Warm cuddles for Petone

We had loads of fun on Saturday! If you came here via the Dom Post, we didn't do the tripod leg warmers (very cool though) and they have their dates wrong - we've already been out knit tagging.

Most of what we put up on Saturday is still there, so you can always follow the knit graffiti from the bus stop outside ANZ on Jackson St down to Holland Road Yarn Company :D

Wellywood - or wouldn't

Well, latest word on the street is that Wellington Airport is pulling back on the idea of the 'Wellywood' sign, and are putting together a panel to decide the best way forward.

There is a plot afoot in OutdoorKnit towers to put together our own idea of what should go on the hill - and all will be revealed at Handmade on Sunday.

Want to take part? You can join us for free if you are taking a Handmade class over the weekend, or a teeny wee $5 will get you into the knit lounge if that is your thing. But you should check out the classes - there is a crazy huge range to choose from and i'm sure it will be a blast.

If you'd like to be prepared, we are after second hand knit or crochet blankets to form the base of our installation - so hunt through your wardrobes, garages, laundry cupboards and op shops and join us for some fun!

Oh and if you like knitty secrets, Knitsch has just opened up her secret yarn club!

Fuzz, Felt & Fur

Warm fuzzies - Civic Square, Wellington

T

'How are you feeling' - outside the Hutt City Library

The New Dowse has a new touchy-feely exhibition on, aptly named Fuzz, Felt and Fur. Which of course lent itself perfectly to a spot of knit graffiti.

Taranki ahoy!

Cherie and I had a wonderful time up in the 'naki for the weekend. It was such an honour to be asked to take a workshop at the Govett-Brewster - one of NZ's best contemporary art galleries.

I'll leave the pictures to say all the words! And a big thanks to the G-V, and the freaking awesome Belt Road Holiday Park we stayed at. Their motel cabins are simply gorgeous - we honestly didn't want to leave!

Friday Love

pic thanks to Greer

It's a glorious Wellington Friday, and what better day than to say awww, thanks!

Apparently 'You are doing ok' has been taken down - but I want to resurrect it. I'll need a crew to get up though - anyone keen?

It's a tree! The prize draw done!

Hooray! We have two winners for the It's a Tree super amazing awesome prize draw!

Catherine M

wins a three month subscription to the Flights of Fancy Yarn Club

and

Tracy

(you know who you are :D) - wins 2 skeins of sock yarn and 2 of 12 ply.

With over 500 contributions I was biting my nails a bit to see who was going to win - and at the last minute decided to do a second chance draw as well - although if I had my way everyone would get something. But the random number generator turned up 158 and 427 (you'll have to believe me - the screen shot doesn't work on this laptop).

Super Duper excited that stiX will be in Wellington this weekend for a Top Secret Project. Hopefully I can drag her out to the Dowse and have a session adding more leaves and things to the trees. Hooray!

It's a tree! The prize draw extended

Hello!

The 12th of June has been and gone - are you waiting with baited breath to know who has won the Super Amazing Awesome prize draw?

So am I!

As contributions were still being received on Saturday, it was decided to continue taking crafty bits for the trees until Tuesday, 22 June. So you still have time! Keep knitting, keep sending things in, and be in to win a subscription to the Flights of Fancy Yarn Club from Knitsch Yarns.

Hooray!

Finally, the LEDs all lit up

Watering the Tree

Despite all this torrential rain, the Trees are standing strong! Just goes to show how well knitting stands up to the elements :D

On Sunday a few wonderful people came along to a knitting session at the New Dowse and helped add more beautiful flora to the trees.

This coming Sunday, the 30th, we'll be there again from 1pm, and hopefully without the rain so we can add to our hearts' content...

The super secret amazing prize reveal!

You know that super secret amazing prize that keeps being mentioned? The one where you get an entry for every leaf or flower or thing that is made for the tree?

It is...........dum dum dummmmmmmmm

A free subscription to the Knitsch Yarns Flights of Fancy Yarn Club!

Woohoo! That's over $100 dollars worth of yarn goodness that could be yours, arriving in your mail box every month for three whole months!

Knitsch will also throw in 2 skeins of 12 ply, a new weight to be released at Craft2.0 on June 12.

Are you excited yet?! Snuggle up in front of the fire (or heater), grab your yarn, and get knitting!

Need a hand? In Wellington? Don't forget I'll be at the New Dowse Sunday 23 and 30 May, 1pm - 3pm, knitting, giving tips, and providing yarn and needles for anyone who wants to have a go.

Yay!

LEDs at the Late Lounge!

In collaboration with Amber over at Smart Crafting, we're doing something special to the tree!

On Thursday 3 June is the New Dowse's regular Late Lounge, with music, gallery tours and a good glass of vino. This round they have they amazing Good Laika playing...

And us! I'll be there with Amber and some other crafty friends turning one of the trees into a glowing wonderland using the amazing (and amazingly easy) technology of soft electronics.

The install will start about 7pm, so it will be good and dark, and then we shall knit and hang out in the Lounge area, giving tips and sharing knitty tricks.

