Groups

Knit for Britain from Above

About the group Welcome, Yarnstormers! In this group, you can upload photos of the squadron of knitted planes that you have produced all over the country. Enjoy!

Created 23 May 2013

Fly past at St Albans Catherdral

jill
Friday 12th of September 2014 10:53:07 AM
The Woolly Squadron seems to have a nose for temporal disturbances. This recruit has found the Tardis again at the Royal Welsh show in Builth Wells! Sadly no Doctor in sight this time...

Natasha Scullion
Friday 25th of July 2014 11:35:12 AM
Whitehaven Harbour and environs, Whitehaven, 1933

RachelPixieCreations
Friday 25th of July 2014 11:32:56 AM
Wooly Squadron spotted over Whitehaven Harbour

RachelPixieCreations
Monday 21st of July 2014 05:38:54 PM
These are all fantastic images! Thank you very much for flying your addition to the Woolly Squadron over Whitehaven, we can really see how things have changed (and stayed the same in some cases!) over the years. Brilliant Work!

Natasha Scullion
Friday 25th of July 2014 11:32:56 AM

RachelPixieCreations
Monday 21st of July 2014 05:20:53 PM
Woolly squadron in the skies over the remaining part of St Nicholas' Church in Whitehaven

RachelPixieCreations
Monday 21st of July 2014 05:20:53 PM

RachelPixieCreations
Monday 21st of July 2014 04:43:36 PM
Woolly squadron spotted in the skies over Whitehaven!

RachelPixieCreations
Monday 21st of July 2014 04:43:36 PM

Aisha Hamis
Monday 14th of July 2014 03:27:24 PM
Part of the woolly squadron in Bristol!

Aisha Hamis
Monday 14th of July 2014 03:27:24 PM
The Florence Iron Ore Pit, the Ullcoats Iron Ore Mine and Uldale, Carleton, from the south-west, 1937

RachelPixieCreations
Thursday 3rd of July 2014 06:09:53 PM
Wooly Squadron reporting back from FLorence Mine, Egremont, Cumbria

RachelPixieCreations
Thursday 3rd of July 2014 06:09:53 PM

RachelPixieCreations
Thursday 3rd of July 2014 06:07:36 PM
Wooly squadron pop by Egremont Castle

RachelPixieCreations
Thursday 3rd of July 2014 06:07:36 PM

RachelPixieCreations
Thursday 3rd of July 2014 06:05:17 PM
Woolly squadron in the skies over Egremont, Cumbria

RachelPixieCreations
Thursday 3rd of July 2014 06:05:17 PM
St Mary's Church and Thornbury Castle, Thornbury 1928

Sarah Hoile
Friday 20th of June 2014 11:33:43 AM
A Knit for Britain from Above plane by St Mary's Church, June 2014.

Sarah Hoile
Friday 20th of June 2014 11:33:43 AM
Woolly squadron at Carshalton ponds photos taken standing at the right of the 1921 photo facing towards the left

Carshalton Library knits
Thursday 19th of June 2014 10:22:09 PM
Mini woolly Spitfire and Lancaster(yarn)bomber at Carshalton Ponds. Behind them, Honeywood House (behind trees) with The Greyhound pub to the left and War Memorial to the right

Carshalton Library knits
Monday 16th of June 2014 10:57:50 PM
Another photo, this time taken from the war memorial, that was recently refurbished. In the 1921 aerial photograph this war memorial has only recently been erected

Carshalton Library knits
Thursday 19th of June 2014 10:22:09 PM

Sarah Hoile
Wednesday 18th of June 2014 01:48:17 PM
One of Knit for Britain from Above's planes investigating Middleham Castle.

Sarah Hoile
Wednesday 18th of June 2014 01:48:17 PM

Sarah Hoile
Wednesday 18th of June 2014 01:45:55 PM
One of the woolly squadron coming in to land at Richmond Castle!

Sarah Hoile
Wednesday 18th of June 2014 01:45:55 PM
This is where Centenary Square and the Library of Birmingham are now!

