tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13407369733218722312024-03-13T02:24:08.172+00:00outcastalabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-44995589700411131662010-09-06T09:51:00.002+01:002010-09-06T09:51:53.168+01:00new websiteWe're making a shiny new website over <a href="http://theoutcasts.co.uk/">here</a> - come and visit for a cuppa : )<br /><br />http://theoutcasts.co.uk/alabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-68584081444828811262010-06-08T10:41:00.001+01:002010-06-08T10:42:53.415+01:00Outside:Inside Festival - call for submissionshttp://www.outsideinsidefestival.com<br />The Outside:Inside Festival is a month long celebration of the arts. Music, Film, Art, Theatre and Dance are all showcased throughout the festival period amongst the festivals inside and outside spaces.<br />The Concept? Simple. The Outside:Inside takes the inside art institutions outside for the general public like yourself to enjoy out on the streets, and open spaces; whilst the outside festival vibe is taken inside, into the venues and into the shops, the restaurants, bars and quite possibly some pretty unusual places too, but you will have to keep your eyes peeled for that.<br /><br />Performers will be descending on Reading from around the globe, with acts representing many great nations including Israel, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Canada, the USA, and even Transylvania, Romania. These top global acts will bring a wealth of differing global styles with them, interacting with the huge amount of local talent whic will be drawn to the festival.<br />Interaction is the key, build an art installation, stroll the art market stalls, chooe from a worldwide array of food, ponder the outside art, sing along to the bands on stage, take a moment to reflect on the poetry and spoken word, be suprised by the random improvised theatre, foot-tap to a bit of Jazz or getting down and dirty at one of our inside venues afterparties or headline shows alongside the festival profile bands, big name DJs, and organisers till the wee hours.<br /><br />The Mission:<br />The Outside:Inside Festival is brought to you by Outside Inside LTD with the support of Reading UK CIC.<br />Their joint aim. To provide Reading with a new more vibrant and celebrated culture, whilst providing a voice to the wealth of artistic talent and young enterprise in the Thames Valley area.<br />The festival is for you. The people of Reading, the familys, the shop workers, the shop owners, the bartenders, the professional, the young, and the old. This is why we have made all outside space free. It won't cost you a penny to come along and interact.<br /><br />The Art Bits:<br />Submissions/ proposals are invited to use the following spaces at the following times. Please send all proposals to suzanne@jelly.org.uk. All submissions must be received by 28 June 2010<br /><br />31st July<br />Behind BSM/ Civic Office area/ Dusseldorf Way, Clomnel Walk area<br />12-8pm( or hours in between them)<br /><br />14th August<br />Market Place<br />-Through Bristol & West Walk, outside either ends of the space<br />12-8 ( or hours in between them)<br /><br /><br />21st August<br />Forbury Gardens<br />-Any area really - <br />12-8 ( or hours in between them)<br /><br />looking forward too hearing from you!<br /><br /><br />Suzanne Stallard<br />Director<br /><br />e suzanne@jelly.org.uk<br />website http://jelly.org.uk<br /><br /><br />jelly is an arts organisation in the heart of Reading. Established in 1993 as an artist led studio and exhibition facility, jelly is a registered charity limited by guarantee 1100730, running exhibitions, educational activities, special arts events with the visual arts and creative excellence being top of our agenda.<br /><br />jelly’s charitable objectives are:<br /><br />• To promote the development of the arts and in particular the visual arts for the benefit of the local community by providing studio space and facilities for public exhibitions and by organising events which improve public access to the arts<br /><br />• To advance education by promoting understanding and learning about the creative processes involved in the visual artsalabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-43417553031746361982010-05-17T22:24:00.004+01:002010-05-17T22:50:44.732+01:00Creating Together<div><div>Since the Knit A Poem letters and our Outcast banner we've worked together on two secret projects.</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pSnaUbSN6P8/S_G1ah1WfpI/AAAAAAAAADI/CSBDt-GUccU/s1600/emma%27s+mitts.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pSnaUbSN6P8/S_G1ah1WfpI/AAAAAAAAADI/CSBDt-GUccU/s200/emma%27s+mitts.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472354489595231890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a>Emma's birthday mitts, an Outcast project for a special birthday.