An undersea world in wool created by a ‘sewcial’ group is to be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

When craft emporium Haberdasherdo in Southbourne had to shut its doors as a result of this year’s lockdown, it left the shop’s Tuesday Sewcial group unable to meet in person.

Not to be deterred, the group, which brought together knitters, crocheters and sewing enthusiasts to work on their own projects over a cup of tea, slice of cake and a chat, moved online.

The weekly event switched to Zoom and became a virtual get-together, enabling everyone to continue to keep in touch and catch up on each other’s news.

The group took on a lockdown project, as well, inspired by Haberdasherdo proprietor Jane Scott, who suggested the Sewcial members could create an undersea world in wool.

Jane, pictured, said: “It was inspired by something I saw on Instagram – an aquarium of knitted and crocheted sea creatures.”

Jane shared some patterns but the Sewcial team also contributed their own ideas to bring to life an eclectic mix of sea life.

She said: “I picked up an old aquarium on the Sobo Recycle site and everyone got to work.

“Now we’ve got Nemo, Squirt, Dory and Ray from Finding Nemo, as well as mermaids big and small, conch shells, a hermit crab and a lobster.

“We’ve also got a whole range of multi-coloured fish and starfish, seaweed, kelp, anemones, seagulls and even a whale.

“It’s amazing we made anything really, as we often spent far more time talking than crocheting or knitting. But it looks great now.”

The aquarium and its woolly inhabitants have had pride of place in Haberdasherdo’s window on Southbourne Grove.

They’re now destined to be replaced by the Christmas window – another work of knitted and crocheted art.

Once again it’s created by staff, customers and the Sewcial group.

As life gets back to a new normal, Haberdasherdo is offering one-to-one crochet and knitting lessons at the shop once more, having had to put them on hold because of Covid restrictions.

The full listing of undersea wool creatures up for auction in aid of the Poppy Appeal can be seen on Etsy by clicking here.