We’ve all had to work out new strategies for coping this year whilst the world has been spinning off its rocker.
But don’t worry my friend, no matter how outlandish your survival techniques have been, you’ll find no judgement here… and I’m sure that both of your pet cats genuinely enjoy wearing the replicas of 12th century French armor that you painstakingly crafted for them out of old baked-bean tins during the early weeks of lockdown. Look, they’re hardly hissing at you at all these days! They love it! Just like my family love picking their way carefully between eleventy million pots of vegetables that I’m growing in the garden because what you definitely need in order to survive a pandemic is MORE KALE.
Still, some folks’ responses to the situation have been surprising. Take, for example, the behaviour of an entire village near here. For the purposes of this post, I’ll refer to the village in question as Upper Itchingweasel, though this is not, in fact, its real name.
Upper Itchingweasel is a beautiful village, with an abundance of thatched roofs, timber frames, and neatly climbing roses. Sometimes I run along the village’s main street, feeling ever so slightly as though I’m lowering the tone of the place as I go.
I’ve lived before in a village where they’ll tell you in a joking-but-not-really voice that you’re nobody unless your family has been in residence for four generations, but this place is something else. The manor house has been inhabited by the same family for 600 years! Feast your eyes upon this charming old cottage:-
BUT WAIT, what is that I see, on the edge of the well? Shall we take a closer look? Do I see… knitting?!
I confess that I had Upper Itchingweasel pegged in my mind as a terribly serious place, dare I say it even a little po-faced. Every village has its own character (ours is exuberantly friendly) but I suspected that Upper Itchingweasel took itself just a tiny bit too seriously.
On reflection, I owe Upper Itchingweasel an apology.
I was wrong.
Sorry.
You see, the inhabitants of this prim-and-proper place responded to the imposition of lockdown not, like the rest of us, by drinking too much wine and grumbling a lot.
No, instead they decided to yarn-bomb their entire village – an act which was both brilliant and surprising.
I’d noticed a couple of knitted pieces whilst passing through on a run, but obviously at the speed I run, my surroundings tend to flash by in an indistinct blur. 😁🏃♀️
Then my friend sent me photos of the yarny brilliance, which motivated me to go and have a proper look.
So the other day, I peeled the twinnage off their screens (#badparent #homeschoolingdisaster) and took them out for a wander around the fibrous lanes of Upper Itchingweasel.
We were not disappointed.
Would you like to see more?
Aren’t these creations wonderful?
Everywhere we turned, there was more to see.
Seriously, I haven’t a hope of showing you everything.
But I think we can all learn something from the example of Upper Itchingweasel.
…Which is that when faced with a frightening global pandemic, take out your needles and KNIT!
Until next time,
Happy yarnery, my fine fibrous friends.
Phil x
Love it Phil. I doubt it will ever happen in this town I live in. As it has the oldest castle tower in the whole country. And the family did live there a kazillion generations. I am the first generation born in this country so I do not count. At alI. If a cat walks outside, a bit skinny, the whole town app explodes of indignation, lynching the owner who obviously starves the animal. The owner tried to explain it was inherent to the cats race, Siamese, but then the town app exploded about political correctness. Oh well, I have to do without any crafting yarny sense of humor as in Upper Itchingweasel. Bit envious of your walk there.
Yikes, your village sounds a bit strident. I hope its other inhabitants learn to appreciate all of the wonderful people who live there. How old is the castle tower?
Hi forgive me for asking you but is the yarn bombing still there is the village as I would love to drive and take some photos of the real village and its yarn bombing. It would be fun to see.
Jackie
Yes! It was there a few days ago, so I’m sure it is. Lots of it is tucked away in back streets, by the allotments, at the church, etc. Outside the church, have a look in the drainage pipes near the bottom of the wall. You won’t be disappointed!
I’ll probably get arrested peering in drainpipes – especially with a mask on!!! Thanks for confirming. I’ll go tomorrow. Love you work especially your chair.
