One of yarn bombing’s favourite correspondents (hi Mom!) recently sent me some images of tags in the Comox Valley, my hometown.
Pink tree warmer in front of the Courtenay Library on 6th Street, Courtenay. The tag has a little keychain attached to it which says ‘to have joy one must share it open handed’
Frilly tag at England & 5th in Courtenay
Who are these mystery taggers in my hometown? I need to meet them.
Meanwhile on nearby Denman Island, Carolyn, a fibre artist, decided to plant her first work of subversive art:
She says: Denman is a bit more slow-paced and as I was looking for something to do apart from read, I picked up a package of wool roving and a couple of hand-felting needles. While sitting outside the B&B in the evening I made this strange little character – he’s actually quite creepy looking – and in honour of yarn bombing, left him perched on the edge of a plant pot outside our host’s window. I have no idea if/when they spotted him, and I’m not sure if they’d figure out who left him there, but it was really fun to leave my mark.
Felting offers a lot of possibility for yarn bombers. Anyone else out there use felt as a tagging medium? I want to hear from you.
Tags: Courtenay, Denman Island, felting
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by beth pulsipher, Leanne Prain. Leanne Prain said: Someone is #yarnbombing in the #ComoxValley: http://bit.ly/dim9EM #courtenay #denmanisland #myhometown [...]
This is probably my favourite thing in the history of everything. I saw the coolest wrap on a bike rack in Perth, Australia the other day, but I didn’t have my camera! I’ll have to try find it again. And I definitely know what I’m going to do with my leftover yarn!
felting is really a mystery to me. like crocheting.
i should investigate this potential style further…
Hey, that’s me! In Courtenay, I mean. I just about fell off my chair and hit my head on happiness to see my own sweet tags on your fantastic website.
I picked up your book at Laughing Oyster Bookstore because it looked colourful and fun (and I laughed out loud when I opened it to the picture of the deer sculpture – the one where the baby deer is nursing and they’re both wearing leg bands, et al) and I have since loaded up on thrift store yarn and hooks, and am slowly working my way up to bigger ideas and projects.
Your website is a source of inspiration and visual pleasure, and I’ve given three copies of your book to grateful recipients who I hope will be converted from plain old knitting-for-a-good-reason to knitting-to-tag-the-town.
My mom is totally hooked, and since she and my dad make the road their home and are constantly moving across the face of the continent, I look forward to pics of tags in new locations.
Rah, Rah, Rah for Yarnstorming!
And a warm and fuzzy thanks to your maternal unit for taking the pics and passing them on.
I’d love some hints/suggestions for yarnbombing. I’m planning on tagging several posts, trees, signs in the historic area of my hometown in time for their September “Third Thursday” art walk.
Have you had many reports of negative reactions? Are you in contact with anyone who has done the larger projects, like tree sweaters?
I have to admit, I’m really nervous about trying this… my kids think I’m nuts but hubby is all for it. Any encouragement you could offer would be so very welcome.
Thank you.
I love seeing yarn bombing anywhere but I really love seeing Canadian Stuff as you don’t see alot of it out there in the media which is what inspired me to start feel free to check out my Blog a friend and I recently Bombed a rather large Beaver satute.
ooops for got the address http://www.purlgurls.blogspot.com
I’m very interested in the yarn bombing movement and I’m completing an article this morning (this blog and your book will be mentioned).
I’d love to share information with my readers on how to find (or start) a yarn bombing group in their community. Do you know anyone that has compiled that information? Please contact me at the email provided. I’d love to get this article published this morning.
Purl Girl – that beaver statue is amazing and I love the scarf!
Marie Anne and Marisa – the information that you are seeking is in the book that I co-authored with Mandy Moore. Here’s a link to the book if you are interested in checking it out: http://www.arsenalpulp.com/bookinfo.php?index=294
Ann Marie – we were overjoyed to see your tags! My parental unit works at the library, so she saw it as she went into work. Thanks for buying my book from the Laughing Oyster! My parent’s friends started the store in the 70′s (when it used to be where Atlas Restaurant is now) – so I spent many of my formative years in that shop! Hope to see your work in the Valley again.
I have used a lot of craft felt which was sprayed with a uv spray to help slow sun deterioration. The felted flowers seemed to dissolve quickly, or get water soacked and droop badly. I think it depends on how you use felted wool. I prefer craft felt to mix with the knit graffiti.
Good tip Jafabrit – craft felt is definitely more rain-hardy. I really like it when something that wasn’t intended to be felted ends up looking that way, but I love the Jafagirls flowers!
thanks Leanne
Yahoo Courtenay! Drove by the library yesterday, and the fence posts are wearing little crocheted caps. Will grab a pic, where can I send it to?
Added Yarn Bombing to my knitting book blog: http://www.tricksyknitter.com/pages/tricksy-blog.php?g=2
You should put that creative energy into making scarves for the homeless, or hats and mittens for impoverished children. What you’re doing is such a waste.
Hi Kerry,
Everyone is entitled to their opinion – however I believe that knitters can give their time to charity and to art – these are not mutually exclusive things. Please don’t assume that yarn bombers do not give to charity.
Knitting and crocheting takes time – and while it is lovely to give handmade items to charity – it often can make more sense to giveaway readymade items in order to give aid in an expedient manner. Knitting graffiti brings joy to many people – and I like to consider that a form of public giving as well.