Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
At the World Maker Faire in New York City last week, fiber artist, Robyn Love, created a piece of installation art that was made of hundreds of hand knit and crochet squares of Hometown USA yarn. The squares were sewn together to create flame-like extensions for the rocket ship (still standing from the 1964 World’s Fair) that is located on the grounds of the New York Hall of Science. Robyn invited visitors to pin a note to the yarn squares with their message to the universe to symbolically send their wishes into space. Thousands of people at Maker Faire saw the work and hundreds participated by sending a message. The hand crafted “yarn flames” were removed from the rocket ship and will be resewn into afghans to donate to Warm Up America.
If you could send a message to the universe in just a few words, what would it be?
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Posted in Community, Crafting, Crocheting, Events, Fiber Arts/Artists, Knitting, Yarniverse | 25 Comments » Comments
Last year, I wrote about artist Kwangho Lee’s beautiful knitted light fixtures, and recently, I came across some of his newest work on a design blog I enjoy. I love how he has taken materials like plastic cord, combined it with knitting, and come up with amazing new applications. In this series, called “Obsession,” furniture emerges out of knitted plastic.
Be sure to visit his website to see even more photos of this series by clicking on “Furniture.”
Via MoCo Loco.
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Posted in Fiber Arts/Artists, Knitting, Yarniverse | 6 Comments » Comments
If you didn’t have an opportunity to see crochet artist Nathan Vincent’s fascinating yarn taxidermy when it was at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio back in late 2009 (as seen above), and you’re in the New York City area, you now have a second chance to see them! Nathan’s pieces will be on display from now through September 30 at Volume Black, a gallery in downtown Manhattan, located at 89 Washington Street.
From the artist’s website:
My work explores gender permissions and the challenges that arise from straying from the prescribed norms. It questions the qualities of gender by considering what constitutes masculine and feminine. It critiques stereotypical gender mediums by creating “masculine objects” using “feminine processes” such as crochet, sewing, and applique.
Want to learn more about Nathan’s work? Listen to our radio-style podcast YarnCraft’s episode 60 :: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Fiber Artists Ruth Marshall & Nathan Vincent to hear more about his fascinating pieces in his own words.
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Posted in Crocheting, Events, Fiber Arts/Artists, Lion Brand Yarn Studio, Yarniverse | 6 Comments » Comments
I was walking through the Lower East Side of New York City when I spotted this bike, completely covered in crochet. Notice that even the kick-stand and wheels are completely covered!
I’m not sure where it came from or why it was there, but it was a fun sight that reminded me of the surprising places you can come across yarn art.
In what unexpected places have you spotted yarn? Let us know by leaving a comment!
Updated: Turns out the bike is a piece by Olek, a Brooklyn-based crochet artist who works in colorful crochet, creating arresting moments of pop colors in the urban landscape!
Posted in Fiber Arts/Artists, Yarniverse | 16 Comments » Comments
Recently I saw this photo of artist Christien Meindertsma‘s giant knit Aran Rug. It struck me as a beautiful and unique way to incorporate yarncrafts into your home — and I hope you find it as inspirational as I do.
I’m not sure that I have needles quite big enough for a rug, but I bet you that with Speed Stix and three strands of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, I could make a small rug or a throw. If you’re also inspired by Christien’s piece, take a look at the Diamonds and Pearls cable pattern or the Hourglass cable pattern in our StitchFinder for similar cable patterns to try out.
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Posted in Fiber Arts/Artists, Knitting, Yarniverse | 6 Comments » Comments
Artist Amy Caterina is at it again. We first blogged about the mixed media artist here when we heard about her Pseudo-Sod, grassy looking material knit from Fun Fur. She has used the material to create topiary animals and even a car cover! Her most recent exhibit, part of Actions, Conversations, and Intersections at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, extended the concept by creating an inviting forest scene, complete with deer and grass against forest images. Amy uses different colors of Fun Fur to represent different stages of grass life, but unlike real grass the “faux” Pseudo-Sod won’t be itchy.
