In Poplar, Tower Hamlets, a collective of more than 130 knitters has unveiled Knitting the Air – a striking 12-metre textile artwork that transforms local air quality data into over 2,000 hand-knitted squares.
The piece visualises readings from two Breathe London Community sensors – one by the A12 near the Blackwall Tunnel, the other on the Aberfeldy Estate – tracking air quality between March 2023 and March 2024.
Each day of recorded pollution is represented: blue squares for NO₂ and pink squares for PM2.5. Collectively, the work represents more than 5,000 hours of knitting.
The full installation was revealed for the first time last week, at The Big Reveal in The Feldy community centre, bringing together knitters, artists, scientists, healthcare professionals and local residents. The event celebrated not only the finished artwork but also the stories and conversations it has prompted.
Since its beginnings, Knitting the Air has travelled across the borough, appearing in schools, GP surgeries, hospitals, town halls and community events. Along the way, more than 400 reflections have been gathered from residents, many of whom say the knitted squares make invisible pollutants feel “tangible” and easier to understand.
Local participant Barbara Lawton shared: ‘I have learnt so much about air pollution since doing this project… Before, I didn’t think about air and took it for granted. I’ve loved being part of it all and seeing so many people get together to complete it.’
Lead artist Caroline Murray said: ‘This project has been an extraordinary community effort from so many people across Poplar, Bow and wider east London. It started with a question about how to help people understand air pollution data, which can feel abstract and hidden. There’s a long tradition of using knitting to interpret invisible data and make it tangible, so I thought, why not air quality?
‘We were ambitious from the start: to knit a whole year’s worth of data from two sensors. That meant over 2,000 squares and local people really stepped up to the challenge. More than 130 knitters have contributed, from residents and knitting groups to the local GP surgery and scientists. The Big Reveal is a very special moment for us. Our knitters have worked so hard to create this piece. Their 5,000+ hours of work represent not only creativity and dedication, but also deep community care for the air we all breathe.’
Andrew Grieve from the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London said: ‘Knitting the Air is a remarkable example of how air pollution, data, vision, and community can come together. Modern air pollution is mostly invisible, but Caroline and the knitters have transformed data from the Breathe London Communities nodes into something tangible and approachable, weaving connections that will endure for years.
‘This project has created a lasting legacy, not only for those living in Poplar, but for anyone passionate about public health and about engaging local residents through creativity and empathy.’
Also lending her knitting skills was local GP Dr Emma Radcliffe, who added: ‘Clean air is one of the building blocks of health. We know our patients have been breathing poor air and that our community suffers from worse health because of it. Our practice team has really enjoyed contributing to the project. We love knitting but we are also pleased to be raising awareness about air quality for our patients and our community.’
Though the knitting is finished, the journey continues. Plans are already underway for a longer east London exhibition next year, ensuring more people can encounter the work, learn about air quality, and share their own hopes for cleaner air. Follow updates on Instagram: @knittingtheair.
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