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pSnaUbSN6P8/S_G2h7994FI/AAAAAAAAADQ/0d5utkPl0jM/s1600/sqblanket7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pSnaUbSN6P8/S_G2h7994FI/AAAAAAAAADQ/0d5utkPl0jM/s200/sqblanket7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472355716381401170" /></a>The Skein Queen Hug Blanket, which the Outcasts contributed to along with other fans/friends of Skein Queen. Blogged about <a href="http://www.skeinqueen.co.uk/blog/?p=1695">here</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Group projects are always fun but there's something extra special about these secret projects. The knitters conspire and strategise to combine their efforts into something greater than what the individual would achieve. The finished objects end up with such fantastic stories of their creation. </div>BomBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973474697235419327noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-62569311712030426162010-02-09T23:25:00.000+00:002010-02-09T23:27:14.246+00:00Give fleece a chance<ahref="<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n1Nfa4I-DMs&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n1Nfa4I-DMs&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>"></a>Knitwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08616828001386371311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-11504911635128608362010-01-26T19:19:00.002+00:002010-01-26T19:23:21.228+00:00Belated Happy New Knitty YearOutcast are still knitting away and meeting each week. Just been a bit quiet on the blog. To kick off the new year - have a look at this animation "Life Behind the Scenes" by David Shrigley for Pringle. Hope it makes you smile.
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<br /><ahref="<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OoiW5-uA3_E&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OoiW5-uA3_E&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>"></a>Knitwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08616828001386371311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-27454680076406105662009-10-23T17:02:00.005+01:002009-10-23T19:17:23.093+01:00Outcasts Banner PatternIt's been a busy Autumn so far for us at Outcasts HQ and our knitting-in-public appearances at IKnit Weekender in London, and LMEYD in Reading, presented the perfect opportunity to finally knit an 'Outcasts!' banner - after all, there's nothing like a deadline or two!<br /><br /><div>Knitted bunting was our favoured style of banner so after drawing up lettering charts we started on the stash. Exposing our inner yarn snobs to the suitcase of banished acrylics in the corner proved extremely painful for some but resulted in remarkably <em>quick</em> knitting! and a very effective banner. The real gain for us though was the sheer fun of creating something together.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395857186621036098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bznOrWgq0Q4/SuHvhdNJFkI/AAAAAAAAAGk/PngTLT-8xl4/s400/outcasts+banner.jpg" border="0" />A free pattern and blank chart for your own personal use is available to download <a href="http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/2572153/Outcasts%20Banner.pdf">here</a>. We'd love to see what you create with it so drop us a post here or on our Ravelry pattern page <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/outcast-banner">here</a>.KURLYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416039733326403148noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-56034419924463572542009-08-31T22:44:00.006+01:002009-09-01T07:44:36.419+01:00Knit a Poem<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rL6ey5D4LbY/SpxE3Ahbo8I/AAAAAAAAABA/L-7Wd6Qprb0/s1600-h/mosaic67ffc788e71d0b49adb665e2470c3054e93f3e9b_edited.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rL6ey5D4LbY/SpxE3Ahbo8I/AAAAAAAAABA/L-7Wd6Qprb0/s320/mosaic67ffc788e71d0b49adb665e2470c3054e93f3e9b_edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376247766997246914" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/knit/">The Poetry Society</a> celebrates it's Centinary this year and part of the celebrations include the world's first giant knitted poem.<br /><br />Over 700 knitters from around the world are getting involved by knitting letters and blank squares in readiness for the grand unveiling of the top secret poem in October.<br /><br />Outcast have been knitting squares and we're proud to announce that next<br />Wednesday 9th September will be a special 'Knit Togther' night of sewing some of these squares plus some extras to take up with us to Iknit. The squares will be cerimoniously handed over to the lovely Poetry Society who have a stand at the event.<br /><br />Join us for some poetry related knitting and sewing up, a cup of tea and slice of cake at Jelly in Reading from 7pm next Wednesday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-46321090005738514052009-08-21T20:04:00.002+01:002009-08-21T20:13:13.184+01:00Wearable Cupcakes<div style="text-align: left;">I'm so excited by Mika's flamboyant knitware in his new music video. I just want to show everyone shouting 'Wow -look at this! Isn't it the coolest thing ever!' I think non-knitters might be a bit confused by my enthusiasm -but hopefully you'll understand!