This year, TOFT is very proud to present the ‘Making Women who Made History’ project, a series of crocheted dolls celebrating inspirational women, at The Stitch Festival 2022.

In March 2020 TOFT introduced the first design, Emmeline Pankhurst, in celebration of International Women’s Day. This year TOFT is pleased to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th with a showcase of these design at the Stitch Festival.

With this ongoing crochet project, we celebrate the remarkable women who changed our world for the better. From artists to environmentalists, from scientists to authors, aviators and activists, we travel through time exploring the rich history of talented and brave women. Once every four months, a new crochet pattern and yarn bundle is released to make the next inspirational female in this series. Using just basic crochet stitches and techniques these designs are easy for everyone to recreate.

The project’s first year was Emmeline Pankhurst, followed by Rosa Parks and Amelia Earhart. In 2021 we celebrated Frida Kahlo, Wangari Maathai and Junko Tabei.

Join TOFT to celebrate making inspirational women this International Women’s Day at The Stitch Festival as we reveal the next exciting woman in the series and fundraise for a cause close to our hearts. The latest new design will be released in the spring, alongside lots of exciting new products to celebrate International Women’s Day.

About the latest design

Junko Tabei
1939-2016

Japanese mountaineer, author, and teacher Junko Tabei was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and the first woman to ascend the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on every continent.

As a child, Junko enjoyed the non-competitive nature of climbing mountains, as well as the wonderful views when she reached the top. From 1958 to 1962, Junko studied English and American literature at university and initially planned on a career as a teacher. After graduation, she returned to her passion for climbing by joining a number of climbing clubs and in 1975 she was granted her place on the schedule to climb Everest.

On 4 May, her all-female team were camping at 6,300 metres (20,700 ft) when an avalanche struck their camp. Junko and four of her fellow climbers were buried under the snow and were forced to spend two days recovering. As soon as she was able she resumed the expedition and continued leading her team up the mountain.

Unfortunately not all the women who joined Junko were able to complete the climb, but twelve days after the avalanche, Junko reached the summit of Everest alongside her guide Ang Tsering. Junko was uncomfortable with the fame that followed and told media that she preferred to be remembered as the 36th person to reach the summit Everest, as she never intended to be the first woman to do so.

In addition to her climbing Junko wrote seven books, worked on ecological projects and completed postgraduate studies focusing on “clean-up” climbs in Japan and the Himalayas alongside her husband and children.

In 2019 a mountain range on Pluto was named ‘Tabei Montes’ to honour her as a pioneer “who crossed new horizons in the exploration of the Earth, sea and sky”.

The Stitch Festival is at the Business Design Centre 3-6th March 2022 and tickets can be booked via www.thestitchfestival.co.uk

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