Spectrum SHOPS 100
Mission Accomplished!
Spectrum SHOP 100, a Yarn Bomb of Slaithwaite’s centenary shops by Fibre Tribe@The Watershed.
If you’re strolling through Carr Lane in Slaithwaite, you may have noticed a rather joyful transformation — the windows of eight local shops have been beautifully "yarn bombed" with a vibrant display of handcrafted mandalas!
These pretty, intricate circles have been lovingly knitted, crocheted, and woven by a host of talented local crafters. Some were made individually at home, others in local crafting groups — and yes, once you start, they are very addictive!
Huge thanks go to everyone who contributed a mandala or two (or five!), including the fabulous Big Rainbow Knitters, The Knitting & Crochet Guild and The Fibre Tribe, who not only made mandalas but became an impressive rigging team in the process!
We’re incredibly grateful to the shopkeepers of Carr Lane who welcomed our slightly chaotic but enthusiastic installation crew. Thank you for the step ladders, the coffee, the encouragement — and the smiles when you realised the colours of the mandalas perfectly complemented each shop's branding.
Special thanks to Woven in Kirklees for funding this project — and for supporting the whole journey, which involved designing, testing & developing the patterns to create the mandala's and putting on workshops for local crafters. Slaithwaite school children were taught how to create the spiky God's Eye mandalas that are now the show piece of each shop window.
The mandalas will remain in the shop windows throughout the Woven in Kirklees festival in June 2025, so be sure to come take a look — or several. They’re a riot of colour, creativity, and community spirit — and they’re here to brighten up our village and your day.
Spectrum SHOP 100, a Yarn Bomb of Slaithwaite’s centenary shops by Fibre Tribe@The Watershed. - Background Info
2025 marks 100 years of the Carr Lane shopping parade in Slaithwaite, with the anniversary being marked by a year-long heritage project looking into its history and shopping in the village. Find out more here: https://www.slaithwaitemoonraking.org.uk/.../slawit-shop.../
After the success of Fibre Tribe’s ‘Wherever I Lay my Hat' project for WOVEN 2023, we are creating displays of woolly mandalas in an array of colour palettes to enhance each shop in June. As well as being super pretty and decorative, the act of creating mandala’s is a relaxing meditative process, something to ease the mind. We will be involving local school children and inviting our local crafting community to knit, crochet and weave mandalas to donate, with patterns and workshops available for all levels of experience.
I am supporting this project, initially by helping crafters along their way knitting & crocheting circles of all shapes (approximate circles!) and sizes.
Carr Lane Shops
Each of the 8 shops has been allocated a colour theme (see descriptive text underneath each shop photo); our aim is to produce a cohesive yet colourful display of textile mandala's of all sizes throughout June 2025.
Ryder & Dutton
Main colour - Dark blue - like paintwork.
Colour to make it pop - touches of red, orange , white, yellow- like signage.
Valli Opticians
Main colour - cream, white
Pop colour- green (like signage), grey (like paintwork), white
Green Valley Grocers
Main colour - dark green (as in paint work)
Pop colour - orange, yellow, red
Culture
Main colour - light / mid blue (as paintwork)
Pop colour - cream, beige
Colne Valley Motor Parts
Main colour - red (as in the stain glass).
Pop colour - mid blue ( as the paintwork). Touches of yellow and white. Think wheels and gears.
Bottomleys
Main colour - black, dark grey.
Pop colour - bright vivid colours. I’m imagining liquorice all sorts.
Mateer Jewellers
Main colour - dark green.
Pop colour - silver and gold. Think jewels!!
Vanilla Bean.
Main colour - gold and yellow ( as in the brilliant lights shining through)
Pop colour - teal
Think lots of stars, moons.