Knittaz with Attitude craft along film screening: The Nettle Dress

There’s something diffrerent about May’s Knittaz session.

We’re inviting you to join us for a craft-a-long screening of modern-day fairytale and hymn to the healing power of nature and slow craft, The Nettle Dress .

Added bonus: you get to craft while we watch together.

About the film

Textile artist Allan Brown spends seven years making a dress from scratch, using only the fibre of locally foraged stinging nettles. This is ‘hedgerow couture’, the greenest of slow fashion. It is also the medicine that helps Allan survive the death of his wife, Alex, which leaves him and their four children bereft.

‘Grasping the Nettle’ is at the heart of this story. The challenge of making zero carbon clothing means relearning ancient crafts: foraging, spinning, weaving, cutting and sewing. For Allan, making a dress this way becomes devotional and healing.

“While making the dress over all these years, I felt like I was being transformed by the nettles rather than the other way around.
When Alex was ill and going through chemotherapy, as soon as I began spinning yarn, I felt calmer. It became much more than just a piece of cloth; it’s been woven with the stories of people who know and love you.”

The dress took seven years to complete and is made using 14,400 feet of thread, with each one representing hours of loving attention. Finally, the dress is worn in the woods where the nettles were picked, by Oonagh, one of Allan’s daughters.
Director Dylan Howitt says: “There’s a rich history of textiles across the UK and today so many people are involved in the revival of foraging, traditional crafts and looking at how to make things in a more sustainable way. The Nettle Dress is part of that conversation”.

Run time

• Film: 1 hour 8 minutes
• Recorded Q&A: 30 minutes

Other film details

• Cert 12A
• Director Dylan Howitt

How it will work
During this screening, you can enjoy your usual creative crafty activities such as knitting, crochet, cross stitch etc.
This is completely optional – you are also welcome to just sit and watch the film.

• You can bring your own craft project if you wish.
• This event will be a relaxed experience suitable for crafters and neurodivergent audiences.
• The film will start at 6:30pm, followed by a short break, then the recorded Q&A

What to expect

• The lights will stay on at a low level so you can craft while enjoying the film
• You can move around if you need to
• There will be a chill out space if you need to take a break
• No ads or trailers
• We’ll still serve our usual meal

Cost

£4 (£3 for young people) – includes food, drinks, wool & use of equipment.

Please book in advance where possible so we can make enough food.

GETTING HERE

• Tram & Train to Blackpool North Station
• Bus: No 6 or 18 to Topping St., No 3, 3a, 5c, 6, 18 to Church St (Stanley Buildings), No 5, 5a, 5b, 6, 7a, 14 to Talbot Rd

• Driving: The closest pay and display car parks are on East Topping St and Talbot Road multi storey. There is also parking at the nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket, please make sure that you check the terms before you use the car park.

TOP TIP: If you need to park a car, then there is usually plenty of free on-street parking on Edward St and Topping St from 6pm.

We’re in the upstairs workshop space for this sessions.

As work on our lift is still ongoing, there is currently no level access. It’s a single flight of 14 steps then you go around the corner and there are two small steps. Once you’re upstairs there’s a loo. You shouldn’t need to come downstairs for anything until the end of the event.

If you can’t manage the stairs but want to attend, please let us know by emailing (using the contact organiser button/link) or sending us an SMS text/WhatsApp message before 20 April in advance on 07957 602790 and we will try to make adjustments.

Also please get in touch if you have additional access needs (e.g. hearing loop, BSL interpreter)

PLEASE BOOK YOUR SPOT TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.