Glow Festival goes down the Rabbit Hole with a YARN installation at Toorak Library

Come and join the party.... The Mad Tea Party that is!

As part of the Stonnington Council GLOW FESTIVAL I have been working with the Stonnington Library to create an Alice in Wonderland inspired Yarn installation.

We have crowd-sourced woven CDs, Pom Poms, finger knitting, decorative knitted flowers and more from the Stonnington community. This Saturday we look forward to putting them all together in the grounds surrounding the Toorak Library, to create a visual and tactile textile display.

We will be yarn bombing trees, benches, bike racks as well as decorating library railings with a plethora of creative items.

To join us for tea and cakes at the 4pm Tea Party please register as we have limited spots still available.

Otherwise all welcome to join us and be part of the installation outside the Library from 4.30pm.

Come along Saturday 12th August, corner Cromwell Rd and Toorak Rd - South Yarra.  see map

#yarnderland #glowfest2017 #whatjaneknits

Yarnderland... takes you down the rabbit hole with a wooly twist!

Melbourne Knitters

Saturday June 13 was off to a good start when I spied 5 hot air balloons floating across the sky on my way to Yoga.

I was already pretty excited about the day, as I had organized an event to celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day and keen to catch up with friends and perhaps meet some new knitters. Melbourne was kind enough to put on some glorious sunny mid winter weather.

I traveled into the city with a bit of train knitting to start off the KIPDay! I had chosen to hold the event at the Arbory Bar.  A new venue alongside Flinders St railway platforms overlooking Southbank and the Yarra river, this is a very 'Melbourne' venue!

12 noon arrived and so did the knitters! Our reserved table of 8 soon had to be expanded as at one stage there was 20 of us. I had posted details of the event on the City of Melbourne 'thatsmelbourne' web page. It seems that quite a few knitters were in search of a gathering.

Some women arrived late, saying they had been stuck in a pokey corner inside Melbourne Central and they were so thrilled to find us at this gorgeous venue. It seems I was the only person who had been to the Arbory before. With a great menu and relaxed atmosphere everyone was very impressed (even if the music was drowning out the conversation at times).

Coincidentally, June 13 was also World Gin Day so it was totally appropriate to have a G&T as we knitted! 

Such an eclectic group of crafters had gathered, all inspiring and happy to be part of a wonderful community.

Amongst those who came to the event was a Mother and Daughter doing the most amazing Tunisian Crochet. Such a creative pair. The mum (whose name I've apologetically forgotten) even brought some arm knitting she had been working on to show the group.

Other women were part of the Yarn Corner, a group of Yarn Bombers who have brightened up our city square.

The lovely Chantal was knitting her Dad the most luscious bed socks.

Louise was adding to her stash of Hexipuffs for her Beekeepers quilt.

A very friendly lady from Wales told us wonderful stories of her knitting childhood. Including completing a Fair Isle jumper at the age of 11. Incredible.

So a huge thank you to everyone who came along and joined in the event, you made it such a brilliant day.

Note: If you were at this event and I don't have your contact details please sign up so that I can email you when I arrange another outing!

Knit proudly on World Wide Knit in Public Day

The independent pursuit of knitting makes it a perfect activity to fit in to our daily lives.

However it is often a solitary pass time done in the privacy of our lounge rooms.

Platforms such as Ravelry have created 'virtual' knitting groups where knitters share triumphs and troubles. Even so, knitting with others is such a great reward. There is always great Community spirit that comes with sitting down to knit with a group. You can be assure of belly laughs, shared tips and inspiration. 

Saturday June 13 knitters emerge from their private yarn stash and we bring our wooly projects outside for all the world to see.

Established in 2005 by Danielle Landes; World Wide Knit in Public Day #wwkipday encourages knitters to meet and show off skills that are often maligned as 'daggy' or old fashioned. It's the day to cast off the shroud of knitting Nanna and knit proudly in public.

If you are in Melbourne you are welcome to join What Jane Knits by the banks of the Yarra River at the Arbory Bar from 12 - 2pm. For those who live elsewhere check out the Knit in Public webpage to find a group of like minded knitters near you.

So this Saturday pack up your projects and get out there and Knit!