Case Study on ‘Nifty Knitters’ – Taylor High School

The following case study was provided by Cathy MacIntyre, Learning Resource Centre Manager, The Joseph Wilson Library Resource Centre, Taylor High School

I am job-share librarian at Taylor High, we like to encourage our S1 and S2 students to join lunchtime clubs and we wanted something to rival other existing clubs. Various ideas were put forward, we wanted something different and fun. One of my colleagues is a knitting expert and agreed to join me on my mission.

Before we invested in knitting needles we had to make sure our members were serious, 10 came to the first meeting, 4 boys and 6 girls. Nobody knew how to knit, initially our aim was to knit small squares and sew them into a blanket. We would raffle it and donate the money to charity. Long term plan, I hasten to add. Initially to keep their interest alive we decided to show the students how to knit mobile phone covers. We started by showing the group how to cast on 30 stitches and knit plain garter stitch.

The club started in September 2015, it caused quite a commotion once word spread throughout the school. More students wanted to join so we decided to make 12 our maximum number. Last summer we nominated our Group for the National magazine ‘Simply Knitting Group of the Month’’ award and amazingly we were successful. We won £50 worth of knitting yarn. The magazine said that “It will be great to see what your students make with all the yarn.”

We lost a few members along the way but as one left new members joined, it is now March 2017 and we have a waiting list to join the club. They have just finished making miniature pompom hats, we sold them, with Cadburys Cream Eggs, and the money will be given to SCIAF.

Acting Head Teacher Miss Nicola Daley:

“Our library has a very positive energy of learning and fun because of the knitting group. Staff and pupils really enjoy the experience as they learn new skills and work together to raise money for charity.”