Knitted War Scenes from the Longest Yarn 2 will be on Display at Chiltern Open Air Museum this Summer

A wool art exhibition featuring knitted scenes of wartime Britain will be unveiled at Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles, in August. The Britain at War exhibition – The Longest Yarn 2, will feature 61 knitted and crocheted scenes made by over 200 volunteer knitters from across the world. It will be on display at the open-air museum from 2 to 31 August.

Britain at War examines how Britain navigated the war from September 3, 1939 to VE Day on May 8, 1945. The panels show all aspects of life, rationing, evacuees, The Blitz, terrible headlines, when Britain was looking at ‘The Darkest Hour’, to end with the euphoria of peace.

Founder, Tansy Forster and her team of volunteer knitters and crocheters have created the new installation to follow on from the great success of The Longest Yarn, an 80-metre, 3D wool art depiction of the D-Day landings in France on June 6, 1944, which toured the UK last year and is currently touring America.

More than 1,000 knitters and crocheters from across the world contributed to the first project, which snowballed from Tansy’s initial idea of a display for a garden wall at her home in Normandy.

Tansy Forster said, “When I first had my lightbulb moment, I really had no idea that it would lead to this incredible rollercoaster that I’ve been on for almost two years. 250,000 people have visited the first exhibition and raised the same in monetary terms.”

“Through our efforts, we have actually strengthened the relationship between the historical remembrance and local engagement, demonstrating that celebrating history can also yield remarkable economic benefits.”

“We are so excited to have this amazing exhibition at Chiltern Open Air Museum.” Said Helen Light, General Manager. “The detail and skill used to create these scenes is incredible and a great way of bringing history to life.”

This remarkable exhibition will be at Chiltern Open Air Museum from August 2 to 31. You can find out more and book tickets at www.coam.org.uk. The exhibition will then continue to tour around the UK. By September 3, at Southwell Minster, all 80 panels will be on show. The exhibition then travels to Stoke on Trent Minster in October, Sherborne Abbey in November and Leek in December.

In 2026, the tour heads to Kilkeel, Northern Ireland in January, Enniskillen in February, Penrith in March, Belfast in April, Lichfield Cathedral in May, Peterborough Cathedral in June, Nothe Fort, Weymouth in July, Gosport in August, Welshpool in September, Wrexham in October and Chorley in November.