</div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pSnaUbSN6P8/So7xj6tA5FI/AAAAAAAAADA/EPcaPt3YoP4/s200/Mika+Cupcake.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372497004855354450" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:-webkit-monospace;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div>BomBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973474697235419327noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-37462879330729091402009-07-19T09:57:00.004+01:002009-07-19T10:32:07.906+01:001st Wedding Anniversary<div style="text-align: left;">I'm still overwhelmed by the amazing Outcast talent that made my wedding day feel so special -Thank you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pSnaUbSN6P8/SmLkz2Sm8YI/AAAAAAAAACw/c8L3wJHqoM8/s200/P1020588.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360098085922337154" /><br /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pSnaUbSN6P8/SmLlChKqnPI/AAAAAAAAAC4/TP6YP8F23aE/s200/P1020391.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360098337949916402" /><div style="text-align: center;">Fabulous Flowers, Lively Music, Handknitted Accessories, Beautiful Bunting and Delicious Cake</div>BomBellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00973474697235419327noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-47962712614029461362009-07-04T14:37:00.002+01:002009-07-04T14:42:39.359+01:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://platformtworca.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/wind-knitting-facotry-logo.jpg?w=400&h=270"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="http://platformtworca.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/wind-knitting-facotry-logo.jpg?w=400&h=270" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.merelkarhof.nl/merel%20karhof/Blog%20merelkarhof/234C1792-CA2E-44F5-9A49-0B9669A9E4DD.html">Wind powered</a> <a href="http://platformtworca.wordpress.com/introduction/free-powers/">knitting</a>. <span style="font-size:78%;">via <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/82949/Wind-powered-knitting">MeFi</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-52607594711589191612009-07-03T06:48:00.002+01:002009-07-03T06:52:27.322+01:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Moe5dF4IPUo/Sk2b-h2hkHI/AAAAAAAAADY/ux3YJ7rEHjc/s1600-h/mosaic1bf1aa7d63d825a37a02e80a403e40bf5be82b42.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354107030554644594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Moe5dF4IPUo/Sk2b-h2hkHI/AAAAAAAAADY/ux3YJ7rEHjc/s320/mosaic1bf1aa7d63d825a37a02e80a403e40bf5be82b42.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><strong>Happy Birthday</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Alabamawhirly!</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong>Amazing knitter, purveyor of scrumptious cakes, </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>generous entertainer, formidable artist </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>and above all dearest friend. </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>From all of us Outcasts</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><div align="center"></div>wildfennelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587949091770262514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-39640248413805049162009-06-22T21:48:00.003+01:002009-06-22T22:14:27.018+01:00The formidable world of Justine Holt<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Moe5dF4IPUo/Sj_uUuC5VWI/AAAAAAAAADI/w7MefdtT3D8/s1600-h/justine+mosaic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350256922064409954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Moe5dF4IPUo/Sj_uUuC5VWI/AAAAAAAAADI/w7MefdtT3D8/s320/justine+mosaic.jpg" border="0" /></a> One Sunday morning just before noon on the first day of summer, Alabamawhirly, Melarno, the formidable twins an I found ourselves eating strawberries and amaretti biscuits in the garden of the artist Justine Holt. Justine lives in a beautiful cottage in Pangbourne where she makes delicate beautiful paintings on blank gesso and exquisite pieces of sewing, stitching and embroidery. She shared a view into her world with warmth and generosity, into her studio which is filled with light, art work, books, fabrics, and pieces of crockery all arranged like a memory trail on a canvas painted in Farrow & Ball. The studio and cottage are surrounded by a magical garden where old tools have found a resting nest and an empty bottle of what used to be a Neal's Yard concoction is now used as a lighthouse for the fairies who gather to drink tea from the lettuce leaves, wearing knitted knee-high socks and