Homemade cactus garden: Artist knits what nature grows

True artists have the gift of being able to make something extraordinary out of the ordinary — and knitting artist Irene York can do just that.

Using traditional knitting needles and stitches plus a variety of colorful and textured yarns, instead of casting on, increasing, decreasing, and doing knit 1, purl 1, more than knitting, sweaters, scarves, socks and mittens Irene York knits cactus.

Her colorful home in Quail Creek is filled with a variety of live cactus outside and hand-knit cactus all abloom with vibrant flowers inside.

There’s the Golden Barrel and Mexican Fencepost plus much more of nature’s desert life.

“I had a yarn store in Tahoe. My background is art and teaching and I consider knitting an art,” York said.

So combining knitting, art and teaching not only does York knit cactuses for her own pleasure, she teaches the unique skill to the Women’s Ministry of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ in Sahuarita.

York’s casita serves as her workshop where boxes of acrylic, silken, chenille, solid-colored and variegated yarns wait to be created into one of nature’s desert wonders.

Though it doesn’t seem easy, she said the shapes of cactuses are simple to duplicate. Using knit and purl stitches she teaches the women how to knit a cactus as a flat piece. The flat piece is then stitched together to form the cactus shape and is stuffed with fiberfill through the open bottom.

Depending on the type of cactus York stitches on silken threads that give the effect of spines.

Colorful flowers are made separately and stitched to the top showing the cactus in full bloom.

To make a complete artistic statement, York buys inexpensive flowers pots and creatively paints them to complement each knit cactus.

“I was inspired when I moved here. I like to combine creativity with form... and it’s fun to share this technique with others,” York said.

Always looking for new ideas York went to a show in Dusseldorf, Germany, to learn how to combine quilting with knitting.

She returned inspired to try “modular” knitting. Instead of knitting line by line to form a pattern, York knits modular pieces — or blocks or “patches” — and then, much like in quilting, connects the pieces to make sweaters, handbags, knit quilts and whatever strikes her fancy.

Every piece York makes is patterned, colorful, creative and a work of art.

“I get a lot of validating comments. People are thankful for my teaching techniques—and I like the small group camaraderie and sharing,” York said.

What’s her next challenge? “Knitting a prickly pear cactus... because there’s so much variety in nature,” she said.

York’s Web site, www.knittingbasket.com, features a creative selection of her patterns available for purchase. They include purses, pullovers, jackets, vests and four variety of cactus. She is available to teach workshops. For more information, call York at 777-7710.

Contact Green Valley freelance reporter Ellen Sussman at ellen2414@cox.net.