This sweater has been a garment across a number of seasons on the tree outside Koffi cafe at Haultain and Belmont in Victoria BC.
Different things have been tucked into the crossed over sleeves, the latest a collection of what looks like finger knitting.
It is hand knitted and a fibre archeology find at a thrift store dig but with no history of the knitter or where or when.
I thought the little duck under the collar was a clay offering from school kids.
Because it was a pullover it had been cut up the back and then sewn around the tree; as I cut it away I could see how the colour had weathered.
When I touched the duck, I discovered it was not clay but an adornment from the tree .
And as I pulled it away, an earwig was disturbed.
The feeling of destroying such beauty got put aside after some thought.
One of the servers in the cafe brought out her field guide and identified it.
The replacement sweater has a provenance: it was purchased at a garage sale from the woman whose mother had commissioned it to be made many years ago when her daughter (the seller) graduated from nursing. The creator's label is on the neckband.
Being a cardigan it did not get cut but it also was not large enough to wrap around the tree.
Comments
2 responses to “Fibre archeology : Sweater on tree”
This is a superb piece of art.
How wonderful that the tree contribited it’s own making to the piece. Perhaps the warmth and protection of the garment allowed the fugi to come out at that point?
Oh, yes, Susan – you would see it as art. And thank you for the idea – I think you are right! – that warmth and protection allowed the interaction.