If you were lucky enough to be driving through downtown Waxhaw on Tuesday night, then you got to witness the ladies in action. The Tanglers, a knitting and crocheting club that meets at Tangles Knitting on Main, just installed a large street art project made up of over 130 knitted and crocheted jellyfish. Julie Philip, a Fiber Artist who also paints and designs knitwear, said, “I love Waxhaw and the community of knitters and crocheters are so much fun. On Tuesday nights, we sit and knit and crochet together. I had heard about yarn bombing and thought it would be fun for Waxhaw. During our first year, we covered the lampposts; and for our second year, we did the [Tangles] shop front and trees. Last year, we did a huge project with tons of volunteers and wanted to cover the bridge. We had to take it down because the railroad thought it was distracting, so we laid the pieces around the town. I wanted to do something different this year. My mother-in-law taught me how to knit, she is also a fiber artist, and she had made little white jellyfish and hung them from branches. So, I decided that was what we were going to do. We ”Jellyfished” the town. Within the group, everyone is so creative so they did their own spin on jellyfish. Some are wild looking and some are plain white.”
Elizabeth Climer, owner of Tangles Knitting on Main in Waxhaw, said: “We just wanted to let folks know that knitting and crocheting can be an art form and want to make people happy and smile.” The yarn bombing also serves as a kickoff to the Charlotte Area Yarn Crawl. The Charlotte Area Yarn Crawl happens from September 23-30 and involves 11 local yarn shops. To participate, visit your local yarn shop to receive a passport and a stamp, then visit the rest of the shops until your book is full and you will be entered to win gift vouchers and other prizes. Tangles on Main will be giving away door prizes as well as hosting other special happenings during the event. Climer is proud to be included in the Crawl and is happy to bring people to the Town of Waxhaw.
“It’s great for Waxhaw,” Climer said. “People eat and shop after visiting Tangles and discover how amazing downtown Waxhaw is.”
Each knitter or crocheter was responsible for 10 to 12 jellyfish. While most of them are white or cream, some of the artists got creative with colors and embellishments. They began working on the aquatic animals in June and have been working all summer until it was time to hang them. Several of the artists hung their own creations but if they were unable to, then Tangles staff members took care of it for them. Tangles on Main offers many different classes and people can register by calling the store.
Tangles Knitting On Main – 200 W North Main St, Waxhaw, NC 28173; (704) 243-7150; www.tanglesonmain.com
