Saltaire might have a reputation as being a tight-knit community, and now there is a creative project in the village that is leaving the community in stitches.

Keith Lander, who lives in the village, is the man behind the Big Saltaire Knit, aimed at inspiring residents and local groups to get their needles clicking.

Mr Lander said he came up with the idea to showcase the World Heritage Site’s woollen heritage in a fun and quirky way.

Saltaire’s Rainbow Morris dance team have already knitted a rainbow coloured dancing scarf they performed with at Roberts Park recently and members of Caroline Street Social Club in the village are also well on the way to knitting metres of bunting to go outside the building.

Shipley College’s Knit And Natter group have done a trial run of their ‘yarn bombing’ when they dressed up the Saltaire lions during the recent Saltaire’s Arts Trail, and Saltaire WI got permission from artist David Hockney to reproduce a knitted version of his Salts Mill painting.

Other groups Mr Lander has ‘cast on’ include Saltaire’s Circle Dance Group, St Peter’s Church Active Seniors and Saltaire’s own Kniterati group.

All the groups are hoping to display their works on knitted art in September during the Saltaire Festival and the whole community is being urged to do their bit.

“Everyone and anyone can get involved just by knitting us some flags, or even just one, and handing it in to Vicar’s Cafe Bistro or Saltaire Yarns in Oastler Road so it can be turned into bunting – we could do with them all finished by early July, so please get knitting!” said Mr Lander.

Anyone who wants to get involved, whether they can knit or not, is asked to e-mail knitsaltaire@gmail. com.