The Longest Yarn
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{{Infobox artwork
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| image = File:The Longest Yarn - Helmet on beach.jpg
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| caption = Helmet on the beach
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| year = 2024
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| website = https://www.thelongestyarn.com/home
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The Longest Yarn is an artwork commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, which took place in 1944.{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Home |url=https://www.thelongestyarn.com/home |access-date=16 November 2024 |website=The Longest Yarn - A Thread Through History}} It consists of a number of dioramas created in knitted and crocheted wool. Each diorama represents a scene from the 1962 movie The Longest Day.
There are 80 dioramas - echoing the 80 years that have passed since the landings.{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2024 |title=Army of knitted soldiers raise awareness for D-Day |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly3y3rw0y7o |access-date=16 November 2024 |publisher=BBC News}} Each scene represents what happened during the few days before and on June 6, 1944. Scenes illustrate the doubts and difficulties faced by the allies such as predicting the weather. When the decision to proceed is made men and equipment board ships and aeroplanes, the invasion force crosses the English Channel and fierce fighting takes place to establish allied forces in France.
Exhibitions
The work has been displayed in France and at a number of locations in the United Kingdom,{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2024 |title=Aldershot: Knitted D-Day installed at British Army's spiritual home |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg540gpp47o |access-date=16 November 2024 |publisher=BBC News}} and will visit the United States. The display is included with regular museum admission while at Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum (USNASW.ORG). Donations to the Longest Yarn will also be accepted and appreciated.
;2024:
- September: Southwell
- 2–27 October: Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
- 1 November – 18 November: Royal Garrison Church, Aldershot
- 21 November – 5 December: Stoke Minster
- 7 December – 10 January: Tewkesbury Abbey
- 13 January – 8 February: St Martins, Enniskillen
- 10 February – 1 March: Norwich University of East Anglia and 2nd Air Division Memorial Library
- 3 March – 1 April: Peterborough Cathedral
- 25 April - 1 September: Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum l, Cape May, NJ, USA
Gallery
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| File:The Longest Yarn - Anfoville au Plain.jpg | Anfoville au Plain Artist: Anne Constable
| File:The Longest Yarn - Harry Kulkowitz signals.jpg | Harry Kulkowitz signals Artist: Jenny Shepherd & Diane Peacock
| File:The Longest Yarn - Houesville Paulette.jpg | Houesville Paulette Artist: Lorraine Perry & Jennifer Taylor
| File:The Longest Yarn - Leaflets being dropped.jpg | Leaflets being dropped Artist: Aimee Nutthall
| File:The Longest Yarn - aircraft as far as the eye can see.jpg | Aircraft as far as the eye can see Artist: June Harper, Lyn Standfield, Shirley Kinsey; Pam Mellor, Angela Harman
| File:The Longest Yarn - juno beach.jpg | Juno beach Artist: Barbara Jennings
| File:The Longest Yarn - life-size soldier backpack and mug.jpg | Life-size soldier showing backpack and tea stained mug
| File:The Longest Yarn - life-size soldier.jpg | life-size soldier
| File:The Longest Yarn - loading airborne troops.jpg | Loading airborne troops Artist: Gillian Wright & Diane McCombs
| File:The Longest Yarn - marching soldiers, Weymouth.jpg | Marching soldiers, Weymouth Artist: Jenny Shepherd & Diane Peacock
| File:The Longest Yarn - nuns appearing in Ouistreham.jpg | Nuns appearing in Ouistreham Artist: Heather Measey
| File:The Longest Yarn - sword beach.jpg | Sword beach Artist: Paula Campbell
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References
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Further reading
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- {{Cite book |last=Forster |first=Tansy |title=A Thread Through History |publisher=The Longest Yarn |year=2024}}
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External links
- {{official website|https://www.thelongestyarn.com/}}
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Category:Works about Operation Overlord
Category:Textile arts of England
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