Knitting

Knitting Poetry - Muse in my yarn

Shellie — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:55:51 +0000

Muse in My Yarn
Full of color, yards of magic abound;
In baskets, boxes and trees all around.
Such a feeling I have never enough.
Do I imply that I could need more stuff?
Two or three more cones or skeins wouldnâ€™t hurt,
Not like taking huge helpings of dessert.
Without touching its lingering fine thread
Wonder escapes me in this late, late hour;
My imagination a lifeless flower.
Like a Greek daughter presiding over art,
Morpheus releases my memory,
Spinning my threads like thunderbolts in parts.
But it is not the needles I seek out,
Only the yarn that I have dreamt about.
A sonnet by Kathy Pearson

SourceÂ

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Turban Legend

vickie howell — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:05:39 +0000

Fellow CGer Jennifer Perkins sent me this great spread from an Australian publication. Ok, I know that most of it’s technically crochet and not knitting, but since they’re wearing knitted sweaters I thought I’d post it anyway–it’s too awesome not to share! Check out the Oyster Magazine site for the full scoop!

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The Big O

vickie howell — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:51:19 +0000

In doing research for a book on environmentally conscious knitting & crochet that I’m co-writing, I’ve come across a TON of great, greener yarns. I’ll probably mention a few of them over the next couple of months but right now, I thought I’d scoop you on my current yarn crush. One of Skacel’s (best known for their super-slick Addis Turbos needles) yarn lines, Zitron, has added a brand new ball to the bunch called, Nimbus. It’s a you’ll-wish-you-could-roll-around-in-a-pile-of-it soft, single-ply merino wool. It comes in beautiful, classic colors, knits up super quick on US 7-9 needles (I just swatched on 10s though, and it still looks great) and, wait for it…it certified ORGANIC (meaning that the sheep were fed properly and raised humanely). That dear readers, is everything this knitter could ask for!.

Check out the color options on their site and look for Nimbus in stores this fall!

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Join the Craft Corps!

vickie howell — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:57:03 +0000

Calling all crafters! I’m gearing up to write my next book, Craft Corps (pronounced Craft Core) which will focus on the community perpetuated by craft and the designers & hobbyists who feed it. As part of the content, I’m hoping to include 50-60 short profiles of crafters of all types. If you knit, crochet, embroider, decoupage, paint, sew, bead, tat, work with ceramics, collage, etc.—I want to hear from you! Whether you’ve found success selling your handmade sock monkeys on Etsy or you crochet chemo caps for charity, I want to know who you are, what you craft and why you do it. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PROFESSIONAL CRAFTERS (in fact, it’s preferable as the book’s other content will focus on that)!

I’ve been fortunate enough over the years to receive e-mails from people all over the world, sharing their favorite memory of crafting, what crafting has done for them or what got them started and how they’ll never stop. These stories–from hilarious craft mishaps to touching crafty life stories– have inspired me to collect more to share with the public, handmade community.

If you’re interested in possibly being a part of Craft Corps, please fill out the following questionnaire, cut and paste it into the body of an e-mail, and send it to: craftcorps@gmail.com as soon as possible (but no later than AUGUST 15th.) If we’re able to use your profile, an editor will contact you directly with more info.

Thank you so much for participating! xo, Vickie

P.S. Stay tuned for the Craft Corps website

P.P.S. Please pass this along to every crafter you know!

Craft Corps
Crafter Profilee Form

Name:

Age:

Location:

Profession (If you’re in school just put what level of student, ie College Student, Middle School Student, ect.):

Craft(s) of Choice:

Blog (if applicable):

Memory, Story or Anecdote related to crafting in your life (no more than 250 words):

Having trouble? Here’s an example to give you a little inspiration!

Sample Crafter Profile

Name: Libby Bailey (aka my mom)
Age: 64
Location: Lakewood, California
Profession: High School Special Education Teacher
Craft(s) of choice: Knitting, without a doubt.

“All of my life, the most important thing to me was becoming a mother, in the true sense of the word–not just one who gave birth. When my kids were little, my focus was being the kind of mother that mine wasn’t. Back then in my mind, one way to do this was to home-craft. Knitting made the first connection when for my brand new daughter, I made her a pretty, pink Scandinavian sweater and put it on her little body saying, “Mommy made this, just for you.” After that, every year I repeated the sweater in a different color and size. When her brother joined us, every year there were two sweaters knit by their mother’s hands.

As my children grew, there were many crafts we did together, as a family–with mommy’s hands, teaching little hands. And now, decades later, the little girl all grown up, teaches her mother the advanced intricacies of knitting. The circle is complete.”

