Photo by Tracey Taylor

by Tracey Taylor

The underground knitting activists have struck again, and this time their target is one of the pair of imposing sculptures on Berkeley’s  I-80 pedestrian overpass near University Avenue. The sculpture on the east side of the bridge now features a knitted cozy covering the book of the reader in the work of art.

The sculpture, called “Berkeley Big People,” is by Emeryville artist Scott Donahue and was erected in 2008. It immortalizes Berkeley’s greatest protests, from People’s Park to disability rights, and includes fist-waving demonstrators as well as tree sitters. It has not been universally embraced......

Read more at  -  http://www.berkeleyside.com/2010/07/07/yarn-bombers-strike-again-in-berkeley/

From the Knotty Knitters website:

Welcome to our Knotty Knitters for Autism Calendar site. Our calendar project has been a long & fun journey inspired by two darling autistic children who are very loved. The brain-child of Marsha Cunningham (grandma & Miss September) this calendar is a fundraising effort for children with autism. Thank you in advance for your support.

SOURCE  _   http://knottyknittersforautism.com/

Assorted Bottles Crocheted lambs wool, 2010.Photo by Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery

There are knitters, and then there is the mighty Kate Jenkins. You won't find woolly mittens or granny blankets in her craft room. No, her needles whip up something much more interesting. Last year she turned a London art gallery into a proper British caff, complete with bangers and all, and took over Brighton beach with her stitched-up fish and chips. Now she's turned her crochet hook to a loads more tasty treats in her new exhibition, Come Dine With Kate, which opens today.

See all pictures at  -  http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2010/jul/02/knitting-exhibition-come-dine-with-kate#/?picture=364479422&index=2

This cute, knit tote bag, made on a knitting board, is a great project for beginners.

Finished size 10”X8”X4”

Materials:

• 10 in. Knitting Board
• Yarn used bulky 100% Wool Brown Sheep Bulky

Stitch Stockinette throughout
Gauge 3sts=1” 4 rows=1”

Instructions:

FRONT AND BACK OF BAG

1. Make (2) pieces for front and back of bag. Front and Back of bag are the same.
2. Cast On (30) sts. Do (1) circular (wrap down board and return) in stockinette, then place anchor yarn across sts. (This is done by laying contrasting color yarn between boards with ends dangling at each end.) Do 2nd circular. Now you have (2) wraps on each needle. Hook bottom wrap over top. Your stitches are now cast on.
3. Continue in stockinette st for (24) rows.
4. Bind off with crochet hook. (Start at end of board without yarn. Slip crochet hook through 1st st, front and back, and 2nd st front. There will be 3 loops on crochet hook. Drag (1) closest to hook thru (2). Pick up next (2) loops.
5. Drag (1) thru (2). Continue to end of sts, and your knitted piece is off the board. Pull tail end of yarn thru last loop for a knot.

SIDES OF BAG

1. Make (2) Cast On (12) sts. Don’t forget the anchor yarn.
2. Continue stockinette for (24) rows
3. Bind off with crochet hook.

BOTTOM OF BAG

1. Make (1) Cast On (12) sts. Don’t forget the anchor yarn.
2. Continue knitting (30) rows.
3. Crochet off.

(Hint) If you like a very heavy bottom, You can make this with a double strand of yarn. This will result in very dense, tight knitting)

STRAPS

1. Make (2) CO (10) sts. Don’t forget the anchor yarn.
2. Knit (32) rows in stockinette stitch.
3. Bind off with crochet hook.

SEWING IT ALL TOGETHER

1. Finish off all pieces by crocheting the sts at the anchor yarn. Do this same as the top crochet edge. Once the edge is complete, you can pull out the anchor yarns.
2. Sew the pieces of bag together in top stitch. Use the matching yarn for sewing. Top stitch is done by laying the (2) pieces together with matching edges. Sew in and out from one side of knitted pieces, as you would do in basting a seam. Take little bites for a nice tight edge. This creates a ridge at the seams, and makes the little bag stand up. Start by sewing the edges of the front and back to the bottom piece, long sides.
3. Then, you can sew the ‘short edge of side of bag’ to bag bottom (short side). Then continue up the sides, front and back to sides. This will give you the basic bag.
4. Pull all the sewing tails into the bag with crochet hook. By tucking them in between the double knit, they will never be seen.

ADDING THE STRAPS

1. Fold each strap lengthwise. Sew long edges together in whip st. (Let your yarn wrap around the top of the edges) This will make an invisible seam.
2. Sew one strap to bag front aprox 2” from side seam on each end. Sew the other strap to bag back at same location. This can be sewn with a whip st to top of bag. Tuck all ends into double knit.
3. Be sure your top edge of bag is a smooth finish.
4. Your little tote bag is ready for service.

OPTION: You may also line the bag with colorful jersey knit, and hand whip the edge of
lining to top of bag. This will make it ready for heavier goods without pulling on the knit.

SOURCE _ http://www.favecrafts.com/Knit-Bags/Little-Knit-Tote-Bag

Lakewood, OH, June 16, 2010 -- Knit one, purl two...Twitter three?

