If you build it, they will come.  That is exactly what happened when Canadian textile artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam created her brightly coloured playscape, a mesmerizing magnet for children to climb, bounce, and swing on.  The Rainbow Net, located in Sapporo, Japan, is an innovative project that took three years to complete, giant crocheted medallions connect together to form a bowl-shaped trampoline, accented with teardrop shaped tubes that dangle like earrings.  The spark for this brilliant idea came to Toshiko in an art gallery where her over-sized crocheted sculpture, Multiple Hammock No. 1, was on display.  She was approached by two children who asked if they could perhaps climb up and play on it.  As she watched nervously, the kids were grabbing on to the netting as if it were made for little hands to grip, with squeals of delight, the structure seemed to take on a life of its own, stretching and twisting in new directions.

Not just ‘public art’, this tactile installation encourages play and exercise in children.

 

Thousands of spools of heavyweight nylon cord were used for durability and colourful appeal.

 

The artist, Toshiko, assembled the pieces by hand on site, working on her knees up to ten hours a day on this project.  Similar installations have also been completed in Spain, Singapore, and Shanghai.

 

The fur is flying this season….. literally right off the shelves, as shop owners endeavor to keep stocked up with the hottest in novelty yarns.  Fashionably ’in’ right now, Mink from Lanas Stop is a faux fur knitting yarn that is so incredibly plush, it will have you doing a double loop, twist and twirl.  This is the type of yarn that works for all the trimmings, a couple of rows added to the brim of a cabled hat, or a fuzzy edging on a pair of mittens, dress up a Christmas stocking, or jazz up a ’plain Jane’ cardigan with a luxurious collar.

For the forgotten few on this year’s list, here is a last minute gift idea for a posh pair of fur trimmed wrist warmers.  These are guaranteed to knit up in an evening and will keep hands warm while sipping a latte or texting friends.

 

 

Size:  Women’s Medium

Finished Length: 23 cm/9 in

Finished Width:  18 cm/7 in

Yarn:  1 ball Lanas Stop Mink col #790 (CC), 1 skein Debbie Bliss Paloma col #6 (MC)

Needles:  8.00 mm double pointed set

Tension:  12 sts and 19 rows over stocking stitch using MC = 10 cm/4 in

 

Cast on 21 sts with CC, divide sts evenly onto three needles, join in round. K 1 round.  Cut CC.

Continue in K rounds with MC until work measures 13 cm/5 in from top of fur cuff.

Make Thumb Opening:  Cast off 4 sts at beg of next round, K to end.  Cast on 4 sts at beg of next round, K to end.  Work a further 5 K rounds.  Cut MC.  Change to CC and K 1 round.  Cast off in CC.

Make a 2nd one to match.

Brush fur lightly with a large tooth comb.

Design by:  Michele Meadows

Like a bee to the blossom, and a moth to the flame, Noro yarn evokes an unequivocal passion amongst knitters, luring us in to an euphoric state with the creative possibilities spun within each colourful spectrum.  This season British designer Jane Ellison, tickles our fancy with her latest collection of designs, featuring three promising new qualities, Haniwa, Mossa, and Kirara, each one distinctive in texture and palette.

Here is a peek inside the pages of NORO PASSION by Jane Ellison-

 

Karma Cardigan is knit in reverse stocking stitch, highlighting the nubby texture of Mossa, a blend of wool, silk, kid mohair and viscose, available this Fall in eight tempting colourways.

 

Vina strikes a pose for Fall, and plays up the dramatic hues in Kirara, an earthy combo of wool, cotton, silk, and angora in a double knitting weight yarn.  Choose from one of eight options.

 

Prema cowl will keep you smiling and feeling cosy all winter.  This simple garter ridge pattern is knit sideways and ideally suited for beginners.  Knit in Mossa, a chunky boucle-style yarn from Noro in eight splashy colourways.

