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Crochet by Numbers
This amazing portrait in crochet was created by knitsandthings. The technique has been developed by Todd Paschall. At crochetbynumbers.com you can learn the technique, pick up a free pattern or buy a pattern. He'll also make you a custom pattern from your own photograph.
There's also a Ravelry group dedicated to the technique.
In miniature
These tiny things are so fascinating. Sometimes functional, they could be used as miniatures in a doll's house for example, but mostly they are just cute. Check out the mochimochi blog and the MUFFA Etsy shop
Free pattern - iPad cosy?!
Yes, it's true, Lion Brand have published a pattern before Apple's lovely new device has even hit the shops. The pattern is rated 'easy' and one-size-fits-all at about 7 x 10 in. (18 x 25.5 cm)
Get the pattern. (You will need to register with the Lion Brand website first, but that is free and gives you access to hundreds more free patterns.)
Free pattern - Swallowtail shawl
Originally published in a magazine in 2006, it was a finalist in the readers' choice awards. it's now available as a free download alongside lots more beautiful free patterns at Evelyn Clark designs. I'm currently knitting this with my own handspun merino/silk. After one false start I'm feeling so keen to get it finished. Read my blog posts.
Introducing Amazing yarn
Lion Brand have introduced a new yarn that has the look of handpainted yarn. 'Amazing' comes in 7 colors, washable 55% wool/ 45% acrylic blend. Medium weight (worsted/afghan/aran)
Knitted Lives
Knitted Lives is a touring exhibtion bringing together knitting, art and women's lives living in Newcastle - all made out of wool. Items from bicycles and standard lamps to lipsticks and powder compacts are made out of wool. It's the brainchild of Alice Thwaite, from the Equal Arts organisation in Newcastle.
Twisted Thread, The Knitting and Stitching Exhibition 2010 25 - 28 November.
Fingerless gloves / wristwarmer round-up
Quick and easy to knit and just in time for winter, Tipnut has collected together some free fingerless glove / wristwarmer patterns.
Knitters turn to graffiti artists with 'yarnbombing'
One of the most ambitious pieces of yarnbombing, or graffiti knitting, saw a woman spend an entire week covering a disused single decker bus in colourful swatches. 'Luckily I had a small team to help me with the bus but it took a week to do' said Mrs Sayeg.
Blogpick: Shark Mittens and Samuel L Jackson from Deep Blue Sea
islandofwords has posted a whole bunch of finished items, including this highly amusing and inventive project....
Lionheart
Three 30-foot high hand-crochet lions are to be created and displayed in a glass taxidermy case as part of the celebrations of culture leading up to the 2012 games.
The Artists Taking the Lead project involves 12 commissions representing the regions of the UK. The East Midlands winner is Shauna Richardson, who will crochet the lions herself. The connection with the region and inspiration for the project is Richard the lionheart, whose coat of arms featured three lions. Shauna hopes to use Peak District wool, historically the regionıs most important export.
Blogpick: free pattern for a hairband or fascinator
I like this. Quick, easy and fun. More of an idea than a pattern, let your creative juices flow. From Anjie Davison - craft, fashion and photography creative inspiration blog.
Business as usual during the strikes
If you've ordered from me before, you'll know that I dispatch same day if possible, always by the next working day, and always use first class. I'm sending parcels out as normal, and am hoping that you will order as normal. The post office have said that all post will be delivered, but obviously some may be delayed during the period of the strikes.
At best, parcels will be delivered as normal, at worst, I expect that some will be delayed by a day or two.
Trick or Treat - Halloween Knits
Some ghoulish ideas for using up stash are listed over at Rowan.
Free patterns are available for downloading - Pablo the Pumpkin, Ollie the Owl and the perfect Trick or Treat wallet.
Knit a poem
More than a thousand knitters worldwide have been knitting furiously through September to contribute 1200+ squares to a 13 metre by 9 metre hand-knitted version of Dylan Thomasıs 'In my Craft or Sullen Art'.
The Poetry Society felt that the choice of poem was appropriate for the project, and none of the knitters knew what the poem was while they were knitting.
The poem was rolled out at the British Library, London, on 7 October and will be on show in Swansea, Thomasıs home town, at the end of October. It will then tour to Manchester and beyond.
Naked Knitting Noras
The Knitting Noras are a group of fundraising knitters from Bolton, who, it says here, get up to all sorts of malarkey.
You can now buy their 2010 calendar, proceeds will go to cancer chairities.
Are we go fight crime, or what? Yep, just let me finish this row...
Teenaged superheroes fighting crime in fabulous handknits!
Bizarre but true. Our handknitting superheroes appear in their own comic strip, which includes a full knitting pattern every issue (beginner to intermediate). Only in america! If you are tempted, there are a couple of retailers here in the UK that stock the comic and merchandise.
Graveyard graffiti knitting
Artists Sundogs were commissioned to produce a piece of work that would turn some heads in Inverness. The gravestone cosy is certainly eye-catching if perhaps a little irreverent? (Though I'd be chuffed to bits if it were me that was lying beneath it.) The pattern's online if you want to knit one yourself.
Making a dress form
Author Wendy Bernard is responsible for this fun, creative and cost-effective way to clone your own body to make a perfect dress form.
Knitting in public
Still all fired up about Worldwide Spin in Public Day, I've started a Flickr group called Spinning and knitting in public - if you have a Flickr account, just click 'join'. If you aren't on Flickr, it's pretty easy to join. Go on - you know you want to!
KnitPro Spectra Needles
Already available in America as Knit Picks Zephyr needles, clear acrylic needle tips are now available here in the UK. The lightweight tips look amazing and are to be called knitPro Spectra here.
Interchangeable points are available on this site in sizes 3.5mm - 7mm.
