Deborah Custance Baker launches the longest knitting bunting challenge for Devon County Show 2020, the 125th Show

Guinness World Record attempt planned for 125th Devon County Show

The Devon County Show 2020 marks the 125th in the Show’s history.

To celebrate this milestone, as well as the Women’s Institute’s 100th anniversary and the Exeter Knutty Knitters 10th anniversary, the Show organisers are planning an ambitious Guinness World Record attempt - to beat the Longest Knitted Bunting World Record.

Deborah Custance Baker, Chief Steward of Crafts & Gardens at the Devon County Show, the Show Committee member behind the challenge, is confident of achieving the target of 31,200 flags, the amount required to smash the existing record and giving the Devon County Show its first ever Guinness World Record.

Deborah, who was responsible for driving the celebrated knitted poppy initiative to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the first world war, is not someone who does things by halves. Nor is she daunted by the challenge. She’s already got 2,000 pieces of bunting in the bag, with only another 30,000 to go.

‘We’ve got seven months before the Show starts and with the WI and the Exeter Knutty Knitting Group behind us, we’ll get there, no question.’

‘The completed bunting will be displayed in the Crafts & Gardens Marquee. We estimate that the record-beating display will be 8kms long and will go around our 3,000m2 marquee 26 times. A representative for Guinness World Records will be attending the Show to adjudicate and confirm the record.

The bunting will be auctioned off both during and post the show at various events to raise money for the Devon County Show’s nominated charity for 2020 – the Addington Fund dedicated to providing homes for farming families living in England and Wales who have to leave the industry, through no fault of their own, and by doing so will lose their homes. Sections of the bunting will also be offered for decoration at local care homes, particularly those participating in the attempt.

‘You don’t need to be a knitting pro to have a go’ continues Deborah. ‘Even if you’ve never knitted in your life you can create a flag very easily by following the simple step by step instructions provided by the Knutty Knitters below which is on our website at www.devoncountyshow.co.uk/Iwhats-on.

If you do know what you’re doing, you don’t need to follow a pattern, though you do need to work to the correct size of no more than 8” along the top and 9” on the diagonal.’

Guinness World Record Attempt Bunting Instructions

Bunting – basic, no eyelets

DK 4mm (size 8) needles

(psso - pass slip stitch over)

Cast on 31 or 41 stitches

Knit 4 rows

K1, slip 1, knit 1, psso, knit 25/35, K2 tog, K1 (29/39 stitches)

Knit 3 rows

K1, slip 1, knit 1, psso, knit 23/33, K2 tog, K1

Knit 3 rows

Continue this way, knitting 3 rows between each decrease row, until 5 stitches remain and after knit 3 rows

K1, slip 1, K2 tog, psso, K1 (3 stitches)