Come along to learn a thing or two about LEDs, knitting, and hear some great kiwi music. It'll be fun, yo.

The Hutt News came along and took some photos when the tree was just getting started last week, and this week, the Tree (and Me) made it in for the second week in a row!

The article mentions that I'll be at the New Dowse on 23 and 30 May from 1pm - 3pm giving tips, knitting. chatting, drinking coffee and adding to the tree...come along! (Have I mentioned this before? I think so...)

Oh and don't forget, every item posted in gets an entry into the Knitsch Yarns super amazing prize draw! I've been getting lots of parcels with exciting bits in them all week - can't wait to put them up!

xx

Living, growing, breathing...

It took six hours, but It's a Tree! is now up and growing. Thanks so much to everyone who turned up - and the contributions so far. We still need more - I want both trees to live up to their woolly leafy potential - so keep them coming :D

It's a tree! T- minus 18 hours or something like that

The plan was to have some pretty photos of the most recent contributions to it's a tree, but my camera battery died. Boo.

So here's just one:

Many thanks to Laura who always goes above, beyond and blows away with her enthusiasm, and to Odette, for her flowers. And yep, that's tree bark! Well, of the knitted kind.

I went to the Dowse this morning to find more people had dropped off leaves (let me know who you are so you can go in the prize draw!) and oversee the preparation of the poles for tomorrow. It's going to be fantabulous.

Right, better get back to the knitting. xx

Crochet Flower And Leaf Patterns

For those who have been patiently waiting for patterns to crochet flowers and leaves for the It's a Tree project, apologies for keeping you waiting!

The best place I suggest you pop over to is the Slip project, where they have some great suggested patterns.

Even more exciting, is I have the Slip project! It will be installed at the New Dowse reception desk on Wednesday, 12 May, around the same time as It's a Tree! goes live.

I've been knitting my heart out all weekend making leaves and other bits and pieces for the tree. My 11 year old brother is going to make a needle felted creature, and there are photos popping up all over Ravelry of clever creations for the installation.

I can't wait!

xx

One week to go!

Only one week until the first installation session of It's a Tree - how are those leaves and flowers coming on?

I have a basketful here already, and today received a surprise in the post - sweet wee crochet flowers.

There will be need for helpers on Wednesday morning at the New Dowse - if you're interested in coming along, flick me an email on tash (at) knitschyarns (dot) com

It's a tree! The PRIZE!

With a fizz and a pop a couple nights ago, I was thinking about it's a tree. It happens a lot.

And with that thinking, I wondered, what else could Knitsch contribute to the project to make it a bit more exciting? (As if it isn't already! What is it going to look like with all the random contributions??)

How about a prize?

An awesome, amazing, but as yet Secret Prize?

How about, every time you contribute an item to It's a tree, you gain an entry to the Secret Prize draw?

Aaand it's done!

Knitsch Yarns is donating a super fabulous amazing Secret Prize to one lucky winner. The prize draw will happen LIVE at Craft2.0 on 12 June, at the New Dowse in Lower Hutt. Each item contributed will gain the crafter one entry into the draw.

yay!

It's a tree! The Felt Tui

Here's a simple easy to make tui for a tree, many thanks to Sue of Craft2.0 and Supervery...

You don't need to be very experienced to make your own tui, Just the ability to cut felt and sew a simple running stitch.

Plus because the tui is black and lives high up in a tree your sewing doesn't need to be very good because nobody can see your mistakes.

As you can see from the photos my sewing skills are not the best, but at the end of the day it's going to look great on a tree.

Step one: Gather everything you need

- black felt

- white felt

- scissors

- thread

- need

- pins

- stuffing

- pattern (this is a pdf so you can print it off and get stitching!)

1. Cut 2 tui shapes in black and 2 circles in white

2. Sew together the 2 circles

3. Sew together the tui leaving a gap

4. Stuff your tui

5. Sew up the rest of your tui

6. Sew on your white circle around the tui's neck

Now while i've used felt and hand-sewing, there are so many other ways to make a Tui, also i bet other patterns, so have a go make this Tui, or try a Tui with your own twist.

Or maybe a tui isn't your style? don't worry we've got patterns coming for fantails an pukeko's d

or even better why not surprise us with your idea for at native bird or animal that could live in our tree..

Leaves and leaves

Sitting at my desk watching the leaves fall from the trees in the backyard, I couldn't resist getting the camera out. I have a bunch of leaves and flowers ready to go for it's a tree already, and thought they'd make a nice soft contract for the crisp dry leaves on the ground.

Hopefully with your help there will soon be a pile of knitted leave as big as the pile of dry ones - now won't that be a cool photo!

It's a tree! The Patterns

Soo...

here are the sample patterns for it's a tree!

These really are a guideline only, feel free to get a bit crazy. There is no specified yarn type or needle size - for good reason. Do what you will. Have fun!

Finished samples can be posted to:

It's a Tree!

c/- Knitsch Yarns

PO Box 45 091

Waterloo

Lower Hutt 5042