There are more than 600,000 knitters on the popular knitting website Ravelry.com; designers on Ravelry sold over One Million dollars in knitting patterns there last year alone.

The Knitgrrl Guide To Professional Knitwear Design is the first-ever book targeted to fiber arts designers of all experience levels who want to create, communicate and sell their work professionally to magazines, publishers, consumers and other markets. Written by an industry insider, the Guide takes a comprehensive, unflinching look behind the scenes that no knit or crochet designer can afford to be without.

Author Shannon Okey has written a dozen best-selling, award-winning major publisher books on a variety of crafty topics, appeared on Knitty Gritty and Knitting Daily TV, and is a frequent contributor to craft magazines, as well as the former editor of monthly UK knitting magazine Yarn Forward. She was named one of Vogue Knitting's six "New Guard of Knitting" in their 25th anniversary issue.

Okey interviews with more than 30 top designers, editors and professionals who tell it like it is so readers can hit the ground running. In addition, the Guide covers responsible social media use, information on distribution, printing, and online publishing, and even how to get the most bang for your buck when choosing advertising.

Even if they can't knit a stitch, creative and indie businesses of all kinds will find valuable information in the 254-page Guide.

1000 cranes on display in the window of the Ace Hotel.Photo courtesy of Seann McKeel

by Peggy McMullen

If you've been following Seann McKeel's determined progress on her peace project, her  flock of felted knit cranes is now completed and -- at least through Thursday of this week -- on display at the Ace Hotel in downtown Portland.

The community-based art project she initiated in September of 2006 was inspired by the true story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl in Japan, who became ill with leukemia after being exposed to radiation from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Sadako believed a Japanese legend that anyone who foldeds 1,000 cranes would be granted a wish. She began feverishly folding cranes and had folded 644 before she died, at age 12, on Oct. 25, 1955. Her friends completed the 1,000 cranes she'd sought, and buried the colorful paper birds with her.

"She died, but she always kept hope," McKeel said in an interview with The Oregonian in 2006.

A Children's Peace Monument was constructed at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to commemorate Sadako and the thousands of other children who were victims of the atomic blast. A statue of Sadako, holding a crane, stands atop the monument.(Seattle's Peace Park also has a statue of Sadako.) ......

Read more at  -  http://blog.oregonlive.com/knitting/2010/06/seann_mckeel_has_finally_lande.html

Paramedic Phil Williams with 'knitting nanna' Janet Speines at Welshpool ambulance station

Four "knitting nannas" have been thanked by the Welsh Ambulance Service after they "got the needle" and produced 40 woollen teddy bears.

The trauma teddies are soft toys carried on ambulances to reassure and calm distressed children.

Cath Owen, Janet Speines, Brenda Leach and Ivy Evans of Berriew Mothers' Union, a Christian group near Welshpool, took on the task.

The ambulance service said the teddies would prove invaluable.

Read more at  -  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/wales/mid_wales/10312519.stm

by Johan Ku

by Abigail Doan

Johan Ku has a background in graphic design and textile studies, so it only makes sense that his expressive style encompasses three-dimensional knitting and free-form silhouettes. When it comes to exploring the upper limits of gauge, his methods know no limits. Ku sculpts his organic-baroque garments from raw wool tops and giant needles (à la Christien Meindertsma)—or simply his own fingers.

Ku sculpts his organic-baroque garments from raw wool tops and giant needles—or simply his own fingers.

Read more at  -  http://www.ecouterre.com/18744/johan-kus-emotional-sculpture-takes-chunky-knits-to-an-extreme/johan-ku-1/

I Knit Brisbane

In Brisbane’s CBD and Stones Corner, installations of large and small soft sculpture (knitted, crocheted or woven public art) will mark the first day of winter – Tuesday June 1 – and will remain in place for up to one month, warming up your winter days.

Each green heart marker signifies an installation area. Keep your eyes peeled, something wonderful might be right in front of you. Look up for hidden things like spiderwebs and birds. As you walk around the city, look for small tokens (mushrooms, strawberries and green hearts) to mark your way.

Over 800 crafters from all over Brisbane and beyond have been involved in I Knit Brisbane. Young people, school students, artists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, multicultural communities, seniors groups and many of Brisbane’s knitting/crochet associations have contributed to the project.

A big thank you to all the beginners, re-discoverers, whimsicals and masters of craft that have helped make this fantastic project happen.

I Knit Brisbane is supported by Brisbane City Council through the Lord Mayor’s Creative City Initiative.

SOURCE  _ http://iknitbrisbane.wordpress.com/about/

Knitted breasts are now available on the NHS for breast-feeding mothers to practice on, but we've found a few other weird knitted objects out there...

Knitted vacuum cleaner

Knitted vacuum cleaner: Doesn't suck

There are many strange knitted items on the Worldmysteries blogspot, such as a knitted record player and knitted post box. But we think the knitted vacuum cleaner is the least likely to be labelled as something that sucks.

See more weird knitted objects at  -   http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/828125-after-knitted-nhs-breasts-more-weird-knitted-objects