The Barnet Light + Flight Festival

14th-15th and 21st-22nd November 2026

A multi-day celebration of art, music, performance, heritage and collective fun packed with FREE events - created with and for the people of Barnet.

Location: Finchley Lakeside, N3 2QL, (near Vineyard Grove)
Details are on the website: https://www.lightandflight.co.uk/festival

We are taking part in this Festival! Our Light + Flight project is called 'Stitching Stories' and is exploring the craft of crochet, and how seniors aged 65+ from Africa and the Caribbean practised this craft in their countries of origin and continue to preserve these traditions after journeying to the UK after World War II to live and help rebuild Britain.

Please listen to the Crochet and Crafts Oral Histories that were recorded during our Crochet Workshops, below including seniors at the Barnet African Caribbean Association.

LM: “I learned to do crochet, because I used to do embroidery aswell (my Aunt) she used to make our clothes. She used to do knitting like these so I learned quite a lot from her.”

HS: “At school, to get pocket money I used to make Lillies, all of them I used to make, Chrysanthemums. All the flowers I used to make.”

How old were you when you started to crochet? 
LW: “I was at school, I remember the big girls, the big young ladies, they would be there doing their crochet. Nobody was teaching me, but I looked over their shoulder at what they were doing.

Boys used to do things for examination and us girls used to do different things like make tablecloths.“

ES: “But the real wool shops are gone.”

LW: “Yes all of those places where I used to buy...”

BT: “I haven’t done crochet for a good few years but I used to do crochet. Centrepieces.”

GC: “When I was eight years old I started to make dresses for my dolls. I went and studied at Barnet College, Dress Designing and Pattern Cutting and I went from there. But I never did it for a Profession, I did it for friends and for myself, for a few things for my family.”

IH: “When I came here, and all the girls were doing crochet or knitting. I said “will you make that for me?” but they said “make it for yourself!” And that’s how I learned to crochet. I always look for different needleworks on my phone.”

SR: “I used to sew for people. Wedding dresses, Bridesmaids dresses. Sometimes I had three Bridesmaids, I had to do three Bridesmaid dresses. It’s hard work but when you finish it you feel good!”

HS: “When I was about four or five years old my mother used to let me do buttonholes.

AH: (Came to the UK and worked in Saville Row) “I was born in Trinidad. I think Saville Row is a University. Because they teach you, and they send you to school to learn to cut. I made trousers.”

LD: “I used to do Tailoring when I was 13. I used to make trousers.”

During three Crochet Workshops that took place at the Barnet African Caribbean Association, we produced a crocheted Wearable Art piece, and you can see it worn on stage at The Arts Depot N12, during a live performance: 'Carnival Unplugged IV: Carnival of Journeys' by Just In Carnival on Saturday 10th October at 7-8.30pm: Tickets can be bought online on the Arts Depot website.

At the Light + Flight Festival, during the 14th-15th November, the Wearable Art piece will be on display, remembering the Homefront Knitters of the Caribbean. We will be running a free Group Crochet Workshop, where participants can take part in crocheting an artwork which will be on display in Barnet. More details to come!

The Homefront Knitters of the Caribbean During World War II, women who supported the War effort through work and volunteering were called 'Homefront Women'. They included women from across the Caribbean, and organised local chapters of the Red Cross and Women's Voluntary Services to knit and crochet wool garments like socks and caps for the Allies in the UK, USA, Soviet Union and Republic of China. There are no images of these women, so the above image is AI generated. These women formed needlework guilds and knitting groups in islands like Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados. Volunteers knitted and crocheted essential items including socks, mittens, scarves, and helmet liners. Supplies of wool were shipped or rationed, and finished items were sent to support British and Allied troops stationed locally or abroad. Women met regularly in community halls, churches, and private homes to share resources and labour. Finished goods had to pass strict quality checks by local organisers, before being boxed and shipped. Above: Caribbean Pilots serving in the Armed Forces during World War II. Photo Credit: Sky History.