 

Hiba crosses the bridge between a vest and a shrug, crocheted in retro granny squares, and updated with a fun new yarn from Noro.  Look for understated colouring in Haniwa, with a striking palette to choose from.

 

Mercy Slouch Hat meanders in a rib pattern, creating a playful divergence from horizontal stripes to diagonal.  Knit in Noro’s newest worsted quality- Haniwa, indulge yourself with one of six subtle shadings spun from silk, wool, and nylon.

 

Ife Vest pays homage to the changing colours, Autumn bliss, knit in Haniwa.  An easy-to-wear here, there, and everywhere addition to your wardrobe.

 

With less than one week to go to until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, one very industrious knitter has come up with a creative way to enjoy her favorite sporting events right in her own front yard.  Using recycled wool unravelled from thrift shop sweaters, Suzanne Haggerty, began her imaginative project six months ago, and has since completed over thirty miniature athletes.

Her uniquely themed displays celebrating Halloween, Christmas, and quite recently the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee have been well-received by her London neighbours in Howard Road, who enjoy the surprise reactions and comments of passersby.  “I’m planning to get a life now,” Suzanne joked.  “I have always been a big fan of the Olympics, and am very, very proud of London,” she said.  “I’ve been looking forward to them for a long time.”

 

Each figure took a day and a half to knit, stuff and put the finishing touches on.  Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, and triple-jumper Phillips Idowu are a few of Suzanne’s favorites.  Her plans include a few more well-known figures, Daley Thompson, and long-distance runner, Haile Gebrselassie, and a gymnast on the high beam all in time for the opening ceremony.

 

Unfortunately the world’s fastest runner, Usain Bolt has mysteriously disappeared from the garden display, but apparently it was just a case of having misplaced him.  “Incredibly, we have always been very lucky with every display we do,” said Suzanne, “I think all the neighbours keep an eye on it for us.”

 

In November, popular British designer, Louisa Harding will lace up her hiking boots and stuff a backpack full of yarn as she heads for Nepal to join a team of hikers for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure pushing their limits with up to nine hours a day of rough trekking.  Her mission is to raise awareness and funds for the Macmillan Cancer Support, a team of health professionals who provide care for cancer patients and their families.  Last year, Louisa’s husband and fave photographer, Stephen, was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  While he was undergoing extensive chemo treatments, the Macmillan staff and nurses became a ‘lifeline’ helping Louisa and her family through a very difficult time.

To give back to this wonderful organization, Louisa has designed a collection of Himalayan Hiking Hats, the first three are pictured below, followed by three more in September.  On each day of her week long trek, Louisa will be photographed wearing one of the hats, saving the seventh design for the final day, that is of course if she has it knit up in time.  Her goal is to knit the last one along the way!

Louisa encourages knitters to join in this challenge, sponsoring her by knitting one of her hats or by just giving.  Patterns are available here to download with all contributions going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

 

 

Hearts of hope gracefully branch out of cables, encircling this toque with a pompom as the finishing touch.  Join fellow knitters on Ravelry for the Himalayan Hiking Hats knit-a-long.

 

A girly twist on the classic argyle tam, Louisa embellishes heart motifs with pink diamonds and a simple cabled rib.

 

A striking combo, stripes and ribs for the guys and a two-tone floral accent for the girls.  Louisa’s husband, Stephen models his Karuwa hat on the bottom left.  A year after completing chemo treatments, Stephen is back at work as Louisa’s photographer and is cheering her on to Nepal.

Follow Louisa’s trek here in November.

Its wedding season once again, and June tops the list as the most popular month of the year to tie the knot.  With flower gardens in bloom and quickly reaching their peak of perfection, setting the scene as idyllic backdrops for photography, and the heavy heat and humidity holding off until the middle of summer, this month has all the right elements for planning outdoor ceremonies.  This year over one hundred and fifty thousand nuptials are expected to take place across Canada.  For most brides, traditional events are still the preferred choice but themed and destination weddings are quickly becoming popular options as well.

