What You Might Have Missed This Week: Craft Links and The News in Knitting and Crochet
For a few weeks we were doing weekend roundups of knit and crochet news. Then things got busy and life took over and we took a pause. Additionally, we aren’t entirely sure if you love these roundups or not. What we hope is that they give you a chance to discover the craft links that you might not have had time to find yourself throughout the week. So let us know if this is working for you. Give us your feedback in the comments, on Facebook, or on Instagram. That way we know if we should keep rounding up craft links and news for you each weekend.
This Week’s Must-Read in Craft Links
If you only go read one full article that we link to here today, make it this one. It’s a beautiful bio of a 71-year-old knitter. She had a really rough life, and she found that knitting was “her salvation.” She’s done some amazing knitting over the years. Runways around the world have featured her work, calling her the Queen of Knitting. The article discusses the problems of fast fashion. Moreover, it shows how the knitter recycles items and takes an intentionally eco-conscious approach to her work. Even if you don’t read the article – which you should – go look at the photos of some of her stunning work.
Ernesto Neto’s Huge Crochet Art Installation
Ernesto Neto is a Brazilian crochet artist. He works on big installations that he’s displayed all around the world. They’re essentially these huge, intricate, colorful crochet nets. It would probably be amazing to see one in person. The newest one, titled SunForceOceanLife, is on display in Houston. And it’s interactive – you can actually walk through the netting. It’s very reminiscent of Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdams’ crochet playgrounds.
The Hand Knit Wedding Dress
One of the most viral craft links this week was news about a hand knit wedding dress. Esther Andrews knit her own wedding dress. She did most of her knitting during her commute on the subway. And since she’s active on TikTok, people paid attention. If you have anything related to “knitting” set up on your news or Google alerts then chances are that you already saw this craft news because it was everywhere!
Craft Links: Crochet as Fashion
Every spring and summer, fashion magazines and blogs start talking about how crochet is trending. Obviously there are also summer knits. However, it’s as if fashionistas suddenly get surprised again each year that crochet is still hot. Related craft links:
- Diotama’s Resort 2022 Collection. We’ve mentioned Diotama before in our craft links roundups. The fashion brand uses a lot of crochet. This is their resort collection. Check out Look 17 in particular.
- Crochet Shorts for Men Are Officially A Thing. (This isn’t new news. The maker, Lord von Schmitt, was on our roundup of Top 100 Knit and Crochet Instagrammers because he’s been doing creative crochet shorts, pants, and jumpsuits for years.)
- Vogue’s Items That Will Define Summer 2021. The list includes lots of crochet tops. We agree: here’s our roundup of the best 50 free crochet tops patterns.
- InStyle covered 11 Trending Fashions “that are actually from the 70s” and of course crochet is a hot topic there.
- Vogue India has a roundup of celebrities spotted in crochet.
- Crochet was named at the top of a list of 7 New Summer TikTok Fashion Trends.
- London News Online did a profile of a young crochet designer. It’s always great to see profiles of actual indie designers in fashion rather than just the big brand names!
Olympics Knitting and Crochet
If you love the Olympics, then you might already know that British Diver Tom Daley is a knitter and crocheter. His husband had seen people doing the crafts to pass the time and suggested it to Daley who was on pause during the COVID break. He’s crafted everything from swim trunks to cat couches. He designed his first pattern for sale. And “n more humanitarian endeavors, he made a blanket for a boy named Jake, who has a rare genetic mutation called PCH-pontocerebellar Hypoplasia causing shrinking of the brain.”
UPDATE: LEARN ALL ABOUT TOM DALEY KNITS AND CROCHETS
Speaking of the Olympics, have you signed up to get your BiCrafty Games box so you can do the KAL-CAL with us while we watch this year?
Craft Links: Communities of Knitters and Crocheters
- Meet Needles and Pins. This is a profile of a community craft group. They note that it feels good to make things that help other people. We love that they talk about how therapeutic the group is. But our favorite line: “Mary is fondly known as “the Ripper” for holding the record for ripping out the most crochet stitches of the group, and proudly tells of the “Ripper” T-shirt she has verifying her title.”
- Salem News did an article about a group of cancer survivors who meeet up to craft together. Crafting helps a lot of us get through very tough things. So do our craft communities.
- A group crocheting remembrance poppies exceeded their 10,000 poppies goal by twice that amount.
- “French immigrants knit large Israeli flag in honor of COVID victims.“
Other Craft Links
Here are a few of the other things you might have missed this week:
- Better Homes and Gardens did an article about what it costs to start certain hobbies. They priced knitting and crochet at $25 each to start. Do you agree?
- Yarnbombed mailbox toppers are trending in the UK.
- Mother-daughter duo crochets “worry worms” that they leave around town as surprises for people. They include notes to help people let go of their worries.
- A 90-year-old woman has knit 11,000 hats for babies. Wow.
- Research shows: “Knitting’s Resurgence Reflects Women’s Desire To Confront Inequality.“
Make Sure You Didn’t Miss
Did you get a chance to check out everything that we posted on the Marly Bird blog this past week? If not, here’s what you might want to catch up on:
- 17 Summer Craft Tips
- The Best Modern and Vintage Crochet Shorts Patterns
- How to Use and Choose a Yarn Bowl
- Top One Ball Knit and Crochet Patterns
- 44 Free Crochet and Knit Squares Projects
- Marly Bird’s Super Simple Shawl Free Crochet Pattern
- Marly Bird’s Kimono-Inspired Crochet Cardi Free Pattern
- Caron Little Crafties: Mini Yarn Balls
- Roundup of Marly Bird’s 5 Spring KAL Patterns
- Updated: How to Crochet a Granny Square – the regular way and the Marly way
- BiCrafty Bootcamp: How to Knit Triangle Lace (knit hat continued)
- Team Marly Bird: Meet Kathryn
We hope you’ve had a great week. And we would love to know what you’re working on so be sure to use #marlybird or #marlymademedoit over on social media!
Categories: Crochet, Dibble Dabble Inspiration, Knitting