ribbons that they've just purchased at Liberty's while they were looking for summer hats. And for those of us who are not fairies and were not amazingly lucky to view her work in person, Justine's art is available on<br /><a href="http://www.justineholt.co.uk/">http://www.justineholt.co.uk/</a>wildfennelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587949091770262514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-18462574872367669982009-06-13T15:17:00.002+01:002009-06-13T23:59:51.492+01:00WWKIP WeekendsIt's World Wide Knit In Public Weekend<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SjO1UvIV2SI/AAAAAAAAA6E/x4hRoL15-R8/s1600-h/3576433651_0e43f7d2b8_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346816550472374562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SjO1UvIV2SI/AAAAAAAAA6E/x4hRoL15-R8/s400/3576433651_0e43f7d2b8_b.jpg" border="0" /></a> Join us for some yarn bombing, knitting in public and eating cake from 12.30 pm on Sunday 14th June in Caversham in the park by the river near the kids playground. Maybe it won't be too wet to sit on the grass and knit some fuzzy wings for the bees, little summer skirts for the butterflies, evening cosies for the railings and fluffy scarves for the trees, and have a knitted knatter until dusk.alabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-83392447819269506992009-05-29T20:33:00.002+01:002009-05-29T20:41:30.084+01:00SHOW TWO at the Royal College of Art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.rca.ac.uk/UploadedImages/J0509_RCA_Henry_walkingcropped.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 505px;" src="http://www.rca.ac.uk/UploadedImages/J0509_RCA_Henry_walkingcropped.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Date for your diary for the forthcoming MA textile graduate exhibition - Open from 26 June – 5 July (closed 3 July). Open 10am to 6pm daily.<br /><br />The event will also showcase work from Animation, Architecture, Communication Art & Design, Conservation, Critical and Historical Studies, Design Products, Design Interactions, Fashion Footwear and Accessories, History of Design, Industrial Design Engineering and Vehicle Design.Knitwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08616828001386371311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-67945648269360640452009-05-20T13:10:00.002+01:002009-05-20T13:18:57.191+01:00We should do this<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/ShP0FXbBlMI/AAAAAAAAA58/ZadzQrv5qXw/s1600-h/7544.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/ShP0FXbBlMI/AAAAAAAAA58/ZadzQrv5qXw/s400/7544.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337878356388058306" /></a><br />Words and knitting, we should especially do it as justbefore this someone was telling me poem about knitting by Adrian Mitchell, they were relaying it over the phone so this is meant to be.<br /><br />I've sent of for a pack so we should be on course...<br /><br />Knit a Poem <br /><br />Celebrate the Poetry Society's centenary, by helping to create the world's first giant knitted poem.<br /><br /><br />Knitters everywhere are invited to knit a poem one letter at a time. The final poem, in all its knitted glory will be revealed at the end of the centenary year.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Packs will be available at the beginning of May, featuring knitting templates, and instructions. There will be opportunities for experienced knitters and beginners alike. <br /><br />To register your interest, send your contact details to:<br /> <br />Rebecka Mustajarvi<br /><br />Email: officeassistant AT poetrysociety.org.uk <br />(please use @ instead of AT when sending your email).<br /><br />Or (if you don't have email)<br /><br />Post: PLEASE INCLUDE AN SAE<br /><br />Rebecka Mustajarvi<br />Knit a Poem<br />The Poetry Society<br />22 Betterton Street<br />London<br />WC2H 9BXalabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-34972163253441296382009-05-14T18:32:00.019+01:002009-05-14T20:30:51.335+01:00Back to backSeen as part of Stroud textiles festival – an attempt to knit a man’s sweater, from sheep’s back to man’s back, in a day. It was part of the international Back to Back Challenge, an annual competition where teams from all over the world hand-shear a sheep, and attempt to spin and knit the sweater faster than any other team.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h9cHLexo6MM/Sgxtaibug_I/AAAAAAAAAKM/HgozHrmJXSI/s1600-h/sheep.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;;width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h9cHLexo6MM/Sgxtaibug_I/AAAAAAAAAKM/HgozHrmJXSI/s320/sheep.