Looking for bridal inspiration for a summer wedding?  From the walk down the aisle to the tossing of the bouquet, here are some dreamy designs for the bride-to-be, or the girls in the wedding party-

For the bridesmaids, a sweet little shoulder capelet trimmed in ribbon and quick enough to make a few of these in time for the big day.  Knit in Nerissa, and edged with Sari Ribbon from the Louisa Harding Collection.

 

Swaying to the music in a sensational shawl with mile-long fringes.  Crocheted in Syros, a very unique cotton/poly corded yarn from Katia in twelve glossy colour picks.

 

Arrive in style for the special celebration and enhance your outfit with a handknit clutch purse from the Dahlia Collection by Louisa Harding.  Knit in soft-to-the touch Nerissa, a cotton chenille, and shimmery Sari Ribbon.

 

Something borrowed, something blue, a luxurious capelet knit in a trio of gorgeous silk and merino yarns from British designer, Louisa Harding- Grace Wool and Silk,  Grace Hand Dyed, and Grace Hand Beaded.

 

For an evening wedding, cover up as the lights go down in this darling little shrug, from Three Graces, part of the Louisa Harding Collection.  Knit in Grace Wool and Silk, with more than thirty shades to match your dress or gown, contrasted with a picot edging in Grace Hand Beaded.

 

Dance under the stars in this swingy dress from Katia’s Elegance Collection.  Knit in Acuario, a viscose yarn ranging in colour from shiny white to inky black and fifteen more silvery shades in between.

 

Here comes the bride in an exquisite silk shrug accented with opulent glass beads, a stunning heirloom piece to pass onto future generations.  Knit in Mulberry Silk available in thirty-seven shades and trimmed with Mulberry Hand Beaded offered in ten choices, from the Louisa Harding Collection.

‘Knitting a community together, one stitch at at time’ is the mission behind International Yarn Bombing Day and World Wide Knit In Public Day, coinciding events which have become two of the largest non-profit organizations run entirely by volunteer knitters.  June 9th is the official kick-off to the events as yarn bombers get their gear together and take to the streets bringing their unique style of graffiti to public spaces, any object that can be wrapped in wool becomes a target, streetlights, statues, trees, railings, and signposts are all popular with ‘taggers.‘  Its a growing phenomenon with roots that stretch back a decade or more, as a group of knitters endeavored to give a softer more artistic edge to their own urban landscape.  Some of these knitted installations are actually commissioned by museums and community centres to bring a sense of fun, and awareness to a neighbourhood.

The week-long festivities continue with hundreds of KIPs (Knit In Public) venues set up throughout the world, to encourage knitters to socialize, and spark that passion in others.  Venues include parks, museums, book stores, coffee shops, and libraries.  Check with your LYS or this website for locations near you, pack up your knitting supplies, a bottle of water, snacks and you are ready to go!!

 

 

TOP TEN REASONS TO YARN BOMB-

1.  To bring knitters together in a social setting

2.  To relax the rigid rules of the art world

3.  To help people unwind and feel at home

4.  To add colour in grey spaces and soften the harsh edges

5.  To draw attention to a worthy cause

6.  To include all ages in the process of art

7.  To encourage a tactile experience

8.  To create a buzz in the newsworld 

9.  To create a sense of wonder, “what’s it all about?”

10.  To make people smile

 

Magda Sayek, known as the ‘mother’ of yarn bombing, has taken her captivating installations to a grand scale, with bridges, buses, and monuments covered in multicolour strips of knitting and crocheting.  There is rarely a challenge too daunting for this artist, who spends weeks at a time on one piece and has acquired commissioned work from corporate giants such as Mini Cooper, Absolut Vodka, and Smart Car.

 

Cambridge, Ontario became an instant tourist mecca as the Main Street bridge was transformed with a gigantic knitted ‘cosy’ in 2010, the brainchild of fibre artist- Sue Sturdy.  The project began in April 2009 to enlighten visitors to the long-standing textile heritage of Cambridge.  More than a thousand contributions poured in from knitters as faraway as New Zealand.

