CRAFTIVISM

I learned a new word today, from Amanda Blake Soule's book, "The Creative Family". It's "craftivism". She says there are probably craftivists in your own community, and you yourself may be one. Craftivism is activism, with crafting as the means by which a social justice or environmental issue is addressed. While the term craftivism may be new, the concept is old: people gather together in a common cause, doing what they know how to do best, to make change.
The happy craftivists in our Stitching Tales group are about to put the finishing touches on the baby blanket we've been making for Project Linus. (See photo of some squares above) All agreed that it was fun to make the squares, more difficult than we thought to make them come out to the right size, (6x6") and interesting to try different stitch patterns (like basket weave or seed or ribbing). Next, we'll be working on knitted teddy bears and bibs, to be donated to A Baby Center, in Hyannis.

We're Still Here

Hey! Our blog has been "on vacation", but we have not. More postings coming up soon.....Busy busy!!

Blackbirds and Knitters.....

What could be the connection between those two things? Well, maybe we'll see some blackbirds when we're sitting on the library lawn on Saturday, celebrating World Wide Knit in Public Day. Don't forget to come by, and maybe sit and knit for a while!
Actually, there's a kind of literary connection. Oh, don't look so surprised - in a blog written by librarians, literature was bound to get dragged in sooner or later!

Do you know the poem,

"Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" by Wallace Stevens?
I) Among twenty snowy mountains,
The only moving thing
Was the eye of the blackbird.

II) I was of three minds,
Like a tree
In which there are three blackbirds.

III) The blackbird whirled in the autumn winds.
It was a small part of the pantomime.

IV) A man and a woman
Are one.
A man and a woman and a blackbird
Are one.

V) I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of innuendoes,
The blackbird whistling
Or just after....

(for the full text, click here)

Well anyway, I found this interesting thing while roaming around the Internet yesterday. A very talented gentleman named Franklin Habit (He's an author, blogger, knitter, photographer) has penned (and illustrated)

"Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Knitter", which cleverly re-casts Stevens's poem ....

"I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of yarn,
Or the beauty of sweaters.
The knitter clicking,
Or just after......."

A New Adventure

At last night's meeting, several members of our Stitching Tales group learned something new. With a lot of guidance and encouragement from our patient and exceedingly talented friend Eileen, seven of us got started knitting socks! It was a lively workshop, with some fumbling and grumbling (and sweating!).... "how can we possibly handle all those tiny knitting needles?!" .... but ultimately a feeling of accomplishment.
Expressions of intense concentration dissolved into laughter, as we did our best to bolster each other's confidence. Two members (who already occasionally joke that their many similarities indicate they might be "twins separated at birth") happened to show up with the same yarn, and are now conspiring to knit one sock each, and take turns wearing the resulting pair - not really!
We have two weeks to continue our knitting efforts, and advance our socks to the point where we can "turn the heel". At that meeting, Eileen will again calm our confusion and lead us through the steps. Let's hear it for the teacher!!

Good Humor

If you have really been bitten by the knitting (or crocheting) bug, you might be starting to have some trouble finding room to store all that fabulous yarn you've been buying.... for all the wonderful projects you're going to make.
Knit designer and author Lily M. Chin has a few ideas about what to do with all of that extra yarn. This list first appeared in an interview with Lily Chin, posted on the Knitter's Magazine website.

"Lily Chin's Top 10 Ways to Hide the Stash"

1) Tape a bag of yarn to the underside of all the chairs - who'll know???

2) Put a slipcover over a bag of yarn, stick it on the couch, call it a pillow.

3) Remove the cushions of the couch, stuff with yarn instead.

4) There are narrow books that don't reach all the way to the back of the shelf. That dead space behind such books is good for several skeins.

5) Do you wear ALL your shoes at the same time? No. Stick a skein of yarn in each unworn shoe (boots are great for this very reason).

6) Everyone has clothes in the closet that are never, ever worn. Sew up the bottoms of the garments, insert yarn. Do not forget to sew up bottoms of sleeves.

7) Never cook, only order take-out or go to restaurants. You've now got the whole oven!

8) Look to the china cabinet. That large soup tureen? Maybe a bag. Large teapot? A few balls. Covered dish? The same.

