Craft Activism

Forecast: Cloudy...with Crochet

Newcomer to crochet that I am, I was completely flabbergasted by the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project we discovered while researching Craft Activism. It turns out that crochet is the way to demonstrate hyperbolic geometry (who knew??), and Christine and Margaret Wertheim, who founded the Institute for Figuring, have created corals, kelps, sea slugs, sponges and other undersea life out of crochet, even filling a gallery of the Smithsonian with their artistry.

Now it turns out that crochet also models the fractal nature of cumulus clouds. (Here in Santa Barbara, the puffy white things tend to look like this.)
But Argentine architect Ciro Najle had quite a different vision in mind. in a recent CultureLab post, editor Kat Austen showed off the work of that artist, who has covered gallery ceilings in Denver and Paris with fabulous crocheted cashmilion wool cumulonimbus representations. 

I may have to try to branch out beyond granny squares. 

 posted by Joan

 

we love our inbox: a craft activist writes in

This is so wonderful, we have to share! When people ask me what's a craft activist, I should just point them at this :

Hi Gale!  It is because of you that I know about the Red Scarf Project!  You once mentioned to me on my blog that I could donate my scarf-without-a-purpose to the Red Scarf Project.  I loved the idea of the project, so I did donate that scarf and the project stuck in my memory.
 
In November, I participated in a really fun event during which I launched a collaborative red scarf.  When the idea for a collaborative knitting project came up, it wasn't long before I figured out that the Red Scarf Project would be the perfect recipient.

The video for the event was just posted today, so I thought I would write and share it with you.
The scarf is being shipped from person to person, growing along the way.  You may have seen this, but I wrote about it here too.  It has been so fun to be a part of the Beckoning of Lovely. I am really thrilled that whomever receives our red scarf will also be receiving something that connects them to all of these people that cherish the lovely in the world.
 
All of this to say, THANK YOU for connecting me to this project.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Thanks to  Trinity Muller, aka TrinKnitty for sending this and letting us post it. It's touching, in a very direct human way.  I met Trinity when she took a class a couple of summers ago, and I've been enjoying her knitting, crafting , cooking/putting-by adventures on her blog ever since. (You should definitely check it out, but I warn you, not when you're very hungry).

posted by Gale

guest blogger: Ellen Bloom

If you're an Ellen Bloom fan like we are, you already know about the clever art, crochet and crafting she creates. In the book we have just a peek into her colorful world, focussing on her love of the granny square.

In the spirit of the holidays,  and with the thought that maybe you have some free time between now and New Year's Day and need something to make, we invited Ellen to guest blog about a fab project she came up with. Enjoy!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

all photos © Ellen Bloom

Holiday Photo Garland  By Ellen Bloom
 
I’m all about CRAFTING.  Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been involved in some sort of crafty art project.  I learned to knit and crochet at age 7 and I’ve never stopped.  My Mom helped me with my knitting, sewing and other needlework.  My Dad was a master carpenter.  He was always building things in his workshop.  My brother and I caught the fever.  Years later, we’re still practicing our crafts in public and private.  My brother, Ken Bloom, builds instruments:   and I still knit and crochet.  I was proud to contribute my Granny GreenBag   pattern to Craft Activism.  Being involved with Joan and Gale has been a delight that I hope will continue throughout the years.  
photo © Ellen Bloom

The Holiday Photo Garland incorporates a few different crafty skills.  I’ve learned quite a bit about photography from my husband, Photographer Larry Underhill .    He’s helped me with lighting, composition and photo-computer skills.  With a bit of photo ability, some basic crochet knowledge and a paper punch, you too can create your personalized Photo Garland for any holiday or other occasion (I’m thinking birthdays, anniversaries and more)!
 
all photos © Ellen Bloom

Here’s a link to my blog with full instructions.
 
One of my friends came up with another brilliant idea for this garland:  Suzette suggests that we save beautiful holiday greeting cards sent by friends, cut the best images into a circle and use those for the pictures in the garland.  Brilliant!

__________________________

Thanks Ellen !  Show us what you do with this idea, OK?

posted by Gale

now THAT's some hooking

Have you seen this ad?  Impressive use of crochet, yes? The UK gets all the fun.

I love the inside of the head view with yarn mucus. Thanks to Stacey of Fresh Stitches for bringing this to our attention. posted by Gale

chuffed as mintballs

That's what Corrine, of the JafaGirls said in a FB post to me earlier this week. Chuffed as mintballs! Here's Corrine, on the right, with Nancy and Mr Plato for the book in Yellow Springs OH.

Corrine's from a region of the UK that  produces fabulous artists and colorful phrases. Here's a list of what's leaving me chuffed as mintballs:

• both Library Journal and Amazon chose Craft Activism for their Best Books of 2011 lists. Cool beans!

• a visit to the radio station in Northampton MA as a guest on ReadySetKnit with Kathy & Steve Elkins from Webs. Joan joined us by call in. I love a real radio station. You can hear the episode, here. Fun fact: when Steve talks about a yarn, he actually brings it to the recording studio and puts the skeins out in front of them to discuss. I don't know why but I love that.
• Joan made a granny square scarf. She didn't crochet much until we were getting ready to do some book appearances ..and..well..you know what happens. Those granny squares are ridiculously addictive. Love her scarf, based on the  Granny Greenbags squares.