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335759961214321650" /></a><br /><br />There were two sheep to be sheared [each accompanied by young lambs who presumably couldn’t be left behind]. They were from a flock of organic Lleyns, lent from Highgrove. And to fit in with the competition rules they had to have been reared entirely outside. The shearer chose one with a dense fleece and one with looser, so that the spinners could choose. I think they went for the denser one as being easier to spin quickly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h9cHLexo6MM/SgxtpjiOHmI/AAAAAAAAAKU/gumF1nyQZgc/s1600-h/spinner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h9cHLexo6MM/SgxtpjiOHmI/AAAAAAAAAKU/gumF1nyQZgc/s320/spinner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335760219208031842" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h9cHLexo6MM/Sgxt3LYcH-I/AAAAAAAAAKc/cTHBOq646BM/s1600-h/2+ladies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h9cHLexo6MM/Sgxt3LYcH-I/AAAAAAAAAKc/cTHBOq646BM/s320/2+ladies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335760453242724322" /></a><br /><br />The team was made up of seven ladies, not counting the shearer, and they were all able to spin and to knit, and so could swop jobs during the day. All participating teams had to follow a fixed sweater pattern, and the finished woolly would be inspected for dropped stitches and deviations from the pattern, which would mean being disqualified.<br /><br />At nine o’clock sharp, the shearer started. And at seven minutes past nine, there was enough wool spun for the first knitter to cast on. The sheep was looking pretty ragged – not a neat job at all, but super-fast. And then all day, in a gazebo on the lawn outside the Museum in the Park, the seven ladies took turns to spin and to knit. The wool was coarse and unwashed, and so scratchy and hard to work with. A friendly masseur spent the afternoon rubbing their aching shoulders and arms.<br /><br />In 2008, the winning team was from Toronto and finished their sweater in five hours, 55 minutes and 50 seconds. The Stroud team wouldn’t have beaten this as they were still at work at 4.30 when I left, but they were hoping to be done by early evening. The finished sweater is being silent-auctioned to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support charity.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h9cHLexo6MM/SgxuCl8rx4I/AAAAAAAAAKk/QMzTuyDWV7g/s1600-h/knitted.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h9cHLexo6MM/SgxuCl8rx4I/AAAAAAAAAKk/QMzTuyDWV7g/s320/knitted.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335760649352628098" /></a>sueclarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11897820814596897029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-4761872127999980542009-05-13T12:49:00.003+01:002009-05-13T12:55:17.950+01:00famous people and knit nightYou know that <a href="http://emmabradbury.co.uk">emma</a> is a knit superstar, Kevin McCloud stroking her cosy and all that, well now <a href="http://skeinqueen.co.uk">skein queen</a> is having a trunk show all to herself this weekend at <a href="http://www.socktopus.co.uk/">socktopus</a> from 12-5pm. Just drool over that yarn....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/Sgq0PouwheI/AAAAAAAAA5E/KLCTNRzSlzE/s1600-h/socktopus.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/Sgq0PouwheI/AAAAAAAAA5E/KLCTNRzSlzE/s400/socktopus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335274889298347490" /></a><br /><br />If anything is left (LOL!) then the queen will bring some for us outcasts to look at next Wednesday.<br /><br />In the meantime, knit night is on tonight, without yarn to drool over from Skein Queen, from 7-9.30 at jelly workshops, Old Town Hall - everyone is welcomealabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-72958961293200640762009-04-28T19:30:00.002+01:002009-04-28T19:35:49.359+01:00being inspired<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SfdLZFcZ2bI/AAAAAAAAA48/1gpA6fAlFWw/s1600-h/_45700007_mersham4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SfdLZFcZ2bI/AAAAAAAAA48/1gpA6fAlFWw/s400/_45700007_mersham4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329811578346396082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SfdLY4dYfmI/AAAAAAAAA40/A1aDRszfn3k/s1600-h/_45700006_mersham2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SfdLY4dYfmI/AAAAAAAAA40/A1aDRszfn3k/s400/_45700006_mersham2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329811574860840546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SfdLY7gYwmI/AAAAAAAAA4s/COnIslhmmbM/s1600-h/_45699953_mersham3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SfdLY7gYwmI/AAAAAAAAA4s/COnIslhmmbM/s400/_45699953_mersham3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329811575678747234" /></a><br />This little village has been in the news this week.<br /><br />It reminds me of somewhere I used to go to as a child, <a href="http://www.bekonscot.com/">Bekonscot</a>, which I loved. This may be even better as it is knitted! The village of Mersham in Kent was created by 40 knitters over a 23 year period. The work will be sold off piece by piece to raise money for the village hall.