 

In March 2012, a fifty-metre stretch of knitting mysteriously appeared along the pier in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, a resort town on the north east coast of England, and clearly paid homage to the athletes participating in the London Summer Olympics.  The talented creator of this handknit sculpture wishes to remain anonymous.

 

An energetic group of bombers identified as FrivolKnitty, took the Glebe in Ottawa by storm last week armed with darning needles and yards of knitting in an effort to boost community spirits.  Their night of installation was documented in this entertaining video.

 

In the most unexpected places, a miniature yarn bomb can create an element of surprise and make a charming contrast to its natural environment.  This crocheted spider web is part of a series designed by two friends who just wanted to add artistic beauty to their neighbourhood in Victoria, BC.

 

During this past February, a dozen artists participated in a visual protest against clear-cut logging, creating a collection of handmade afghans as a ‘symbol of nurturing and warmth’ to cover the trees in Castle Special Place, Alberta.  It was a temporary exhibit set up to show support for preserving the designated wildland park.

 

With just over sixty days to go, the world’s finest athletes are in the midst of gruelling training and preparation, fuelled on by the prospect of winning gold at this summer’s London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Meanwhile, a group of talented individuals have also been fervently hard at work, pursuing their dreams with steely determination and relentless stamina, as they share a role in ’England’s Artists Taking The Lead’ a flagship project for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad showcasing twelve breathtaking public art exhibits, each one representing a region of the UK in celebration for the huge event.

Shauna Richardson, from Leicestershire, is one of the twelve gifted artists selected to participate in the Cultural Olympiad, describing herself as a ‘crochetdermist’ she works with wool and animal forms to create life-size sculptures.  As a young student at school, she learned the craft of crochet, and went on to pursue a career in fine art concentrating mainly in architectural themes.  While at University in Leicester, Shauna began to explore the theory, “that maybe anything could be art, maybe a gesture, or an empty space.”  By experimenting with realism and traditional craft she found her niche in the artistic realm and sees this occasion to showcase her work, “as a truly exciting opportunity to think big and create something spectacular that would celebrate the individual culture of our region and put us squarely on the map.”

 

The Lionheart Project was submitted to the Arts Council of England by Shauna to reflect the East Midlands textile heritage and regional significance.  The wool used for the giant sculptures is produced locally, and spun onto large cones in the Peak District from a reported one hundred and fifty sheep.  The three lions chosen for her project are featured prominently on the red crest of Richard the Lionheart who reigned as King of England from 1189 to 1199.

 

Shauna began her work on The Lionheart Project in 2009.  Each lion is sculpted out of polystyrene, and fastened over a steel skeleton measuring out to a colossal twenty-five feet.  With a 10 mm bamboo crochet hook as her tool of choice, which she states ‘is softer to grip and easier on hand strain’ Shauna works in freeform technique, crocheting in circular and oblong patches to enhance the muscular contours of the animal.  Setting her limits at six hours of crochet per day, she used buckets of ice to plunge her hands into to relieve the pain from constant repetitive hand and wrist motion.

 

The three completed lions have now taken up residence inside a fifty-two foot long custom-built, glass enclosure which presently sits in front of the Bastion Wall in Chatsworth.  On June 10th, they will embark on a tour of the East Midlands and are set to arrive at the Natural History Museum in London for the opening of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Watch Shauna at work here creating the first lion.

With all the daily advancements in technology, trying to keep up with the latest in social media, mobile devices, and apps, could it be that we are secretly pining for the past??  The tremendous popularity of the tv series, Mad Men resonates loudly in that direction and is the catalyst in creating a retro movement, back to the ‘peace and love’ generation, when life was unhurried, and full of homespun goodness.  A ‘blast from the past’, crochet is part of that era, and has been experiencing a surprising revival on the fashion runways since last Fall stealing the limelight and peeking through the veil of knitwear.  It looks like crochet is a trend that will ‘keep on keeping on.’

