January 7^th 2016

To My Fellow Gangstas in the Knit Your Revolt Tricycle Gang,

This is a love letter to each and every one of you who has shared this last few years of crocheted adventures with me, and to document for posterity our little beanie of compassionate, political ravelry. I hope it inspires the finders to live large, be bold, and create their own creative quests on issues that are important to them. No need to passively yell at the TV when you see injustice on the news! You too can use whatever skills you have, add a twist of humour, a dash of chutzpah, and make a little history by creating community and changing this world for the better!

Just WHO is the Knit Your Revolt Tricycle Gang (KYRTG)?? The Knit Your Revolt Tricycle Gang is a mob of sacred rodeo clowns and creative provocateurs, who use the “dark arts” (crafts) to fight social injustice (craftivism), and cuddly, ironic humour, to bring down governments. Just imagine a pleasantly deranged trash-talking gang of peeps with Obsessive Crafting Disorder (OCD)… and the subsequent overflowing craft stashes, looking for reasons to exist.. Yes, we like tricycles, knitting, and a dash of human rights in our tea…. Our skills are many and varied. At times, our craft may be bodgy, but no one can doubt the sincerity and camaraderie behind the absurdity.

The Knit Your Revolt Tricycle Gang and I have been up to all sorts of shenanigans over the last year or two, and prior to that, I was running the Anarchist Mummas’ Underground Craft Kollective (AMUCK), which is now sadly defunct. Knit Your Revolt is a nationwide terrorist cell of knitters, and the Tricycle Gang is the Queensland branch. Many of us live double lives.. Mothers, Fathers, Teachers, Doctors, white bread sorts mostly, with underground crafty alter egos (complete with mandatory disguises), fighting to right wrongs, with the power of wool and community.

For a taster, check out

https://www.facebook.com/KnitYourRevolt

Here’s a rapsheet of crafty heists that these ordinary, yet extraordinary mofos have been part of:

– Participated in the collaborative two giant knitted banners opposing Abbott’s election “Misogynistic Knitwit – Not PM Material” and “Budgie Smugglers – more a threat than people smugglers”. The banners toured the country and managed to get good coverage on election day when one of the KYR posse took the banners to Abbott’s electorate and had 3 paddy wagons called on her and her knitting. Powerful stuff!! http://www.themercury.com.au/news/breaking-news/knitters-needle-abbott-at-the-ballot-box/story-fnj6ehgr-1226714088498

– Formed the Tricycle Gang in response to Campbell Newman’s VLAD laws, and rode my crocheted huffy slider through thousands of bad ass bikers, OWNING that shit with my gang… Patches and all. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/09/knit-your-revolt-why-my-tricycle-gang-is-taking-on-queenslands-bikie-laws

– Organised knitting a giant solitary confinement cell out of pink wool which featured at two rallies before being gifted to Campbell on the doorsteps of parliament http://junkee.com/craftivism-is-your-new-favourite-thing/30962 and http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/14/queensland-parliament-campbell-newman?CMP=twt_gu&fb_source=message

– Took a crafted “vagina dentata” taxidermy (giant vagina sewn with shark’s jaw) on a pilgrimage to see Pussy Riot in Sydney, and stormed the oldest men’s club the “Australian Club” in their honour with it. https://indymedia.org.au/2014/08/30/gentlemans-club-eject-knitters-in-pink-balaclavas-as-sydneys-festival-of-dangerous-ideas-

– Let the Blood Run Free in the CBD with a “Budgetary Bloodbath” featuring a giant crochet-covered guillotine popping balloons with fake blood for every budget cut (with drum rolls)… Police were happy for us to “carry on” once we had a knitting “zone of exclusion” to protect the crowd from blood splatter.

– Installed a “Compassion Tree” outside parliament house, with over 300 handmade hearts with bells attached, and ribbons speaking about which causes needed our compassion. It was beautiful, and sounded like a giant wind-chime, but only lasted a few days before council removed the hearts, except for one branch which hung over a park bench that a homeless man called home.

