In the Loop, August 2023
Dear CKC Members and Donors:
As August draws to a close, we want to share the winners of CKC’s Music | Makers Contest, take you on a trip to visit one of the tiniest crochet museums, introduce a new “sister” enterprise called the The Domestic Crafts Archive of India, and keep you in the loop with all CKC’s fun fall activities.
We close with Anne Lies’s ever-popular overview of all the important news about knitting and crochet!
Hope your summer was wonderful and that fall will be even better!
Congratulations to the Winners of CKC’s Music | Makers Knit Purl Jam & Acoustic Crochet music competition!
After tallying the votes, we were thrilled to announce the winners on social media on August 15! In case you missed it, the results are below. You can still visit CKC’s Listening Room to hear the winning songs.
First Place
To Melanie Gall, singer, author, and music historian, with her rendition of “Knitting,” by Muriel Bruce and Baron Aliotti, 1915. See Melanie’s award and read her comments on recording the song here. See the original sheet music for this song in CKC’s Library and Museum Collections.
Visit melaniegall.com for Melanie’s music and more. We also recommend her recent article with Karen Ballard, published by Interweave on July 20, 2023: “Forgotten Wartime Knitting Songs”.
Congratulations, Melanie!
Second Place
To Sandi Horton and Debbie Brock, with their G pocket Native American flute and digital percussion arrangement of “Jamie’s on the Stormy Sea,” by Bernard Covert,1847. See their award here, and find the original sheet music for this song in CKC’s Library and Museum Collections.
Follow Sandi Horton’s Native Flute Journeys on Facebook.
Congratulations, Sandi and Debbie!
Third Place
To Jason Brennan, with his “upbeat, expanded, and hopefully funny variation” on “And Then She’d Knit, Knit, Knit,” by Ed Moran and Harry Von Tilzer, 1917. See his award to read his comments, and find the original sheet music in CKC’s Library and Museum Collections.
Congratulations, Jason!
Out heartfelt thanks to all who entered the contest, and to everyone who voted! Stay tuned for some follow-up Music | Makers’ events, and we hope to hear from you again when we launch our next creative competition.
VISIT THE WORLD FAMOUS CROCHET MUSEUM!
CKC President Jennifer Lindsay visited the World Famous Crochet Museum in Joshua Tree, CA earlier this year. Read her recent blog post about WFCM founder and creator Shari Elf’s mission to bring more recognition to the art and craft of crochet on CKC’s Blog, and enjoy a virtual visit to the museum: Teatime at the World Famous Crochet Museum, Joshua Tree, CA, USA – Center for Knit and Crochet
Do you live near a treasure like the World Famous Crochet Museum? Have you had the opportunity to learn something new about knitting and crochet on your travels to other places? If so, please share your stories and photos with us! Email us at [email protected]!
Emerging Domestic Crafts Archive (DCA)
India’s first digital repository for the representation of domestic crafts of Knitting, Crochet, Lace Making, Tatting, and Needlework
Pragya Sharma recently contacted CKC to let us know that she has founded India’s first digital repository for documenting the domestic crafts of knitting, crochet, lace making, tatting, and needlework. The colorful jewelry pouch shown above is one of the oldest objects her team has identified so far. As Sharma notes in her Instagram post, linked above, the use of crochet to make this pouch may have been influenced by the craft practices taught in Portuguese mission schools in the region.
According to Sharma, the Domestic Crafts Archive (DCA) is using an oral history approach to locate and interview makers, photograph their items, and document their stories.
“We have been able to unearth regional influences as well – a woman’s wardrobe that comprises of hand knitted blouses to be paired with saris (an everyday Indian ensemble) or a man who has knitted over 100 sweaters in his lifetime or a woman who is working on the largest number of ponchos ever made to create a new Guinness World record.”
DCA researchers add further context to these stories by conducting secondary research:
“We have also been working on mapping the introduction of the techniques of domestic crafts in the subcontinent by mapping foreign influences as triggered from the 18th century onwards across India’s geography.”
Similar to CKC, the DCA team is working towards developing a website that can share more detailed information on the artifacts, with makers’ stories, and additional photos, and that will eventually allow contributions from the general public.
Keep an eye out for more information on DCA and their progress! Visit www.pragyasharma.com and www.unpurl.com for additional information
Join CKC’s Parade of Bears!!
As a CKC Member, you can sign into your CKC account, navigate to the online store, and download our two new 10th Anniversary Bear Patterns — designed by CKC Treasurer, Marilyn Huset, so everyone can make their own bear buddy from her original childhood bears, now in CKC’s Crowdsourced Collection.
Knit or crochet a little bear buddy for yourself or someone you love. Then join us on social media to share your bear. We are also posting about toy bears and their history, with examples from CKC’s digital archives.
