New film YARN to have special Knit-along screenings from 7th October

With UK Wool Week due to start on 10th October, the new release of the film YARN in UK cinemas from 7 October is timely.  It poses the question whether yarn is an art or a craft, and challenges one’s perception of both.

I was informed that the theatrical documentary film YARN introduces the unique stories of characters from four different countries who use yarn in very different ways, redefining the tradition of knit and crochet, bringing yarn out of the house and into the world.

But when I saw the film, I not only found it inspirational but also eye-opening.  Its poetetic approach - and thanks to narration by Barbara Kingsolver - took me on a journey to view yarn as an evolving art material, used in creative non-conventional ways that can help convey a message, stimulate an interaction or even activate one's search for the meaning of life.  Indeed as one of the artists proposes, when we stop wanting and thriving, we stop living, as "to strive is the very meaning of life."

Artistically alluring, the film does not pretend to be philosophical.  With the use of animation and simple graphics, it brings out the child in each of us, still interested in the curiosity in the art of discovering.

Directed by Una Lorenzen (Iceland) and Co-Directed and Produced by Heather Millard (UK) and Thordur Jonsson (Iceland), YARN will be screened in UK cinemas from 7th October, and will also be hosting very special Knit-Along screenings to embrace the spirit of the film. 

YARN follows four artists from different countries who in their own ways to bring life to a simple piece of yarn.  The characters are not just skilful with their craft, but are conceptual artists, treating yarn not only as a tactile tool but as means to convey their thoughts.  They all work with their hands and their artwork is in one way or another interacting with the environment; as part of architecture, the streets, nature and people.  With artistic expression as their common thread, the wool graffiti artists, circus performers, and structural designers create "visually-striking works to make a stance while building modern art's hottest trends."

Polish crochet artist Olek

Produced by Compass Films with 2M Film Studio, YARN has won the Audience Award at the Nordisk Panorama Film Festival 2016.  Officially selected for SXSW and Goteborg Film Festival 2016, YARN has been met in the US and Canada with critical acclaim, with the New York Times referring to it as: “You have almost certainly never seen a better documentary on yarn than ‘YARN’… thread and string should be jealous” and The Hollywood Reporter calling it “A fanciful art doc for the craft-y among us.” Additionally, YARN was also premiered in Canada at the Vancouver International Film Festival on 2nd October.

Some key events are organized for charity such as Brighton Komedia Picturehouse which is in support of Emmaus – a local homeless charity in Brighton and co-hosted by YAK a local yarn store, allowing ticket holders to join in on the knitting action for a good cause.
Additional Knit-Along screenings include:
Southampton Picturehouse – Harbor Lights
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Picture house National Media Museum
Errol Flynn Filmhouse
Courtyard Hereford
City Screen York
Greenwich Picturehouse 

In addition, a special premiere screening of the film will take place at Hackney’s Picturehouse on the 9th October for the Keep Hackney Warm Project – a charity for the homeless of Hackney.  Not only will all ticket holders be granted access to the Knit-Along screening featuring a special introduction by US based craft designer Vickie Howell and a Pomcast Q&A, they will also be given access to the after party which includes a complimentary drink on entrance and a DJ as ticket holders network with fellow crafters. For information on Tickets, click HERE.

Artist Tinna from Iceland.

Co-Director and Producer Heather Millard said: “We are thrilled to release YARN in over 40 cinemas across the UK just ahead of Wool Week.  We began production for YARN back in 2013 and since then we’ve filmed across 11 different countries (including the UK), worked with a crew from the UK, Iceland, Canada, Poland and Sweden and are now in the midst of our US theatrical release with further releases planned for Sweden, Canada, Australia, Greenland, Slovakia, Netherlands and Greece.”

For more information on YARN, to watch a trailer and to find out where it’s showing in cinemas please click HERE.

Wool lamp shades at Heal's this autumn. YARN the film to launch soon.

We usually associate wool with fashion and accessories, throws and blankets and even rugs.  But what about lamp shades.

Pendant lamp shade in dip-dyed wool made by Jane Withers for Heal's.

Just launched at UK's supremo home retailer Heal's this autumn is a new collection of woolly knitted lighting hand-made by Jane Withers.

Janie Knitted Textiles was established in 2005 by Janie Withers and her partner Michael Hanmer.

The brand ethos is centred around the use of natural fibres such as merino wool, linen and cotton sourced from UK suppliers.

Trained at Nottingham Trent University in knitwear design before working in design studios for knitted textile companies, Jane has concentrated on making and developing knitted fabrics and products since 2000.


Janie Knitted Lighting focuses on using natural British merino wool from the UK, which has been dip dyed.  Now available exclusive to Heal's are geometric lamp shades in Indigo or Cerulean Blue.

Documentary film YARN to launch soon.

While still on the subject, one should note that a new theatrical documentary film called YARN is launching across the UK in a few weeks' time, from October 7th ahead of UK Wool Week.

By Compass Films in co-production with 2M Film Studio, YARN was directed by Una Lorenzen (Iceland) and Co-Directed and Produced by Heather Millard (UK) and Thordur Jonsson (Iceland).  

The film described as a poetic documentary will be released across 40 UK cinemas from 7th October 2016 ahead of UK Wool Week.

Officially selected for SXSW and Goteborg Film Festival 2016, YARN follows four international artists who are redefining the tradition of knit and crochet, bringing yarn out of the house and into the world. Reinventing our relationship with this colourful tradition, YARN weaves together wool graffiti artists, circus performers, and structural designers into a visually-striking look at the women who are making a creative stance while building one of modern art's hottest trends.

The film introduces us to the unique stories of characters from four different countries that use yarn in very different ways. Their view of the world is reflected through their passion with yarn as they travel around the world spreading their work. The characters all have one thing in common - they all work by hand and their work is in one way or another interacting with the environment; as part of architecture, the streets, nature and people. 

The film has been met in the US and Canada with critical acclaim, with the New York Times referring to it as: “You have almost certainly never seen a better documentary on yarn than ‘YARN’… thread and string should be jealous” and The Hollywood Reporter calling it “A fanciful art doc for the craft-y among us.”

Co-Director and Producer Heather Millard said: “We began production for YARN back in 2013 and since then we’ve filmed across 11 different countries (including the UK), worked with a crew from the UK, Iceland, Canada, Poland and Sweden and are now in the midst of our US theatrical release with further releases planned for Sweden, Canada, Australia, Greenland, Slovakia, Netherlands and Greece.”

For more information on YARN, to watch a trailer and to find out where it’s showing in cinemas, click HERE.