Google '
Yarn Bombing' and you will be amazed at the fantastic examples of this community art form - also known as guerilla knitting, graffiti knitting or yarnstorming. It began in the early 2000s and was originally focused on making sterile public places look a little more homely and warm - 'leg warmers' for telegraph poles and 'tea cosies' for telephone boxes...that sort of thing. Then it blossomed into more extravagant examples of really rather wonderful knitting - with cars, statues and even tanks being given the woollen treatment.
Catching up with
Mia, an old blogging friend recently, I found something that delighted me. She had been to visit her parents near Saltburn by the Sea earlier in the year and was lucky enough to see some fantastic yarn bombing along the pier - on an Olympic theme. I think it made the news in the UK at the time but I really think I'd like to share it again here for those of us that missed it.
All photographs are taken from the
Telegraph who ran a photo article at the time - there are more photos here and I urge you to look at them and appreciate the subtle humour as well as skill that runs through the little creations. Love it!
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| Possibly my favourite! |
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| The jolly green gymnast |
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| Inclusive of paralymics |
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| Not sure this is the best position for weightlifting... |
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| Do you think they'll remember this? |
Just wanted to share - made me smile so much. Thank you Mia! Well done mystery knitter.
Incredible... was it the work of one person ? I want to start a guerilla crochet group immediately. Jx
ReplyDeleteMystery knitter/s. Have you seen Christine's post on FB?
DeleteI can imagine some of those cold marble carvings with a little delicate crochet....a cloche hat, or a shawl maybe? Go for it!
Axxx
Hello Annie:
ReplyDeleteThese are WONDERFUL. We simply love them, and what great fun! The term Yarn Bombing is completely new to us and we shall now be on the look out for further examples.
Dear Jane and Lance - get your knitting needles out! I'm sure Budapest has areas that would benefit from a little yarn bombing! I'm so glad you like it. Apparently, the mystery Saltburn knitter is keeping up to date and there have been sightings of a naked young prince in the area. Lovely stuff. Axxx
DeleteIf I were a child seeing that it would certainly stay with me for life!
ReplyDeleteI'd not come across it, but it does give rise to ideas (except that I can't knit!)for adorning San Jose.
Hi Fly! I hope they do remember it, it´s such a novel idea. Can you crochet? Or inspire anyone else to? I'm sure San Jose would look wonderful with a bit of yarn bombing. Axxx
DeleteIt was awesome wasn't it! And your last post has me pondering our plastic bottle situation. You see you make me think, which is just what's wanted in a blogger.
ReplyDeleteI do hope the sun is shining on you again. I don't know if you saw my Water Meadow post but they are literally that here at the moment. The river falls but the water stays as a lake. People bring canoes!
Hi Annie, I thought you might have noticed this one! I am glad I got the chance - I have always loved the idea of guerilla knitting though I haven't done any myself..yet! Glad as well that someone else is thinking about plastic bottles and how we really do not need any more!
DeleteThe sun is shining today - it's beautiful. I'm sure too, that your Water Meadows look rather fetching with canoes on them. Lovely pictures you have. Axxx
What a fantastic idea, Annie! Thanks so much for posting this as I missed the news coverage because of being in France. My DD made a knitted crib scene for their village church and my Knit and Natter group in Scotland knitted a stained-glass window to cover the boarded-up window awaiting restoration. :-)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it lovely! Glad to have brought it to your attention - it didn't made Spanish news either and I have to giggle at the thought of the Spanish response. Whilst guerilla knitting is international, it seems to fit Britain rather better than some other countries - hence DD's crib scene and a knitted stainglass window!! Great idea.
DeleteAxxx
I've just remembered - last year I met someone who had knitted an entire Royal Wedding. :-)
DeleteThat just sounds so comical - knitted an entire Royal Wedding! Love it, :-)
DeleteWhat a brilliant idea - just the sort of attraction that could draw visitors to this lovely but depressed part of the North East. We were at an antiques fair in Hartlepool today (yes, Hartlepool) - sadly there were no signs of yarn bombing there, though nearby Redcar is building a vertical pier!
ReplyDeleteI think it's absolutely fantastic and apparently did draw quite a few visitors, despite the weather at the time.
DeleteI am trying to imagine what on earth a vertical pier will look like - I do hope you can enlighten us sometime.
Axxx
Great idea. I can only knit in straight lines, but I'd like to knit some scarves for our trees.
ReplyDeleteWool can be very flexible and forgiving and I'm sure if you knit some scarves, the trees will also find a way to make them fit nicely. Do share if you go ahead, won't you?!
DeleteAxx
And if you can knit at all with just the one hand at the moment, I shall be especially impressed! Axxx
DeleteThese kind of activities really add to life, don't they? The synchronized swimmers made me smile the most. Such a fun thing to have done and to have given so many people enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, MPM. I liked the swimmers the best too - just seemed to capture something perfectly. There have been other topical yarn bombings in the area too - a coy but naked Prince Harry...you have to laugh. Axxx
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