😂 Eek, I hope I’m not getting you into trouble for suspicious drainpipe-related behaviour! Enjoy the yarn-bombing. And thank you for your kind words. ❤️
Oh, Phil; I love your posts and knitting pics, but you outdid yourself with this one!! I am keeping this to select a pic
or two to use as my desktop photo. Thank you so much to giving me a sense of how an English Village really reacts
to the world around them….. My little hamlet (Yes, we here in the USA still have some Hamlets ;-).. and tiny villages)
has responded to the Pandemic by shutting themselves indoors and standing in line [6 feet apart] to receive a chance
to do a bit of shopping at Costco or Best Buy at 6am to 8am (for those of us who are over 80) with the proper masks
and gloves. I, myself, have taken to my home and; knit, sleep, eat, repeat ….. thanks again for your visits via the internet. Keep safe, healthy and happy and Keep on knitting thru all crises. Anne [happyknitter543@gmail.com]
Hi Anne, Your approach sounds far more fun than queuing at Costco. And thank you for such kind words about this post – it was fun to write!
There’s actually a yarn shop fairly close to me called eat, sleep, knit.
That yarn shop is well named. ❤️
So absolutely brilliant. Both the town of surprises and your wonderful post. Thank you.
Thank you Judy! This was quite a fun post to write. 😊
Simply adorable! I’d love to see these all in person.
They are very cool. And if you’re ever in south Oxfordshire, I’d be happy to tell you the real name of the village.
Could ypu message me so Abs and I can take a walk around. Nice to get out in the hols. Made hubby and I smile and itching to get oit and see in person now…
*whispers* East Hendred. Enjoy.
Oh, the joy’s of imagination creation. The village is gorgeous and the yarny additions are so welcome. Thanks for sharing.
You’re very welcome. This was quite a fun post to write. 😊
Having had a bad day, confidence /mental health speaking reading your email and seeing the wonderful creativity displayed by your near neighbours was truly uplifting, reassuring and inspiring. I always enjoy reading your emails, more a hooker than a knitter myself, it matters not at all in the yarn twister family. Much love
Hi Jacqui, I’m very sorry that it’s been a lousy day. May tomorrow be MUCH better in your world. Meanwhile, a heartfelt thank you for saying such kind things about this post.
Thanks for the laugh and the great photos!
You’re welcome and you’re welcome. 😊
Brilliant! Love it! Thanks for sharing this bit of fun.
And thank you for saying so!
This lovely place beats the Village of the Damned a thousand fold! LOL!
Thanks for perking up my Saturday.
😂 And thank you for your kind words.
Thanks for sharing all those lovely photos with us. Love it!
You’re very welcome. 😊
I hope like anything that at least some of the residents of Upper Itchingweasel peeped through their curtains to watch you and the twinnage roaming about with foolishly delighted expressions – it would’ve given them as much pleasure as they gave you, Phil !
And as you give us.
Word has been getting around, so I suspect they’ve had a lot of visitors admiring their work lately.
Absolutely charming. Thank you for sharing this. It really brightened my day.
You’re welcome, and thank you for saying so. 😊
Thanks for sharing! Maybe worth a go in our residential Seattle neighborhood, now that the dry season is here. All the teddies and their stuffed friends have been in the windows for months; they deserve a rest!
Yes!! Do it, do it, do it!
Just…THANK YOU. I needed that.
You’re extremely welcome, and I hope that things happen to bring you some joy.
Thanks for sharing this!! Loved all the knit creatures but particularly the gargoyle!! Super!!
Yes, that’s my favourite too. It was on the wall outside the church. Perfect!
Utterly charming. Thanks for sharing.
You’re very welcome.
The world needs more yarn-bombing!
Thank you Phil, once again, for bringing a big smile to my face.
It definitely does. (And thank you for your comment.)
Yarn bombings… what the world needs now for sure.
Yes!!
Brilliant!
It was – all of it!
Delightful! Needed to see this. Thank you so much for sharing.
And thank you for your lovely comment.
What a beautiful project! Can you imagine the impatience and delight and expectations of the one who invented it and those who execute it? “What are we doing next?” Maybe they also have cameras to see the reaction of the spectators.
Yes! I’d love to know how it came about. It’s all just delightful.