Aisha Hamis
Tuesday 17th of June 2014 04:08:55 PM
Woolly plane flying over Centenary Square

Aisha Hamis
Tuesday 17th of June 2014 04:08:55 PM
The field on the left now contains Westcroft Leisure Centre and the Library @ Westcroft (Carshalton Library)

Carshalton Library knits
Monday 16th of June 2014 11:28:58 PM
Woolly Spitfire taken 16/6/2014, with Westcroft Leisure Centre in the background

Carshalton Library knits
Monday 16th of June 2014 11:28:58 PM
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw006248

Carshalton Library knits
Monday 16th of June 2014 09:52:40 PM
A woolly squadron made by the Monday Make club from Carshalton Library. Woolly spitfires at Carshalton Ponds, facing Honeywood House, to the left is All Saints Church, Carshalton

Carshalton Library knits
Monday 16th of June 2014 09:47:00 PM

Sarah Hoile
Monday 16th of June 2014 04:18:06 PM
One of the woolly squadron at the RAF Museum on Saturday 14th June for World Wide Knit in Public Day!

Sarah Hoile
Monday 16th of June 2014 04:18:06 PM
Hi :)

With regards to the R.A.F. wool, this was essentially un-rationed wool. Knitters would form themselves into work parties of 10 or more and register with the RAFCC. They could then obtain wool coupon free (else 2 ounces of wool cost 1 coupon)either direct from the RAFCC charged at wholesale rates, or from local suppliers with special coupons issued by the RAFCC. This wool also had to fit with the uniform colour scheme- bright pink was not good for camouflage :) but blue/ grey was.

They would have to guarantee that the wool would be used only for RAF knits, using none frivolous patterns, to a high standard, and only garments required. The RAFCC encouraged these high standards by issuing badges to people who created the best work (the head of the group was normally in charge of this).

Magerz
Wednesday 4th of June 2014 03:49:48 PM
Thanks for all this info, Magerz! Really interesting :)

Sandra Brauer
Wednesday 4th of June 2014 03:49:48 PM
Here is the pattern for the knitted aeroplanes. Looking forward to seeing this year's woolly squadron!

Sarah Hoile
Wednesday 28th of May 2014 12:53:10 PM
This former warehouse hasn't changed much since 1934 - one of our Yarnstomers has been there recently to check it out. Where will your woolly aeroplane excursion take you?

Sandra Brauer
Sunday 27th of April 2014 03:20:53 PM
Here's the view in 2013!

Sandra Brauer
Thursday 23rd of May 2013 01:56:50 PM
Used to work there in the early 1960s! Thanks - I'll look for the image.

mo
Sunday 27th of April 2014 03:20:53 PM

Brian Wilkinson
Thursday 14th of November 2013 11:59:05 AM
Caernarfon Castle, one of Edward I's impressive Castles of North Wales with construction begining in 1283.

Natasha Scullion
Friday 1st of November 2013 04:17:00 PM
And today with the Woolly Squadron flying in low for a quick visit!

Natasha Scullion
Friday 1st of November 2013 04:15:45 PM
Landing for a closer look!

Natasha Scullion
Friday 1st of November 2013 04:17:00 PM
The Menai bridge, designed by Thomas Telford & completed in 1826 it links the Isle of Anglesey with the Welsh mainland stretching over 170m of the Menai Straits.

Natasha Scullion
Friday 1st of November 2013 03:48:02 PM
Today it still stands proudly with a visit from one of the Woolly Squadron!

Natasha Scullion
Friday 1st of November 2013 03:48:02 PM
Recently, one of our woolly planes ventured abroad. Maybe it tried to escape the weather?



A user sent this photograph in, commenting 'I also spotted a knitted Aeroplane flying very low over Mondovi where we stayed, Mondovi is a hilltop Medieval Town about 50 miles south West of Turin, so it was obviously lost!'

Sandra Brauer
Thursday 3rd of October 2013 09:43:20 AM

Natasha Scullion
Wednesday 14th of August 2013 10:20:43 AM
...And today as one of the Welsh Woolly Squadron swoops in for a closer look!

Natasha Scullion
Wednesday 14th of August 2013 10:20:43 AM
They even had room for a spot of adventure in Time and Space...

Natasha Scullion
Friday 9th of August 2013 02:00:41 PM
Knitted aeroplane aviation taken to a completely new level - or dimension, should I say?

Sandra Brauer
Friday 9th of August 2013 02:00:41 PM
Then onto the the National Eisteddfod in Denbigh!

