Knitty Gritty at the Great Wall

Alison Cooper knitting at the Great Wall

Whilst recently working in China for Touchstones Rochdale Art Gallery, Alison Cooper decided it would be a great opportunity to take her most recent knitting project to help pass the time flight spent travelling by plane and over land.

Touchstones Rochdale Art Gallery currently has a number of artworks currently on loan to a major touring exhibition travelling to six museums across China. Alison worked alongside staff from Bury Art Museum to ensure the safe transit of 80 pieces of artwork from Beijing to the North Eastern city of Shenyang. The exhibition, 'Towards Modernity' highlights three centuries of British art showcasing artwork from the North West of England's publicly owned collections. The exhibition is proving to be a huge success with Chinese art lovers.

Alison Cooper, Arts and Heritage Assistant at Touchstones Rochdale runs the popular monthly knitting group Knitty Gritty at Touchstones Rochdale. The group has been running for over four years as a relaxed chance for knitters to meet up for a natter over a cup of tea in Touchstones Rochdale's Cafe Life.

The Knitty Gritty members regularly take part in creative textile projects organised by Touchstones Rochdale Art Gallery staff and are currently busy knitting up lots of colourful flowers which will be installed at the entrance of the building to link in with the opening of the Museums new exhibition 'Bloom' which opens on Saturday16 February 2013.

After a full schedule of working over the Christmas holidays Alison took some time out to visit the Great Wall of China and couldn't resist taking her current knitting project with her. The flowers she has created whilst working in China will be added to the donations of flowers being made by Knitty Gritty members at Touchstones Rochdale.

Members of the knitting group will also work with primary school children from Rochdale to create the flowers, leaves and stems of a giant garland to adorn the entrance of the building. This will give more experienced knitters a chance to pass on their skills to primary school pupils.

If anyone would like to become involved in 'Knitting in Bloom' they are welcome to donate knitted or crochet flowers by bringing or posting them to Touchstones Rochdale before Wednesday 30 January. Any flower patterns are welcome although a size of approximately 8cm/3inch diameter would be ideal.