Now you've joined the Global Guerilla Knit Up Challenge, you may need to pack your Guerilla Kit.Here's what you need:
- Wool or blunt tapestry needle
- Something to carry the needle in so you wont have to rummage in your bag and look all non-guerilla like. I use a medical sample container because I'm twisted like that.
- Scissors for the cut and run
- Hand made tag to identify the knit up as a knit up
- Your logo or blog name so the rangers know who to send the fine to. (optional)
- A tape measure to measure future knit projects. (addicting)
- A long dangly bit you left on the end of your knit up specially for the sewing up part.
- or a long dangly bit of wool to sew up with. (handy)
- Sunglasses for disguise (or balaclava)
- Hat (see above)
- Running shoes for the fast getaway
- Attitude (not pictured)
- Bravery (artist's impression)
- oh, and stay cool.
Here's how I didn't:
It is nearly a year since the gorgeous one fell suddenly and seriously ill. I wanted to stitch up near the hospital where he spent two weeks eating scary hospital food and waiting for his white blood cells to stop eating his red ones.
Slipping to the entrance of St Alfred's at 6am, there were only shift workers about,
smoking, and waking up.
They were chatting, greeting in languages other than English.
It was barely light and I was nervous.
Whipping out the knit up with it's wool tail ready,
needle threaded, I turned my back to the benches where they sat.
I stitched furiously, my nose 6 inches from the pole,
convinced they were talking about me.
Making ready for the get away, I stepped back and saw
it had been sewn on back to front. All the loose threads were hanging
everywhere, and the hospital workers were eyeing me suspiciously.
I lost my nerve and bailed out, mission botched.
Part of the guerilla game is skill of execution.
Not only is there a snappy bit of yarn art installed, but it's appearance
seems magical.
Not me.
Now I'm going to have to slink back and re do it. Not very snappy. No
smoking, and waking up.
They were chatting, greeting in languages other than English.
It was barely light and I was nervous.
Whipping out the knit up with it's wool tail ready,
needle threaded, I turned my back to the benches where they sat.
I stitched furiously, my nose 6 inches from the pole,
convinced they were talking about me.
Making ready for the get away, I stepped back and saw
it had been sewn on back to front. All the loose threads were hanging
everywhere, and the hospital workers were eyeing me suspiciously.
I lost my nerve and bailed out, mission botched.
Part of the guerilla game is skill of execution.
Not only is there a snappy bit of yarn art installed, but it's appearance
seems magical.
Not me.
Now I'm going to have to slink back and re do it. Not very snappy. No
inside out, inside out , i like inside out
ReplyDeleteDear Grrl, I hope your Beloved is well and healed now.
ReplyDeleteHospital food still looks bleedin' awful......
I applaud your daring acts of daring do with knitted thingys.
ps. Thankou for the wonderful comment you left on my windfarm pic. I am honoured, indeed I am.
I followed the links. Holy Cow, grrlfriend that musta been "A Time". I can't even imagine. xoxo
ReplyDeleteYour Gorgeous One ... IS! And a talented boy too. How is it two artists living together?? I hope you don't mind but I added him to my feedlist. I love his kinetic play toys!
I'm thinking on how I can play with y'all guerillas. I'm not a knitty person ... thinking cap firmly in place.
Big healthy hugs to both of you.
this is oh so USE-FUL - I'm packing my bag for the ready! Sun glasses very suspicious in our climate but the balaclava good for the cold and rain
ReplyDeletePS the gorgeous one has wicked eyes!!!
Second the comment about hoping the recovery is complete...
ReplyDeleteInteresting to compare the hospital food (no nutritional value to speak of, but inside plastic containers so you know it's sanitary) to his box containing the experience of illness. Yes, yellow is the color of hope but also seems right for illness...jaundice maybe.
Liked his art, have forwarded a link to a friend who was playing with automata at one point.
Those are some good-looking scissors in the photo. Having some scissor envy here.
Grrrlll
ReplyDeleteHope your gorgeous one is all better and whatever was happening has righted itself.
Love you kit and am excited for all of you in your guerilla activities.
GO
Love Renee
thanks for the great tips ... might I also recommend a recon visit prior to the actual act ... always good to take a peek before - get the lay of the land & activity around the chosen spot ... and check for security camera's too ... hmmm too cautious? :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with rambling rose - great eyes.
Yes 3EM,
ReplyDeleteThe reconnaisance trip is good, stalk about looking sneaky for a bit, whip out the measuring tape, melt into the urban mist...
definitely still a successful knitup! in my book! - you got it done under fire and in a whole new way! your gorgeous one is aptly named! hope all is well....xxo
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for taking the time to comment on my postings. Same here, hope all is well and hospital food looks the same in Australia as in California...perhaps consistency is good. For Jen, me and other non-knitters, bet we can think of our own version so we can play.
ReplyDeleteHi! I love your blog! I just wish I could knit...in fact I might teach myself and then I could become a guerilla... yes... I will. Not sure if I'm brave enough, but will try!!You go, grrrl!! Sarah ps hope your gorgeous one is ok... I agree that hospital nosh looks vile.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, of the hospital workers...you have given them a whole lot to talk about and look at too.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well with with you and yours. Hospital food "Blah"...I've always been the patient with the Greek aunties that bring in all the food (you know the ones) :)
Thanks for the helpful hints. My kit may look a little different as I am likely to go with an alternative to wool or yarn...but I will definitely be wearing my running shoes.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great job, because you got it done, no need to nit-pick there, just love it - especially as it's an ode to someone you love!
ReplyDeleteI find myself looking at branches and lamp posts with an eye to guerilla-ing them!!Brilliant!!S
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of guerilla knitting. i first heard about it a few months agao and i promptly worte an email to the events people at the Adelaide Fringe Festival saying that i would be willing to get together a few people to do some 'urban knitting' all through the citty or the Garden of Unearthly Delights. I never heard back from them.
ReplyDeleteI think i will just have to do it anyway and do it Guerilla style!
Are you kidding? Inside out is the bomb. But you gotta be true to you, so if you gotta go back, no slinking!!
ReplyDeleteWhat if I use all tags and no knits! hmmm.
Mojo to the gorgeous one...
Oh I think it is wonderful. I did a toy society drop recently and was a wreck of anxiety trying not to be spotted. it is not easy!
ReplyDeleteScissors for cut and run?....Not often I hope.
ReplyDeleteYour knitting & stickers have been noticed:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.noseyinnewtown.com/
So pleased the gorgeous one doesnt have to hang out at the hospital anymore and smiling at your first guerilla knit up installation.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a bit of nerves stitching your first one onto the pole.... I'm still working on where to stitch my first, and nerves of anticipation already creeping in...but I'll do it!
Have to get onto the tag! Great idea.
Bit harsh on the muggle isn't it? How many times do you have to walk past these before you can move on and just accept them as part of the street scape?
ReplyDeleteI walk down May Lane everyday, sometime I look sometimes I don't.