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World Record Challenge

Big Knits take over Metroradio Arena

On Monday 10th March at the Metroradio arena in Newcastle upon Tyne, Ingrid Wagner attempted to break the world record for knitting with the world's largest needles. The record attempt launched the 11th Annual Pins & Needles, Needlework and Craft show which is running 3rd to 5th April 2008, also at the Metroradio arena.

Director and organiser of Pins & Needles, Alison Lough, said,

"We have organised this World record attempt to launch our show and highlight the revival in the popularity of knitting. The current record stands at needles 3.5m long and 6.5cm in diameter. We aim to smash this with needles 3.5m long but 8cm in diameter and bring the Worlds largest needles to the North East's largest craft show."

The needles were an exact scaled up model of an 8mm knitting needle, or an old imperial size 0. Ingrid was assisted with this giant task by fellow arena users, The Newcastle Eagles. Well known for their basketball handling skills, they found themselves handling both ends of the giant needles while Ingrid knitted with the other ends.

To break the world record, Ingrid had to cast on 10 stitches and knit 10 rows. Even though she had a head start with her own experience of Big Knitting on 1.2m long needles, the giant task took an hour to complete.

"It was quite a challenge," Ingrid said. "But the current record holder lives in the South so I wanted to see the North take on the challenge and beat the record."

Ingrid will be attending the Pins & Needles Show in April, running Big Knit Workshops when visitors can have a go themselves.

For more details on the Pins & Needles Show & tickets, go to www.initialj.co.uk or call 01661 886071. Advance ticket bookings are available until Monday March 17th, after this at the Metro Arena Box Office.