Fresh from the Debbie Bliss Collection for Spring, comes a superb book of crochet designs titled, Simply Crochet with eleven modern interpretations inspired by the mod era.

“This collection is my first venture into the craft of crochet and I wanted to create stylish garments that would engage the seasoned crocheters as well as knitters who, like me, had been intrigued by its possibilities but needed fairly simple patterns to begin with.”  Debbie Bliss

 

Dy-no-mite!  An off-the-shoulder sophisticated style is crocheted in a ‘barely blush’ tinge of Rialto 4.  Four new soft and romantic shades have been added to this range of luxurious merino.

Be There Or Be Square!  A mandarin style jacket is worked in petite squares, which are easily joined together as you go.  White has never looked so right in Rialto 4, the yarn of choice for this classic, a lightweight creamy merino wool available in an array of more than thirty colours.

Feelin’ Groovy!  A gracious return to the hippie chic days of Sonny and Cher with this blissful skirt crocheted in three complimentary shades of Rialto 4- col #1, #28, and #34 (shown above).

Right On!  If the thought of a project entirely in crochet is too daunting, try this stylish knitted pullover in Baby Cashmerino accented with a crocheted yoke.  Ten new shades are in stock for Spring, with col #65 (shown above).

Flower Power!  If you grew up in the seventies, this will bring back some fond memories.  The granny square was the mainstay of rec room decor, and those ‘made by mom’ homespun hats and scarves.  But this boho bag is designed with a whole new generation of crafters in mind, beginning at the centre, the granny square is worked in a continual crochet round, making it easy to alternate between colours.  Baby Cashmerino, col #54, #57, and #66 are (shown above).

Outta Sight!  Crocheted collars are back in vogue, the dressy finale to a plain outfit and very quick to whip up.  This pretty crocheted filet charmer is worked with only one ball of Rialto Lace, a brand new merino wool quality from Debbie Bliss, perfectly suited for lace projects in twenty hues.

The delicate little wallflower that has stood in the shadows of its big sister for far too long is making a surprising reappearance this Spring.  Crochet is adding a fresh and airy vibe to the world of design, as doily-like dresses and lacy tunics sashay down the runways, and home decor is revived with the homespun craftiness of bohemian styling not seen since the seventies.  This retro trend has such a strong influence, keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook page as Debbie Bliss introduces her first ever Simply Crochet collection later this month, while Vogue Knitting dusts off a few hooks with an early May release of their first all-crochet magazine in almost twenty years.

Crochet differs from knitting, in that only one stitch is active at one time, it grows incredibly quick and can easily be manipulated into a circular design or a variety of sculptural organic shapes.  Unusual textures and raised stitches are easy to create with crochet whereas regular knitting has a smooth flat appearance.

Taking it to the next level, crochet has also evolved into an art form-

 

Deborah Valoma, a textile artist from California created her stunning art exhibit, Twelve Tears, by utilizing river rocks and crocheting web-like casings in cotton.

The Crochet Chair is the brainchild of Dutch furniture designer, Marcel Wanders, branded as the ‘Lady Gaga’ of the design world by the New York Times.  In his innovative furniture collection, individual crocheted motifs are sewn together, dipped in resin, then formed over a mold until dry.

 

Copenhagen is known for its ‘green’ status as one of the world’s leading bicycle cities, and colourful crocheted fender skirts stand out like rainbows against the concrete pavement.  The above example looks a little more artistic than roadworthy, pictured on a vintage two-wheeler, but there are websites where commissioned pieces can be ordered in your choice of colours.

 

This mega size doily is actually a four foot wide rug created from heavy cotton rope, available as a special order from Ladies and Gentlemen, a craft business on Etsy.com.

Queen Anne’s Lace is a gallery installation by Brooklyn-based textile artisan, Kristen Wicklund who works entirely with clay and fibre.  Each of these exquisite handmade doilies is dipped in liquid porcelain and gently formed into sculptural shapes.