Our Story

The Craft

Knitting and crocheting has traditionally been associated with older, retired Americans, specifically grandmas. However, in the past decade, the onset of blogs and online communities have brought knit and crochet art into the hands of a younger medium. Just as graffiti artists would spray paint enormous murals in urban areas, a new generation of craftsman are knitting gigantic patterns over  billboards, walls, statues, and even buses.

While most urban art is done by males, most Yarn Bombers are female.  In Austin, TX, there is Magda Sayeg. Her group, Knitta, Please, recently covered 99 tree trunks with elaborate brightly-colored knitted cozies.  In the Netherlands, the ladies of Knitted Landscape knit a rose on a cracked city street or a birds nest on a rusted gutter.  In the United Kingdom, Masquerade lives in the night, covering street signs and billboards of London in extravagant patterns.

If we were British, wed all have cozies on our teapots, says the New York Times, but were New Yorkers, so we have cozies for our parking meters. From New York to London to Stockhom, pedestrians are finding a fresh, radiant life in the worlds cityscapes.

The Film

The primary goal of this documentary is to formally introduce the world to Yarn Bombing, giving a retrospective history.  First, the filmmakers will spend time with each of the knitters, documenting each unique style and statement.  Next, we will conduct interviews with each of the subjects, gathering their stories and perspectives on the craft.  Topics of discussion will touch on why Yarn Bombing is dominated by women, how it differs from male-dominated crafts, and whether commissioned artists have sold out from their guerilla, graffiti roots.

In the end, it is our goal to piece together the chronology of this movement. Just as Rockers defined Reggae in the 1970s and Style Wars  defined Graffiti art in the 1980s, we hope to bring yarn bombing to the world as the newest art of this decade.

Who We Are

After a professional lifetime of helping other people with their film projects, Sarah Gonzalez is finally using her producing and cinematography experience to make her own feature documentary directing debut. Her producer is award-winning filmmaker and Graduate student, John Moore. Together, they are going to do whatever it takes to make this film of the highest caliber.

The Impact

Yarn Bombing is an art form blossoming right now.  Imagine being in San Francisco when Ginsberg kicked off the Beat movement by reading Howl, or standing next to the Lumiere Brothers as they shoot the first motion picture. These are the defining times of Yarn bombing. It is only with the continued knowledge and appreciation of this movement, that it may continue to grow and someday move to the next generation.

Though there are many male yarn bombers, the craft can very much be considered a symbolic part of the feminist movement. Throughout history, knitting has primarily been associated with older, matronly females.  Knitting especially comes in fashion near wartime for women, so that they (too) can do their part (Knit for the Navy!). If one were to draw a caricature of a grandmother, knitting needles would be just as essential to complete the image as a rocking chair.  However, these pioneers have flipped that stereotype on its ear.  They inject the leisurely hobby with radiant energy, blasting fluorescent pinks and blues from sign posts and meter poles. They climb walls and drainpipes with the same ferocity as any graffiti artist. This documentary hopes to advance this art in its mission to empower females. Each of the subjects are smart, crafty, outspoken women.  As filmmakers we seek to give them a voice and their work a platform.

What We Need & What You Get

Our immediate goal is $15,000  but as you can see, we have a lot of expenses and these are only the immediate things.

(All the items include Sarah and John)

-Flight to Vancouver, Canada: $1,500

-Lodging in Vancouver (5 nights/$80 night): $400

-Food/Other expenses in Vancouver: $500

-Flight to Stockholm , Sweden: $4,000

-Lodging in Stockholm (5 nights/$101 night) $505

-Food/Other expenses: $500

-Flight to London, England: $2600

-Lodging in England (5 nights/$100 night) $500

-Food/Other expenses: $500

-Zoom Recorder - $300

-Wireless Microphones - $600

-Shotgun Microphone - $450

-SD Card ($100 for 16G) - $500*

-Back up Hard drivers (~$150 for 1T)- $600*

-Liability Insurance - $800

-Equipment Insurance - $200

-Carnet (passport for equipment need for international travel) - $400