The Longest Yarn Exhibition | Keep Calm and Crochet On U.K

You may remember that back in December 2024, I had the privilege of visiting Longest Yarn Exhibition exhibition for the first time – and I was absolutely blown away by it. The creativity, craftsmanship, and sheer scale of that original installation were unlike anything I’d ever seen before. So when I heard there would be a second instalment, I knew I had to try and visit. And what better day to share it with you than Armistice Day, when we all pause to remember the bravery and resilience of those who lived through war.

Banner for The Longest Yarn 2 exhibition, displaying details about the event, including dates and location.

Following the success of the original exhibition, The Longest Yarn 2: Britain at War builds upon the same heartfelt storytelling – this time focusing on what life was like in Britain between 3 September 1939, when war was declared, and 8 May 1945, VE Day.

A crowded exhibition space featuring glass display cases filled with yarn art, with attendees observing and taking photos.

The exhibition features 80 brand-new panels of “wool art,” each one metre long, depicting key moments and experiences from the Second World War. From The King’s Speech to D-Day, The Blitz, the Home Guard, the Women’s Land Army, rationing, and much more, each piece offers a vivid, tactile snapshot of wartime Britain – all told through the medium of yarn.

A group of knitted figures depicting people from the Second World War era, holding bags and standing in front of a knitted structure. Each figure showcases unique clothing and expressions, highlighting the craftsmanship and detail of the yarn art.

Once again, I found myself completely mesmerised by the artistry on display. Every stitch, every colour choice, every carefully rendered detail spoke volumes about the love, dedication, and skill poured into this project.

Accompanying the panels is an extraordinary set of eight life-size wool figures, collectively titled “Army of Duty Calls.” These represent the many faces of service and sacrifice during the war; from a Land Girl to a Spitfire Pilot, each crafted with astonishing detail and care. Standing among them feels almost like stepping back in time. I was particularly blown away with the piper Bill Millin, the attention to detail was just astonishing!

A life-size wool figure of a soldier in a kilt, playing the bagpipes, displayed inside an exhibition with stained glass windows in the background.

I could easily have spent hours photographing each panel – but instead, I’ve chosen a small selection of images to share with you here, to give you just a taste of this unforgettable experience.

A knitted model of a military aircraft displayed above a textured yarn landscape, representing scenes from wartime Britain.

The level of detail in each yarn creation was truly astounding. Guided by historians to ensure historical accuracy, every scene was thoughtfully chosen by its creator to tell the story of this momentous period in history, each one unique, heartfelt, and crafted with exceptional care.

A wool art installation depicting a scene of firefighters responding to an emergency, featuring miniature knitted figures and a damaged building labeled 'United Dairies', surrounded by debris and flames.

From evacuees and bombed houses to families sheltering in the Underground and incredibly detailed machinery, every panel captured such poignant moments in yarn that it completely blew my mind how thoughtfully each one had been constructed. It was so clear how much love and effort had gone into every piece. I couldn’t help but marvel at how each crocheter and knitter had managed to convey such depth and emotion through yarn – it’s nothing short of genius.

A knitted scene depicting a the London Underground as an air raid shelter with various knitted figures, including a nurse and patients, set against a textured backdrop with a sign reading 'while there is tea there is hope'.

As I mentioned in my original blog post, the exhibition actually began as an idea by Tansy Forster, who was inspired by the post box toppers and yarn bombing events seen around the UK. She initially planned to create a small topper for her garden wall in Houesville to mark the 80th anniversary, but after chatting with a few friends and fellow knitters, the idea quickly grew and grew!

A collection of knitted wool figures representing soldiers, dressed in military attire, displayed in a train box car.

After touring the UK and Ireland, drawing more than 250,000 visitors, the original Longest Yarn is now on display in the United States for a year-long exhibition. I doubt Tansy ever imagined it would evolve into such an incredible worldwide exhibition, let alone lead to a whole second instalment. Personally, I’m hoping there’ll be a third one in the future!

A detailed wool art scene depicting a burning house with smoke and flames, showcasing the impact of wartime experiences through yarn craftsmanship.

As before what truly made the exhibition so special was the incredible sense of community woven through every crocheted and knitted stitch. Each panel told its own story, lovingly created by individuals and groups who poured their hearts into preserving this important part of our history. It’s a beautiful reminder of how creativity not only connects us to the past but also inspires those who will carry these stories forward into the future.

A detailed yarn art display showcasing a knitted crowd gathered outside Buckingham palace with figures representing the royal family on the balcony.

The Longest Yarn 2 exhibition is currently touring Great Britain and Northern Ireland and will continue through to the end of 2027. It’s free to attend, ensuring that everyone has the chance to experience this remarkable creative tribute.

