In the Loop, December 2022
We want to take this opportunity to welcome CKC’s newest Members and Donors, and to thank all Members and Donors for your generous contributions to CKC’s success over the past 10 years!
As CKC celebrates its 10th Anniversary throughout 2023, we promise you’ll be part of a new and exciting decade of CKC’s growth and service to the craft community as a leader in the digital preservation of knitting and crochet.
For now, we wish you, and all those dear to you, a happy, healthy, and joyful New Year!
CKC’s Board of Directors
Collections Call!
As you put away your seasonal decorations, festive home decor, and handmade gifts, please consider adding photos of them and a few words about their special significance to you, to CKC’s Crowdsourced Collection. Read this sweet story by Suzann Thompson about making these holiday matts with her daughter, Ella Frederick, using a generous gift of buttons from another crafter.
Digitally preserving your knit and crochet treasures and stories is a priceless gift to the craft community that will keep on giving year after year. We are here to help: collections@centerforknitandcrochet.org. Thank you!
Operation Charity
Do you have a little time to knit or crochet gifts for those in need? Charitable crafting has been around as long as crafting itself, and few things feel as wonderful as making something for someone else, or receiving a handmade gift. We will explore this complex and venerable tradition in 2023, and we invite you to add your charitable projects to CKC’s Crowdsourced Collection.
CKC Board Members and volunteers are starting a resource list of recommended charities that accept handmade items, time, tools, and materials. Here are just a few of the charities we have already researched, participated in, or otherwise recommend.
Mother Bear Project — Make a Bear, Make a Difference — provides hand knit or crocheted teddy bears to children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Knitted Knockers — Knit or crochet a soft, comfortable, beautiful, breast prosthesis for a breast cancer survivor. Free patterns in all sizes are available on the website.
Operation Gratitude — Make hats, scarves, and toys to include in care packages for active duty servicemen and women, recruit graduates, first responders, military families, veterans, and wounded heroes and their caregivers to let them know you appreciate their service.
Project Knitwell — Support Project Knitwell as it expands access to craft supplies and in-person and virtual instruction. With a commitment to restore wholeness and provide stress relief through crafting, Project Knitwell serves children and adults in many different healthcare and community settings.
Seamen’s Church Institute Christmas at Sea Program — Make hats, scarves, vests, socks, slippers, and other warm garments to include in care packages for international mariners and seafarers who spend the holidays at sea. Interesting, practical patterns for approved items are available on the website.
Warm Up America — Make afghans, throws, and clothing for a variety of communities and individuals in need. Numerous patterns and ways to participate are available on the website.
Welcome Blanket — Make a small blanket, and write a story of welcome for new refugees.
Please contact us at newsletter@centerforknitandcrochet if you would like to add organizations to this list. CKC will create and maintain a downloadable document as a resource list.
Membership Corner
It’s not too late!
A membership or donation to CKC can be the perfect gift! Send your gift or donate in honor or in memory of someone special to ring in the New Year!
All donations and membership contributions are tax deductible, and will be matched dollar for dollar through 11:59 PM on December 31, 2022!
Just a few reminders!
As a CKC Member, you are vital to CKC’s success. We love our volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering, contact Marina Scott, CKC’s Membership Coordinator, mscott@centerforknitandcrochet.org, for more information and to learn about opportunities. Thank you to those who already volunteer; we are grateful to each and every one of you!
Is your membership current? Click here to check that and renew!
Member 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, click this link to fill out the form!
Upcoming Virtual and In-Person Events:
The Knitting History Forum of the UK Hosts Virtual Conference, Saturday, January 28, 2023.
The Knitting History Forum is a locus for current scholarly research about knitting. Current and former CKC Members publish interesting and pertinent research through the forum.
Speakers at this event will focus on Peruvian/Andean, Icelandic, Estonian, and Moroccan knitting traditions. To see the speakers and purchase tickets vial PayPal, visit the Forum’s website, here.
Vogue Knitting Live, New York City, February 9-12, 2023
CKC will attend Vogue Knitting Live in New York City, February 10-12, 2023 to give a short presentation on CKC. We will have a table on the 6th Floor of the venue, along with the other nonprofits, with information about CKC’s digital and educational resources, activities, and membership.
We’ll share more details in January, but if you are planning to attend, and you would like to volunteer at CKC’s table, please get in touch with us. We would love to meet you in person!
CKC received these discount codes from Vogue Knitting to share with Members:
20% off VIP Packages: GUILD20
15% off all other Packages: GUILD15
10% off Individual Classes: GUILD10
50% off Marketplace Tickets: GUILDMP
You can register here for this paid event.
To let us know of any events in your area, email us at newsletter@centerforknitandcrochet.org.
Knitting & Crochet in the News:
By Anne Lies
Tech savvy and transformative:
- Knitelligence: Flat knitting underpins new Myant healthcare platform.
- Buildings Made of Wool and Fungus? Meet the Textile Expert Who’s Making It Happen.
The abiding power of fiber in our hands:
- Craft from a different perspective: From Crip to Crochet Artist: How an Unlikely Hobby Changed My Life in Prison.
- Knitting a legacy: I Have Just Months to Live. Instead Of Making a Bucket List, Here’s What I’m Doing Before I Go.
- Crochet cottage industry in Lebanon, “We are artisans and proud of the way we work, and we can feel more empowered and enthusiastic from the fruit of our hands.”
- Knit for a unique fit! If you knit or sew and would like to create a custom pair of gloves for someone with specific needs, this Facebook group connects uniquely made hands with uniquely crafted gloves!
And… ACTION!
- Craftivism: effecting change with needle and yarn.
- How the rise of knitting is fighting stress, as well as fast fashion.
- Or a building just covered in wool? Wait, What? McDonald’s in Poland Gets a Winter Makeover — See Pics. And why not, I ask you?
For fun:
- Retro hobbies are making a comeback – such as knitting, crochet, and bird-watching. It all comes back around!
- And speaking of retro: Olympic Diver And Knitter Tom Daley Reveals King Charles Knits Too.
Last(ing) thought: Colorfully Cast Hands in Carol Milne’s Knitted Glass Sculptures Won’t Drop a Stitch
Your Voice Matters!
We invite YOU to contribute to CKC’s monthly newsletter. Please email your inquiries, ideas, and stories to newsletter@centerforknitandcrochet.org. We hope to hear from you!
Please visit CKC’s Newsletter Archive!
December Newsletter Contributors:
Marilyn Huset, Anne Lies, Jennifer Lindsay, Heather McDonald, Marina Scott, Suzann Thompson.
