FREDA AND THE FANGLES: Band managers and creators of the knitted musicians Leanne Olivotto and Sue Jacobson are grateful for the public's admiration for their creation.
FREDA AND THE FANGLES: Band managers and creators of the knitted musicians Leanne Olivotto and Sue Jacobson are grateful for the public's admiration for their creation. Nicole Zurcas

Fanning over hot new act at the gallery

THERE'S a hot new act performing at the Warwick Art Gallery drawing a lot of attention for Jumpers and Jazz.

The very flamboyant and fabulously talented Freda and the Fangles, are perched at the gallery everyday of the festival.

No they are not on the Jumpers and Jazz musician line up, but this knitted troupe are on the exhibition list at the gallery.

Created by Yarntopian members, Sue Jacobson and Leanne Olivotto, these blushing birds and their elaborate back stories are the talk of the town.

"It didn't start off as anything, we just wanted to try and knit some flamingos and then it all just evolved,” Ms Jacobson said.

"It's great so many people are stopping and taking a closer look and admiring the details of the girl band,” Mrs Olivotto said.

It all began in March when the knitting group got their hands on the flamingo pattern and got to work.

"We wanted to add flamingos to the garden, to give the pineapples some company,” Ms Jacobson said.

"We got a pattern from Ravelry Designs by Trish Roberts and away we went.”

Once the flamingos formed shaped the knitting group noticed some differences in the designs.

"I looked at Leanne's bird and how it was different to mine and I told her it looked like a Freda,” Ms Jacobson said.

"One thing led to another and all of a sudden we had a Russian flamingo with a thirst for vodka.”

The lead singer was knitted by Mrs Olivotto who also created the instruments and stage accessories, while Ms Jacobson made up the rest of the girl group.

While these pink ladies sit on stage in the gallery, there's a flock of crocheted flamingos sitting outside in the garden.

"You can say there's a bit of rivalry between the two,” Mrs Olivotto said.

"We like to play around with them and get them up to mischief.”

Each bird has its own unique personality which the knitting group like to share on social media.

"It's all the same pattern, but each person makes them slightly different,” Mrs Olivotto said.

The knitting enthusiasts said the birds were fun and challenging to create.

"The knitting was the easy part, putting everything together and the stuffing was when it got tricky,” Mrs Olivotto said.

Ms Jacobson hinted the cheeky group may return next year for Jumpers and Jazz.



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