‘Twas on a cold, cold February morning in 2012 that Andy
Minnis asked me to adorn Greenland Street and Camp & Furnace with
Threshold’s yarnbombing donations. At
that time I have to admit I had only a very naïve insight into the world of the
yarnbomber. Little did I know where it would lead!
Hot on the heels of Threshold, Liverpool Light Night
followed. Arena’s director Pamela
Sullivan and Threshold directors Chris and Kaya Herstad Carney asked as part of
their Light Night plans, if we could create a trail from Liverpool 1 up Park
Lane and Jamaica Street. At this point,
I was introduced by Becky Pope of Really Now, to The Happy Hookers, crochet enthusiasts
with a thirst for invention. Championed
by Joanne Finch and Gemma Darracott, The Happy Hookers mustered forces and we
attacked various structures along the length of the streets, not making a
massive impact but lending colour and a feeling of care about the up and coming
area that is the Baltic Triangle. A
number of the pieces were sadly attacked not long after being installed, and some
were stolen, which though negative was also highly complementary of the quality
of the yarn art.
We found that these first yarnbombs, taught us a lot. We wanted
to go bigger and make a better impact… and opportunity presented itself in the
guise of Brazilica Fringe Festival. Ken
(aka Carnivalesque Liverpool) engaged Becky
Christian of Craft Creative and met myself and Becky Pope at Elevator Bar to
discuss what we could do that would help promote the Yarnstormer's work, the
Fringe events and the main festival weekend.
Becky Christian measured the structures up and down Bold Street and outside
FACT, and with the Happy Hookers we organised a massive effort, 12 weeks in the
making, of serious yarnbombing installations. One of the pieces, (with the
bumble bees) came from as far afield as London, from Annette Murphy who runs a
group called Neti’s Knit and Natter.
The reaction of
members of the public that day was amazing.
People were taking photographs everywhere and the most poignant memory I
have is of a little girl running up to a wool covered tree and hugging it.
With the invaluable help of the lovely Threshold volunteer
Erin Cullen, we hit the streets and wrapped parking posts and lamp posts in
pieces donated by Lyndsey Yates, Purlesque, and by fellow Thresholders: Julita,
Marie-Lou, Kaya, Emilia, Rachel, Amy, Erin, myself. Putting the pieces up was cold work but
whenever anyone passed by and asked what we were doing, the warmth we got from
their interest and admiration made up for it.
After Brazilica, we discovered we were elated but
pooped. A respite of yarnbombing inactivity
was required so people could get back to their abandoned projects. There had been several requests from various
organisers for a repeat yarnbomb, however, timing was against us on these
occasions. In all honesty, you need a
good 2 to 3 months of planning, recruitment, and design to ensure success.
Our final yarnbomb of the year was at the Threshold New Bird
Ticket Launch for our 2013 festival, moved from The Picket, to Studio 2. Masses of spiders were created by Catherine
Sawyer, Amy Freeman, and Ellie Major
some very personable bats were crafted by Kate Cee and from myself ,
with help from Joanne Finch, there was a two dimensional 5 foot emulation of
the Tell Tale Hound who appears in Louis Barabbas and the Bedlam Six’s video
for the song of the same name. This hound
was a surprise for everyone, particularly for the band themselves, who were
headlining the event.
So what does the future hold for yarnbombing in Merseyside?
2012 resulted in me creating a Facebook page Merseyside
Yarnstormers and already we have engaged several groups that are actively
yarnbombing in our city, so look out for Mothership who have yarnbombed in Sefton Park and Liverpool, Graffiti Grannies of Wirral, who have yarnbombed at Arrowe Park hospital and lately Frank Spinello and Kaety Moon artists who have organised a yarnbomb of Frodsham as part of the Biennial Independents’ events.
Most recently, Liverpool City Council engaged The Happy Hookers in a commission to yarnbomb Bold Street for Chinese New Year 2013. This resulted in a great variety of designs of around forty snakes that were installed in the cold on Sunday 10th February. Consternation hit us all on Monday the 11th when all but one of the snakes had mysteriously disappeared, and a news appeal on BBC Northwest, Liverpool Echo Liverpool Community Radio, Facebook, and Twitter for information and pictures of the snakes in their new homes was launched.
The Threshold Festival’s three themes of Escapism, Transformation and Collaboration has inspired yarnbombers to unite in creation of yarn art for March, no information can be given here so come to the Festival to find out more.
The Chinese New Year, and Threshold projects have led to recruitment of new people. The Iron Maidens WI led by Sami Score are lending their talents following a talk on yarnbombing given by myself recently, they have set up their own group ‘Twisted Stitchers’ and are on a secret mission to create something unique of their own for the festival. Joanne Finch and Gemma Darracott of the Happy Hookers have bolstered their numbers considerably, and a young yarnbomber from Milton Keynes, Claire Walliker, keen to establish local yarnbombing activity in her own town, is also collaborating with us.
So with yarnbombing growing in inventiveness and popularity, watch this space!!!
Words by Karen Macfarlane. Images courtesy of Karen Macfarlane, Happy Hookers, Craft Creative and Andrew AB.