<br /><br />More info available <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5210192/Model-village-is-made-entirely-of-wool.html">here</a>alabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-5078259540570525182009-04-21T19:39:00.003+01:002009-04-21T20:29:20.105+01:00Vicunas - FIBRE FACTS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.vicunas.com/Vrunning.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 700px; height: 468px;" src="http://www.vicunas.com/Vrunning.jpg" border="0" alt="" />Image from www.vicunas.com</a><br /><br />You think Alpacas are cute - have a look at these fellas - if you don't know already these are called Vicunas. Closely related to Alpacas, Vicunas have a fine soft hair which is celebrated for its insulation properties. It is said that Vicuna yarn is the finest and luxurious natural wool in the world.<br /><br />Vicunas are wild animals and unlike the Alpaca they are too shy to domesticate. A Vicuna can only produce a small amount of yarn each year and capturing the wild animals to obtain the fibre can be a little tricky. Peruvian communities join together to capture the animals by forming a large circle around them, banging the ground to stun them and slowing closing in on them or luring them into traps. Once sheared the animals are released unharmed but due to this time consuming and potentially stressful event for the Vicuna, the animals are only sheared every 3 to 4 years. You may be disappointed to hear that you won't be able to get this yarn at your local John Lewis. As you've probably already guessed this yarn is very expensive. Vicuna fabrics can range from £1000 to £3000 per sq yard.Knitwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08616828001386371311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-2601540707633607462009-04-15T10:08:00.004+01:002009-04-15T10:58:43.293+01:00Join the Slow Art and Craft Revolution<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://makingaslowrevolution.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/slow7.jpg?w=425&h=308"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 425px; height: 308px;" src="http://makingaslowrevolution.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/slow7.jpg?w=425&h=308" border="0" alt="" />http://makingaslowrevolution.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br />It's time to slow down - so say the people behind the 'taking time: Craft and the Slow Revolution' project at the Southbank Centre (27th April). They say 'the revival of craft is central to current arts practice, and notions of slowness are epitomised by crafts and craftsmanship.' I must say...I agree with them. There is nothing better after a hetic day than sitting quietly with your knitting with a freshly brewed pot of tea and reflecting on your day. Knitting and making a good cup of tea are crafts which cannot be rushed. They take time. <br /><br />The 'Slow revolution' project questions whether our 'fast paced', 'mass produced', 'wasteful' lifestyles are good for the human condition. If we just slowed down could we create a better world for ourselves? I'm willing to give it a go!<br /><br />At the <a href="http://slowdownlondon.co.uk/2009/slow-down-southbankstyle/">Southbank Centre</a> in London they hosting a series of events entitled 'Slow Down London - living in real time festival' from the 24th April to the 4th May. The events include a <a href="http://slowdownlondon.co.uk/2008/slow-food-market/">Slow Food Market</a> and tips on <a href="http://slowdownlondon.co.uk/2008/slow-travel/">Slow Travel</a>.<br /><br />With thanks to IanT for sharing this event with me.Knitwithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08616828001386371311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-33460735083163986392009-04-12T15:45:00.003+01:002009-04-12T16:04:15.963+01:00The birth of Grumpo<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Moe5dF4IPUo/SeH-00WWhUI/AAAAAAAAADA/JfpZJuPVlfk/s1600-h/mosaic8548497.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323816417887683906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Moe5dF4IPUo/SeH-00WWhUI/AAAAAAAAADA/JfpZJuPVlfk/s320/mosaic8548497.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong> Grumpo arrived on Easter Eve. First there was his foot then his hat sat on his head and the boy was made. He looked at his mum then moved his black eyes around and went on a merry-go-round in his new home. I think he liked what he saw but he could not show it because his mum made him look cross permanently, which made him very grumpy from the start. But in his heart of hearts he knew he was happy because he was wearing a bubble cardi to make him handsome and a yellow scarf to make him warm and a half-waistcoat to make him fancy and maybe, one day, his mum might stitch a smile on him just for special occasions. At that point Grumpo knew he was ready to take the world.