Guerrilla knitters yarn-bomb
Many a good yarn has come out of quake-hit Kaikoura over the past few months and that doesn’t seem to be wrapping up anytime soon.
Kaikoura’s West End has been yarn-bombed by a team of guerrilla knitters targeting shops, scaffolding and park benches to help spread a little cheer.
All sorts of wool-wrapped paraphernalia has stormed the shop frontages and scaffolding along the main high street thanks to a team of underground knitters.
Jacqui Harnett, from gift and wool shop Genevieve’s, suggested the woolly project might brighten the town, bring visitors back and generate a few smiles.
‘‘It’s worked. People come down every day to see what’s new and snap photos.’’
Kaikoura Retail and Trade Association member and business owner Stephanie Thompson said the art project would help take the focus away from the scaffolding and emergency barricading around damaged buildings.
Yarn bombing had become popular in some places around the world where ‘‘graffiti knitters’’ anonymously installed their craft under the cover of darkness.
It is believed to have originated in the United States with Texas knitters trying to find a creative way to use their leftover and unfinished knitting projects.
Both Thompson and Harnett had seen it done in other cities and were not worried about any repercussions.
Thompson said there had been a bit of ‘‘an underground movement’’ and the Kaikoura knitters had been working behind the scenes for three months.
‘‘We purposely tried to keep it on the quiet so it would appear overnight,’’ Thompson said.
‘‘The only people who knew about it were the knitters.’’
Foodstuffs Consumer Trust, Kaikoura Wilderness Experience and Crucci wool all donated funds for the yarn and Genevieve’s became the knitting hub.
The Seaward Lions got involved, as well as a lot of local knitters, including Linda Bennett and Kay McDonald.
‘‘Everyone has done a little bit, and there’s a lot more to come,’’ Thompson said.
Kaikoura Mayor Winston Gray thought it looked fantastic.
‘‘It’s a great way to liven up the town and make things more lighthearted. I think it looks great.’’
‘‘It adds some vitality into the CBD.’’
"We purposely tried to keep it on the quiet so it would appear overnight. The only people who knew about it were the knitters." Stephanie Thompson