Natasha Scullion
Friday 9th of August 2013 01:44:29 PM
Part of the Welsh arm of the Woolly squadron has been busy so far this summer, first appearing at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells at the Royal Commission Stand...

Natasha Scullion
Friday 9th of August 2013 01:43:10 PM
Here's a view of Pendennis Castle residing high above Falmouth Docks in 1928.

Sandra Brauer
Wednesday 7th of August 2013 03:13:47 PM
There are dark clouds looming over Henry VIII's Pendennis Castle in Falmouth. Wonder what the local people working in the docks just below the castle would have thought of the Aerofilms crew in their plane circling high above them to take their photographs ...

Sandra Brauer
Wednesday 7th of August 2013 03:12:49 PM
Taking a sweep past Christchurch in Old Town Swindon

Claire
Wednesday 7th of August 2013 03:07:49 PM
This little plane seems to have a long way to go to reach the top of the church tower. Lovely shot, Claire, thanks.

Sandra Brauer
Wednesday 7th of August 2013 03:07:49 PM
Dear fellow knitters,





thanks so much for posting all those lovely images. Although World Wide Knit in Public Week is now over, please do keep the images coming! We are always looking forward to see your lovingly knitted planes and find out where the images from our collection have taken you.





Our prototype plane has become something of of a team mascot and keeps being taken to locations with team members. Our last stop was Stonehenge.







I was also wondering if any of you knew anything about RAF wool? A team member unearthed an interesting publication called Knitting for the R.A.F. from the Second World War which contains instructions what to knit for the armed forces. All patterns recommend to use R.A.F. Knitting Wool. Any ideas?





Best wishes,

Sandra

Britain from Above Activity Officer

Sandra Brauer
Monday 1st of July 2013 01:46:03 PM
Despite World Wide Knit in Public Day being over, this little plane couldn't resist the temptation to extent its journey and stopover at Stonehenge for this year's summer solstice. As it arrived early, it didn't need to share the stones with the 21,000 people arriving just a tad later for the celebrations...

Sandra Brauer
Friday 28th of June 2013 08:01:45 PM
Wow, a very special flight.

David Parry
Friday 28th of June 2013 08:01:45 PM
The Kildrummy 53 Squadron at Achindour Kirk, Lumsden, Aberdeenshire

Kildrummy 53 Squadron
Tuesday 25th of June 2013 04:31:33 PM
Love it!

Sandra Brauer
Tuesday 25th of June 2013 04:31:33 PM
Further along the Kennet our plane swooped down for a view of the remaining Huntley & Palmers building. This used to be the social club.



The final "B" for Biscuits.

Evelyn
Tuesday 25th of June 2013 04:30:36 PM
Hi Evelyn,



thanks for this very interesting tour of Reading - I pass through regularly on the way to Heathrow but will now keep an eye out for all the places your little plane visited. Great work!

Sandra Brauer
Tuesday 25th of June 2013 04:30:36 PM
For Mskbk just to show that upside down is not inappropriate - in fact those who can loop the loop under power are members of an elite group.....

Alison Cutforth
Wednesday 19th of June 2013 02:28:35 PM
Hello everyone - thought i might give the old knitting a bit of a go - any suggested patterns?



Erika
Tuesday 18th of June 2013 07:54:57 PM
Hi Erika - there is a pattern to download if you go to the Britain from Above 'Home' page and follow the News link for Knit for Britain from Above - down the page you will find the download link. Feel free to modify the pattern!

David Parry
Tuesday 18th of June 2013 07:54:57 PM
Coming to rest just outside Aberystwyth

Algernon
Monday 17th of June 2013 04:53:20 PM
What a friendly dragon for letting one of the Woolly Squadrons share their perch!

Natasha Scullion
Monday 17th of June 2013 04:53:20 PM
It was a bit of a challenge but here is my Spitfire at an appropriate place - even though there are no aerial photos of here loaded yet.

Carol
Monday 17th of June 2013 04:47:31 PM
What a fantastic spitfire! And what an apt place for a landing spot!

Natasha Scullion
Monday 17th of June 2013 04:47:31 PM
...and another....

Carol
Sunday 16th of June 2013 09:19:23 PM
Huntley & Palmers in 1928.

