Embracing the Bomb

For a long long long time I've wanted to do a wee bit of yarn bombing.

I so love a bit of yarn bombing and I think it is the perfect addition to our seaside town, which despite its location does need a bit of colouring up at times.

2012 is the year to embrace the bomb.

After a bit of a practice yarn bomb carried out with a fellow bomber on the tree on a friend's nature strip (doesn't everyone do a practice one first?) our bombing cherry was popped and we were ready for bigger and better things.

I have to admit I've had my big bomb planned for at least...ooh, a year. I think I came up with the idea sometime before last year's International Yarn Bombing Day (yes, there really is such a thing) but in my typical disorganised fashion, it didn't quite happen.

One rainy and dark night, myself and fellow bomber (who shall remain nameless for protection) with our 7 and 8 year olds in tow (it's a really good learning opportunity to experience stealth), descended on the local foreshore to bestow my piece of "art" on a local mermaid.

And doesn't she look happy with it, hey?

That beautiful crocheted bikini was quite a learning experience for me. I am one of the most uncoordinated crocheter in the world. Being a left hander who knits right handed doesn't help. Even my left handed crocheting is quite, um well, unique.  I've worked hard on my technique this year and while my crocheting is neat, seeing me crochet is not pretty and my technique does draw strange looks from real crocheters.  I akin my style to being a bit like a continental crocheter. It looks quite odd but it really really works for me.

So now after learning to read a crochet pattern, and a few other stitchy things to do with crochet; I can now crochet bikinis. Pretty handy really.

A month or two later, and the bikini is now gone. That's despite the fact that I did hand sew the ties together quite firmly.  That's a bit sad, but I guess that's the risk you take with bombing. 

I'm hoping that I'll see someone wearing it on the beach next summer. That way it will at least have gone to a good home.

I love the secrecy and just plain stupid fun of yarn bombing. This certainly won't be the last. We've planned a few other things, and have another friend who is desperate to pop her bombing cherry soon.