Kooky little knits, words and pix

Meet Plarchie: the giant plastic knitted squid

Posted by on 11 Feb, 2011 in Beasts, Birds and Creatures, Museums, My Graffiti Knitting, My Knits, Plarchie the Giant Squid, Solo Graffiti, Squid | 38 comments

The arrival of Plarchie, the 8-metre giant knitted squid made entirely from plastic bags, came as something of a shock to me. One minute I was wandering the echoey rooms of London’s Natural History Museum pondering what knits might spring from my needles. The next thing I knew I was half-awake buried in a pile of crumpled plarn ends with my needles smoking in my clawlike hands. I had no idea what I’d been up to for the last three days of my life.

And then a cephalopods-shaped shadow fell over me and I turned slowly to meet the horror I had created…

The Giant Squid lurks at 1000 metres below sea level. Doesn't he?

Plarchie was big. He was bigger than big. He was giant. He was made entirely from Sainsbury’s carrier bags and rustled eerily as he walked. But, as his eyes were bulging from the sides of his colossal squid head and he looked out to the sides, he had no idea I was there. I scurried behind a fossil display and observed my handmade horror as he made himself at home.

He tried out a table...

...but found it too hard

He attempted a tentacled dangle. But found he had to hold on. It was a bit scary.

He tried a friendly lap and it was juuuuuuuuust right.

He looked so nice and relaxed. All squishy and slimy and supine. I took a deep breath and approached the ten-tentacled terror. After all I was his creator! Shouldn’t I be able to tame the crinkly beast?

Chillin' with Chuck D

Softly I approached, attempting the crooning melodious call of the sagacious squid whisperer as I neared him.

AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE! HE SEES ME! RUN FOR THE HILLS!

I can confidently report there is nothing quite like being slapped in the face by an 8-metre giant plastic knitted squid to remind you stitched sea life are a dangerous breed.

Safe distance squid observation

The last I saw of him Plarchie was headed for Heathrow Airport, his tentacles wrapped firmly around the panic-striken driver of a black taxi cab. Heaven knows what will happen as another of my uncontrolled knits is released upon the world. What calamari catastrophes will he bring about?

I suspect this is not the last I will see of the magnificent mollusc. I pray I see him before he sees me…

________________________________________________________________________________________

Want to make a woolly mini Squid of your own? Buy the Finger-fighting Stitched Squid knitting pattern

See more Stitched Sealife Escapees over at Knit the City’s: Yarnstorm the Eleventh: Stitched Sealife Escapees

On Ravelry? Visit Plarchie’s project page.

Stalking Neil Gaiman? The fabulous Mr Gaiman tweeted Plarchie on February 19. Plarchie now demands his own trailer. Sigh.

38 Comments

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  1. Rachel
    February 11, 2011 at 11:58 am

    I love giant squid and I love knitting. Plarchie is fabulous. Well done. It looks terrific!

    Reply
  2. Tess
    February 11, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    Plarchie is awesome and has good taste in literary figures. I’m glad he didn’t actually TASTE said figure.

    Reply
  4. Susan
    February 11, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Plarchie is v. handsome. Wish I were there to give him a hug.

    Reply
  6. Katie
    February 11, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    Omg this is pretty much the best thing EVAR, you are my hero. I wanted to let you know that I mentioned Plarchie in my newest blog entry, thanks so much for sharing it with us!

    Reply
  7. Howie Woo
    February 12, 2011 at 2:17 am

    You made Plarchie out of plarn, but filled it with wonder & whimsy :) Congratulations on your creation and the hilarious photos! Long live seafood!!

    Reply
  8. Jessamy
    February 12, 2011 at 11:56 am

    Plarchie Teuthis is astounding. Your fearlessness in bringing him into the world is even more impressive! I only wish I could make one in the States, but our plarn (I like this word!) is usually a dull tan color or a lifeless white. Nothing that would do for a Plarchie.

    Reply
  11. Sanna
    February 15, 2011 at 10:31 am

    This is too awesome for words.

    Reply
  12. Kate a.k.a. Knitapotamus
    February 16, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    Awesome squid . . . love it! Go you!! I am feeling very inspired by your calamitous calamari :)

    Reply
  13. Spunkfreddiemercury
    February 19, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    Wowsers, well done hun.

    Reply
  14. Jen Voyce
    February 19, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    Somewhere floating about in the Pacific is a giant mass of waste plastic. I believe Plarchie has gone to tackle this mess in super squid style. I love him, wish I could have met him! Maybe one day he will return….

    Reply
  15. Knot By Gran'ma
    February 19, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    This is pretty much one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Love it and wow…

    Reply
  16. myalweed
    February 19, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    Oooh – this is soo cool! I’m now feeling inspired to do something with the zillions of yards of plarn made from Target bags.

    Reply
  17. Shan
    March 10, 2011 at 12:53 am

    Excellentness… *off to search for plarn tutorial*

    Reply
  18. Jasmin
    March 17, 2011 at 11:27 am

    I <3 IT!
    As I saw your squid the first time wraping his arms around Charles Darwin, it took me 2 times to see that someone KNITTED it! Unbelieveable! But your book showed me a lot more fascinating things to see AND to imitate! Germany so far has absolutely been neglected with those knitted works of art! I try to change it NOW! :-) ))

    Reply
  19. ana
    April 8, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    oh my goodness, this gave me giggle fits! hilarious, fabulous! well done.

    Reply
  20. twixraider
    June 30, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    I LOVE SQUIDS! I’m rather curious if and what you’ll knit in my hometown Augsburg… maybe our mascot? Here it is:

    Reply
  21. ammonite films
    October 3, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    We love all forms of cephalopod but Plarchie is something special

    Reply
  22. Steampunk Jewelry Maker
    November 21, 2011 at 6:03 pm

    Lets hope if the Squid Overlords ever break the surface, they have the same human-friendly sensibilities as Plarchie….

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

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