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!

Patterns, this time!

Gah, it's one of those days!

Let's try those patterns, again, shall we?

And the pretty pdf versions will be available shortly.

It's a [simple and easy] Flower!

Cast on 40 stitches, leaving a 30cm tail

Knit for 8 - 10 rows

Bind off all stitches.

Using the bind off tail and tapestry needle, do a running stitch along the bottom edge, pulling tight as you go so the fabric gathers.

Pull it all together and make a few securing stitches so it holds. Stitch the free edge to the out side of the flower. Thread both tails through the needle, make a few stitches to carry both to the base of the flower. Leave these so we can attach it to the tree. Done!

It a Leaf!

Abbreviations

CO - Cast on

K - knit

P - Purl

M1 - Using left needle, pick up stitch between needles, knit into back of new stitch using right needle

SL2, K1, P2SSO - slip 2 stitches to right needle, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch

Cast On 10 stitches

Row 1: k10, CO 9

Row 2: k19

Row 3: k1, m1, k7, (sl2, k1, p2sso), k7, m1, k1

Row 4: p19

Row 5: p9, k1, p9

Row 6: k9, p1, k9

Row 7: k1, m1, k7, (sl2, k1, p2sso), k7, m1, k1

Repeat Rows 4 - 7 two times

Row 16: p19

Row 17: p9, k1, p9

Row 18: k9, p1, k9

Row 19: k8, (sl2, k1, p2sso), k8

Repeat rows 16 - 19, each time reducing K stitches on each side of decrease by 1.

When there are only 3 stitches left:

Row 41: k3tog

Cut yarn, pull through last stitch, and weave in end. Don’t weave in the cast on tail - we need this to attach it to our tree!

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

It's a tree!

Knitsch, OutdoorKnit, Craft2.0 and the New Dowse are excited to reveal:

It's a tree!

This is a collaborative community project, which means we need you.


The idea is this:

there are a few very tall lamp posts outside the New Dowse in Lower Hutt, and OutdoorKnit decided it would be a pretty fun idea to turn them into something different...trees!

What OutdoorKnit needs is lots of knitted, crochet or even sewn flowers, leaves and native birds to cover these 'trees'. The best medium for this is acrylic - it wears better when the weather gets a bit grotty.

I've been knitting away over the past few weeks to get my pile of leaves and flowers ready. Watch this space for suggested patterns, installation dates and how to get your contribution added to the tree.

Relay for Life - Stitched Up

There is a wonderful group of crafters who are doing relay for life on Saturday 27 March at Frank Kitts park in Wellington.

They asked if I could join the team and do a knit graffiti session to support them, but unfortunately I can’t make it.

If you are able to offer any assistance - knitting, fence weaving, cheerleading, event being a participant (!) PM me and I can give you the contact details. If not, donate! Every little bit counts. There is someone quite close to my family who is currently battling breast cancer so i’m super gutted I can’t go - but also can’t be in two places at once :(

The donation details are:
Donate here
And the team is:
Stitched Up
Event: Wellington

Loving Auckland

Parnell got some loving last night from a team of people gathered together by the wonderful Knitty Graffity. They were machines - putting up 105 hearts in an hour and a half!

I've finally perfected the art of the speedy heart, while keeping with my perfectionist tendencies which dictate that the yarn must all be wound the same way. (Smidgeon obsessive compulsive.) But I had nothing on the speed demons with the fluffy yarn. Best use (only use?) for novelty yarn ever.

We had a great time down there despite the threat (and sprinkling!) of rain. The live music from the bar across the road was awesome and so were the drunk people that wandered out to join in! haha

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

More pics on flickr and on Knitty Graffity's blog.

When do we stop?

First up - CNN! Been meaning to post this for ages, but here it is. Go stiX and the heart fence!

now the thoughtful bit-

Of late i've struggled with whether or not to continue with knit graffiti.

My concept of what knit graffiti is, and why I do it, is pretty strong. I want to challenge, inspire, and do the unexpected. Not only have I not felt that i've been achieving this of late, but the amount of 'knit graffiti' has jumped dramatically.

So I had a conversation with my mother (as you do) about why and how and if. We considered the definition of what I call 'knit graffiti' with 'knit tags'. There are the pieces that are put up because they look pretty, and those that are saying something. The knitted squares that go on trees because it is 'fun', and the carefully considered statement pieces put up to prove that craft can be art.

On the third hand, there are the 'installations' - crafted tags attached with the blessing of an authority, be it in public or in a gallery.

Personally I want to progress OutdoorKnit to keep saying stuff, but say it differently, to continue to find new and different ways to stand up for craft and feminism and thought-provoking public art. Having decided this, I was happy to continue, albeit quietly for the time being.

This week friend in Ireland sent me the link to the video below. I watched it, rolled my eyes and went back to those original thoughts. You can't get more mass media than Vodafone, really.

What's the point if it is mainstream and no longer seen as subversive? And then I thought of Banksy, and even the Wellington graffiti crew who continue to inspire despite the fact graffiti is seen more and more as 'mainstream'. They keep going, so, dammit, will I. But my work will be more considered and carefully crafted. And i'm going to keep saying stuff.

Who's with me?