Knitting News

Student surprised by success of knitted Ferrari | Zee News

Student surprised by success of knitted Ferrari
Zee News - December 8 2006

If you can't afford to buy the real thing then why not knit one. That's what 22-year-old art student Lauren Porter did. For her university degree show, Lauren decided to knit a life-size Ferrari. Mainly modelled on an F355, it took her 10 months and 12 miles of yarn to put the Ferrari together.

"I was at university on a sculpture degree and I was knitting domestic objects like chairs and toilets and things and it dawned on me that maybe if I was to continue knitting sculpture and be taken seriously I needed to be further removed from what knitting is. So I was interested in the cross-over between art and craft and design and how things are valued, the boundaries between art and craft," she said.

Lauren got friends and family to help knit approximately 240 red woollen squares that she then assembled and strapped over a metal frame in the shape of the car.

[...]Lauren may want to take a break from knitting, but has already been commissioned to knit a Christmas Tree complete with presents and fireplace. [more]

See Lauren Porter's Knitted Christmas at Craft.

Chicks with sticks | The Frederick News-Post

Chicks with sticks
The Frederick News-Post - December 10 2006

At Roy Rogers' fast-food restaurant, it's not uncommon to see friends sharing fries or a bite of a roast beef sandwich. But at one particular eatery, diners are also trading knitting expertise or boasting about their new knitting project.

Don't call them traditional "rocking chair grandma knitters." These ladies refer to themselves as "chicks with sticks."

"It is a very eclectic group with all kinds of people and ideas," said Kathy Dollar, one of the original members of the knitting group that meets at the Roy Rogers restaurant on Buckeystown Pike once a month. "It is really a lot of fun."

Knitting is as much about the process as it is about the end result, according to Ms. Dollar.

"I reached a point in my career being a special (education) teacher that I need to unwind. They say knitting is like Prozac for the hands," she said. "Some research says you think better and I never mind waiting in a line anymore because I take my knitting with me. When you are done you have something to show for it." [more]

Knitter grabs her needles for newborns | The Modesto Bee

Knitter grabs her needles for newborns
The Modesto Bee - December 10 2006

Thirty-five babies will leave Oak Valley hospital this month with festive hats topped with fluffy pompoms.

Lois Warner, 77, of Oakdale, is knitting all of them.

"It makes me feel like I'm doing something important," Warner said.

The nimble-fingered grandmother of three sits down to knit for about two hours a day. She does it while volunteering at the hospital and while watching Oprah and Dr. Phil at home.

"Don't get this idea that I just sit around watching TV all day, though," Warner said. [more]

Story of 'Nana' socks is Christmas yarn | The Record

Story of 'Nana' socks is Christmas yarn
The Record - December 10 2006

Her five children, 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren can't help but have warm feelings about Viola Wyrovsky of Rochelle Park.

After all, Mrs. Wyrovsky -- "Nana," from this point forward -- spent countless hours over many years knitting socks for her loved ones.

Nana socks.

If you were fortunate enough to have Nana for a nana, or marry someone who did, you got a pair of Nana socks every Christmas. Warm, snuggly socks of variegated yarn. Unless you wanted a particular color, such as purple or orange. Nana readily filled requests. [more]

'Tis the season... for knitting | The GW Hatchet

'Tis the season... for knitting
The GW Hatchet - December 11 2006

In the spirit of the holiday season, GW is starting to get ready for Valentine's Day by partnering with an orphan non-profit group to help make care packages for college-age orphans.

The GW Red Scarf Project, sponsored by the Orphan Foundation of America, GW's Office of Communication and Creative Services, and the Office of Community Service have started knitting scarves for a national program run by the Orphan Foundation.

GW is one of the many groups contributing to the foundation's Red Scarf Project. Annalisa Assaadi, the national events coordinator at the Orphan Foundation, said the goal of this nationwide project is to knit as many red scarves as possible for college-age orphans.

"These red scarves will be part of a care package that will be sent to college orphans on Valentine's Day," Assaadi said. The care packages will include a red scarf, cookies, candy, school supplies and gift cards.

The foundation hopes to get around 5,000 red scarves total to send to the students. GW hopes to knit 250 scarves to contribute to the program. [more]

Knitting group makes caps for newborns | The Winchester Sun

Knitting group makes caps for newborns
The Winchester Sun - December 11 2006

Needles sneak through strands of yarn, looping together colored strings. In the gentle hands of a knitting group, tiny hats are being woven to cap the heads of newborns at Clark Regional Medical Center.

“It’s just love from the heart for the little babies,” said Linda Bridgewater, a member of the informal group that meets at Rose Mary Brooks Place once a week.

As the holidays approach, reds and greens are finding their way into hats that are usually baby pink, blue or white. The seven or eight ladies in the group made their first donation, about 45 hats, to CRMC on Thursday.

“We thought we could do some volunteer work,” Bridgewater said. “You can only knit so many things for yourself.” [more]

First steps today in knitting marathon | The Post-Standard

First steps today in knitting marathon
The Post-Standard - December 10 2006

Bellevue Manor is passing along age-old traditions this holiday season.

The Christmas Holiday Marathon for Knitting and Crocheting will be from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 27, 28, 29 and 30 at Bellevue, where children and adults of all ages can teach or learn to knit or crochet.

"This is an intergenerational event," said Traci Niederhofer, community relations director at Bellevue Manor Assisted Living Community.

"Many people have knitted and crocheted for years, and this is a chance for them do so with camaraderie." [more]

Group Mixes Knitting With Charity In Labor Of Love | WCCO

Group Mixes Knitting With Charity In Labor Of Love [with video]
WCCO - December 10 2006

A relatively small yet dedicated group of people in the Twin Cities are using their homespun skills in knitting, needlepoint and crochet to create clothing, garments and keepsakes for the needy that provide warmth and comfort within the twisted strands of wool and cotton, with a goodly measure of love in every stitch.

The notion of "knitting for a cause" is nothing new. Mothers and grandmothers across the nation's heartland can, no doubt, recall the weekly quilting bees of their childhood that brought together a community's womenfolk in a prairie ritual that was part social gathering, part coffee klatch and part community chest.

Nowadays, the knit goods could just as easily be woolen caps for newborns or afghan blankets for Afghanis, or anyone else seeking insulation from the cold.

"We have found that people are just more conscious of what you might consider more important things…conscious of not losing sight of those who might really need a little extra help," said Mary Colucci, executive director of the Warm Up America! foundation, based in Ranlo, N.C. [more]

Stitch for soldiers | News 10 Now

Stitch for soldiers
News 10 Now - December 10 2006

For the owner of a Potsdam craft store, knitting is a labor of love.

And this winter Karen Sidletsky is putting her hobby to good use and giving soldiers overseas a warm welcome from back home.

Karen Sidletsky, Misty Hollow Owner, said, "They are not issued helmet liners and it's very cold over there and all they have is their helmets."

Misty Hollow is supplying troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with helmet liners for the colder months. The craft store provides wool and patterns, so getting in the loop is easy. [more]

Charity knitting on going at Willow's End | Boothbay Register

Charity knitting on going at Willow's End
Boothbay Register - December 7 2006

It all began six months ago. Willow's End employee and knitting instructor, Alice Minto, a long-time charity knitter, suggested that a group be formed to knit for organizations.

Minto had been involved in such efforts when she lived in Michigan and Texas, before moving to the Boothbay region.

She later created a group committed to providing warmth to those who need it called "Helping Hands."

Said Minto, "Some of our neighbors in the Boothbay Harbor region occasionally need a helping hand. This is a great way for knitters to use their `stash.' " [more]