told Eye: ‘In addition to sharing information about aids which enable people to continue their creativity as their dexterity and eyesight diminishes, it provided an opportunity to talk with those attending about the spiritual aspects of craft work. This prompted a number of enquiries regarding the location of the Meeting house and the time of Meeting for Worship.’

They added: ‘In the months leading up to the show, the organisers encourage participants to produce knitted or crochet bunting to decorate the sheds, circulating a different pattern each year. This year for the first time it was suggested that lettering could be added to create words such as “knit – wool – sheep – weave – spin – smile.” Skipton Friends decorated their stand with wording that illustrated the spiritual aspects of craft work: “peace – joy – cooperation – friendship – stillness – calm.”’

But this beautiful bunting has a life beyond Yarndale! Gil Skidmore, of Skipton Meeting, told Eye that it has been mounted for display in the Meeting house – and shared this photo of the colourful result!

Good for a laugh

There’s an elderly Friend in Penarth
Who will get up to tricks in his bath.
With the plugs and the soaps
He invents periscopes
It is naughty but good for a laugh.

Alec Davison