A GROUP of friends have helped to knit a 1.5 mile-long scarf to raise awareness of climate change.

Aire Valley Crafters got together on Zoom to share crafting activities and chat during lockdown. They became involved with Stitches For Survival, a group of knitters, crocheters, stitchers and crafters from across the UK and beyond, who are using their skills to send out a heartfelt message to the COP26 climate talks to be held in Glasgow in November.

The length of the scarf represents the 1.5°C target in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C by the end of the century.

“When we heard about stitches for survival some of us were very interested as we’re all concerned about the climate crisis. We are all striving to reduce our carbon footprint and heed the reuse and recycle messages,” said group member Pam Barnes.

“The idea of a powerful message to our elected representatives and world leaders during COP 26 using a 1.5mile scarf made from hundreds of stitched panels appealed, so we started to knit and sew.

“We used environmental colours, mainly blue and green, designing our individual pieces for the 100x60 cm panels to be finally stitched together. On Zoom, during lockdown, we showed what we were doing as we worked and chatted.”

Pam liaised with the organisers in Glasgow and with the Leeds group, “which made us feel part of a much bigger movement.

Other groups members are Lucinda Barnes, Sue Brearley, Saffron Cooper, Sue Easterbrook, Chris Gill, Anahita Hayrabedian, Mo Jackson, Joyce Robertshaw, Laurence Robinson and Chris Rollings.

Anahita said: “The ethos of the project is that all panels are made sincerely with care, love and concern for our planet, so all contributions are valuable. The main concern now for us was time and how to display metre-long knitted panels without sagging and to the exact dimensions required. It was quite an undertaking, but solved after a few setbacks by backing the work, a task which the machinists shared.

“When we finally met and stitched the 12 pieces together in groups of four we were thrilled at what we’d achieved.”

Chris Gill, of Shipley, added: “I was inspired by the positive attitude of my fellow Zoomers in our weekly craft and chat group. We encouraged each other so that first-time knitters were able to contribute alongside those with more experience.

“I have been knitting and sewing for 60 years, making clothes for myself, then my children and then my grandchildren. I have yarn and fabric left over from these projects, so it was very pleasurable to re-purpose some of this store when creating my panels.

“I chose not to use any slogans as I wanted the rich blues, greens and turquoises to speak for themselves and tell the story of our beautiful earth which we want to protect and preserve. When our panels are together they speak loudly of this beauty.”

She added: “The textures, colours, shades and sentiments make a powerful statement. It is a wondrous thing when a group of people with very different skills and experience can come together and create something so thought-provoking.”

The group was thrilled to be invited to join Leeds stitchers to display their work in York Minster, as part of a season of climate change events, where it can be seen until September 29.

It will then be on display in October and November at various exhibitions and events in Glasgow.