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Welcome Blankets Project Seeks to Reimagine Border Wall

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welcome blanketTalk of a wall being built between the United States and Mexico was a big part of the presidential election and is still a hot topic. But what if a wall, something designed to keep people out, could be transformed into something that would welcome people in?

That’s the idea behind Welcome Blanket, a project that aims to symbolically turn the proposed nearly 2,000 mile border wall into blankets made out of 2,000 miles of yarn.

There’s a mitered square blanket pattern designed by Kat Coyle available on the website, with crochet and quilt patterns to come, but any lap-sized blanket of around 40 inches square would be appropriate for this project. I’m thinking of making a version of my Bulky Stockinette Throw, but the mitered squares are perfect for stash-busting odd balls, too.

They’re going to need a lot of them — estimating 1,200 yards of yarn per blanket, that’s about 3,200 blankets to reach 2,000 miles of yarn. The blankets will be on display at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago from July 18 to December 17, starting with an empty space that fills as blankets come in. The deadline for sending blankets is Sept. 5; check out all the details in the FAQ. After the exhibit, the blankets will be distributed to refugees and resettlement organizations with notes welcoming them to America.

This sounds like a lovely project, and it might help some people to learn more about refugees and do some knitting for a good cause.

If you feel compelled, check it out. If you feel compelled to bring politics in here, please resist that urge.

[Photo: Kat Coyle.]

Comments

  1. If someone brings a subject up, it’s fair game. Whether political, social, religious, or just plain like/dislike. Talking about an issue in any arena is an invitation.
    But, you’re right on one thing..resisting the urge to bring a subject up in conversation is wise if you don’t want an opposite view brought up.
    I, for one, am so very ready for the wall to be built to keep illegals out (knowing it won’t keep out 100% of them). Come in legally, like so may others have done.

  2. She meant that this might not be the best forum for political discussion – and it’s not. There are plenty of other places on the web to have that debate. If you feel the need to voice your opinion, please go there. No matter your views, please be respectful.

  4. I have two legal immigrants in my family, one from Russia and one from Indonesia. I thought she was respectful.

  5. I love the concept and love the idea, and love that it comes with genuine regard, respect and should be treated as such. I love the space to create and to make a difference and I see this space as being exactly that. We need more compassion, more creativity and more sensitivity and more care of each other. Bring on the knitting needles and let the beautiful creative wall begin..

  6. While I respect the author’s opinion, I think I’ll go elsewhere for my knitting and crafting inspiration from now on. I’ve enjoyed this site for many years, but I don’t come to a craft site for politics.
    Also, kind of telling for the author to bring up a political topic, then ask everyone to refrain from discussing political topic. Don’t post them at all is a very simple solution.
    Best of luck to this site’s creators and contributors, and thanks for the years of enjoyment.

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Beyond Basic Pumpkin Knitting Patterns

Over the years I have shared a lot of pumpkin knitting patterns, and I’ve knit and crocheted a lot of pumpkins myself. But it feels like there are always more fun things to try with knit pumpkins, so this year I wanted to look a little more beyond basic stockinette or ribbed pumpkins and share some pumpkin patterns with cables, bobbles and colorwork. 

In the cable collection we’ve got these cute little basic cable and ribbed pumpkins from Elly Bear Knits. There are two sizes that make a wide, flat pumpkin and a taller round pumpkin. Both are worked in the round as a tube that’s cinched top and bottom when you’re done, and they use bulky weight yarn. 

Another cute cable pumpkin knitting pattern comes from Gray Bear Akswokrat. This one is knit flat and it looks like a chunky yarn but you could use other weights to make pumpkins of different sizes. This one also has an I-cord stem and uses yarn to cinch up the sections of the pumpkin, giving it a more natural look. 

Add some bobbles to your pumpkins with this design from Autumn Shelter Makes. Also worked in the round in a tube, it features a repeating pattern of bobbles and uses yarn wrapped around the outside to make segments. This one looks like worsted weight yarn to me. 

Of course there’s nothing that says your pumpkin has to be a single color, so let’s throw in some colorwork. I love the look of the Cozy Fall Pumpkin knitting pattern from South Stitch Girls. The little leather loop adds a rustic touch but you could also just add a stick. These pumpkins have five colorwork options and are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round. 

There’s also the Autumn Fair Isle Trio pumpkins pattern from Equestriann Style, which has three different sizes of pumpkins with four colorwork designs. They are worked in super bulky yarn in the round and look good with high contrast or more muted color combinations.