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A knitted diorama of a pub called “The Ram Inn”. Three knitted figures stand outside the building, including one person holding a pint of beer and another wearing a sun hat.

All hand-knitted stop motion follows the nude residents of Woolly Bush

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Date
3 July 2015

In one of the more surreal email missives I have received, Sarah Simi informed me of her equally surreal labour of love: an entirely hand-knitted stop motion animation set in a charming little town called Woolly Bush. All of its quaint inhabitants are totally starkers, save the odd pearly king hat, vicar’s collar or socks and sandals combo. Named Nudinits and animated by Ed Hartwell, the detail is extraordinary: from tiny bubbles on beer and a little cat poop to some woolled-up bible passages, nothing has been missed.

In keeping with the relentlessly innuendo-packed script – it’s all “trimming bushes,” “polishing helmets,” “baps” and the like – Sarah describes the animation variously as “Fifty Shades of Fray,” “a knitted Carry On” and “Wallace and Gromit defrocked.” These sum it up really, as we follow our woolly friends through adventures with carefully placed truncheons and cactuses. So odd, rather childish but beautifully crafted, if you’ve got 20 minutes to spare and a high tolerance for very British innuendo, there are far worse ways than Nudinits to pass the time.

A knitted scene featuring a bearded figure standing behind a sign that reads “PRIVATE AREA”. They are surrounded by knitted farm animals, including a cow, a chicken on a pile of hay, and a pig.
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Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

A knitted diorama of a living room with lime green walls and white carpet. Three knitted figures sit and stand among miniature furniture, including a small television and a coffee table with tea and cake.
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Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

A knitted diorama of three figures in a room with lime green walls and a white shag carpet. One figure stands with their back to the camera, facing two others seated in red armchairs.
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Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

A knitted doll with blonde hair and green eyes holds two small cupcakes. They wear a white lace collar with a gold oval brooch.
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Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

A knitted diorama of a therapy session. A figure sits on a small chair facing a figure behind a desk, with a knitted bust on a plinth nearby.
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Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

Three knitted figures stand together in a domestic setting. The central figure wears a black and white spotted cap and holds two mugs of beer.
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Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

A knitted scene featuring two figures standing beside a textured wall in front of a row of houses. One figure looks over the wall while the other stands beside a small potted tree.
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Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

A crochet diorama of two figures standing in a garden, each holding a small green vegetable. They stand behind a brown garden bed containing rows of white and green crops.
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Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

A knitted sign reads “Woolly Bush” above a depiction of two small cottages. A knitted sheep and a bird perch on top of the sign against a blurred landscape of green hills.
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Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

A knitted scene featuring a fluffy brown cat sitting in a green bed. Beside a red door with a cat flap, there is a yellow basket and a washing machine labelled “Whistwools”.
Above

Sarah Simi and Ed Hartwell: Nudinits

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About the Author

Emily Gosling

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Emily joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in the summer of 2014 after four years at Design Week. She is particularly interested in graphic design, branding and music. After working It's Nice That as both Online Editor and Deputy Editor, Emily left the company in 2016.

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