Olympic-themed knitted hens take over Long Melford shop front

A shop owner said he was overjoyed after knitters created 67 Olympic-themed chickens for his front window.

Stuart Race, 47, who is originally from Norwich, has owned The Woolpatch, a yarn shop in Long Melford, Suffolk, since 2016.

After knitting chickens for Easter, he decided he wanted to do it again and for the hens to represent nations in the Paris Olympic and Paralympic games.

Crafters from all over the world sent in their chickens, nicknamed Olympi’hens, which Mr Race said had brought a lot of joy.

“I thought that would just be a bit of fun, we might get 20 or 30 chickens,” he explained.

“What I’ve really been touched by, is the people who have knitted these are from all over the world.

“I’ve got an American chicken from Texas and Team GB has been knitted in Germany… with a classic Bavarian hat so that’s a German twist on Team GB.

“They’ve been coming from all over the world but [the knitters] have also been telling me their stories behind why they chose the nation they did.

“That’s really lovely because some of the stories are really personal. It’s much more than a shop display.”

The pattern used to create the chickens was made by Annette Corsino of the Knitting Tree shop in Los Angeles, US.

Her pattern is called The Emotional Support Chicken and Mr Race said a chicken could be made in four or five hours for a well-practised knitter.

He said the experience helped not only educate himself on other countries but also helped his knitters learn a new pattern and style of knitting.

“It’s just brought a little bit of joy to everyone who is walking past the shop window and to those who are knitting and crocheting them,” he added.

“I’ve been bowled over.”

He added that his window was an important way to inspire passers-by.

“I’ve always used the window to sell the idea of knitting and craft,” Mr Race explained.

“It may not be something you can make but it might inspire you. Then the conversation goes from there.

“This just feels something quite different but hopefully still supportive of the shop.”

The Olympic Games run until 11 August with the Paralympic Games starting on 28 August until 8 September.

Mr Race is still deciding on what to do with the hens once the Games are over but said he was keen to raise money for charity with them.

“These hens are phenomenal, they can’t just go and sit in the cupboard,” he said.

“They’ve got to fly off and bring some joy to someone.”