I’m in Australia and found this via another website I frequent. Absolutely brilliant! I love knitting myself but alas the fingers now have arthritis and so it’s basic knitting rather than the fancy stuff I used to do. Wonderful English scenery too. This was a delightful site to look at this grey cold Sunday Down Under. Thank you!
Welcome! I’m sorry that arthritis is cramping your knitting style – life is far too unfair sometimes. But you’re very welcome here – a big ‘hello’ from thousands of miles away!
A charming story. Thank you for sharing with the rest of us. I have always been less than impressed with yarn bombing, until now! That was a delightful way to yarn bomb.
You’re very welcome. I know that yarn-bombing provokes mixed reactions, but it’s hard not to admire the imagination and work that’s gone into this!
Thank you for bringing beauty, whimsy, and joy into my life today!
And thank you for making me smile (and blush) with such a kind comment.
I loved the airplane.
Me too!
This yarn bombing is absolutely delightful. Thank you so much for sharing and giving a very lighthearted start to our day ( hubby and I) in “down under land”. The creativeness of the contributers is amazing and so original. THANK YOU!!!
And thank you for your comment! I completely agree about the creativity of the people who made these things, whoever they are. Also, hello from thousands of miles away!
Those cute pictures absolutely made my day! Hurrah for the creative spreading a bit of cheer in these gloomy times!!!
Yup, it’s so good to see a little light-hearted creativity in these stressful times.
Loved the yarn bomb pics! I really enjoy your blog. I haven’t seen any yarn bombings around my area here in Washington USA but will be on the look out more now. Me and my knitting buddies have been busy knitting up a storm and I have even taught a friend to knit! (I don’t have any cute animal to dress but have considered a hummingbird cape?)
Quick question since you do a lot of color knitting. Do you have a secret for keeping floats loose? Mine are always so tight that I sometimes have problems blocking and getting the garment as loose as it should be?
Hi Bonnie, and thank you for your lovely comment. If there’s no yarn-bombing around you, perhaps you could be the person who starts to create some???
As for your question about floats, I recommend stretching out your stitches in the active yarn, so that the inactive yarn forms an adequately long float. Does this make any sense at all?!
I want to make sure that I understand. Are you meaning to leave a longer space before twisting the inactive yarn? Or loosening the active yarn stitches?
I enjoyed this article so much. The items created were delightful and creative. Thank you for sharing! I loved it.
You’re very welcome. Glad to be of service!
Your post cheered me immensely. What a delightful idea to yarn bomb an entire village, each uniquelly wonderful to the maker. I enjoyed every single photo, and I’m secretly hoping you might have a second post with more. Thank you! xo
Hmm, you’ve just planted the seed of an idea. Give me a few days… (And I’m glad to have provided a hint of cheer in these crazy times, even if I can’t take credit for the artistry.)
What a wonderful gift made its way around to Oklahoma from a the UK via Australia! All due to a dreaded virus. This post was Absolutely wonderful. Not only the countryside brought back sweet memories of people and places, but the warmth reading all the comments solidified a common thread of like minded individuals. Job well done. Thank you!
And thank you for such a warm-hearted response. You’re very welcome here, amongst all the friendly, wise, generous, folk who kindly comment.
Absolutely adorable post!
Thank you!
Oh there are some clever people in that village! What a fab way to react to all the horrible-ness in the world at the moment.
Here in Portland, Oregon where the federal troops have been sent to quell the “dangerous” demonstrations we could definitely use some light-hearted, harmless and brilliantly clever knitting bombs! I can never thank you enough for your posts. Your sense of humor, your creative genius and your mothering sense bring a smile to my face and warmth to my heart every time. I just completed the knitting part of an Aran Isle sweater for a fellow resident in my Senior Housing facility and am thinking that now I can die if I must because someone else can put the pieces together and add the ribbing at the neck! What a strange world we are living in! Bless you, Phil – you are a bright light! Thank you, thank you, thank you…Ann
just want say…..love your blog, love your work, love, love, love.
This is wonderful – so fun! My favorites are the moles, I think!
Yup, the moles were very cute. ❤️
I love this, Phil. It’s so uplifting to see the community having a chuckle. Do you know how many were working together on this? This looks like quite the project!
Wow Phil ! That’s not your usual cutesy yarn bombing either. I really love the humour