9) The freezer is advantageous for fuzzies such as angora or mohair. Make sure to place in plastic bag first. This is known as the high-fiber diet!

10) Get a really large box and fill it up with lots and lots of yarn. Put a tablecloth over it. Voila, an instant table (but you can't put you feet underneath it).

Are You Comfortable?

At our last meeting, we were pleased to welcome an out-of-town visitor, who even brought along her beautiful baby (almost seven months old, and not knitting yet) for us to "ooh and aah" over. I guess she felt comfortable enough, because she later mentioned us in her own blog (whatknit.blogspot.com), and indicated she might come back sometime.
There's probably someone out there reading this, who is thinking about coming to one of our meetings, but feels a little unsure. Here are some tips for first-timers, from Monica Silva, a knitter from California.

1. Talk with other knitters; don't stay quiet. Don't just show up and knit your projects! You can do that at home, right? You'll be surprised how much the other members in the group want to get to know you. Be prepared to answer questions like "How long have you been knitting?" and "Where do you buy your yarn?".

2. Ask them what they think of LYS (local yarn shops). If you're a new knitter, get a list of LYSs near you. Bring your list, and ask them what they think of a certain LYS. Members of the group will be happy to share their shopping experiences with you.

3. Help a new knitter with a project. People go to a knitting group to knit, but also to learn from experienced knitters. Even if you don't feel you're very skilled, you might be able to help someone fix holes or extra stitches on a needle.

4. Bring simple projects to work on. You're at the meeting to meet knitters, share tips, and knit. If you bring long, complicated patterns that require you to count stitches every row, and focus too much, you won't be able to join in the conversation.

5. Bring your list of written knitting patterns. You might get an idea for a new project while you're at the meeting. Sometimes you might not be sure of a basic pattern like a chevron, feather and fan, or horseshoe, and you'll be glad you have the directions in your bag.

6. Bring some of your WIPs (works in progress). Every knitter struggles to finish a project because there are always new exciting ones to start. Encourage other members of the group to finish their projects, and let them encourage you to complete yours.

HAPPY EARTH DAY.....Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle!

Did you know that you can be doing something good for the planet, while you're knitting? You could try one of the new eco yarns made from organic, sustainable, or recycled materials. There's durable, unshrinkable hemp (http://www.hempforknitting.com/), for example, or hypoallergenic and vegan Soysilk, which is produced using remnants from the tofu manufacturing process. Lion Brand has a new recycled cotton yarn, made from pieces that would otherwise be discarded when fabric is cut to make tee shirts; and you can have rainbows of silk yarn at your fingertips, handspun from mill ends of Indian saris. (www.recycledsilk.com/patterns.html)

If you want to expend a little more of your own energy, you might consider unraveling a rummage sale sweater, and using the re-claimed yarn in the design of a totally different garment. Here are some excellent instructions for this. Not feeling quite so energetic? Then check out http://www.jagsfunkyfibers.com/, for a variety of yarns that have already been re-claimed, washed, and prepared for your knitting adventures.

Really feeling crafty? Try making your own yarn out of newspaper......yes, newspaper! Greetje van Tiem did it for her "Indruk" project, and Doug Gunzel gives clear instructions for you at http://www.greenupgrader.com/2138/handspun-recycled-newspaper-yarn. The newspaper yarn is sturdy enough to use for something like rugs or curtains, but not recommended for clothing.....well, maybe a hat....

A Good Yarn

"All knitterly creation stems from one simple element: yarn. It is the baker's flour, the jeweler's gold, the gardener's soil....We love it, we covet it, we are knocked senseless by it, yet sometimes we are baffled, thwarted and betrayed by it." That's what Clara Parkes says in the introduction of her book, "The Knitter's Book of Yarn". Her purpose in writing the book is to help eager knitters (and crocheters) avoid yarn-related errors, such as "the socks that grew twice as long in the first wash, or...the scarf that feels like sandpaper against your delicate neck." She explains the composition, characteristics, care of, and best uses for a number of different yarns.
It's helpful to have all the facts about wool, mohair, angora, silk, hemp, cotton, and so on, but Parkes doesn't stop there. She also discusses merits and drawbacks of various rayon-like yarns, that are made from wood pulp, bamboo, corn, soy, or seaweed(!). And don't worry, she doesn't forget the colorful and inexpensive nylon, polyester, and acrylic that many of us start out with. Some interesting patterns are included, too. Take a look!

