WWW: some Craftivism links from the archives

The Feminist Power of Embroidery by E. Tammy Kim (Dec 29, 2018) The Politics of Knitting by Shannon Okey (Holiday 2018) Stitch by stitch, a brief history of knitting and activism by Corinne Segal (Apr 23, 2017) The Wartime Spies Who Used Knitting as an Espionage Tool Grandma was just making a sweater. Or was she? by Natalie Zarrelli (Jun 01, 2017) Many books have been written on the subject, here are a few: Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years – Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times by Elizabeth Wayland Barbert (1995) Knitting for good : a guide to creating personal, social & political change, ...

Knittyspin First Fall 2019: Bremen Library Bag

  When the Bremen Library Bag came ins as a submission for First Fall Knittyspin, I knew I would publish it. The Bremen Town Musicians was one of my favorite folk tales when I was little, I even have a set of stuffed animals that stack. Then I read the pattern. The fibers used in the bag are all were all gifted to the designer, Stefanie Johnson, which gives the bag instant happy thoughts every time she uses it. The spinning and the construction are so smart. She uses black alpaca spun worsted for strength and smoothness. It also showcases the multicolored yarn. The multicolored fiber is a batt, that she plied to ...

WWW: where was that sweater knit; evolving tapestry; pattern sale

Woven item: Diedrick Brackens, unicorn kente, 2018.
That Iceland wool sweater may have been knit in China. Photo: Egill Bjarnason / AP (Via Clara Parkes) These Artists Are Changing our Expectations of What Tapestry Can Be Photo: Diedrick Brackens, unicorn kente, 2018. Donna Druchunas (Our Knitting Roots Columnist) is having her semi-annual sale. All her single patterns on Ravelry are only $1 through the end of the month. No coupon needed!

Getting Ready for Tour de Fleece

This year I won’t be spinning for the Tour de Fleece. I’ll be be between teaching gigs, unpacking and repacking. I will be spinning, but not at a TdF level or with much focus. I love the massive amount of spinning, or just focused spinning I can do in three weeks. I like to not stress about it, including not watching actual bike racing. Some years I spin pounds, some (most) years I spin a skein of yarn. Last year I spun one skein of thick-ish sock yarn for a pair of shorty socks. I am always happy with what I get done, and I always learn something.     Here are some suggestions for a smooth and ...

www: saving an ancient craft, micro knitting, good moths

Zamarada Moth (Zamarada scintillans) knit by Max Alexander
Weaver Porfirio Gutierrez, has returned to Mexico to protect his Zapotec weaving heritage. You can learn more about Porfirio at his website, porfiriogutierrez.com Pictured: Porfirio Gutierrez weaves a textile with a traditional Zapotec design using a nine-thread-count-per-inch comb loom. Photo by Javier Lazo Gutierrez. “Saving an Ancient Craft: Porfirio Gutierrez Returns Home” by Justin Mugits. National Museum of the American Indian, Spring 2019 / Vol. 20, No. 1 Many knitters fear moths, artist Max Alexander has embraced them, by knitting their likeness. This article from a few years ago resurfaced and is ...

Clara & Her Wool Pillow

Do you follow Clara Parkes on Instagram? She is a font of knowledge for all things wool, and lately, all ways wool as used in everyday objects. It’s from her that I learned about All Birds shoes, which I love. I’ve never worn a silkier feeling pair of shoes. Did you know there are wool coffins? I guess we can take it with us! I also find them beautiful. She wants everyone to use wool as much as they can. The more we use wool in the US or anywhere in the world, the more we need sheep. She wants people beyond spinners, knitters and all the fiber folk to discover how amazing and versatile wool is. An ...

WWW: Hudson Valley Yarn Crawl; Acts of Making; Knit in Public Day

photo of fabric on lap with hands threading a sewing needle
The Hudson Valley Yarn Crawl (New York/Connecticut) begins June 8th. The Hudson Valley Yarn Trail supports local yarn shops, wool farms and fiber artists throughout the Hudson Valley Region. Tomorrow, Thursday, June 6th, Nest, is launching its 25 Acts of Making Project. This project encourages people to unplug from their screens and reconnect with the act of making things by hand. World Wide Knit in Public Day is this Saturday June 8th!

Tiny Crochet Hooks Are My Favorite

  I don’t crochet, but I have a thing for teeny tiny crochet hooks, the one that are about the size of a pencil lead. These two I found at a thrift store (50¢), my favorite place for all kinds of craft supplies, don’t ask what else I bought that day. One had a 10 on it the other a 07. I’m not sure what they are for, thread crochet, maybe? I find them at estate sales too. I use these tiny hooks for two things mostly, and I would recommend having a stash of them, they go missing because, well, they are really tiny, and they break.       I use them for cleaning tools, my hand cards, ...

WWW: Repair and Design Futures; Speech Record; Floral Weaving

Repair and Design Futures exhibit
Repair and Design Futures is an exhibit at the RISD Museum (Providence, RI, USA) through June 30, 2019. It investigates mending as material intervention, metaphor, and as a call to action. Perhaps you remember the train delays scarf earlier this year? Sue Montgomery, a city councilor and borough mayor in Montreal (Canada) decided track when men and women speak in city council meetings. As expected, this project has garnered attention. If you’re looking for additional ideas, I recommend Knit the Sky by Lea Redmond (reviewed by Jillian in Knitty, issue 54 Winter 2015). Whitney Crutchfield has a unique way of floral ...

Here’s What I’m Doing About Those Bluprint Questions

Teachers who have classes on Craftsy, now Bluprint, got an email last week letting us know that when Bluprint switched over to a subscription model they made no provisions for students asking questions. They hoped that students would answer each others’ questions. What really happened is that students asked teachers questions and posted photos of their projects and yarns, and they got no response. Questions and comments gathered for a year and last week the folks at Bluprint let us know about them, and found a way for us to see them. But had no way for us to answer them easily. To say we all freaked out is an ...
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