Random Acts of Colour

 

This is an experiment for a forthcoming yarnbombing project. Don't know where for yet, or if I'll make modifications to the next ribbon of colour.

Note to self: each strip is 30 stitches wide, on 4.00mm needles and boringly dull garter stitch throughout. Not that the knitting garter stitch is boring, just the end result is very plain. There are no real challenges involved in the making of these. Year 3s could do this.

They're random acts of colour in yarn. I've knitted each end to be a casing, ie, they're threaded onto an old broom handle at the moment. The bottom casings haven't been put to use yet. I may well hang something soft and safe or small on each end. - maybe pompoms would be suitably silly!! Anything heavy and hard (was originally thinking of little brass bells) runs the risk of being blown around and may whack someone. So, in keeping with my Yarnbombing 101 guidelines, risk management is a consideration in even fun and farcical things like knit graffiti, aka, yarnbombs.

Pimple on a Post

There are a few terribly bland streetscapes around Rockingham. No-one's to blame, really - I'm not into that sort of game. It's just that they're drab, have no shade, no colour. They're only thoroughfares, so nothing's to be expected, really.

But I see them as potential targets for a bit of brightening up, a bit of sneakery with the yarn graffiti.

So out came the circular needles and the op shop yarn scraps, and hey presto, a bit of silliness ensued.

This yarnbomb is a bit lost in the expanse of the drab streetscape, so it's not much more than a pimple on a post, but what the heck! Why not?!!

So many bollards in Rockingham, so much yarnbombing to do!

Car antenna sock - yarnbomb

This is the second car antenna sock I've done - a simple French spool knit, you know, the hollow cotton reel with the four nails in the top type thing and you wrap the yarn around and loop it over the nails and it forms a cord? Google it, you'll find something out there. You can get the little spool doll things in department stores such as Big W and K-Mart here in Australia and they're only about $5 or so.

This fun little project is a mix of yarnbombing (on my own old bomb of a car), and an aide-mémoire , ie, an Alzheimer's car antenna sock sort of thing. It means it's very, very easy to spot my car in a shopping centre car park! No stresses when I come out that supermarket door and try to remember where the heck the car is parked, let alone what my car looks like.

Memory is one of the things that gets pretty badly stuffed when you suffer from a depressive illness, so this is my fight back. And it works on all fronts.

On the more creative yarnbombing side, though, I'd just love to install a heap of bright coloured car antenna socks on a row of cars one day, maybe at a festival or some other excuse. I also think these would be fun for footy fanatics - can't you just see team colours flaunted on cars in the form of a knitted antenna sock!

Warnbro Beach Track Yarnbomb

Just a little rainbow coloured yarnbomb to brighten up a fugly sign pole, circ. 19cms. Note to self: all these type of metal poles are 19cms, which makes it easy to make a bunch of yarnbombs ready for installation all around the place as the whim takes me.

Cabled Loop Neck Scarf

Having seen Miss Marple sporting a bow tie neck scarf, and recalling my mother's 1940s pattern, I've created my own version using squared off ends and incorporating cabling for effect.

I'm finding it utterly addictive because it's a one evening, one ball sort of project. And I'm going to be doing some major stash busting this year using this design (and variations).

The pattern has been drafted and just needs a test knit. Dragging my feet on this bit, unfortunately. Just need to focus and get the pattern finalised.

Update Oct, 2011: uploaded the PDF of the pattern to my Ravelry store, so it's available for free here.

Yarnbombing Christmas Day

I measured, I created, I installed.

And on the seventh day it was gone. :(

Yarnbombing 101

Been thinking about doing some more yarnbombing and getting some projects going in the near future, maybe for the upcoming Beaufort Street Festival on 27th Nov, 2010. And I've been thinking (probably too much) 'cause I jotted down some notes, which are the start of Yarnbombing 101.

Yarnbombing planning and guidelines:


1. Should not be a health or safety risk

2. Plan yarnbombing item to suit location and target; reference to a locality or event

3. Reccy the location for appropriate targets; measure and photograph for later reference

4. Consider the yarnbomb's colours: is there a corporate sponsorship element to be considered; is there a colour theme of an event/locality that could be referenced?

5. If yarnbomb is to be located at low height, keep in mind the dog pee factor

6. Is there tourism potential, ie The Tag’s Travels – pics of it at different sites

7. Tagging the yarnbomb is optional: laminate tag for durability, if desired; a message or quote could be added for whimsy or could be the sole purpose of the yarnbomb, ie, to deliver a message/theme

8. Sustainability:

• can the yarnbomb item have a second life? ie. can it be a useful item: mobile phone holder, scarf, hat, beanie, headband, cowl, pair of wrist warmers, cuffs, blanket, toy, flower? (Perhaps no balaclavas!) Can homeless folk get some use out of it?
• consider using upcycled yarn from repurposed knitted items, or get into decluttering and trash that yarn stash!

9. Aim to draw smiles, whether joyful, humorous or wry, and remember that art is not what it looks like but what it does for you.