Kniting as art: The flat fox

In September 2013, one of my Ravelry groups that I play knitting in cyberspace with, challenged each other to produce a knitted wall hanging over a couple of months. We had a couple of sample patterns to inspire us. We all had a go but overall it stretched a few of us out of our comfort zone. Prolific knitters we certainly are. Creative thinkers outside the square maybe not so much.

But it sparked something in the back of my weird little brain that I think has enormous potential as: (a) a great way to stashbust some yarn, (b) a potential way to do something creative with that stack of swatches many knitters generate, (c) a cool way to sample stitch patterns you love but without having to commit to a full garment and (d) a unique and cheap way to creat original artwork to decorate your walls. I’ve had a number of ideas about how to do this percolating in the back on my mind for quite a while and it seemed like a great opportunity to finally stop thinking and start doing.

This I what I started with: 

My idea all began with this fox square. The pattern for the fox picture comes from Knit Today issue 81 January 2013 and is is from a bag pattern called Urban Fox. I’m pretty sure that this is the pattern that made me buy the magazine originally. One of my eldest daughter’s friends is absolutely obsessed with all things fox and I thought it would make a good present for her. Turns out its going to be part of a piece of urban man cave decor.

So this is to go on the walls of my boy’s man cave to go with the taxidermy stuffed animal heads he is creating. (There are a lot of dismembered moose and deer stuffed toys in my house currently waiting for the woodworkers to finish varnishing their plaques).

Then I decided to frame the fox with a series of strips and squares in the cream/fawn wool of the background used for the fox. I took the opportunity to play with some patterns that have caught my eye (or appeal to the boy).

Strip 1: The leaf pattern used in the free scarf/stole/shawl pattern Physalis by Anna Kuduja. Knitted leaves are such fun to make.

 

Square 2: The Tardis from Bigger on the Inside from Knitty Spring + Summer 2012 by Kate Atherley. (The boy is a missive Doctor who fan).

Square 3: Lace pattern from Friday Night In Jacket by Amanda Jones from Simply Knitting Issue 102. I'm really having a bit of geometric lace phase at the moment.

And here's where the cool bit of the idea for this artwork really comes in. I decided that in order to make this a picture I wasn't going to go the traditional wall hanging route by adding a backing or edging and some sort of hanging rod to the top. I decided to use my knitted fabric to stretch over a purchased canvas.

So then I had to knit two long stocking stitch strips, one for each edge to wrap around the picture frame. I also knitted a small section of stocking stitch onto the top of the Tardis square to make this strip the same length as the others.

Assembly: I bought a pre-stretched canvas frame from our local Warehouse. (Cost $12 for three - they are about 55 cm high by 45 cm wide). I sewed all pieces together to make a large square. I blocked the individual pieces before sewing them together. Steam pressed a few stubborn seams flat. Stretched the knitted piece over the frame. On the long edges it is long enough to wrap right around the frame and tuck under. Enlisted help of the head of the household to staple the piece to the frame around the back using a staple gun. Folded knitted piece carefully at the corners and stitched in place along folds before stapling for extra security. I’d show you the back but it’s messy. Added a string across the frame about 1/3 way down for hanging.

So, I’m proud of this. Proof of concept established. I think this would work great with swatches too. A million ideas dancing in my head (and I still have two more canvases). Stay tuned.

 

(Sorry about the wide variety of colours in these photos. The yarn  I used to make this is the most frustrating wool to photograph even close to its true colour and it depends too on whether I photograph under artificial light or not. It's closest to creamish warm fawn with an undertone of grey).

T is for Twisted Taxidermy

Like that cool old school look of dead animal heads on your study / library wall? Here you can do it without the messy animal killing exercise. This is also known as 'vegan taxidermy'.

Rachel Denny: Domestic Trophies series. This is the artist whose work got me interested in the whole fake taxidermy thing. These are made using old jumpers usually sourced from op shops which are then felted and used to cover plastic formers.

She has also more recently branched out into other animals. This particular piece is Lion and Lamb.

Shauna Richardson does amazing crochet Taxidermy or 'crochetdermy' as she calls it. Her work is incredibly realistic and life size with glass eyes, fake claws and plastic teeth. She even chooses deliberately coarse wool to more closely reflect the real fur of the animals. For a slide show of fantastic pictures of of Shauna's work in urban settings see here.

Nathan Vincent also produces crochet taxidermy concentrating on African animals.

Perhaps not strictly taxidermy but still awesome artwork nonetheless. Ruth Marshall creates incredible knitted replicas of big cat skins to preserve a vanishing species. Look at these awesome tiger skins. Don't worry. They're not real. The Tiger Pelt Project reproduces and interprets full-size tiger pelts as knitted textiles.

Amur Leopard

Ocelot

She has even recently published a book on her work. Available from Amazon.

My favourite part of Ruth's work is what got here started on knitting animal pelts. Quoting from her website:

"After long days working at the Bronx Zoo, Marshall would return home at night and knit as a hobby. Her overweight, opinionated pet tabby cat named Rocky, was a faithful companion during knitting time. Inspired by the beauty of the intricate natural design of Rocky's markings, Marshall decided to try to knit a replication of his pelt. After exhaustively photographing, sketching and measuring her reluctant cat, his furry coat was translated into a knit pattern. Incorporating 2D and 3D traditional knitting techniques, Marshall was able to interpret the coat of "Rocky" into the first of her now signature pelt textiles".

Elaine Bradford is another who specializes is crochet taxidermy. However, her work is a little more out there colour wise and she works with imaginary animals too. I particularly like the pushmipullyou (tragus januali) from Dr Doolittle.

Donya Coward works in textiles producing fabric covered taxidermy. She specializes in dogs particularly. I love how this Jack Russell terrier is covered in sequins and doilies.

Finally a crocheted animal head from Magda Van der Vloed, a South African artist made using wire and recycled plastic bags. Looks like old fashioned granny squares.

Now I'm off to the op shop with my son who wants some stuffed toys to make some animal head trophies for his boy cave.