What if a simple knitting pattern could inspire people to care about a sea turtle they’ve never even seen?
That’s the idea behind an unusual partnership between Nature Seychelles and Knit for Wildlife, a global initiative connecting textile culture with wildlife storytelling. Together, they’re weaving the story of the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle, with Cousin Island Special Reserve providing an important chapter in this narrative.
Knit for Wildlife was founded by marine biologist Lena Fagerwing, who aimed to bring wildlife conservation into an unexpected, yet remarkably social space: knitting.
“Conservation stories rarely become part of people’s daily routines,” she explains. Knitting, she says, is a Trojan horse, turning wildlife stories into patterns, conversations and communities that reach people who might never otherwise engage with conservation.
“In many ways, we’re building a pop culture concept for wildlife,” she adds. “Knitters have a huge community worldwide. But the best part is everybody can join, putting a spotlight on different species from around the world to engage audiences from different regions.”
Knitting is a Trojan horse turning wildlife stories into patterns, conversations and communities
The concept has grown through residencies where selected knitters develop patterns to be shared. This innovative approach has already been tested. Their pilot program was developed with Love The Oceans in Mozambique, followed by a second collaboration with Vega World Heritage in Norway.
Now, for their third cohort, which runs from September to November 2026, they’ve teamed up with three conservation partners: Nature Seychelles, the Barbados Sea Turtle Project, and Cooperativa Casa Carey in Nicaragua.
In early August, they issued an open call for knitters to join the virtual, three-month residency. The response was overwhelming, with applications pouring in from knitters, designers, artists, educators, and creatives worldwide.
A group of six talented knitters was selected after the residency call (Photo credit: @knitforwildlife on Instagram)
The “Hawksbill Six,” a group of six talented knitters, were selected to dive into the world of Hawksbill turtle conservation through their craft. Each is on a mission to create an original knitting pattern inspired by the beautiful turtle, all while learning from dedicated conservationists at various organisations.
To this end, in early September, Chris Tagg, Nature Seychelles’ science officer, took the knitters on a journey to understand the animal and its protection on Cousin Island Special Reserve. He introduced them to the organisation’s Hawksbill turtle monitoring program, sharing insights about the species, its nesting habits, and the challenges it faces. Chris emphasised the island’s significance as a vital nesting ground and explained how Nature Seychelles has monitored female Hawksbills for decades. The knitters learned about the data conservation teams collect and the importance of ethical interactions and responsible turtle watching. To enhance the experience, photos and videos from Cousin Island were shared, bringing it to life.
This hands-on learning is a key part of the Knit for Wildlife initiative. “Our resident knitters meet conservation officers in the program, and we provide ecological resources online,” says Fagerwing. “We mentor knitters in narrative textiles, teaching them how to tell stories through pattern-making. Knitters quickly realise that to craft a meaningful pattern, they need to truly understand the species they’re representing.”
Chris Tagg helped the knitters understand the animal and its protection on Cousin Island Special Reserve
The “Hawksbill Six” will continue their creative journey until November, exchanging ideas and refining their designs. Their progress is already being shared on Instagram, where followers can witness the creative process unfold at the @knitforwildlife handle.
The residency will wrap up with a collection of open-access knitting patterns, set to be released just in time for the Christmas holidays. These patterns are intended to spread far and wide, reaching knitting communities, social media platforms, festivals, and digital spaces around the globe. Once the patterns are out there, anyone who loves to knit will be welcome to join in.
The “Hawksbill Six” share their creative journey on instagram
For Nature Seychelles, this presents a new opportunity to share the story of Cousin Island and its Hawksbill turtles. “For centuries, people have used textiles to tell stories, preserve traditions, and bring communities together. Thanks to this partnership, our story can reach someone relaxing with a cup of tea and a pair of knitting needles thousands of kilometres away!” says Liz Mwambui, the communications manager for the NGO.
Get your knitting needles and yarn ready and look out for the patterns before December!