Bloom 2013, Yarn bombing

+Dee Sewell and me chatting @ GGN Garden build Bloom 2013
I am attaching knitted squares onto the tree with crochet

The community garden network bloom postcard show garden had yarn bombing as a central theme as much as the plants!
Where did all the knitting come from?
Several envelops of knitted rectangles came from different parts of Ireland. A few we have no details of just stamps and post marks, so I'd like to acknowledge people who just sent things. Thank you.

from Northern Ireland, thank you

Like this beautiful lilac piece from Northern Ireland. It sits centrally on the yarn bombed tree. If you made it - thank you, if you sent it thank you.
It was this piece as Sandra trust it into my hand saying 'this was in an envelop all by itself, one piece'. Those of you familiar with my work know I wonder about stories behind things.
Each garden at Bloom has a story, each knitted square had a story, each person who comes to a community garden has a story. Sometimes in the making of things we share our story.
So I wonder about the lilac piece with the stitch of blue through it... who made it?
what were they thinking about as they choose the wool...
where did they make it? where did the wool come from?
There is a correlation between the energy you put into something handmade and the feeling from the object after it has been made. This is something beyond the expression of craft, hand crafted objects always carry's the makers energy. So I wonder why did the lilac rectangle get made? Why did they decide to send it? Was the sender the same person who made it?
These things may or may not be important. But someone choose to send this piece and I value that. There was a lovely softness too the piece.
I have to mention Ruth Noble who not only volunteered at Bloom but also organised her brother to go to her mothers attic and send a stash of wonderful knitted rectangles. THANK YOU! An unfinished project of beautifully knit rectangles in wonderful colours. The were perfect and fabulous!

Thanks Ruth and thank your Mum for us!

Another package that was sent to Dee featured this lovely selection also from a Ruth and I wondered was it Ruth Noble? 

Cute selection of knitted squares and shapes, thanks Ruth!

A very large sack of knitted materials came from @LoretInStitches. A group of Transition Year art class at St Michaels Loreto, Navan, Co. Meath. My connection to them was last year some time via twitter, the sister of their art teacher, Paddy. An amazing guy @YddapArt he has to be look at how he is working with this group on Facebook or http://instagram.com/loretoinstitches … Sandra went to visit them and chat about the project - they yarn bombed the fork and watering can while she was there.

Will these work here? crafted elements in a small space. CGN Postcard garden @ Bloom

The plan was for a group of them come down to volunteer on build day to help with the yarn bomb. As part of their TY experience they had pretty much Knit bombed everything they could in Navan. During the day I discovered a photography exhibition capturing their work was held at the Solstice Arts Centre the end of April where they sold the photos to raise money for SOSAD (Save Our Sons And Daughters) charity.
I have to say I knew the space and tree were small and when I heard 12 teenagers were coming to hep my initial thought was that's fine if we are making everything from scratch but were not - what will everyone do? I need n't have worried there was plenty to do.
Before the girls arrived I reviewed all the materials and looked at all the colours. Starting with some vivid complementary knitted squares looped them around the tree to see if they would work. On deciding the starting rectangles I started crochet them together.

starting the yarn bomb free style crochet linking knitted squares
photo credit: Lisa Murray @LoretInStitches

As the girls arrived there was some talk about yarn bombing the base this was agreed as a good idea. I gave a quick health and safety - your on a build site be aware of traffic, implements and your surrounds. Then I split the group up and got them working on tasks in threes fairly promptly. The tree and the 3 sides of the frame around the garden.

Photos via +Dee Sewell Greenside Up and CGN

I learnt that when I consider yarn bombing I think make from scratch but the girls have a much more fluid approach reuse, recycle - cut chop and stitch together. Because we were using crowed sourced materials we had plenty of material. But the large bag of recycled knitting that came from their school was really useful.
The tree was the priority. I gave clear instructions and stood back. Giving the girls autonomy to get on with it. Fantastic to see such a young group rise to the occasion, what a credit to their school, parents and Paddy. Really an exceptional group can't wait to see what they do next.
Photos are from Kevin, Dee, Lisa and myself.

showing the crochet join photo credit: Lisa Murray  @LoretInStitches

Deciding on what colours will work for the tree and attaching them

reviewing the fab crews proposed layout,
making a few suggestions on balance of  textures and colours
photo credit: Lisa Murray @LoretInStitches

there was some unpicking before stitching
photo credit Lisa  Murray @LoretInStitches

stitching knitted blocks together

 The girls worked really well together and I was impressed they came down on the bus, worked till after 7pm and just got on with it. If there had of been a budget we would have treated them to very large ice creams. Really you lot - you know who you are - YOU were GREAT to work with.

pink and greens on one side, yes that works

stitch, stitch, stitch

Sophie rising to the challenge of tightly stitching the yarn blocks together

blue free style crochet by Roisin Markham 

That lilac piece photographed above is just to the left, the pink piece was another that came to us in an envelope the pattern in it was beautiful and looked stunning on the tree.

teaching crochet on a tree

I possibly should have started by teaching crochet with a hook and wool but when the girls arrived I had already started some free style crochet on the tree and well... I just continued. I showed them what I was doing and handed the hook over. Then stood back and watched. It was important that the tree look tidy in terms of the yarn bomb. Stitching, colours and patterns were given some consideration.

patterns coming together

As the day wore on we started looking at it from a distance. A hyperbolic crocheted piece I made some time ago was curled around the top of the tree at a point where larger branches divided from the tree. It was really effective. Some colours were deemed too dark.

teach a skill and stand back, Amy doing a great job

The yarn bomb tree was in an ideal location on the corner drawing people into the garden. Even on build day people who were working on other sites swung by and chatted asking questions, looking at me oddly as I crocheted away onto a tree! Even a couple of the judges exchanged words with us.

lovely shot by Lisa  Murray official photographer to @LoretInStitches

One of my favourite shots by Lisa  Murray official photographer to @LoretInStitches

The tree had to be completed before the camomile lawn was put in and the bird had to floated from the tree. I have more detailed shots of the +Stitch Lily twitter birdie in the previous blog post.

The girls sewed all the pieces together tested to see was each side right and the measurements ok before going on to the next piece. They left as the garden was starting to really take shape.

photo credits Lisa  Murray @LoretInStitches

The path, planting and yarn bombing. I can't believe I've no photos of the lawn going in. I suppose I was attempting to tidy up at that stage. Eventually we started tacking in the strips of stitched yarn surrounding the framework at the base of the garden. As the clock ticked past 8pm. I had to leave but I so wanted to see it all finished... when I knew it was all going to work I packed the car and left.
Only seeing the completed garden through photos is kind of weird but such is life.
Well done to all the yarn bombing and garden build crew

that's Lisa the @LoretInStitches photographer on the far left

Sandra and Dee take a bow...

great photo from Margaret O'Farrell of OldFarm www.oldfarm.ie

Everyone who was involved, showed up, donated time energy or products you did a great thing! Hope it returns to you all in spades.

 CGN Postcard Show Garden Bloom 2013

Everyone who is involved in a community garden in Ireland and in the network you were represented very well at Bloom 2013 on a National stage.
The response has been great and I loved that even my needle felted hug token got noticed.
For my very small part in bringing this garden to reality I am thankful, its been great to get to know Sandra and her work, plus support +Dee Sewell  love that we got to work on something together.
The garden worked because Dee and Sandra live the ethos of the community garden.

As far as I'm concerned it is muck and magic...

Blooming marvellous!