Who’s Been Knitting Sweaters for the Fitler Square Statues?
A local crafting group has given Fitler Square's beloved animal statues a festive makeover this holiday season, dressing them in handmade winter wear.
The installation was unveiled on December 7th, just in time for the park's tree lighting ceremony, and will remain through January 3rd, 2024, lasting through the end of Hanukkah.
Crafting for the Elements
Seven dedicated members of the Philadelphia Drunken Knitwits spent approximately six weeks creating the weather-resistant garments, with some pieces requiring up to 35 hours of work.
The installations include both knitted and crocheted pieces - the bear and ram sport knitted sweaters, while the turtles and dog wear crocheted garments.
The group carefully selected acrylic yarn for the project, a choice informed by their previous public art experience. While acrylic yarn is commonly used for children's garments due to its durability and washability, the group chose it for this installation because it won't hold moisture against the sculptures, and can withstand harsh weather conditions.
Gaining approval for the project was surprisingly smooth - a simple email to the Friends of Fitler Square Park led to a meeting in October during the park's Halloween decorating day, and the project was quickly greenlit.
After the holiday season, the group will wash and store the garments, with plans to dress the statues in the same outfits again next winter. They hope to make this a new annual tradition in partnership with Friends of Fitler Square Park.
From Pub Nights to Public Art
The Philadelphia Drunken Knitwits is part of a global crafting movement that originated in Oxford, England in 2012.
The Philadelphia group is led by Allison Covey, who brought the concept stateside after her time as a member in England. The group has grown to include over 350 members, though about 35 form the active core. These crafters meet weekly in pubs and restaurants throughout the city.
Their Fitler Square project emerged from the success of their first "yarn bombing"—a term used in the fiber art community for guerrilla-style installations—at Cherry Street Pier last summer. That installation was so well-received that it remained on display for three months instead of the planned two and a half weeks.
The organization's vitality extends beyond public art - their recent holiday party at Queen and Ruck drew over 20 members, and they're part of a growing network that includes chapters in Boston, Atlanta, Ireland, Spain, Australia, and throughout the UK.