West Cape May police ask 'Mystery Knitter' to apply for permit after local interest grows
By MaryAnn Spoto/The Star-Ledger
March 13, 2010, 7:30AM
Katelyn Mccormick (back), who recently moved across from the park, thinks the
knitted art adds to the vibe of the community. Mysterious knitted cozies have been
appearing around trees and lamp posts at Wilbraham Park in West Cape May since
the end of February.
WEST CAPE MAY — In a town that holds annual festivals celebrating the lima bean and the tomato, West Cape May residents pride themselves on being part of a quirky, artsy community.
So when colorful knitted scarves mysteriously started popping up around trees in Wilbraham Park in January, folks there were more amused than surprised at this latest artistic expression.
They call it the case of the Mystery Knitter, and these homemade works have taken on a life of their own, attracting international attention to this tiny Jersey Shore community and brightening an otherwise long, drab winter.
"It’s just something nice, something fun, something light,’’ said Mayor Pam Kaithern. ‘‘It’s not war, political fights, health care discussion. It’s a nice diversion.’’
Kaithern said she’s talked to newspapers and radio stations as far as the United Kingdom about the scarves that come in all colors and widths, transforming the dull tree trunks into rainbows.
It started with a couple of scarves wrapped around a few tree trunks in the park. Then another. Then another. Soon residents looked forward to searching for the latest additions. And they weren’t disappointed.
Susan Longacre, a resident of Victorian Towers
in Cape May, thinks the knitted work around the
park is wonderful. The scarves recently started
appearing on the poles of traffic signs in downtown
West Cape May.
Diane Flanegan, a local artist who owns a framing shop and art gallery on Broadway, suspects the notoriety drove the Mystery Knitter out of the park to avoid being spotted. One of the scarves is on a pole about half a block from her shop, not far from the park.
Police Capt. Rob Sheehan showed up at Flanegan’s shop Thursday to ask her and her husband to reveal the identity of the Mystery Knitter if they know it.
"We don’t know the identity and we don’t want to know," she said. "We’ve had such a hard winter here. To me, it’s just delightful. I love it," Flanegan said.
Sheehan said he’s not looking to get the Mystery Knitter in trouble. He just wants the person (or people) to get the appropriate permits from borough officials to adorn public spaces.
"We’re not anti-art. We don’t want it getting out of hand where the park will get all junked up," he said. "We’re not going to be arresting anyone for knitting."
Some residents have taken to erecting signs in front of their homes urging the Mystery Knitter to "keep on knitting." But not everyone in this town of about 1,100 people embraces the scarves.
Kaithern said a few residents have expressed concern the wrappings could harm the trees and that they could become an eyesore as they become weather worn.
The mayor wondered whether scraps of the yarn might eventually be used by birds to line nests around town.
She mused, "Wouldn’t that be a cool kind of recycling?"
