The Framework Knitters Museum was delighted to welcome more than 450 visitors across the May Day Bank Holiday weekend for a joyful celebration of spring, community, creativity and tradition.
Inspired by the revived Cowslip Sunday celebrations in Lambley Village, alongside the authentic atmosphere and strong community spirit of the Museum’s much-loved Victorian Christmas event, Museum Manager David Longford set out to create a brand-new annual May Day celebration for the Museum calendar.
At the heart of the festivities was a very special community project- a knitted Green Man face, created by the Museum’s resident textile artist Helen Brownett. Members of the public were invited to contribute handmade textile leaves of all kinds to decorate the Green Man in celebration of nature, renewal and springtime.
The Museum was overwhelmed by the response to the appeal, receiving hundreds of leaves from across the country- from as far as Orkney to Bristol. Contributions arrived from a wide range of community groups and organisations, including 1st Ruddington Scouts – Beavers A, Second Turning Textile Group, Crochet in Yorkshire, Boots & Brambles Forest School, Woolly Wednesdays Textile Club, Living Threads, Mother Tongue: The Jelly, and Yarn Wilford.
On Sunday 3rd May, the Museum team travelled to Lambley Village Hall to take part in the village’s annual Cowslip Sunday celebrations. The team demonstrated one of the Museum’s historic circular knitting machines and invited visitors to sew leaves onto the Green Man while leaving wishes and messages for the future.
Lambley, situated just six miles north-east of Nottingham, was once a significant centre for framework knitting during the nineteenth century- the very period when Cowslip Sunday was traditionally celebrated by local stockingers and their families. Alongside the Museum team, visitors enjoyed demonstrations and workshops from the Nottinghamshire Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers, live music from John Crawford, family storytelling, displays from the Lambley Historical Society and Lambley Reed Pond Group, as well as cakes and refreshments provided by Lambley WI.
The celebrations continued on Monday 4th May at the Museum in Ruddington, where volunteers demonstrated the handframes and circular knitting machines throughout the day. Visitors also enjoyed traditional storytelling sessions in the Victorian parlour, walkabout puppetry, live music performances from Chris Morris, Higgs Bo’Sun and Ajar, as well as energetic K-Pop dance performances titled “The Cog in the Machine” by Nottingham Trent University dance troupe.
Outdoor demonstrations from the Nottinghamshire Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers drew crowds throughout the day, while Parker’s Yard Café and garden were bustling with visitors enjoying the garden. Meanwhile, the Green Man took pride of place in the Chapel Gallery, where even more beautiful textile leaves were carefully stitched into place.
The Museum would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everybody who contributed leaves, attended events, volunteered, performed, demonstrated or visited during this very special weekend. The overwhelming support and enthusiasm shown by the community made the event a tremendous success.
Following such a positive response, the Museum now hopes to make the May Day celebrations an annual tradition, and the team are already looking forward to next year’s festivities!
