A Thread Through Time...

How Crochet Connects Us to the Past and Strengthens the Mind...

Last weekend, my daughter and I took a trip to Peterborough for a special day out.

With a train journey, some birthday voucher shopping, and a lovely lunch together, it was already shaping up to be a great day.

But the real highlight for me was visiting The Longest Yarn - a breathtaking knitted and crocheted artwork installation at Peterborough Cathedral.

If you haven’t heard of it, The Longest Yarn commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings - D-Day, 6th June 1944 (also known as The Longest Day).

The installation, originally displayed in Carentan, France, uses knitting and crochet to depict key moments from this pivotal event in history.

As a crocheter, I was fascinated by how these crafts could be used to tell such a significant story on such a large scale.

But this exhibition was more than just an artistic spectacle for me - it was deeply personal.

I vividly remember attending the 50th anniversary of D-Day when I was 13 or 14 with my grandparents.

My grandad had served in the Navy and was on one of the many ships that delivered soldiers to the artificial port at Arromanches. His brother landed at Pegasus Bridge - another key site in the landings, which is also depicted in the exhibition.

Over the years, he had told us so many stories of his experiences during the war. One that stands out, is his memory of seeing a solitary white house on the top of the cliff from his vantage point on the ship. Years later, at the D-Day museum in Caen, I watched footage taken from a ship showing that same solitary white house.

I turned to see my grandad with tears streaming down his face, and in that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that he had survived when so many others had not.

Standing in the cathedral, now 80 years after the longest day, surrounded by carefully crafted stitches and holding my daughter's hand, I felt a deep connection - not just to history, but to my own family.

My gran, who first taught me how to knit and crochet, would have loved it. In many ways, this exhibition felt like a tribute to both of them, a way to honour their stories and share them with my daughter.

Me with my grandad and bro for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day

There’s something incredibly powerful about how craft can weave together past and present, preserving memories and carrying them forward. The Longest Yarn is more than just an artwork; it’s a thread through time, a way of storytelling through stitches, ensuring that important moments - and the people who lived them - are not forgotten.

That idea of connection - between past and present, between generations, between people - is at the heart of why I do what I do. Teaching crochet isn’t just about showing someone how to hold a hook or make a stitch; it’s about passing on a skill that has been shared for generations, just like my gran once shared with me.

In today’s fast-paced world, where so much feels disposable and fleeting, there’s something profoundly grounding about learning a craft, taking the time to create with our hands, and remembering where we come from.

But crochet isn’t just a link to the past - it’s also good for the mind. Studies have shown that crafting can help boost memory and cognitive function, much like learning a new language or playing an instrument. The rhythm and repetition of crochet engage the brain in a way that strengthens neural connections, which is why it’s often recommended as a way to support brain health as we age. Beyond that, the focus it requires helps to quiet the mind, offering a moment of calm in the chaos of daily life.

That’s why I love this craft. Whether it’s helping someone pick up a hook for the first time, guiding more experienced crafters in new techniques or designing patterns, I want to create a space where people can slow down, connect, and be part of something bigger - a tradition that stretches back through time, just like the stitches in The Longest Yarn.

And along the way, they might just find that crochet not only brings comfort and creativity but also strengthens their mind and memory too.

If you’d like to join one of my upcoming classes and experience the joy of crochet for yourself, take a look at my latest classes or browse through my designs here.

Let’s keep these threads of tradition alive together - one stitch at a time.

Thanks for reading,

Jen

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