International Yarn Bombing Day.

June 11th was International Yarn Bombing Day AND Knitting in Public Day. I knew June 11th was fast-approaching, but yet I had so much going on that I left it to the last minute. Nothing like flying by the seat of your pants! I accomplished both feats yesterday - hooray!

I am not brave and growing up (even still) I'm a follow the letter of the law kind of gal. I would also tell you that I'm extremely risk-averse almost to the point of being allergic - itchy and hiccupy.

Yet, as I get older (and I will be turning 40 this year, but I refuse to consider this a "mid-life crisis" but existential musings) I have become more outspoken, ballsy and brash.
I do things according to how they make me happy and if I bring some sunshine to someone along the way, then all the better. If someone doesn't like me or my style - poo-poo sayeth I - just like Madeline.

This is my second yarn bomb. The first one I did under the cover of night. This one I allowed myself to be more bold. Also, I didn't really have a choice because hubby and I were going on a date... drive-in movie to see Super 8 (which was AWESOME... totally mint ☺) and we wouldn't be getting home until close to midnight.

I hadn't even measured my piece. So fly-by-the-seat of my pants .. I just cast on and knit something and hoped it would fit. We arrived at our location at 6pm.. still very light out and busy-ish because downtown Livermore (and Livermore in general) was lively with the annual Rodeo. The parade had passed by earlier that morning and there were a lot of crowds and police presence.

My hands were slightly sweaty in that nervous way and my heart was beating fast. The location I picked to install was lined with motorist waiting to cross the intersection. Apparently I got a lot of stares.




Even more risky was the fact that there was a Police van parked one car up from my position. Still, I calmed myself, steadied my hands and worked feverishly. This is not something I would have ever dreamed of doing when I was growing up. My parents were very strict and not exactly impulsive people therefore I was never an impulsive kid or early adult. I wonder what they would say, were they alive.



Installation complete and I only hope it will last 24 hours and dare I dream... a week.



I've got the taste again to do more installations around town with my signature rainbowy colors. A lot of people might say "what a waste of time and yarn", but I'm a process knitter. While I do appreciate a finished project, it's the journey I enjoy. The gentle slide-click of my knitting needles, the feel of the yarn in my fingers and the way fabric develops before my very eyes. I'm making something, essentially, from two sticks and a piece of string.... almost something from nothing. Some others may say it's defacing public property. Well, in a way it is, but it's non-permanent and non-harming like spray paint or scratches or other graffiti. One snip of my scissors and my yarnbomb becomes merely a vestige of the tiniest yarn fibres floating away on the wind.

I hope people walk along, spot my yarnbomb and smile. If I can brighten up someone's otherwise dreary day or give them an unexpected splash of color it's been a good day.