Could you work in a knitted shed?

This year’s I Love West Leeds Festival which opens on Sunday (July 8) in Pudsey Park will feature a life-sized knitted shed complete with woolly window boxes, knitted creepy crawlies, sun flowers, hanging baskets, watering can and gardening tools. The shed is the showcase of a new Guerrilla Knits project in west Leeds which has attracted support from knitting enthusiasts across the country.

The event will also feature 'Shedopolis', a collection of 15 garden sheds each designed and decorated by local artists. This year's sheds include a Jackanory storytelling shed, pub shed, tea shed and a life-sized knitted shed complete with knitted window boxes and knitted creepy crawlies.

Festival organiser, Jane Earnshaw, has been overwhelmed by the offers of support and says: “We’ve had over 200 people, aged 5 to 90, helping to produce knitted items for unusual outdoor locations throughout the festival. In addition to the shed we will have knitted vegetables in the local greengrocers, buns in the bakery, and a flock of sinister knitted robins in the woods.”

Knitting fans from as far afield as Hull, Huddersfield, the Dales and even Maidenhead in Kent have been busy producing the items under the guidance of artist Liz Noble who is a dab hand at producing such delicacies as knitted wedding cakes and even knitted biscuits. Liz has been work with local community groups in West Leeds to produce the shed, which comes complete with knitted hinges, doormat and plant pots. One of the aims of the project is to encourage the older generation to spread their knitting know-how to younger people in the community. Liz has encouraged participation from individuals, community groups, older people’s groups and schools to knit small items and patchwork squares. Groups have also been offered workshops to inspire them and give practical advice.

For more information contact the festival infoline on 0113 263 8556 or go to www.interplayleeds.co.uk