Knitstable. It's like Whitstable, only better: it's Whitstable plus knitting.
And it's not just any knitting – it's unexpected knitting, Incogknito Graffiti knitting.
Like ordinary graffiti but with better karma, knitted graffiti brightens up a town. At its best – and we know good graffiti when we see it, down here in Banksy land – graffiti is art which has broken out of the galleries. It makes you laugh or cry or decide to over throw a corrupt government. Or maybe it just makes a gloomy commute a little more exciting.
The Incogknito Graffiti website is a virtual tour of the knitted graffiti created for the Whistable bienniale by these mysterious and suitably disguised guerilla knitters:
It's fun, it's frivolous, it's bright, it's cheerful, it's probably not council approved – what more could you want? We've mentioned knitted graffiti before, because it is a fun and easy-to-remove way to brighten up all sorts of objects, from trees to bollards, and the Incogknito Graffiti team have done very good work with this installation. We'd love to see it taken further, and to see little bits of knitting popping up in all sorts of odd places.
Ripe for the knitting – three places which could use a little fibre
Offices: Apart from ours, of course, which is already rather full. Do you spend your days in front of a computer, working on spread sheets and daydreaming about knitting? Well, why not knit a cubicle cosy – or at least a mug hug – so you've got a little bit of fibrey goodness to keep you going through dull meetings. Knitted graffiti in the workplace, whether you're dressing yourself or your office furniture, is also a great way to signal other knitters. There are more knitters than golfers, apparently, so you're sure to find one or two!
Libraries: Libraries – or perhaps librarians – generally seem to have a pretty good sense of humour, and if you tag let them know what you're up to, you may transcend from pseudo-vandal to installation artist. Failing that, it's a great way to find out if anyone ever visits the far reaches of the place. Why not knit a jacket for your favourite book and see how long it lasts?
Schools: Kids like knitting, and they really like leaving a mark. Plus, even the smallest garter stitch piece is enough to wrap around something.
The Incognito Graffiti team are a great inspiration. We don't know if their work is still there – we hope it is – so do let us know if you spot any lamp post cosies or bike rack warmers on your travels.
