apparently, i like knitting for a deadline more than i think i do. literally, a day after putting béla’s wondrous ferris bueller vest to bed, so to speak, i saw via facebook that there were krampus-related events happening in portland oregon in december. since a knitted krampus was on my shortlist anyway, i decided there was no time like now.
as i started working on him, i became very torn… this krampus was so wonderful, i had no desire to give him away. would i get him back if i loaned him out to strangers, for an event across the country? it did not seem a safe bet, so i began making two krampusse, in tandem. i used a general outline from a very old knitted golliwog doll, and had decided, by the time i had finished the twins, that i would simply gift the west coast krampus to the organizer of the event. after all, his concept had inspired me to do something i had wanted to do anyway, and he seemed nice.
the krampus twins are fraternal in that one has a left foot and right hoof, and the other the opposite.
and, while east coast krampus was being loved on by, and threatening, my children this christmas season…
on the west coast, saint illithid, the mind-flayer bishop, had immediately stolen the newly-arrived krampus from his rightful owner!
and, while east coast krampus sat cozy as can be with animatronic dean martin, charlie mc carthy and pee wee herman…
west coast krampus hit the streets for krampus lauf.
more photos will be posted as they flutter in.
as i did while knitting huberta’s shawl for george ferrandi’s wherever there is water, i find i enjoy knitting a piece for a public event — and then never seeing that piece again. i like the idea of it’s short-livedness, or that it goes on to a private life of which i lose track. i like that it is briefly part of the public world, and then loses significance, and is not that useful in the every day. i will be thinking more about this in future work.
and i TRULY insist that krampuscon philly be started in 2011. let’s get working now!