Reading's 3rd B - for biscuits.

Evelyn
Sunday 16th of June 2013 09:04:36 AM
Bulbs - the second B. Sutton Seeds site in Central Reading. This photo was taken in Forbury Square. The building on the left is Shire Hall (which is in the 1928 photo) now occupied by the Forbury Hotel. In the centre is the Blade and on the right Davidson House.

Evelyn
Sunday 16th of June 2013 09:00:11 AM
Next stop, Forbury Square part of the six acre central Reading site occupied by Suttons Seeds.



This is the area in 1928.

Evelyn
Sunday 16th of June 2013 08:53:38 AM
Heavy rain in the middle of the afternoon nearly led to our first flight being abandoned. However the weather improved and we were able to set off to fly over the sites of Reading's 3B's - Beer, Bulbs and Biscuits.



Our first - the part of the Simonds brewery site now occupied by the Oracle shopping centre in the centre of Reading with the Kennet running through the middle. Behind us are the malthouses.

Evelyn
Sunday 16th of June 2013 08:47:13 AM
The first of Reading's 3B's - Beer - Simond's Brewery in 1932 and the area currently occupied by the Oracle shopping centre.



Evelyn
Sunday 16th of June 2013 08:40:08 AM


Seafront Westcliff 0n Sea Essex

Helen Boyd
Saturday 15th of June 2013 02:21:03 PM
Great plane - love the choice of building materials!

David Parry
Saturday 15th of June 2013 01:25:15 PM
And this is how the Southend seafront looked in 1920:

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw000539

David Parry
Saturday 15th of June 2013 02:21:03 PM

mskbk
Friday 14th of June 2013 06:16:28 PM
And I only realise now that I hung the plane upside-down. Oops.

mskbk
Friday 14th of June 2013 06:16:28 PM
Newport town centre in 1921 with the station in the top left corner of the photograph.

Natasha Scullion
Friday 14th of June 2013 04:41:43 PM
Newport railway station today complete with a knitted Britain from Above logo!

Natasha Scullion
Friday 14th of June 2013 04:41:43 PM
The Town Hall, The Strand, Calne, Wiltshire. Standing beside the River Marden and opposite the site of the old Harris Bacon Factory.

Promigeo
Friday 14th of June 2013 09:52:49 AM
This photo can now be seen on the Campaign for Wool facebook page.

www.facebook.com/thecampaignforwool?fref=ts

Class31
Thursday 13th of June 2013 08:13:46 PM
That's a fantastic shot! This recruit to the Woolly Squadron will be hard to miss on its flyovers!

Natasha Scullion
Friday 14th of June 2013 09:52:49 AM
Impressed with the spread of the BfA woollens! Great work. Looking forward to seeing more.

David Parry
Thursday 13th of June 2013 05:18:01 PM

mskbk
Thursday 13th of June 2013 05:15:40 PM
and here's my plane, from up on the Necropolis.

mskbk
Wednesday 12th of June 2013 10:38:36 PM
Like the yarnstorm shot, mskbk!

David Parry
Thursday 13th of June 2013 05:15:40 PM
See the Campaign for Wool facebook page which today has a link to Britain for Above. www.facebook.com/thecampaignforwool?fref=ts

Class31
Thursday 13th of June 2013 05:14:37 PM
Nice spot Class31 - a knitted flight path.

David Parry
Thursday 13th of June 2013 05:14:37 PM
Avebury in 1924 before the Knit for Britain from Above Yarnstormers arrived!

Natasha Scullion
Thursday 13th of June 2013 10:25:54 AM
Part of the Avebury Henge Monument today with a visiting Britain from Above plane!

Natasha Scullion
Thursday 13th of June 2013 10:25:54 AM
... and spotted over the town hall in RWB.

judyinwilts
Wednesday 12th of June 2013 05:57:58 PM
Probably one of the most changed places in the country. From the construction of the Tyne Bridge to the NewcastleGateshead quayside, cultural hot spot of the North East, in less than 80 years.

Sandra Brauer
Wednesday 12th of June 2013 02:46:48 PM
... and our wooly plane has seen it all on a particularly sunny day.

