When I saw a piece about Mersham knitted village on the news and in the Press I blocked out Saturday 16th May in my diary. I knew I HAD to see this wonderful labour of love.
I was not disappointed. It was fabulous. I'm sad that it's been split up, it really did deserve a place in a museum. Many of the villagers were at the final exhibition, there to make sure that only they would snap up their own knitted house.
I was very cheeky and asked if I photograph my "knitting koala" in the various houses and gardens - I think she looks like she's knitting her own home!
It began way back in 1986 when some of the ladies in the village Monday afternoon club decided to knit the village after seing an article in Women's Weekly about another village who had taken up their needles to knit their own homes.
The knitted village was exhibited in various local fetes to raise money for the Village Hall - I'm told they've raised around £10,000.
To my surprise (and secret delight) some houses went unclaimed - so I was able to make a donation to the Village Hall fund and take away "Long Row". Having bought my knitted house, of course the next task was to find the "real life" version - and here I am, proudly holding the knitted house with the real house as a backdrop.
It was a real pleasure to meet the ladies of the Afternoon club. They were so full of life and such fun - I hope I'm half as lively as them when I'm another 30 years on! And I shall treasure my knitted cottage. I spoke to a young reporter who was covering the event. She asked me if I found the houses inspirational - I should say so! I'm sure you've already guessed I'm planning to add houses to my repetoire! For now I only have this little Oast house:
