Let’s Put on a Show

A few months ago I hinted that I was working on a big project for later this year. “Later this year” is quickly approaching, so it’s time to start saying more about it!

This October I’m going to have my first solo show at gallery hanahou in New York. A Mochimochi Land show is something I’ve entertained some vague thoughts about for a long time, so it’s like a dream that I hardly let myself dream come true. I’m incredibly thankful to Koko, the gallery curator and my boss, for believing enough in my work to let me have a show!

I thought for a long time about what a Mochimochi Land show would look like, and the idea that got me the most excited was a knitted installation, something big that would incorporate lots of little elements for maximum fun and silliness. Movement is something I’ve always been interested in incorporating into my knitting, so I had the idea to create the entire thing around a running model train.

I talked to the nice people at Cascade about my project, and they were generous enough to help out with the yarn for the entire thing. So I got started a few months back on making the ground out of various green shades of Cascade 128. I never knit anything bigger than an average-size toy, and this felt like making the biggest, heaviest blanket ever!

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(By the way, I am wearing shorts under all that yarn.)

As for the train, dad was just the person to ask about it—he happens to have a friend with a model train business! Ludwig at The Last Train Stop set me up with a model train from the 1950s that he thought would work best for my project.

We set it up at my parents’ house and got it to run.

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In the end the train will have a knitted covering and will be throughly anthropomorphic, of course.

After several months of knitting, I’m almost finished with the ground, and it seems to be the right size for a figure-eight course. Soupy recently inspected it and granted approval.

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Over the next two months I’ll be working on aaalll of the stuff and creatures that will populate the landscape—I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I think it’s going to be a ton of fun. I plan to post periodic updates about it all until the show opens on October 7th!

27 thoughts on “Let’s Put on a Show

  1. Anna, this is an amazing undertaking. I can’t wait to see the finished product. I know Soupy will be a big help!

  2. That’s amazing! Congrats! I know the kitties will be a big help.
    They always are!
    Because there’s a train, will there be a circus car?
    Good luck!
    I hope to see it in progress!
    <3

  3. OMG, that is going to be the most AMAZING display!!! Reminds me of the train set in a shop window in my hometown many years ago. A perfect tiny town, and they added a huge Godzilla descending on it from the hills! Just an idea, eh?

  4. oh my goodness, what a great project, & congratulations!

    I can’t wait to see all the citzens of mochimochiland come out to play in that knitted landscape. This will be so cool to watch unfold!

  5. That is amazing. I love knitting, but I have a hard time sticking with anything as big as your blanket grass all the way to completion!

  6. Soupy is adorable. I like the shades of the grass and can’t wait to see the progress.

  7. Anna, This looks so cool! I’m excited about the train element of your new show! :) Can there be an Owasso showing ?

  8. Oh my goodness, I can hardly wait! I love how Soupy is stalking the min tree and pig(?) from afar, and getting ready to pounce!
    Can’t wait to see pictures as this progresses, and the completed item!

  9. what a wonderful opportunity and, despite the pressure that is starting to build up, i’m sure the experience of having your own show will be incredible. i’m very excited for you!

  10. Anna,

    This is amazing! I can’t wait for your show to see everything. You are so talented and inspiring.

  11. Thank you all for the positive thoughts! This project will take a little time away from my designing patterns, but I love being able to experiment with something a bit more large-scale. I’ll keep you updated on the progress!

  12. Jeezly Crow! Look at that huuge landscape of a blanket! I bet a lot of movie watching is going on in the meantime…and I love your caveat of “I’m not naked underneath!” Made me laugh :)

  13. OMG! I haven’t dropped by for a while so I missed all this…. it’s c r a z e e and I LOVE it! What’s the weather like in October? this has got me really want to buy a ticket to NYC :) but where do you go from here? it’s got me thinking that you need to start covering buildings or something…

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