Close-knit students take Tour de France by storm in knitting frenzy

tour de france logo

A woolly idea from student volunteers has taken the knitting community by storm.

Student knitters have unravelled a plan to use mini jerseys as Tour de France bunting.

The bizarre initiative was pitched to Harrogate Borough Council last summer as part of a volunteering project, ahead of the Tour visit to Yorkshire.

The project has pulled in nearly 23,000 mini jerseys, including contributions from as far as Bermuda, Canada and Switzerland.

One student who helped develop the idea, third year Madeline Crosswaite, said: “It’s wonderful that Harrogate council took our idea and ran with it – and that so many people have been inspired to knit the jerseys.”

The Tour is set for an audience of millions around the world when the decorative displays line the route of Tour stages around Harrogate on July 5 and 6.

“I’m not a knitter but as a cyclist myself I was familiar with the distinctive colours of the Tour jerseys, particularly the famous yellow jersey,” she said.

“It struck me there must be a way to use these colours in a decorative manner. Bunting came to mind and after team discussions, we thought using wool would combine an element of Yorkshire’s rural heritage.”

Careers staff, who helped the students develop their ideas, have also been inspired to take part.

Sarah Leith, Volunteering Project Officer in the Careers Office said: “This is a brilliant example of the contributions our students can make to community projects.

“It’s such a simple but a really creative idea which encapsulates some of the best elements of the Tour – and Yorkshire.”

The project was part of the University’s @Work programme which encourages students to apply their academic knowledge and research skills to heritage, education and community projects.

But the university isn’t a stranger to woolly ideas.

In February, Langwith announced the college would be knitting jumpers for featherless battery chickens, with the college president changing her name to Gimli Son of Gloin – in aid of charity.