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I Spy A Couple of Knitters

vickie howell — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:23:27 +0000

What pop-culture infused fashion magazine unknowingly has two knitter’s featured in their current issue? Find out here!

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Recycling, it’s in the bag!

vickie howell — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:30:13 +0000

kristin j TAKES ON THE WORLD, ONE PLASTIC BAG AT A TIME (Taken from official press release)

kristin j, eco-friendly totes and handbags hand knit from upcycled plastic bags, are beginning to make appearances on the arms of some of the most fashionable women in New York City. kristin j designer, Kristin Jordan, is an avid knitter who discovered the concept on a knitting blog during Earth Week 2006. Determined make a difference, Kristin combined her knitting obsession with her passion for environmental causes and kristin j (formerly known as Daisy’s Bags) was born.

Upcycling, the process of using waste materials to provide useful products, provides Kristin with her medium to create the one-of-a-kind totes and handbags. Kristin uses “plarn,” (plastic yarn) which is created using strips of gently used plastic grocery and retail bags that have been cleaned. Each unique design contains an average of 40 plastic bags that would otherwise find their way in landfills across the country. Relying on donations of plastic bags from friends, neighbors and colleagues, Kristin’s plarn inventory consists of an invigorating color palette that adds whimsy and punch to her designs.

As a daily commuter on the #2 train in the New York City subway system, Kristin can be seen feverishly knitting with plarn during the commute. The vibrant and durable totes garner the attention of fellow straphangers who constantly inquire about them and marvel at the use of plarn. kristin j first debuted on the arms of Kristin’s most stylish friends and the word quickly spread. Featured on Fox 5’s Good Day New York, NY1’s In the Papers, The New York Daily News, sprig.com and The Playbook Magazine, kristin j’s bags have swelled in popularity and are poised to become the next “must have” for the fashion and socially conscious woman.

Check out the entire kristin j collection on her website!

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Patriotic Knits

vickie howell — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:42:22 +0000

In honor of Independence Day it seems only fitting to post 4 pictures of July 4th inspired knits (ok, Patriotism is a year-roung gig, but work with me here!).

1. Dave Cole’s American flag installation piece entitled “The Knitting Machine“, was knit on 20′ poles and has been exhibited in galleries worldwide.

2. Mary Jane Mucklestone’s “4th of July Hat” may be too warm to wear today but it’s smart, star-on-top construction will have you singing the Star Spangled Banner, way into the winter. Get the free pattern here!

3. Lion Brand’s “Patriotic Placemats” are the perfect accessory for your holiday BBQ. Start working on them this year to use them nest–that’s two times the Indepenece Day knitting pleasure in one, easy project! Psst…pattern’s free, too!

4. If rather than wearing your patriotism on your sleeve, you prefer desplaying it on your ankles, then the Thinking Knitter’s Flag Socks, is the project for you! It’s a free country, right? Well, so is this pattern. Get it here.

Happy 4th, everyone!

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Knitty Gritty Knitsters!

vickie howell — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:48:24 +0000

For all you Knitty Gritty fans out there who’ve been loyally watching re-runs of the show over the past year and a half, finally, there’s something new for you to watch. Tomorrow (July 3rd) at 12:30pmET/11:30amCT/9:30amPT, the one-hour special Knitty Gritty Knitsters airs on DIY Network!

Tune in to meet Knitsters across the nation including: Tori Spelling, Lisa Loeb, the Naptown Roller Girls, and many more! Travel with me from state to state as I collect knitted squares to benefit Warm Up America, from the likes of indie musicians, grandmothers, gallery artists, celebs, closet knitters, derby queens, and dads. Knit Loud, watch often!

For more information on additional airing times and how you can donate your own squares to the cause, go to the DIY website.

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A Little Knitty Ditty

vickie howell — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:28:03 +0000

Alana Dakos sent me her song, Never Not Knitting–A little ditty that I’m sure we can all relate to. Give it a listen on her blog and if you find yourself humming along, download it to your mp3 player for the bargain price of $1.50!

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Going forward, there’s more Yarn Forward!

vickie howell — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:53:34 +0000

I just heard from my friend Kerrie Allman, publisher of the UK-based magazine YARN FORWARD, that they’re increasing the issues they put out from 4 a year to a whopping 10! Since recently it seems as if the internet’s killed the print magazine star, it’s fantastic to hear that there are those publications that are able to move forward.

If you’re unfamilar with the mag, here’s a sneak peak of the summer issue. Oh, and if your stateside like me, no worries–they accept international subscribers!

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