</strong> <div></div>wildfennelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587949091770262514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-2941023232847743042009-04-08T10:46:00.004+01:002009-04-08T11:09:45.367+01:00three good thingsThere are many good things but here are three things that may delight you<br /><br />1.Knitwit aka <a href="http://emmabradbury.com/">Emma Bradbury</a> is in the Grand Designs magazine - she is becoming more and more famous, will she no longer be an outcast?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SdxyvP6pXNI/AAAAAAAAA4k/iV0xLH4nNUc/s1600-h/3418605918_07d6f1e96d_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/SdxyvP6pXNI/AAAAAAAAA4k/iV0xLH4nNUc/s400/3418605918_07d6f1e96d_b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322255015697013970" /></a><br /><br />2. This article <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/08/italy-earthquake-survivor-crochet">here</a> about the tenacity of Italians and doing something whilst you are waiting to be rescued. Within the terrible news of loss of life, there is this wonderful story. There was much scurrying of emails between the Outcasts and one of them said <span style="font-style:italic;">I was telling the girls a few weeks ago that I'd head for jelly with my knitting bag in a time of crisis</span><br /><br />3. Look <a href="http://www.bugknits.com/">here</a> at something amazing <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VT5MFdAB7fI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VT5MFdAB7fI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>alabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-27665804805353081362009-03-30T20:31:00.005+01:002009-03-30T21:12:55.912+01:00The Mystery of the Giant Pink Rabbit<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Moe5dF4IPUo/SdEjd40H7FI/AAAAAAAAAC4/nqoCVns9XS4/s1600-h/2007_0384.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319071631275453522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Moe5dF4IPUo/SdEjd40H7FI/AAAAAAAAAC4/nqoCVns9XS4/s200/2007_0384.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A giant pink rabbit lies on a mountain at the foot of the Italian Alps. It lies there like a toy left behind by a child, with its eyes and mouth wide open in disbelief at how quickly it was replaced and forgotten. But the bunny was not discarded nor forgotten, it was made to be cherished and remembered. Its makers, the Gelitin Viennese art collective, placed it on the 5,000ft hill in 2005 after five years of intensive knitting to look as 'if knitted by giant grandmothers'. The creature is 200ft-long and was made with a soft waterproof material and stuffed with straw. It will stay on its back on the Colletto Fava mountain near the village of Artesina until 2025 hoping to be discovered, touched, climbed over, cuddled, visited by the sheep, fed by the villagers, worshipped by new acolytes, cuddled by the grass, kissed by the bees, washed by the rain, blanketed by the snow or just looked at from a plane or from Google Earth. <br /><br />The full story of the pink Rabbit can be found on <a href="http://www.gelitin.net/mambo/index.php?set_albumName=album14&option=com_gallery_proj144&Itemid=91&include=view_album.php">http://www.gelitin.net/mambo/index.php?set_albumName=album14&option=com_gallery_proj144&Itemid=91&include=view_album.php</a><a href="http://www.gelitin.net/mambo/index.php?set_albumName=album14&option=com_gallery_proj144&Itemid=91&include=view_album.php"></a>wildfennelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16587949091770262514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-16012275985866517122009-03-24T07:30:00.000+00:002009-03-24T07:32:05.894+00:00For your pure sheep delight<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw"></a><br /><br />Enjoy dear knitters<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D2FX9rviEhw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D2FX9rviEhw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>alabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1340736973321872231.post-35552931366266980672009-03-17T13:43:00.002+00:002009-03-17T13:47:57.301+00:00Cake at the bottom of the Rainbow?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/Sb-pQ8ie2yI/AAAAAAAAA4U/gNc3mqgTm6U/s1600-h/rainbowcake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b9J6hNwpRnA/Sb-pQ8ie2yI/AAAAAAAAA4U/gNc3mqgTm6U/s400/rainbowcake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314152193914231586" /></a><br />This is fabulous, I love it and saw it whilst perusing the internet for St Patrick's Day goodness.... Full details on how to make one can be found <a href="http://www.omnomicon.com/rainbowcake">here</a> - go on, you know we want one : )<br /><br />And if you are looking for other St Patrick's Day goodness (the Rainbow is a tenuous link), see what mastery has been created <a href="http://quietraine.blogspot.com/2008/03/shamrock-pattern.html">here</a> by <a href="http://quietraine.blogspot.com/">quietraine</a>alabama whirlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14118486123848922752noreply@blogger.com1