Granny Style Decorating

Since I'm on a Granny Square bent, I came across this picture and thought I would share. What an idea to decorate! I love all the bright colors, and their use of borders on both the squares and on the shapes in general.

So it started out as just some pratice with the Granny Square...

And the thought that I should do something with the yarn that my boyfriend gave me before he comes to see me.

And then it just grew... and grew, and I started adding colors!



What do you think? Is it destined to be a wall hanging, an afghan, or something else entirely?

2005 Angel Ornament Exchange Let all images download before closing the Yahoo ad box to the right of the screen

2005 Angel Ornament Exchange (Let all images download before closing the Yahoo ad box to the right of the screen)

I'm working on angels right now for a christmas tree... so. Yeah.

Real Men Crochet

YouTube - Boise State's Ian Johnson on ESPN Gameday



I came across this video recently. What a refreshing look on crochet. I'm always excited when I see men who are able to do textile stuff- be it crochet, knitting or something else. It used to be that kitting was something all men knew how to do 200 years ago- how else were they susposed to get socks? I think it's unfortunate that now it's considered a 'girl thing.' When men do something like this to shake up the gender image, or just because they love it, they should get some kuddos.

However, looking up on it more I found out something very disheartening.

Boise State Broncos: The Familiar Story Of The Oppressed Crocheting Running Back With The Collapsed Lung

Apparently Ian Johnson isn't allowed to sell his scarves, hats or other crocheted items, even if he gives them to charity.

KTVB.COM | Boise, Idaho News, Weather, Sports, Video, Traffic & Events | IDAHO NEWS

I suppose it makes sense, seeing at as his popularity increases they didn't want trouble forming, but at the same time it's a pity when someone does something unusual that it gets nipped in the bud.

What do you think? Should he be able to sell his beanies? Or is it too much of a liability?

Killer Crochet- literally

OR_TO.jpg (image)

Take a look at this. "Killer hooked on crocheting as a 'small part' of atonement"

According to the article, in this state prison the inmates have learned how to crochet. However, "The scarves, caps and afghans go to charities, but victim advocates discount the inmates' intentions."

Personally, I have to think it's gotta be pretty darn boring in prison, and no matter what their intentions are, if they're doing it for a good cause, nobody should complain. These men meet for three hours a week in the prison recreation room to crochet.

Of course, the crochet hooks get locked up after class is over. Probably a good thing, even if the hooks ARE plastic.



EDIT: Later today I came across a second article. Juvenile offenders start life over with a crochet hook | csmonitor.com

Again, I think this is a wonderful idea. When you give a person a purpose- especially one that helps other people, not only are you helping th community, but you're encouraging people to get involved and invested in the community. And there something about watching something beautiful and filled with purpose grown in your hands. That is such a charge.

These youth are in the detention facility for the same reason the inmates above are in jail- attempted murder, murder, arson, gun running, drug sales... and more. They would be felons if they were old enough.

I love the quote one of the boys says, that I think nails this right on the head. "Crocheting makes me feel good," says Timma Johnstone, a pony-tailed, 19-year-old arsonist who burned a field "because I was mad at someone. When you're here you can calm down."

A lot of times, when I'm feeling angry, stressed, or frustrated corcheting is something to grounds me. It's like a simple type of mediation- repetitive movement, and the slowly growing creation. From something as simple as a blanket, to a complicated sweater crocheting teaches discipline. It also teaches persistence- this is one time in life where if you make a mistake, you can just unravel it and start over.

So what do you think? Does it help?

Because it's just that cool

Go check out Revelry if you haven't yet. It's a great site for those of you yarn lovers out there. It's a mix between a social networking site, a place to brag about your projects, share them with others, catalog the projects you want to do, have done, and really like. It's neat, and even better, it's free!

Right now it's still in the Beta Stage, but still, it's pretty damn cool.

Go take a look.

Craftzine.com blog: Draft Vader Crochet Helmet

Craftzine.com blog: Draft Vader Crochet Helmet

For all of you wanting a Darth Vader helmet made out of beercans for your next college Halloween party... THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.

