Alaska knitter 'yarn-bombs' town for beauty

[TexasTowelie]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A knitting enthusiast in southeast Alaska is yarn-bombing her seaside community by wrapping public poles in knitted casings, sort of like a small-town Christo let loose with doilies.

Fran Hartman has just begun her personal beautification effort in picturesque Sitka. She's decorated four poles and plans at least eight more, with some knitted contributions coming from fellow knitters she's met around the world. The Sitka idea is one she's thought about for months before launching it earlier this month.

"You can only knit and crochet for so many people in your life," Hartman said. "I needed to keep my creative juices flowing."

She doesn't have the city's official permission, but her work is drawing positive reactions. Hartman, 61, is a former teacher who retired from the Everett School District in Washington state before sailing around the world with her husband, then settling in Alaska several years ago. She lives on a sailboat with her husband in Sitka, a town and borough with a regional population of about 9,000 located 90 miles south of Juneau.

More at http://www.caller.com/news/watercooler/alaska-knitter-yarn-bombs-town-for-beauty .

[Blue_In_AK]

1. Sitka is a wonderful little town.

This is very cool.

[TexasTowelie]

2. It is a surprise that they had this article in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

I thought it was a cool story also so I thought that I would post the thread. Alaska rarely gets mentioned in the news in the lower 48 so I wanted the people up there like yourself to know that we aren't ignoring ya'll folks.

[raven mad]

3. 10th REC and this is the kick -

I haven't been to Sitka yet (bucket list, as is a lot of this wonderful state). But I got to hit Ketchikan once - and it WASN'T raining!

This woman is to be commended for her adding to the beauty of Southeast!

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Raven, you must get down there.

We took a trip to Southeast last May on the ferries, and it was magical. We lucked out and got three sunny days in a row.

[raven mad]

6. Blue_In_AK, I've been to several spots in Southeast -

but never to stay. Always a business trip or something - planes, trains and automobiles indeed! We took the ferry once from Haines to Bellingham, Washington and the scenery and wildlife were stunning. Got lucky - decent weather, so we got to the Inside Passage! Orcas............... Camped on the deck!

So many folks just don't realize how HUGE this state is - it takes me 4 1/2 to 6 hours to drive to the "city" (Anchortown). You and I cannot drive to the state capital. Or to Nome, Kotzebue, Bethel etc. "Inaccessible" is a good word for our state! I love it, refuse to leave it, and will die here (lol - given the choice).

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Me, too.

I'll go Outside for vacations (I'm in Colorado right now), but they'll NEVER get me to move. 39 years and counting.

[kcass1954]

4. What a sweet story!

I was there last month, and it's quite a charming place. I hit up the quilt shop and made a nice contribution to the local economy.

There's a really nice yarn shop, too.