Sandra Brauer
Wednesday 12th of June 2013 02:46:48 PM
But there are still planes flying over our back garden!

judyinwilts
Wednesday 12th of June 2013 12:14:57 PM
Fantastic to see the Woolly Squadron in action and over such a lovely garden too! Looking forward to seeing more flying over Britain soon!

Natasha Scullion
Wednesday 12th of June 2013 12:14:57 PM

judyinwilts
Wednesday 12th of June 2013 11:56:08 AM
Title The Harris Bacon Factory, High Street and The Strand, Calne, 1929

Image reference EPW029293

Date 14th September 1929

Promigeo
Wednesday 12th of June 2013 11:13:33 AM
The Lansdowne Strand Hotel old coaching house on the London to Bath road.

Promigeo
Monday 10th of June 2013 03:50:39 PM
What a beautiful building. And what a well selected spot for one of our wooly planes to land! It definitely isn't shy about landing in the middle of town, given its bright pink colour.... Fingers crossed more of its kind will follow the example!

Sandra Brauer
Wednesday 12th of June 2013 11:13:33 AM
How it is today after a bit of wooly improvement.

Liz Fife-Faulkner
Tuesday 11th of June 2013 12:25:36 PM

Liz Fife-Faulkner
Tuesday 11th of June 2013 12:09:25 PM

Liz Fife-Faulkner
Tuesday 11th of June 2013 12:07:06 PM
Aberystwyth Castle in 1932 along with St Michael's Church and the Old College of the university. The buildings themselves haven't changed as much as their surroundings in the last 70+ years!

Natasha Scullion
Tuesday 11th of June 2013 10:26:35 AM
Landing today in Aberystwyth our plane is waiting to take of from the Eisteddfod monument in the centre of Aberystwyth Castle with Old College and St Michael's Church in the background. The buildings have changed little over the last 70+ years unlike their surroundings!

Natasha Scullion
Tuesday 11th of June 2013 10:26:35 AM
Visited on a day to Dorset's World Heritage Coast and Chesil Beach.

David Parry
Tuesday 11th of June 2013 07:11:43 AM
The Journey continues...

David Parry
Tuesday 11th of June 2013 07:10:38 AM
And another view...

David Parry
Tuesday 11th of June 2013 07:11:43 AM
This is very near to where I used to live in Rochester, not so many fields there now though!

Verity Hancock
Monday 10th of June 2013 10:53:21 PM
And here it is today!

Verity Hancock
Monday 10th of June 2013 01:24:22 PM
You have an amazing flight control system for your knitted plane!

David Parry
Monday 10th of June 2013 10:53:21 PM




Andrew Carnegie the steel magnate donated the funds to build this public library. It stood in the shadow of the world famous C T Harris pork factory. A new library was contructed at the end of the 20th Century just along the road and the Carnegie building is now The Calne Heritage Centre

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Promigeo
Monday 10th of June 2013 09:24:50 AM
Title The Harris Bacon Factory and the town, Calne, from the south-west, 1930

Image reference EPW033522

Date July 1930

Promigeo
Monday 10th of June 2013 12:14:24 AM
Nice plane!

David Parry
Monday 10th of June 2013 08:17:29 AM
What a great start to the Kit for Britain from Above week! Thanks very much. We're looking forward to see more planes landing across the country soon.

Sandra Brauer
Monday 10th of June 2013 09:24:50 AM
This is such a lovely place to visit especially if you're in the mood for a seaside picnic!

Verity Hancock
Wednesday 5th of June 2013 08:14:02 PM
And if you're enjoying a picnic, why not yarn storm too!

Verity Hancock
Wednesday 5th of June 2013 08:14:02 PM
Here's a photograph of Malmesbury Abbey from 1930 which has been yarnstormed 83 years later.

Sandra Brauer
Thursday 23rd of May 2013 01:50:16 PM
Starting off with a plane in Britain from Above blue circling around beautiful Malmesbury Abbey ...

Sandra Brauer
Thursday 23rd of May 2013 01:46:47 PM
As part of World Wide Knit in Public Week from 8th to 16th June 2013, we have invited people with a love of knitting help us form a woolly squadron to invade Britain's public spaces. Here they all are! Are there any near you?

Sandra Brauer
Thursday 23rd of May 2013 01:45:49 PM