No Fooling!

Okay, I know today is April Fool's Day, but this is for real. World Wide Knit in Public Day will be celebrated on June 13 this year. It started in 2005, and now bills itself as the largest knitter-run event in the world, with 800 events taking place around the globe last year, on the second Saturday of June. It's a good excuse for knitters to come together and enjoy each other's company, and a great way to promote our craft.
I think the beautiful lawn next to the Osterville Village Library would be the perfect place for us to sit and knit on a sunny June afternoon. Can't you just picture yourself there, knitting and chatting, while a gentle breeze is blowing? We'll bring out some comfortable chairs....maybe even borrow a couch. It could be lots of fun!

Knitting in the Dark

Once upon a time... there was a woman who was sitting in a darkened movie theater, watching seemingly endless previews and promos, and thinking to herself, "If only I could see better, I could be finishing that adorable little sweater I've been working on." Some time later, she mentioned her wish to a friend, and the friend's husband got to work, inventing a little magic! This little fairy tale was inspired by a piece written by Susan Guerrero, which appeared in the New York Times a few years ago. The "magic" turned out to be KnitLite knitting needles, with glowing L.E.D. tips, created by Edith and Merrill Eig. You could knit at the movies with those, or outside under the stars on a summer night, or between 8:30 and 9:30 PM on Saturday, March 28, should you decide to turn off your lights and participate in Earth Hour.
Another helpful gadget for knitting in the dark is KnitLight, which you can wear around your neck. It provides bright light in a targeted zone, without disturbing others around you.
So, no excuses, keep knitting!

Now, THAT'S Crafty!

When I turned on my computer this morning, it opened up, as usual, to Boston.com (the online version of the Boston Globe newspaper). Something in the lower right corner of the screen caught my eye, and I'm glad I took a second look. It was a fragment of a blog, where someone had written, "When I spotted a beautiful Marc Jacobs sweater for about $300 in a magazine, I decided to make my own instead." I was very intrigued by this, so off I went to read the whole story at http://www.pippapatchwork.com/, and I invite you to do the same. You can read her blog entry for March 12 to find out more about the sweater, and see a picture. If that doesn't inspire you enough, take a look at her knitting gallery! Her use of color is very fresh and imaginative.

I Want to be a Blanketeer!

Project Linus volunteers are known as 'blanketeers". They provide new, handmade, washable blankets to be given as gifts to seriously ill or traumatized children, ages newborn to 18. Blankets of all sizes and styles (quilts, tied comforters, fleece, crocheted, knitted, receiving) are acceptable, as long as they are homemade, washable, free of pins, and come from a smoke-free environment.
Project Linus is a 100% volunteer organization, with chapters in almost every state. Our local contact, Susan, assures us that all the blankets our group donates will be distributed here on Cape Cod.
Several members of Stitching Tales are already hard at work on beautiful knitted blankets to donate to Project Linus. We are also planning a group project, in which individual knitted or crocheted squares created by our members will be joined together to form one or more patchwork blankets. Everyone can contribute.
As you probably know, March is National Craft Month, the perfect time to put your creative talents to use. Come on, ladies (and gentlemen!), pick up your needles!

Socks, Anyone?

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's books are celebrations of knitting, as well as treasure troves of practical information. Among her titles are such gems as Yarn Harlot, Knitting Rules!, and At Knit's End. Her reflections about the world of knitting will make you smile.

In Knitting Rules!, she talks about knitting socks for her husband..... "When these socks are done, they'll appear ordinary, except that they're not. They are hours of my life, each one spent on him. They'll walk with him, as he goes through his day, every day, until they wear out, and then others will take their place, these others also made by me. It's this extraordinary ordinariness that makes socks special. That something as humdrum as socks could be elevated by love and then walked on...it speaks to a certain magnificence. The truth about socks is that they're humble and beautiful and noble, and in their lowness they're the highest form of art."

So, what are your thoughts about socks? Have you made any? Would you like to try?

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