• Last Sunday with Ann Weaver was a very good time. We chatted, we sold books, we chatted, I sold a large framed photo (super chuffed over that one), we chatted, we analyzed the colors in the knit kits she put together for her Albers cowls using Karida's yarns (you can still get them from Ann and at the shop ) Detailed review of the day here.

So..what's chuffing your mintballs? And why does that sound slightly dirty?

- posted by Gale

location photography has its benefits

When indie knitwear designer Ann Weaver said she'd model her Lounge Act cardigan for the book, we decided to shoot outside an alt music venue, in keeping with her inspiration*. We hit Central Square in Cambrdge MA, for its murals and music act flyers plastered all over.
Not to mention the unpredictable. In this case, a beer soaked, shirtless Southie sure he was getting his break into modeling. **

Ann is am amazing talent: she's got tons of ideas and energy, two collections of knitwear designs in self-published books, mad knitting skills and a fabulous sense of color. You should meet her. OH WAIT! If you are anywhere near Connecticut this weekend you can, she and I will be at The Griswold Inn , in charming Essex CT for a special weekend event celebrating handmade in America. On Sunday Dec 11th we'll have our own showroom, with our books (I'll have both Craft Activism and the now out of print Shear Spirit), trunk shows, yarn, some framed photos of woolly creatures. Come sit, knit, chat & shop a little too.

I'll do a small talk about Craft Activism at noon and 3, but mostly its a casual gathering, so stop by, bring your knitting. And bring your cameras! Essex is uber-photogenic, especially this time of year.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

* Ann designed this cardigan with her memory of seeing the Kurt Cobain video for Smells Like Teen Spirit in mind. In the book, we have this fitted version for women and a mens version,  in dark green, for men.

**Yes, he signed a model release. No, we didn't use the photo in the book. Yes, we love it.

posted by Gale

there (oughta be) an app for that

Take my idea, please: you input what crafting materials you feel like working with (or have on hand). Then you choose a difficulty level , the amount of time you want it to take to completion, and the approximate size or function of the kind of thing you want to make. The app gives you a list of possible projects, with links to tutorials or examples online or patterns/instructions you can download/purchase. Why not? There're apps that do this for cooking & recipes, right?

Artist Trading Card by Bee Shay, from Craft Activism

That's all I'm saying.

posted by Gale

Ummmm, Don't Try This at Home...

Do you remember when you learned to knit and it seemed like you didn't have enough hands to control the needles and the yarn. (Truth to tell, I still feel that way when it comes to stranded colorwork, but that's another story). Thank goodness we now have videos to help us through the rough spots. (Thanks to http://www.youtube.com/user/dantuty for the invaluable tips!)  

posted by joan on Tuesday, Nov.  29

sunflower yarnbombing & a book giveaway

If you aren't already a major Kristin Nicholas fan like I am, then one glance at this photo, of her yarnbombed sunflower field, should do it:                            photo by Kristin Nicholas

Head straight over to her blog and look at some of the other photos from this bit of whimsy. While you're there, enter to win a copy of Craft Activism. (which you can see, from that link, is on Amazon's list of Best Books of 2011. Seriously!)

Krisitn had to wear the ocelot scarf from Craft Activism , once she showed up in those glasses. Perfect!

One of the huge perks of having the book come out has been meeting people I admire while we promote it. I had the best time yapping away with Kristin and her daughter Julia at Webs in Northampton MA. She makes me want to try all kinds of colorful combinations of knitting, stitching andrejoicing in the juiciness of textiles. Go look at these patterns and tell me you don't feel the same way?

posted by Gale 11-11-11

Whirlwind Weekend

There was a real Craft Activism frenzy in Santa Barbara last weekend, beginning with a signing and granny square extravaganza at Loop and Leaf ,
which had just celebrated its fourth anniversary! Ellen Bloom made the journey from Los Angeles and toted granny square creations of every conceivable shape and color, including a new Granny Greenbag she had just whipped up in blue. (Does that make it a Bubbe Blue bag?)
I, of course, was wearing the sharrow sweater.
It wasn't long before a few of Loop and Leaf's constant stream of visitors were sitting and schmoozing. Mike had actually won a copy of Craft Activism for his pumpkin carving abilities pre-Halloween and had read it!
A long-lost friend of Ellen's also happened by, proving once again that Southern California is really a small world. Thanks to Ellen suddenly there was a new groundswell of crochet inspiration in Santa Barbara. (And thanks to Ellen for the pictures, too!) I'm eager to see who will soon be creating what.

On Sunday, EtsySB materialized in person, thanks to Susan Torrey of GirlSundayDesigns and Andie Olivia deJarnette of Rogue Butterfly. The rain clouds dissipated, and a score of crafters set up a Backyard Boutique. Among the goodies: recycleable sandwich bags, upcycled leather goods, hand-sewn aprons, and plenty of other evidence of craft activism at work. To say nothing of the fact that an online group now had a physical community as well – another aspect of the DIY movement. (Alas, as you can tell, I forgot my camera.... next time Gale will have to show up.) Thanks to all for including me!

Posted by Joan