Albany’s covert crafters spread crochet cheer

A pop-up flower patch is blooming in the heart of Albany thanks to a group of covert crafters on a mission to spread joy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Donning their signature knitted disguises, the Purly Queens descended on Albany Town Square for a ‘germynation’ this week, installing more than 300 hand-knitted flowers in the grass for residents to enjoy.

The group has been in action for more than six years, spreading creativity across town through colourful knitted art installations.

This week marked their fourth yarn-bomb with the Queens recently colouring the Albany Health Campus and Clarence Estate with the handmade blooms.

Group member “Knitty Gritty” said their garden was continuing to grow, with onlookers adding their own creations to the mix.

“With everything going on we wanted to bring some colour to the town,” she said.

“It is to put a smile on people’s faces.”

Group member “Termiknitter” said she had dropped a few of her creations outside of local businesses doing it tough during COVID-19.

“It is about spreading the joy, spreading colour and doing something a little bit different that is just a little bit of nonsense,” she said.

“This was going to be the last one, but from the feedback we’ve had we think there might be another one or two in the making.”