Angsty Crochet

Ok, so it really isn't that angsty, but sometimes you don't want a sweater in bright colors, or you have a friend that is more of the... Goth persuasion. Or maybe Emo. (Though my understanding of Emo is a little less clear so don't quote me on that)

Still, there isn't that much out there. After digging quite a bit, I came up with these helpful resources for your viewing pleasure.

Anticraft. This site is quite wonderful, and they recently put out a book to go along with the site. While not all crochet or knit (they have some really great crafts too) it's full of dark colored clothing and spiderwebs. My favorite function about this site is how knowledgeable they are about their craft. While the knitting I do tends to be quite secondary to my crochet, they know what their talking about. Their magazine they put out is always full of some great ideas to spur your imagination. Also, they are sympathetic to people of the more generous persuasion, so they always note when a pattern is good for different body types.

Rather unrelated, but still great, there is in Utah a Goth Crochet Club. You can adopt bats. It's worth going to check out, even if you don't live in Utah.

Ok, and I totally admit it, this is rather off topic (though not REALLY) but here's a great pattern for a mini boa. *drools* Boas.

Making a Statement

I've been seeing these around lately, and I'm quite fascinated by them. These crochet necklaces aren't for the faint of heart. They're bold, funky, and as unique as the person wearing them.

And they're getting media attention too! Take a look at this article.

I've decided to share some of my favorite designs I've come across.

Here we go!


I like this one because it's classy and simple. Something you could wear with a formal gown. Although if I were to do it, I might add just a little more shape to the necklace, perhaps a bead or to to keep the movement going.
I love people who are able to freeform crochet. There's a whole movement out there of freeform and what you can do with this. I the choice of color is elegant, and I like how it doesn't have symmetry.
Ok, I'm such a sucker for bright colors and flowers. But don't worry, I'm a sucker for other things too! Still, I'm happy that the fashion right now with crochet is bright colors and dynamic designs. I like the use of beads in this necklace, lack of symmetry again, and that sassy spiral on the left side. Click on the picture. The woman who makes these has some seriously sweet designs.
This picture is a bit grainy, but still, it's a great necklace. What I like here is the way it fastens, and the merging of a traditional necklace and a more modern crochet.


Another example to get your creative juices going. I like the use of yellow and red- really, that red and yellow flower is what makes this design for me. Otherwise, all of the flowers are circles, which invokes a bubble idea. Nice, but at the same time not too original.

What do you think? I love just surfing the web for crochet ideas. Do you have any favorites? Let me know.

A story

I first became aware of it when I came to Stockholm to study for a semester. My adventures about that can be found here. I was walking in Gammla Stan in Stockholm when I happened to notice... a streetsign had a scarf wrapped around it. There was a website attached to the odd, brightly colored piece of knitting, and I copied it down, curious what it was about.

It was only after I noticed the pieces in other places that I actually remembered to check it out.

That's how I found out about Masquerade, an urban twist on both Graffiti and knitting (or sticka in Swedish.)

From there I discovered Knitta, another site that documents the beginning of a fun, lighthearted way to take knitting and crochet and make a statement of it.

I have to say, in Stockholm, in the winter, when it is almost always cold and dark? These little pieces of art, so unexpected, brighten my day.

As the Knitta website explains the movement:

Knitta began in August 2005, when the soon-to-be-Knittas were discussing their frustration over unfinished knitting projects: half-knitted sweaters and balls of yarn gathering dust. That afternoon, they knit their first door handle. Then it dawned on them… a tag crew of knitters, bombing the inner city with vibrant, stitched works of art, wrapped around everything from beer bottles on easy nights to public monuments and utility poles on more ambitious outings. With a mix of clandestine moves and gangsta rap — Knitta was born! Today, Knitta is a group of ladies of all ages, nationalities, and… gender.

So go take a look at the websites and let me know what you think.

Garnfiti

Garnfiti is my own attempt to make yarn into an art form. The word comes from Garn, the Swedish word for yarn, and Graffiti- an urban art movement that can range from the beautiful to the obscene. I'm mostly a crochetifile, who sometimes delves into the mysterious world of knitting, and the unique and quirky world of afghan crochet. It's a place to post about patterns I've come across, things in the yarn world, and other thoughts I have on art.