Gorilla linked to charity???
No, gorillas don't knit, but Guerilla Knitting by anonymous nighttime knitters called yarn-bombers has become quite the knitting phenomenon...knitting graffiti of sorts.
Knitters in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, have taken guerilla knitting to King Kong gorilla-like heighths and linked its graffiti knitting artwork to a project which will indeed benefit the diverse community of Cambridge — knitting for community.
Knit camBridge is the idea of Sue Sturdy, an enthusiastic knitting fiber artist by day, and possibly, a guerilla knitter by night. Sturdy is a multi-talented fiber artist whose first job was to design knitted garments for Empisal Knitting Machines in Koln, Germany, after earning her degree in fashion design (specializing in knitting).
Sue Sturdy's "Hat for a Smart Car"
Sturdy's premise for Knit camBridge is to cover the Main Street Bridge in Cambridge with sewn together knitted blankets, scarves, and squares. All levels of knitters from everywhere can participate in this community linked charity event. Once Knit camBridge has been installed and pictures taken and enjoyed, the knitted work will be taken down, cleaned, and distributed amongst Cambridge community support programs, just in time before winter arrives.
Sturdy says: I want this work to make you smile, shake your head and laugh. Whatever you do, do it because you love to knit!
Cambridge is a lovely city near Toronto, rich in its support for the arts, theater, and community programs. Sue Sturdy is Artist in Residence at Cambridge's Centre for the Arts where professional artists have the opportunity to involve and engage the community in the artistic and creative process in a variety of disciplines.
Cambridge has some of the most historic bridges in Waterloo Region. The Main Street Bridge (1931) is a bowstring arch bridge made of concrete and is set over the Grand River. Cambridge is maybe best known for its Farmers Market, the third oldest in Canada, still in operation on its original site since 1830.
Link to Knit camBridge on Facebook.
Want to contribute to the Knit camBridge collaborative effort, anyone can?
Just as the diversity of any community, knitted contributions may be any color, texture, and any size. You may use any type of yarn, pattern, colour and knitting technique you wish.
Knitted pieces of any size will be accepted but preferred sizes are:
1. Pieces 21” x 27” to cover the 267 handrails on the bridge
2. Pieces 6” or 8” wide by 50”-60” long to cover 303 handrail spaces
3. Pieces as long as you like that are 8”, 10” or 22” wide
4. Pieces 30” wide, minimum 12” long, maximum 4 ft long to cover columns
Pieces may be hand-delivered to the Cambridge Centre for the Arts, or mailed to the Centre, 60 Dickson Street, Cambridge, N1R 8N1 Canada. The arts centre can be reached at (519) 740-4681 ext. 4376.
And please attach a piece of paper to the knitting with your name, address, phone number and email. Sue would like all the knitting submitted by the end of June if possible. The knitting will be up on the bridge September 9-30.
Main Street Bridge, Cambridge, photos by Kayla Jones.
Thank you for reading. For more read knitting news read Sharon Watterson's blog. Link to charitable projects In the Providence area as well: Knit Happens and Ocean State Crafters are just two of the Ravelry groups knitting regularly for charity in the Providence area. Find their latest linked info on Ravelry forums. 
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Comments
Aww Sharon, this was a real cute article, Lol! Thanks!
What a great charity. You presented this article well. I was sure hoping that gorillas did knit. If anyone could teach one gorilla the fine art of knitting it would be you!
And I thought you managed to teach that gorilla to knit. Awww...cute picture. Thanks for giving us a chance to dive into more knitting history and stories with you.
I loved the tie-in to Cambridge. We went there once on vacation! I'm going to read more about gorilla knitting!
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