Knitting team required to get flight off ground

Reporter: Marina Berry
Date published: 31 December 2013


DR KERSHAW’S Hospice celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2014 and is planning a 12-month fund-raising push — including a return to its roots

One of the first initiatives to fire local imaginations 30 years ago was the creation of a knitted hang glider —and supporter Kay Burns has taken up the challenge of getting the idea literally off the ground again.

Buit to do that she wants keen knitters to cast on and knit four-inch woollen squares, which a team of seamstresses will sew together into a skin for a hang glider extreme sportsman Mike Docherty will attempt to fly at Dovestone reservoir.

If he flies more than 36 inches - yes, that far - he will trounce the record set by Kevin Roberts, who piloted the original craft and raised £1,000.

The craft was donated to the air and space gallery at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry, but when Dr Kershaw’s appeals staff tried to locate it, they were told it had been misplaced.

Mike is confident he will make a good stab at its replacement, and is already rigging a frame for the knitted sail: “I’m not quite sure where I will do it yet. I will need a bit of deep water to land in.”

The daring event will take flight on August 17 as part of a 25th anniversary fun day, with lots on offer for all the family.

Kay (51), from Chadderton, explained: “We need groups, schools, clubs and knit and natter groups to help knit the squares. They need to be knitted in a diamond shape, to prevent them stretching when they get wet, increasing by one stitch each row until the centre measures 4 inches across, then decreasing until getting back to one stitch.”

There is no colour restriction, but the squares need to be knitted on size 8, or 4mm needles, and wool needs to be double knit. A video is due to be placed on Dr Kershaw’s Hospice website showing how to make them.
For more information or to donate double knit wool, contact Kay at kayburns51@googlemail.com