theKnitster ............... for the fiber artist in everyone

see what everyone is making at the forum

lil birdie is into cupcakes - and has a tutorial for making both of these - a recycled cupcake and a cupcake bag

Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together by Larissa Golden Brown and Martin John Brown and published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang (March 15, 2008).

This is the long awaited book of the year. Larissa is a past contributor of whipup and an amazing writer and knitter and very passionate about anything fibre related. She collaborated with her husband Martin on this book and what a fabulous partnership they have - a writer and knitter - I am so jealous of them getting to work together like this on a wonderful project. This project has taken them a while - they not only wrote and edited, designed and knitted but also collaborated with knitters around the world to organise the knitalongs that make up a big section of the book and the premise for the project.

The patterns in the book are so varied and excellent, some have already been pre-tested by knitters around the world. The photography is just luscious. But really my favourite part has got to be the knitalong diaries. Where knitalong participant’s projects have been featured from the six different knitalongs that ran alongside the book while it was in production. I love what Larissa says “It’s like hearing a dozen different singers do the same great song.” - Inspiring and wonderful all at the same time.

You can see some of the images online at the website and on the flickr knitalong groups: Meathead hats : pinwheel blankets : socks 101 : recycle along : square along :

About the projects - they are all designed to be knitted in company or as part of group and they all have a story to go with them. There large projects such as afghans, pinwheel blanket, blessing way blanket and barn raising quilt, Medium projects such as a cycling sweater, mothwing shawl, Blue Ribbon Scrap Wrap and smaller projects like the felted nest, eden scarf and the Entomology Hat & Mitten Set - and some super easy projects like the Recycled Sweater Pincushion and the Knitter’s Magic Yarn Ball. There are more too - 20 projects in total.

This book has so much more than patterns and stories (although goodness that is more than most books) There are heaps of faq’s about knitalongs - history and jargon explanations - gorgeous historical images dotted throughout the book are just special little treasures. The first section concentrates on community and includes short essays on knit cafes, knitting circles, knit ins, and tips on how to find a knitting group. Chapter 2 is ‘remembering’ and is a journey through the history of knitting as a social lubricant and knitting in war and peace and. Chapter 3 is ‘finding your voice’ and has a heap of info on the online community - blogs, forums, websites etc. Chapter 4 is about improving and growing your skills, competing and challenging yourself and collaborating with others. And the last chapter is about ‘giving’, swaps and gifts and donating to those in need as well as being kind to the earth - recycling and eco knits.

I have found this book to be a fabulous resource, a font of information, a big inspiration and an excellent read.

Sweet owl notepaper from the ladies at Rubbergob. Link.

AND another lovely four petal envelope. Link.

Great idea. Link

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.

Hi,
I’m about to have my second child in a couple of months. My first child, a girl, will be almost two and half when the baby is born and is quite obsessed with babies and baby dolls. I’m hoping to use this to our advantage and have bought her a baby doll for the new baby to give her as a gift. What I’m looking for is online patterns/tutorials for things that I can make to go with the doll - clothing, nappies/diapers, sleeping bags, slings/baby carriers etc. Does anyone have any useful links? I’d also really like to find a pattern for a small wooden cradle but have not been able to find one so far…. any ideas?

Super cute peasant blouse, would look good on a grown up girl too! Link.

Twirly skirt tutorial. Link, both via Elsie Marley

Sweet little pants. Link, and a matching top. Link.

Itty bitty baby dress. Link.

Simple kimono wrap. Link

Please feel free to comment and leave any links to children’s clothing patterns and tutorials you’ve created or found or email them to whipup.tutorials[@]gmail.com.

Crochet Chic: Haute Crochet Scarves, Hats & BagsBy Francine Toukou, published by Lark Books (November 1, 2007)

Firstly, this is a hardcover book, and that gets my vote straight away. I love hardcover books, not only because they look and feel so nice, but because wear well over time.

Sometimes it seems that a book has a whole heap of amazing things in it, but only one or two patterns that people would feel comfortable wearing in public, or that people would be happy to buy in the supplies for and take the time to make. The patterns in this book are very usable, lots of bags and scarves - and some more unusual patterns such as the Victoria Collar.

This book gets another big tick from me since it looks as if most, if not all of the projects work up very quickly. Crochet is great for that anyhow, but team up a quick technique with a speedy pattern and I am very satisfied. Another big plus is that all of the projects are made using crochet, but not many of them look like they are crocheted. Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of the one hook method of playing with yarn, but so many patterns look like granny squares all sewn together, or seem to be made into things that don’t hang or wear well. I can forgive the two patterns in this book that ARE actually made of granny squares all joined together because the rest of the projects use a combination of embellishments (pom poms, fringes, ruffles, flowers, appliqué, bobbles or a contrasting edge), a variety of yarns (mohair, ribbon yarns) and techniques (felting), and of course well written and designed patterns to create items that look and feel gorgeous.

