US artist's amazing travel-themed knitted jumpers go viral

Sam Barsky wearing his Stonehenge jersey at the famous site. Photo / Artistic Knitting of Sam Barsky

The majesty of the Niagara Falls, the mystery of Stonehenge and the dazzling lights of New York City's Times Square have all been recreated in a very unusual medium: the humble, hand-knitted jersey.

Not content with simply taking a picture while travelling, US artist Sam Barsky has gone viral for his knitted replicas of famous landmarks, which he shares on his Facebook page, Artistic Knitting of Sam Barsky.

New York's Times Square - in wool. Photo / Artistic Knitting of Sam Barsky

As well as recreating the famous spots, Barsky shares images of himself wearing his wooly creations with the depicted landmarks in the background.

He has knitted over 100 jerseys - gaining thousands of Facebook fans in the process - and some have been displayed at the American Visionary Arts Museum in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.

Barsky wearing the American Visionary Arts Museum - which has displayed some of his creations. Photo / Artistic Knitting of Sam Barsky

He told Mashable he started knitting in 1999, before making his first pictorial jersey the following year.

The Niagara Falls. Photo / Artistic Knitting of Sam Barsky

"After that was a success, I've been knitting sweaters like that one after another, featuring either generic scenery or specific landmarks. Anything that crosses my eyes is a potential sweater," he said.

At San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Photo / Artistic Knitting of Sam Barsky

"The two most recent ones I did, the Bahai Gardens and the Dead Sea, were made for a trip I took in December to Israel."

The Amalfi Coast. Photo / Artistic Knitting of Sam Barsky

While famous landmarks are a particular interest, Barsky also sees art in the mundane - such as an ordinary row of power pylons.

Even these normal power lines received the woollen treatment. Photo / Artistic Knitting of Sam Barsky.

According to Mashable, Barsky is currently working on two new creations: One featuring the fictional 90s cartoon R&B group the California Raisins and another of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.