– Hand-sewed a 100sqm banner “Bye Bye Newman” from reclaimed material from the dump and hung it on the kangaroo point cliffs the day before the election. https://www.facebook.com/KnitYourRevolt/videos/vb.537265836339059/821905037875136/?type=2&theater

– Crafted up some dodgy disguises and tried to crash the international womens’ day celebrations at the mens’ club. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/protesters-try-to-crash-lnp-womens-day-lunch-at-menonly-club-20150306-13x8n5.html

I would like to publicly declare my love and deep affection for the following Gangstas… You have brought so much joy and meaning to my life that I feel compelled to shout it out across the water! In no particular order, and missing many for the sake of brevity (but for those that have contributed to the Gang over the years, you know who you are!):

• Casey: Without you, Knit Your Revolt would never have happened. You know you are my creative hero in every way. Your powerful vulnerability, complexity, and courageous brilliance has changed my life. There is so much more to you than what you pull out of your nether regions. Thank you!
• KatChie (Breechie): You have been such a wonderful friend. Your creative genius also knows no bounds. Your writing is always brimming with manic openness and the best kind of kooky disregard for social conventions. Your ability to overcome astounds me. I am so grateful to have you in my life!
• Ness and Lenny Duck: You first came into my life out of the blue with a wooden duck amongst thousands of tough-looking dudes on bikes. I don’t know how in the cosmos we found each other, but your drive, compassion, and creative energies are so wonderful to be part of! I love your trash-talking. I love your desire to raise funds for the down-trodden, even when you both have your own money troubles. You have hearts that could move mountains, and do!
• Manna Marvel: A living goddess of spoken word, brazen heroism, and hilarity. You can always be relied on to bring some colour, passion, and intelligent banter. I really hope you find this bottle! I mean, it’s not impossible, right??
• Brian: Where do I start? Your voice, your music, your hearts, your animals eating things, your pineapples, your thoughtful gifts out of the blue, your heart on your sleeve and on the tip of your tongue. You ooze creativity and your warmth brings moths crowded around. I cherish your friendship so much!
• Blu Art Xinja: Everyone’s favourite local superhero! I admire your dedication to your art and your soft, quiet, gentle living with mindful footsteps conquering tall structures, one small movement at a time. You think about every aspect of things and I’ve never seen you irritated. Xinja spirit through and through, and a national treasure!
• Ivy: Your gentle heart and love of animals is infectious. You are so obviously in-tune with nature and have such an old soul about you. Like so many in the gang, such vulnerability wrapped up with such courage.. it’s bewitching!
• Eliza Doesalittle: Your dry wit and anarchist stirring is like the salt in our soup. You make me laugh, particularly when I don’t know whether you are joking or not! Your compassion and advocacy for our country’s first people and refugees is so very needed, and I respect you greatly for the strength of your convictions.
• Penny: Your saucy self is like the onions.. gives depth of flavour! I appreciate your straight-talking and intelligence. We have gone through a lot together and I’m glad to have you in my life. I can’t get enough of strong women who refuse to “play the game”. All power to you sista!
• Trish: You have such a giving heart, and are always there to help someone in need.. whether it be in a sewing sweatshop, or to busk for funds when someone’s dog has eaten their prosthetic eye. We are so lucky to have you and your humble, generous soul in our gang!
• Lea-Anne (Flea): There from the beginning, and never wavering. Always up for trying anything with a bit of colour and flair required. Open-hearted and fun to be around. If my “retirement” can look a patch like yours, I will be one happy woman!
• Dan: You’ve always been the best kind of lunatic. I’m so glad I’ve known you for so long, and that we are doing our teenage selves proud by continuing to rebel into our old age. One of the best moments ever was riding the streets of the CBD on trikes with you, shepherding that giant pink solitary confinement cell to parliament house. I’ll never forget it!
• Phil: Nothing says big testicles like a man who enjoys his knitting gang as much as his street art!
• Frankie and Simon: Like a vision on a yarnbombed commode, with goggles and beard baubles, what a joy to meet you both. How I miss you Frankie! Your idealism and passion are never ending and you hold yourself to such high standards. You really, really care about all sentient beings. What a gem you are!
• Liz and Kate: Relatively new to the gang, but boy have they brought it when it came to serious sewing skills and determination. We never would have made that house-sized banner if it weren’t for you! I really appreciate your dedication. You are both sublime humans!
• Hanne: Really enjoyed having you in our gang, adds some legitimacy to have some serious brains on board. You have the perfect cover for a world of underground subversion. Here’s to many more heists together!
• Sayraphim, Jacquie, Ari, and all the gangstas who I have run out of space to thank and send love to personally: Thankyou Sistas and Brothas for keeping the craft fires burning across the country. I salute you!

Never stop fighting, crafting, and loving!

Gang Pride!!

xxx

P.S. I am hoping this love letter in a bottle inspires whoever finds it to share the love

1)   visit www.lovefloats4eva.net (you’re already here!)

2)   Leave a message on the website telling us where you found the bottle and when.

3)   Put this loveletter back in the bottle with your own letter of appreciation to someone you love… be it a lover, parent, child, friend, mentor, the check-out chick at Coles… whoever!

4)   Post the details of your note on the website and send a link to the recipient of your note to let them know that your love for them still floats!! Seal the bottle and release it in the ocean…

Where to next is anyone’s guess!!!