What’s What Wednesdays

Every week a new study shares how making things by hand reduces stress and improves mental health. More articles also remind us that it can change lives through empowerment. Today’s WWW post shares some of these stories. Balance, Mindfulness, Mental Health How knitting can instill peace, lower blood pressure and create some pretty things (Texas, USA) Psychiatric rehab helps patients find balance (Ontario, Canada) Santa Rosa exhibit highlights artistry of adults with mental health challenges (California, USA) DR MAX THE MIND DOCTOR: You can really knit your way to happiness and a stress-free life (UK) (this one ...

Pockets in women’s clothing (and lack of functionality thereof) is a topic that is receiving lots of attention. Here are a few recent articles: Women's Pockets are Inferior Pockets: Articles of Interest #3 (podcast with full transcript) When it comes to women’s pockets, size really does matter Social media sites can be brutal. They can also be beautiful and #womensart is one. They are on holiday until 01 November, however there are over 21k tweets you can browse through to learn about remarkable artists. The photograph is of ‘Little Urchin Crochet Covered Sea Stones’ by Margaret Oomen. Each ...

Little bunny Mimi was born without ears and her adopter has crocheted ears for her as well as other head coverings, including the flower crown shown in the photo. In Christchurch New Zealand, plastic bags are on their way out and flax woven baskets are being adopted by grocery stores as an alternative. The New York Sheep and Wool Festival (aka “Rhinebeck”) held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in New York is this weekend (New Hours: Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am-4pm). Will you be there? Whether it’s your first time or you’ve attended for years, here are some tips for making the most of your ...

Looking to find your way to the Loch Ness Knit Fest? There’s a knitted map displayed in Inverness Airport! Ruben Marroquin taught weaving to fourth-grade students in Cos Cob, Conneticut earlier this month as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month. You don’t need to knit poppies alone. If you are near Newcastle’s Grainger Market (UK), there are knitting sessions on Tuesdays through the end of October.

Poppies are being knit and crocheted to mark and remember the centenary of the end of the First World War. Marloes and St Brides — a community in the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire, UK — is working to make 2,000 poppies. If you would like your initiative included, please let me know. In Cleveland, Ohio, Artist Jessica Pinsky turned a a vacant lot into an indigo farm. Learn more about dyeing with natural dyes such as cochineal, fruity color drink powder, or acid dyes at Knitty! Last week on twitter, Amy shared this hilarious youtube video about learning to knit. Do you remember your first lesson? Creating ...

In Glasgow, Scotland, knitters have stepped up and knitted over 70 handwarmers for people with dementia. Twiddlemuffs help to alleviate stress, anxiety and restlessness for dementia sufferers. The New Hampshire Wool Arts Tour is this upcoming October 6th and 7th. This year is a milestone, it marks the 35th year of the Tour! The free tours surround Hillsboro, in the south central part of New Hampshire. This October, share in the love of fiber and the animals that produce it. In Timaru, New Zealand, knitters are using their wait time before appointments to knit baby blankets. Is there a Knitty pattern you wish was in a ...

Student Anna Cuinu has developed a tartan for the blind using stitch patterns, buttons, and belts to simulate the fabric. Looking to apply your fiber arts skills to other areas, such as weaving a fabric that can replace steel? Advances in the 3D technology for weaving and knitting of composite materials have created that reality. That’s only the start, 4D textiles are also in development, you can learn more at 3D Textiles: Embracing The Depth. If you are traveling to Honolulu, Hawaii in the next two months, visit the Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Traveling Exhibition. This exhibit of Filipino weaving also includes ...

Australian software engineer Sarah Spencer hacked a knitting machine to create an amazing stellar map. It took over 100 hours to machine knit! The piece (worked over several panels) measures approximately 9 feet (2.8 meters) tall and 15 feet (4.6 m) wide and weighs about 33 pounds (15 kg). Swoon. The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., lends handmade shawls to chilly researchers. (via @jillianmoreno) Which Which Knitty Shawl do you wish your library lent? Farfield Mill is the last working weaving mill in the Yorkshire Dales, in northern England. It is home to about 20 artisan businesses, the main retail ...

The Orlando Public Library is hosting a Fall Fiber Festival in celebration of Central Florida’s fiber arts scene. The daylong festival will take place on Sunday, September 30 from 2-4 p.m. New Mexico’s Fall Fiber Fiesta 2018 is on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday November 16-18. This is the largest show in Santa Fe exclusively dedicated to handmade creations of New Mexico’s Fiber Artists. While New Zealand has a reputation as a sheep-loving nation, the country’s wool industry has been in a steady decline for many years. Locals are stripping off in an effort to revive the country’s national fibre and make wool ...