Tags for your bears —
#FreeBearPattern #ParadeOfBears #CKCBearPattern #KnitBear #CrochetBear #CKCTenthAnniversary #CKCMemberExclusive #JoinToday #CKCAnniversaryBear
Fall Virtual Craft Circle Meet-Up
SAVE THE DATE!! Join us on Thursday, September 14, 2023 for the next Virtual Craft Circle Meet-up. Details on our guest speaker will be coming soon! Please mark you calendars!
Your Host: Lori Winterfeldt, CKC Board Member
Time: 8-9:30 PM Eastern; 7-8:30 PM Central; 6-7:30 PM Mountain; 5-6:30 Pacific.
Bring a beverage, a snack, and a project to work on and share.
Join CKC’s 10th Anniversary Shawl-Along
Please plan to include a 10th Anniversary shawl on your list of fall projects! As the weather cools down, share your love of CKC by knitting or crocheting a shawl for yourself or a friend. Join us on Ravelry, Facebook, and Instagram from May 1 through December 14, 2023 to knit or crochet a shawl together to celebrate CKC’s 10th Anniversary.
THE DETAILS
— Choose any pattern
Visit CKC’s pattern bundle on Ravelry for ideas.
— Use CKC colors
Get inspired by the beautiful palettes below . . .
— Knit or crochet
— Make to keep, give, or donate
— Share something about CKC with anyone who asks you about your project!
Join us at future Virtual Craft Circle meet-ups on September 14, October 12, and December 14 to have fun and share your 10th Anniversary shawls. Help us encourage more people to follow CKC, use and add to CKC’s digital collections, and to support and expand CKC’s preservation efforts by wearing your shawl, and talking to people about CKC.
We hope you will also add your shawl to CKC’s Crowdsourced Collection. We will compile and share a list of organizations that accept shawl donations.
Send a photo of your shawl-in-progress to [email protected], and we’ll publish your photo here next month.
Thank you!
CKC Palettes: Some Tints, Shades, and Tones of Teal and Butter.
CKC’s logo colors are Teal, Butter, Black, Gray, and White. Use any solid color or combination of colors from these palettes created by Rebecca Keyel, CKC’s Vice President, or variations on these colors based on what you have on hand or like to wear.
Membership Corner
- As a CKC Member, you are vital to CKC’s success. If you are interested in volunteering, contact us at [email protected], for more information and to learn about opportunities.
- To those who already volunteer — Thank You!
- Is your membership current? Check and to check that and renew!
Don’t Be Shy! Share Your News!!!
- Have you designed a new pattern, written an article, been invited to give a presentation, published a book, started a new craft group or craft initiative, been promoted in your guild? Do you want to engage other CKC Members in what you are doing or in an event in your area? If you are interested in being featured, or have some news or events to share with CKC Members, fill out the form!
Knitting & Crochet in the News:
By Anne Lies
Make splashes, not bombs?
- ‘Yarn Splashing’ comes to Winston-Salem.
- Meet the ‘hookers,’ Syracuse’s coolest crochet club, who just finished this driveway-sized quilt.
Living traditions
- Crafting an identity: Crochet isn’t just my hobby. It’s a lifeline to my mother and my Mexican culture.
Fiber arts and sciences
- Alicia Kozlowski’s embroidered series of consumer goods lands in South Korean stores. Look… closely.
- From raw fiber to artistic creations, felters get to the point.
- Engineered beauty: A sculptor of wind explains how to make fiber dance far above city streets.
- Yarn sculpture shows ties that bind in HIV science art.
Entrepreneurial spirits
- Gilbert 7th grader turning unique crocheting talent into successful business. “Literally, I would just spend all my free time crocheting.” Same, kid. Same.
- “I have a talent, let me utilise it.” From hobby to livelihood: Sabrina rocks her crochet designs in Grenada.
The stories behind the stitches
- Real talk: ‘It’s the greatest feeling’: six knitters on their all-time favourite projects.
- Why crochet is becoming popular among young adults.
- ‘Waru’ the knitted koala: crocheted mascot becomes Germany’s secret World Cup weapon. Never mind the confusing headline… can we all just agree that Waru is adorable?
Wild and wonderful
- Dairu Ren Is Making Crochet Cool Again. Outrageous style, but with grandma’s blessing.
- Meet Dainty Knit, the Seoul-Based Knitwear Brand Dressing Your Favorite K-Pop Stars.
- An interview with one of the largest personalities in knitting: Meet Steven Berg.
Parting shots:
Your Voice Matters!
We invite YOU to contribute to CKC’s monthly newsletter. Please email your ideas, stories, and announcements to [email protected]. We hope to hear from you!
Please visit CKC’s Newsletter Archive to see past issues!
August Newsletter Contributors:
Katie Daugherty, Anne Lies, Jennifer Lindsay, and Suzann Thompson.
