My Life In Patterns

Pat’s knits are royally impressive

Time for tea? Pat is known for her political knits

Pat and Jill’s amazing vehicle certainly stands out on the road

Pat’s projects are fit for a Prince!

One for following a pattern but never the crowd PATRICIA WILSON provides social commentary with a difference. When she’s not driving around in a crafty car or raising money and awareness for worthy causes, this talented knitter is busy transforming news stories into impressive woolly displays. Inspired, entertained and eager to find out more, we couldn’t wait for Patricia to share her life in patterns...

Although I knitted as a teenager, I didn’t pick up my needles again until 2011. In celebration of Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton, Fiona Goble released Knit Your Own Royal Wedding. It was the spark for me to resume knitting, as my Irish family are all big royalists. My grandfather worked for the Royal Stud and each year we used to get Christmas puddings from the palace.

Once I had finished the book, I decided to display my knits in my front window. I live in Deal, Kent, where the house fronts face straight onto the narrow streets and parking is prohibited so people can get up close. The reaction was amazing and it started me off on an incredible journey commemorating topical events in wool using my front window as a gallery.

I’ve always taken an interest in politics so it was impossible to resist the 2015 election. I knitted all of the major party candidates alongside my local ones. When Natalie Bennett re-tweeted her woolly likeness the world briefly went mad!

Buzzfeed picked up on my work and rather oddly assumed I was a man, then the BBC and ITV sent reporters. I’ve also covered the US presidential elections (Trump in teapot form became T-POTUS) and Brexit has been an absolute blessing for my knitting. My depictions – I hope – are humorous and not too unkind! I love hearing the laughter outside and I’ve been told that I make politics fun.

In 2016, my friend Jill Burford suggested we take part in an annual banger car challenge organised by a local charity, Martha Trust. Dubbing ourselves Grans on the Run, we bought a 20 year old Astra for

£200, posted a plea on Facebook for blankets and unfinished projects, then covered the vehicle in knitting and crochet. We raised an astonishing £6,500 driving to Rome and then another £6,000 by driving to Monte Carlo the following year.

Another friend Jenny Knight flew out to Monte Carlo to drive the car back with me. On our return we were spotted by ICHF Events who run the Creative Craft Shows and they invited us to bring the car to their upcoming show. We also took along Jenny’s campervan which was then covered in knitting and crochet during the course of the event. Our display was such a success that ICHF asked us back the following year to share a year-long community project commemorating the twin centenaries of the end of WW1 and women getting the vote. We were joined by Avril Collier and renamed ourselves Grans on the Make.

In collaboration with ICHF we have since raised £13,000 for a small park in Lytham St Annes. This year we are focusing on dementia and asking people to contribute to a memory wall at each of our five shows by making hearts and forget-me-nots. If you would like to get involved, please visit the Grans on the Make Facebook page.