Laying in a fuzzy field of “grass” sounds like a wonderful way to spend a little time! Click here to see a video of Amy lounging in her Pseudo-Sod Forest. The exhibit has ended, and I can’t wait to see (and maybe experience) what she comes up with next. This summer she has a residency scheduled at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, CA.
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Posted in Fiber Arts/Artists, Knitting, Lion Staff, Yarniverse, Yarns | 5 Comments » Comments
Last year, we were happy to sponsor the Yarn Theory exhibit of fiber artists over at New York City art space, PS 122. Some of you may even remember reading about it here on the blog or visiting the exhibit.
From Yarn Theory’s press release:
Yarn Theory highlights the vibrant and deep interrelationship between the sciences, mathematics, crocheting and knitting. From mathematicians looking for clear and visual ways to model their theorem to home-knitters and artists looking to create unique sculptural objects, the world of contemporary yarn work is rife with cross-pollination between the disciplines. The explosion in the popularity of knitting and crochet has yielded an interest in using the medium to go far beyond sweaters, socks, and wearables, moving into the worlds of geometry, biology, natural sciences, pushing the medium’s sculptural boundaries.
Yarn Theory included works by artists such as Ted Ashton, Emily Barletta (whose work has also been shown at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio), Sarah-Marie Belcastro, Nancy Cohen, Rita Cohen and Anschel Schaffer-Cohen, Christine Domanic, Kate Fenker, Amanda Gale, Miyuki Kawamura, Martha Lewis, Margaret Oomen, Gail Rothschild, Daina Taimina, and Daniel Yuhas. The exhibit was curated by Martha Lewis and events were organized by Karen Eubel.
Karen was kind enough to send us photos from the show, which not only included art pieces inside the exhibition space, but also these incredible creations all along the outside of the building, which is in and of Greenwich Village in New York City. The juxtaposition of these crocheted and knitted pieces against the graffiti and grime of the city make them even more interesting. The outdoor pieces made New Yorkers stop and smile, and take in the yarn art, right in their neighborhood.
Are there interesting fiber arts exhibits going on in your neck of the woods? Leave a comment and let us know about them!
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Posted in Community, Fiber Arts/Artists, Yarniverse | 5 Comments » Comments
A British artist will spend the next two years crocheting two giant lions for the London Olympics. The creation of the lions will be available for viewing on a webcam.
Posted in Community, Crocheting, Fiber Arts/Artists, Yarniverse | 2 Comments » Comments
A few weeks ago, our friend, artist Travis Meinholf wrote about his new installation at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art. Now, you can watch him talk about the show while people interact with it!
See the show from now until January 24th in San Francisco, CA, and help Travis weave!
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Posted in Community, Fiber Arts/Artists, Yarniverse | Leave a comment » Comments
This is a guest post from our friend, Travis Meinolf, public textile artist and teacher. Travis’s current project can be seen at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art, in San Francisco, CA, from now until January 24th, 2010. If you’re in the area, we hope you’ll stop by, add your own piece to the weavings and interact with textiles in a new way.
Open Source Embroidery is a group art show; the running theme of the works in the show, curated by Dr. Ele Carpenter, is how current open source programming and high-tech philosophies intersect with contemporary and historical craft production practices. My installation in the show, a continuation of my Social Fabric/Weaving Place projects, is a space with small, simple-to-use looms I have designed, materials generously provided by Lion Brand Yarn, and chalkboards, for people to write notes about what it is they would like to be producing in the space.
Previously I have asked for people to spend their time producing material to be made into blankets for people on the streets and in shelters, but this time, I thought I would let it be completely open to suggestion from the participants. Only time will tell what the outcome will be, but the process will be one of absolute agency of the producers. Anyone who participates is invited to direct their action and suggest direction for the group, based on the simple strips of cloth that they can make. I will update as the project progresses. Hopefully the system I have put in place allows for freedom but is a space for structured, productive play, resulting in a true “dialectical material”.
Thanks go out to Lion Brand, who made me feel like a kid on Christmas opening boxes of skeins and skeins of beautiful yarns to provide a truly sensual and mesmerizing weaving experience for museum-goers, again…
Travis J. Meinolf
action weaver
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Posted in Crafting, Fiber Arts/Artists, Yarniverse | 2 Comments » Comments
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