In addition to seducing the reader with so many great projects, this book goes on to educate any reader new to crochet as to actually HOW to do the stitches and techniques used for the projects. This section includes information on the very basics of crochet, how to do the stitches mentioned, how to join things together, and how to make the embellishments. It even has a section on garment care and keeping your projects looking nice. On top of all this, it has another section that includes handy information on gauge, hooks and different kinds of yarn.

This is a stylish book full of projects that are quick, easy - it is well designed to showcase the projects and to make it easy for people to make them.

About the author: Kate is a busy mother of three (soon to be four) and has far too many craft projects on the go at any one time. These could include, but are not limited to, crochet, sewing, dyeing, paper making, spinning, felting and bookbinding. Kate has challenges in the areas of finishing things, saying no and craft supplies storage. She also has a very very patient and tolerant husband.

This is great! You could try and preprint photographs onto paper to create a folded photo album. Link.

– If you have any tutorials you’ve created or found please feel free to email them
to whipup.tutorials[@]gmail.com

Mary Jane has a free pattern available for this 4th of July hat.

This is a super idea! You could dye all sorts of trims this way, old doilies, shoelaces? Link via WeeWonderfuls.

How cool is this!? Over 25 live tutorials in their Virtual Labs. Everything from Print Gocco, Metal etching, cupcake night, fabric dying and paper crafts. Here’s a link to the schedule so you don’t miss out. There’s also an RSS feed at the bottom of the How-To page so you can subscribe.

Great article over at Craft::Boom. Link.

One of the most effective ways to get exposure for your craft business/book/brand etc. is to submit articles to magazines. The number of folks who will get to read your article could be potentially HUGE depending on the circulation numbers of the magazine…

– If you have any tutorials you’ve created or found please feel free to email them
to whipup.tutorials[@]gmail.com

Applications for the 3rd annual Strange Folk Festival are being accepted now until July 6th. The 2008 show is on September 27-28 10am-4/5pm. This event is juried, and we will be choosing 120 vendors. There is no fee to apply. The vendor fee will be $65.

Relaunching Australia’s indy glossy by, for and about girls: fully ad-free and with a no-waste policy: lip magazine relaunches as an ad-free “mook” – and introduces a no-waste policy – once again proving that YOUNG WOMEN DO IT BETTER. Canberra-based lip magazine is relaunching with its 15th issue and is now making use of print-on-demand technologies in an effort to reduce print waste and production costs.

Craft PDX: A Block Party | Sunday, July 13, 11 AM-6 PM | North Park Blocks - NW 8th & Davis:
Free and open to the public Attended last summer by more than 8,000 participants, Craft PDX allows people of all ages to get creative, have fun and connect through craft. Find live music, food and art activities outside on the park, including raku pottery and the Stitch-o-Rama embroidery project. See artist demos by local craft guilds and the Museum of Glass, and step inside the Museum for lectures and artist talks

its how-to month at Etsy Labs: kicking off a month-long series of live how-tos in the Virtual Labs to introduce people to some new crafting skills.

Vote for - 27 finalists of the 4th annual NEXT BIG THING design competition! (click on thumb to view all the finalists)

Great site, dig through the other pages for more goodies.Link.

Great detailed tutorial, I’ve always found these tricky. Link.

Link.

Safe way to dye yarn with little people.Link.

Great gift idea for a crafty lady or man in your life. You could make some with self covered buttons as well. link

Self portrait challenge is a self portrait community website - an online community of people participating in a continuous artistic self-expressive art project.

Taking self portraits challenges peoples personal boundaries, it frees up inhibitions and this site creates a venue for people who would not normally be able to speak freely about their selves.

The July challenge SKILL might interest whipup readers:

What are you good at: show us in pictures. Do you use your hands to work - do you have a workshop or a studio or office - what tools do you use? What are your talents - are you good at performing? are you an excellent liar or jokester? do you have a secret skill - can you juggle or take off your underwear without removing your clothes? are you good at sports, dancing or walking a tight rope? Are you a good parent, a good listener, skilled at washing the dishes? Do your skills lie in the more esoteric - are you good at magic, excellent at conversation, skilled at love? Or do your talents lie in a more practical direction - are you a fantastic cook a wonderful hostel - a domestic goddess? Do you have a green thumb, can you paint like a demon or crochet like your grandmother? Do you have a talent for numbers or are you really efficient at plaiting hair? tell all…

To participate you need to sign up - then after you have blogged your abilities on your own website - upload the permalink at spc.

[disclaimer: this is another project run by me]

Great idea! Link.