Nottinghamshire crafters stitch hundreds of children’s Story Snugglers together for 10th Inspire Charity Knitting Challenge

Crafters across Nottinghamshire have come together to create almost 300 knitted and crocheted Story Snugglers as part of Inspire's latest charity knitting challenge, currently on display at Mansfield Central Library. The annual challenge, which has been run by the arts and culture team at Inspire libraries since 2016, encourages crafters to pick up their knitting needles and crochet hooks for a good cause.

Created by Nottinghamshire County Council in 2016, Inspire was established to bring together libraries, adult and community learning, music, culture, heritage, and arts under one innovative organisation. Ten years on, it has grown into a nationally recognised service, delivering thousands of events, courses and activities each year and supporting residents of all ages to read, learn, create and connect.

For this year’s challenge, crafters were invited to create and donate Story Snugglers - handmade knitted and crocheted capes designed to keep children warm and cosy during bedtime reading. Inspired by the 2026 National Year of Reading, the imaginative animal designs were created by Nottinghamshire knitwear designer Jane Withers, who has developed patterns for challenge for the last three years. Made from just six simple knitted or crocheted squares, each Story Snuggler is a woolly companion, which will help little ones snuggle up with a good book during story time. Jane also created step-by-step video tutorials to help crafters join in, which are still available to access and view on the Inspire website at inspireculture.org.uk/knit.  

Inspire partnered with Mansfield Building Society, Creative Lives and Trussell to deliver this year’s challenge. Following the exhibition, all the donated Story Snugglers will be distributed through Trussell this September, helping families and children in need across the region via food banks and community outreach. It is hoped that each handmade gift will provide not only warmth and comfort to young children, but also inspire a lifelong love of books and reading. 

Further information about this year’s challenge can be found at: Story Snugglers | Inspire - Culture, Learning, Libraries

The Story Snugglers exhibition will be on display at Mansfield Central Library until Sunday 27 September: Story Snugglers Exhibition | Inspire - Culture, Learning, Libraries