Mandy Moore's Blog, page 12

WWW: saving lambs with jumpers, learning through knitting, longest crocheted scarf record

Knitted jumpers are saving lambs lives. Canberra (Australia) craft shop Crafty Frog is a collection and distribution point. Please see the article for details if you are able to provide assistance.

I love seeing knitting as a way to learn different complex concepts, such as human anatomy. From the knitty archive, I found Kristin Ledgett’s Heart from the Winter 2008 issue.

In celebration of Madiba’s centenary birthday, a team effort broke the Guinness World Record for the longest crocheted scarf. It reached 29.17km and was laid out at the historic Nelson Mandela capture site in Howick‚ in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands (South Africa). The scarves will be returned to their provinces of origin and distributed to the poor.

The post WWW: saving lambs with jumpers, learning through knitting, longest crocheted scarf record appeared first on knittyBlog.

Is Rigid Heddle Weaving for You?

Why This Loom? Find out if weaving is in your future with Liz Gipson of the Yarnwork School of Weaving

Weaving. I know you’ve thought about it, maybe even looked at classes or looms. It seems like everyone has started weaving. It’s such a good way to use up stash! Rigid heddle weaving seems like a good starting point, but you’re not sure if it’s really for you.

Liz Gipson is a genius at teaching rigid heddle weaving and she used to write a great weaving column, Get Warped for Knitty. She has just put up a free class called Why This Loom to help folks decide if rigid heddle weaving is for them.

I really like using my rigid heddle loom with handspun, but I’m not doing it as much as I want to, maybe we should have a handspun weave along this fall or winter?

Let me know if you take the leap after watching Liz’s class!

The post Is Rigid Heddle Weaving for You? appeared first on knittyBlog.

Just a wee test

Please ignore. However, if you read this before I delete it, I hope you’re having a lovely day. xox

WWW: bold lace; waste paper weaving; weaving exhibit

I love finding combinations of techniques and materials that aren’t traditional. Canadian sculptor, Cal Lane‘s welding turns the ordinary into extraordinary lace.

(via #womensart).

This initiative by weaver Neerja Palisetty in Jaipur, India is a positive spin on a large pollutant, paper. Not only does it help reduce waste, it provides income opportunity.

IIt was a surprise to open my local business journal to an article about an upcoming weaving exhibit at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. During the exhibit, “Helena Hernmarck: Weaving In Progress”, the gallery space will also function as a weaving studio. Three days a week, Hernmarck, and her apprentice Mae Colburn, will be working at the artist’s 5-foot-wide Glimåkra Countermarch loom. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is in Ridgefield, CT and the exhibit will be on view October 14, 2018, to January 19, 2019.

Get Spinning: Jillian’s Fall Teaching Schedule

Spinning on the road

School supplies have hit the big box stores, that means fall is on the way. I have a busy teaching schedule this fall, I hope to see some of you in my classes!

Here’s a quick list of where I’m teaching for the rest of 2018:

August 17-19: Shuttles Spindles and Skeins, Boulder, Colorado
September 6-8: Wisconsin Sheep and Wool
September 22: Kalamazoo Fiber and Dye Studio
September 27-29: Vermont Sheep and Wool
October 5-7: WEBS Spinning Summit
October 12-14: Yarn Underground, Moscow, Idaho
October 25-28: SAFF
November 8-11: Ross Farms Magical Fiber Fantasy Retreat Retreat, Disney World

For 2019 I won’t be teaching as much, just 6 times. I’m writing another spinning book, and need to have the time to spin, think and write.

WWW: Crocheted nature; Museum opportunities; Math(s) and knitting

Many of my knitting news alerts are generic articles about how knitting (and other creative pursuits) can help us manage our mental health. What does that mean in every day life? This beautiful charity garden at Gloucester Cathedral in England on show this August highlights the positive benefits of knitting for mental health.

If travel often has you stressed, perhaps you should try to

pass through Zurich Central Station. Pause and enjoy the new crocheted tree installation by Brazilian conceptual artist Ernesto Neto. The 20-meter-high sculpture is made entirely of orange and green hand-knotted and finger-crocheted strands of cotton.

Two exhibits for the textile arts on opposite sides of the United States caught my eye this week.

The first is at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Art, Artists & You. It’s a blend of interactive art studio and exhibition. It’s a blend of interactive art studio and exhibition. Families can try crocheting, weaving, knitting, beading, and stuffed-animal or soft-sculpture crafting. See CMOM for more information (yes it’s part of the NYPL/Culture Pass initiative).

The second is in Oregon at the History Museum of Hood River County. Their new exhibit, Follow the Thread chronicles the art of textiles, through Aug. 31.

Perhaps you’ve seen this article on teaching math through knitting by Sara Jensen. Are there any very maths centric patterns within Knitty? Here are two that caught my eye: Numbers bag by Stephen Hartley and the Klein Bottle Hat by Marie-Christine Mahé.

If you see something you’d like to see featured in What’s What Wednesday, please let us know! There’s now a simple form to make your link submission easier. Thank you! Knitty wouldn’t exist without you.

Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat 2019 Is the Last

 

Madrona 2017

Last week Suzanne Pederson, the founder and heart of the Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat, sent out an email that was not surprising, but still sad. 2019 Madrona will the be the last.

Greg and Janine, my fiber tribe.

Suzanne is retiring after 20 years of delighting the fiber world. Madrona stands head and shoulders above other fiber retreats. It started small, but grew into a large and boisterous retreat, educating, raising money for charities, and just being an excellent coming together of fiber minds. It is one of the most inclusive and friendly retreats I’ve attended, no one is a stranger.

Madrona was the first big retreat that I knew of to combine crafts. Knitting was it’s core, but there were many spinning,weaving and dyeing classes too. Madrona was also the first big retreat to treat their teachers very well. It has an epic marketplace.

Dimple twins. Ken of Homestead Hobbyist.

I was lucky enough to go to Madrona three times, once as a student and twice as a teacher.

In 2012 I went as a student with Sasha of Sheepspot, she was doing the SpinDoctor podcast then. We recorded an episode there, that really gives the feeling of the excitement that Madrona whipped up in us.

I’ll never forget the email Suzanne sent me to ask if I would teach, I still have it saved. For fiber teachers, Madrona, was a BIG ONE, getting asked to teach, especially as a spinning teacher was a huge moment for me. There was cheering, all the nerves and maybe a tear or two. I taught there in 2016 and 2017.

Yes, I’m sure the joke was at least a little dirty.

Madrona changed the way I thought about making and teaching, gave me new friends, a clear focus and a love for the PNW and the way fiber is revered there. It really has a  different fiber vibe than the rest of the country.

Madrona is one of a kind and will be missed; here’s the announcement from Suzanne.

WWW: Yarn Crawl, cottage edition; Rhinebeck countdown; Patreon rewards

Amy is up in what is known as cottage country this week and shared a quick LYS stop on instagram. That lead us to learn about the Cottage Country Yarn Crawl in Ontario. This summer you can experience the scenic beauty of Muskoka, Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes and beyond and take part in a yarn crawl from June to September 2018.

That led me (Penny) to look at the calendar and realize there are only 87 days (as of today) until Rhinebeck! For the uninitiated, New York Sheep and Wool Festival, October 20 and 21, 2018 with New Hours: Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-4p.

Workshop registration is now open.

Have you cast on your Rhinebeck project (sweater/shawl/hat/etc) yet? What knitty design do you plan to make?

Patreons! We love you. First, a plea — PLEASE if you’re contributing at a level that that sends you goodies in the post, log into your account and make sure your address is current and accurate. Last year there was a large pile of undeliverable mail and it made Amy (and Tully) sad. Being a Patron supports this magazine and allows us to continue to bring you free content and we want to say thank you with rewards. Remember, Patrons of all levels gain access to the private news feed which often features neat content not seen elsewhere such as this video tour of the knitting trade show.

What Do You Make with Your Handspun?

I’ve been excited and curious about many crafts lately besides knitting, I want to learn everything about them, and if they have anything to do with fiber or cloth I want to spin for them.

Handspun, handwoven, sachet.

The two that are big on my radar are embroidery and weaving. Other crafts that are jumping up and down trying to get my attention are sewing, punch needle, and watercolor.

I want to be more methodical about some more than others. With embroidery I’m just jumping in, buying some gorgeous preprinted patterns to stitch, and every once in a while I’ll spin some yarn and stitch with it for part of the pattern.

Weaving is a different story. There is so much to know it’s almost paralyzing to me.

I want to read books, weave with commercial yarn and then spin and weave some more. I’m hunting for a local floor loom class too. Liz Gipson has got me covered for rigid heddle.

When I am unsure about something I can use research as a procrastination technique. I’m doing that with weaving right now. It’s a good one too, because I’m learning in my head, but I’m not making that connection to my hands, so when I finally sit down to weave I get frustrated because it’s not perfect or easy like it is in my head.

For me it always comes back to making the yarn. I don’t just want to make and embellish different types of cloth, I want to make the right yarn for the project I have in mind. I’m so curious about the different yarn constructions that behave the best for different crafts and cloth, Yarnitecture for everything. Even sewing. I want to make Sonya Philip’s perfect patterns, but really, not so deep down, I’m dying to spin and weave the yardage.

What do you use your handspun for besides knitting?

WWW: finding shared interests; reaffirming faith in the internet; more than knitted toilet roll covers

Earlier this week, @mellowbeing asked on Twitter if she could find more knitters/crafters who code. After her success, she posted some advice if you’re looking to find those who share your interests.

While focusing on the pottery community, this article confirms what know already: How Online Hobbyists Can Reaffirm Your Faith in the Internet.

This isn’t one of those “it’s not your grandma’s knitting stories”. Not really.

More than knitted toilet roll covers — hospital auxiliaries donate millions and help build a new emergency room.

If you want to knit a Toilet Roll Cozy of your own, Christine Olea designed one for the Winter 2016 issue. (Photo credit: Christine Olea).

If you see something you’d like to see featured in What’s What Wednesday, please let us know! There’s now a simple form to make your link submission easier. Thank you! Knitty wouldn’t exist without you.