Botanical Crochet

I am really excited to announce that this week marks the opening of my very first crochet art installation!

A work in progress - photos by Louise Stubbings.

 About this time last year I was approached by Cambridge University Botanic Garden Community Education team to ask whether I would be willing to lead a group from the newly formed CamCity WI to create a crochet display for the 2013 Festival of Ideas. A group of willing and eager volunteers was formed and we have been meeting at the gardens once a month throughout 2013 to plan and execute the project.

Concentrating hard at one of the early meetings.

When we first met at least 60% of the group had very limited or no crochet skills. Our first task was to teach them the basics and within three months of that first meeting they passed on their new skills to the whole WI group at the March meeting where we made lichen for the display.

Once the lichen was underway the team broke into smaller groups to work on trailing plants (focusing on those found in arid environments)

Part of the lichen mat - photo by Louise Stubbings.

As you can see from the photos, this isn't a typical yarn bomb, there is no granny square bunting or cutesy flowers. These are well researched crochet, largely botanically correct imaginings of the plants. (Each is being displayed with its own embroidered Latin name plate!) The group researched their plants online and by talking to botanists.

It has been an amazing experience to see the rapid learning take place that has allowed these ladies to design and create these beautiful crochet sculptures. I feel very privileged to have worked alongside them, guiding them to this point and watch them blossom in this craft.

Katie (who didn't crochet before) proudly holding her work (epiphyllum anguliger don't you know!)

If you are close enough to Cambridge (UK) I do hope that you will come along and see this amazing display. It opens on Thursday 24th October 2013 and runs through to Sunday 3rd November at the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens in the glass houses (ask at the ticket office for directions) Usual opening times and entry prices apply. (As it is free for children it would make a great half term day trip!) 

There is a Meet the Makers event from 2-4pm on Saturday 26th October where you can meet some of the team (including me) who made the display.

As this post replaces my usual Things I Didn't Know Tuesday post here are three things the project has taught me:

1. I can do art - I always felt that my crochet (and knitting was more practical than creative) but this has shown me that it is purpose not skill that makes something art rather than craft.
2. I can teach large groups of beginners - 7 was the largest group I taught before this project but I coped successfully with many more.
3. Being able to teach someone to do something you love and watch the joy on their face as they begin to love it is such a privilege. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to teach.

If you haven't already, do hope over and enter my giveaway courtesy of Katya Frankel.