An amateur sewing group has come together at a library in York - to create knitted pigs.

Gilbert’s Girls is a group where members meet to sew, knit, crochet, and catch up on their lives as they create and sell fabric pigs to raise money for charity.

On September 19, the group welcomed an extra special member into the mix – the Lord Mayor Margaret Wells – who was there to receive a hamper and congratulate the group for raising £800 for charity. Whilst visiting, the mayor also turned her hand to knitting a pig.

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The group was formed by Colette Wright and four of her friends, originally starting in a caravan close to where Colette’s real-life pet – Gilbert the pig – lives, before the group expanded in size and moved to the library.

Colette said: “I had actually lost my dog, and I was depressed. When I found out Gilbert was rejected by his parents, I brought him up on the bottle. We say he’s just a huge micropig.

“Gilbert lives on a field on Stockton Lane and he takes himself off daily to see his aunties. He’s brought all of us together as a big group.”

Since adopting Gilbert, Colette has expanded his world – both through the group and by writing poetry about his story, creating an imaginary girlfriend, Lilly, and piglets – Billy and Tilly – who feature in the group’s art.

Some of the work created using Gilbert’s fictional family has sold for hundreds of pounds, raising £450 for the group’s charities - Cancer Research Relay for Life and Nuzzlets – a petting farm where people suffering from anxiety and depression can go for therapy.

The group’s patron is the Yorkshire Vet, Julian Norton, who has judged competitions for the ladies and featured the real life Gilbert on his show.

One of the group members said: “This is not just a group about pigs but Colette starting this group is helping so many people with different struggles. Without the group, we’d be lost – it’s like an acorn, so many beautiful things grow from it.”

Whilst the group has 12 in person members, there are multiple people who sew at home and others who come along simply for the atmosphere. Each group member’s creations are easy to identify – for example, Brenda’s pigs wear hats and Adrienna’s pigs all have long eyelashes.

The group also praised the team at Burnholme Library as ‘remarkable’ for the atmosphere they create and the fact the girls are able to use the space weekly.

In addition to the pigs, there was also a stall run by ‘honorary pig’ Linda Tordoff, who sews cat themed designs to raise money for Caring for Cats. She also presented a hamper of goods to the Lord Mayor.

Pigs made by Gilbert’s Girls are sold regularly in Pig and Pastry in Bishopthorpe Road and in the gift shop of the Museum of Farming.