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Showing posts with label Fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fun. Show all posts
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Freeform Crochet Necklace
Manos del Uruguay – Classica wool
100% PURE WOOL
HAND SPUN & KETTLE DYED
in Uruguay by a non-profit organization, which assembles over 400 artisans in co-operatives, scattered throughout the countryside. The aim of the organization is to bring economic and social opportunities to rural women.
100% PURE WOOL
HAND SPUN & KETTLE DYED
in Uruguay by a non-profit organization, which assembles over 400 artisans in co-operatives, scattered throughout the countryside. The aim of the organization is to bring economic and social opportunities to rural women.
Saturday, 9 January 2010
World’s Biggest Crochet Hook
Crochet fans will be amazed at this art installation recently created at the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh, Greater Manchester. Using her entire body as the crochet hook, the artist has created a huge pod big enough to sleep in.
The artist is known as rockpool candy, and is what she calls a fibre activist. The giant formation is crocheted from thin plastic tubing showing that you really can crochet from just about anything. The crochet hook is, in fact, the artist's entire body.
This is probably the craziest crochet you will ever have seen. It makes you realise you can crochet with just about anything.
Why stop at dainty crochet, when chunkier yarns give fantastic effects too. As long as you have a big enough hook, you can crochet with anything. Try Rowan Biggy Print with a 20mm hook. Move over traditional, and make way for experimental crochet.
Source: Coats Crafts UK
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Wednesday Night Project 060110
What Happens When We Wind!
There's nothing wrong about the wool
When first it is untied;
The strands are lying evenly
And neatly, side by side.
But you should see what happens when
We start to wind that wool!
It gets in knots that won't come out,
No matter how we pull!
It keeps on slipping off our hands;
It tangles left and right;
And long before we're half-way through
It's in a dreadful plight!
The ball jumps down to find the cat,
And then it wanders round
And ties itself to table legs,
And things upon the ground.
And while we're looking for the ball,
Our Mother says, 'Oh dear!'
'You've got it in an awful mess!
'You'd better bring it here.'
V & A - Knitting Patterns for Children click here.
The V & A website has an array of resources and free patterns for knitters. I particularly like the 1940’s vintage patterns that are available for download by clicking here
1940s Patterns to Knit
The 1940s in Britain was a high point for hand knitting. Women on the home front could make a contribution to the war effort by knitting for the troops using patterns that were often given away free. Many specialised patterns developed such as the balaclava helmet with ear flaps for use in telephone operations or the mittens with a separate forefinger for firing a trigger in the cold. Once the war was over both clothing and knitting wool were still rationed but people turned to knitting as a cheap way to enhance their wardrobes. Fine wool and pretty lacy patterns became fashionable.The Archive of Art and Design holds a collection of knitting patterns from which a small selection has been made. They fall into two groups: wartime knitting and general knitting.
Knitting in the Archives
The Victoria and Albert Museum runs the Archive of Art and Design from a base in west London. The Archives collects documents related to firms and individuals who worked in the creative industries. They have a small collection of documents from people who designed knitting or who taught it or practiced it. The collection is strong on people active in the mid 20th century.
Eileen Calvert, knitter and needlewoman: collection, about 1930-86.
AAD/1993/10
Elizabeth Davenport, knitwear designer: papers, 1937-88.
AAD/1991/8
Ephemera Collections: patterns for crochet, embroidery, knitwear and sewing, 1885- about 1979.
AAD Ephemera
Ethel Garnham, crocheter, knitter and seamstress: collection, about 1930-51.
AAD/1991/5
Ramah Judah, embroiderer and knitter: collection, 1918- about 1949.
AAD/1990/3
Knitting Patterns: about 1939- about 1959.
AAD/1990/11, AAD/1995/34
Eve Sandford, knitting designer: albums, 1961-9.
AAD/1988/6
Contact Details
Blythe House, 23 Blythe Road, West Kensington, London, W14 0QX, United KingdomTel: +44 (0)20 7603 1514
Email: archive@vam.ac.uk
Visit The V & A website - Knitting Section here
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Edinburgh knitting project attracts ex-cons
Weaving is taught at the Greyfriars Community Project
Weaving, knitting and crochet are not what you would expect to attract ex-convicts, drug users and alcoholics.
But now a Greyfriars Community Project scheme in Edinburgh is proving popular with men and women knitting scarves, weaving ties and crocheting purses.
The project volunteers said teaching the traditional skills helped centre-users rebuild their lives.
Pat Laing, of the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, said: "It's about getting skills."
She added: "You're never going to be a weaver, but it's the co-ordination, the involvement, just doing something useful and seeing something at the end of it that you can actually say I've made that, I did that, which is really great for your self esteem, and for your sense of self worth."
I come here to clear my head and just focus on doing stuff instead of being out in the streets gang fighting and taking drugs 
Project participant
One 21-year-old taking part in the scheme, who did not wish to reveal his name, said he had spent several years behind bars for serious assault and attempted murder but the project had helped him turn his life around.
He said: "It's like a dream come true.
"I've been in prison several times, more than several times, and then I started in here and from then on I've found a better person within myself.
"I come here to clear my head and just focus on doing stuff instead of being out in the streets gang fighting and taking drugs."
Dying out
Teaching traditional craft skills to those with chaotic lifestyles is not only to give them a sense of purpose so they can turn away from addiction and crime, it is also designed to help keep traditional skills alive.
Josiah Lockhart, Greyfriars Community Project co-ordinator, said: "It's something we've had for thousands of years and is dying out right now.
"We really wanted to help address the breakdown in the community and reinvigorate a desire to bring back these traditional crafts."
The unnamed participant said he was planning a career in music and dance and was already doing some DJing work in the capital, but he warned that without the Greyfriars Community Project he would easily slip back into drink, drugs and crime.
He said: "It would take away my self motivation to get up in the morning, so I'd automatically convert back to my old ways, which is something I do not want to do because I've been there, I've got the T-shirt."
By Morag Kinniburgh, BBC Scotland
Thursday, 31 December 2009
A Year in Crochet…… Knitting, Fibre, Stitches and Textile Inspiration – Enjoy :-)
A year in all things crochet, knit and fibre. An inspirational picture for every week of 2009.
Please click on the title below the image to go to the original source, blog or website of each image.
Please click on the title below the image to go to the original source, blog or website of each image.
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