However, the project receives no formal funding and relies entirely on public generosity to keep it on the road. A £5 donation is suggested, which helps cover essential travel and setup costs – a small price to pay to support such a meaningful and inspiring initiative.

A detailed yarn art installation depicting a community gathering for VE day celebrations with numerous miniature figures seated around a long table, celebrating with food, drinks, and festive decorations.

If you get the chance to see it for yourself, I thoroughly recommend it. It’s a moving, beautifully made reminder of our shared history — and a celebration of the power of art, craft, and community spirit.

For more details, visit: The Longest Yarn website

Still Supporting the Poppy Appeal

Just a little side note. As we remember those who served, I’m also continuing to raise money for the Royal British Legion through sales of my poppy crochet pattern. It’s a small way to give back and to honour those who gave so much – and I’m so grateful to everyone who’s supported this cause so far.

A pair of hands holding a crocheted red poppy flower, surrounded by multiple other crocheted poppies on a white wooden surface.

If you’d like to crochet your own poppy and help support the Poppy Appeal, you can find all the original details (and the pattern link) in my post here: 👉 Pattern Re-Release: Poppy Appeal

Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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Today, I had the privilege of visiting the Longest Yarn Exhibition at Stoke Minster, and I’m still buzzing from the experience. This absolutely breath-taking display celebrates craftsmanship, community, and commemoration in the most extraordinary way.

A banner outside Stoke Minister church in Stoke-on-Trent advertising the Longest Yarn exhibition.

The exhibition showcases a knitted and crocheted tribute to D-Day; 80 scenes include the build up in England, the horrors on the Landing Beaches and the bloody inland battles on 6th June 1944 in wool art.

Quite simply it’s a patchwork of storytelling and history woven into every stitch. For me, it felt deeply personal; my granddad landed on Gold Beach on D-Day, and standing before the vibrant, intricate scenes definitely made me think of him.

Inside Stoke Minister we can see some of the 80 display cabinets that make up the scenes of the Longest Yarn exhibition.

I could have easily spent hours photographing every single detail of the exhibition—it was that incredible—but I’ve captured a small sample to share with you here. I have also shared some videos I took on todays Vlogmas reel over on Instagram. Hopefully, these glimpses give you a sense of the wondrous craftmanship that went into creating this spectacular display.

A crocheted pretty French girl tries to distract German soldiers in a tableau from The Longest Yarn exhibition.

The level of detail in the yarn creations was astounding. Created with guidance from historians, retained by the project, to be historically accurate, each scene has been selected by the creator to depict the story of this momentous day in history, each scene unique and made with care.

Close up of an army of knitted soldiers featured in one of the tableaus of The Longest Yarn exhibition

From depictions of soldiers on the beaches to poignant moments captured in yarn that just blew my mind how they had thought to construct them. It was clear how much love and effort went into every piece. I couldn’t help but marvel at how each crocheter and knitter had managed to create such depth and emotion with yarn—it’s nothing short of genius.

Scene from The Longest Yarn exhibition depicting
knitted soldiers are shown in a barracks scene, reading and climbing up onto bunkbeds as they wait for deployment.

Reading up on the the exhibition apparently it began as an idea by a lady called Tansy Forster who admired the post box toppers and yarn bombing events in the UK. She then had the idea that she’d make a topper for her garden wall in Houesville for 80th Anniversary, however mulling it over with a few other folk and some other knitters the whole thing rather grew!

Scene from The Longest Yarn exhibition depicting a crochet war council discussing the D Day landing

Now it’s a work of 80 meters representing 80 years and the 80 days of The Battle of Normandy. The exhibition, created by over 1,000 crafters, is broken up in to 80 x 1 meter panels being constructed around the world; as from as far as Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and Europe.

Scene from The Longest Yarn exhibition depicting a knitted scene for the horses and the liberation of Sainte Mere Eglise

What definitely made the exhibition special was the sense of community woven into each piece. Each section had its own story, crafted by individuals or groups who poured their hearts into preserving this vital piece of history. It’s a powerful reminder of how creativity can connect us to the past while inspiring future generations.

Scene from The Longest Yarn exhibition depicting wounded knitted soldiers getting treatment in a field hospital after a battle.

If the Longest Yarn Exhibition ever comes to a location near you, I cannot recommend it enough. There is no charge to enter the exhibition, but donations are welcome. Whether you’re a history buff, a craft enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates incredible art, this is an event you won’t want to miss. From the leaflet from the exhibition The Longest Yarn is scheduled to visit following places next;