Saturday, October 09, 2010

Long knitting post

What a crazy busy week! I haven't had much time to sit at the computer this week, or to do any quilting. This is how the tree across the road looks today...the colours are wonderful and I plan to spend the whole weekend either cooking or being outside :)
I still haven't visited even half of the wonderful giveaway blogs for the Fall into fall quilt bloggers giveaway hosted by Debi. If you haven't signed up for my giveaway, click here to do that...you have until October 15th.
Before preparations begin at my house today for the Thanksgiving meal with my family, I'm having a cup of tea and writing a loooong blog post about a knitting project...yep, knitting!
In June I wrote a post about my home town trying to set a guinness world record - click here to read about it,  and I must admit that I have been tempted to try knitting socks. Judy and Mary have been giving instruction tips and I love the look of their socks. But what is mostly inspiring me is the "Knit the Bridge" art project in my home town.
This photo on the left shows the knitted pieces that were collected at the Centre for the Arts over the summer that were used to dress up the downtown bridge, a project co-ordinated by Artist in Residence Sue Sturdy.
Here is a bad photo of me knitting a few rows on a group project that resided for the summer in a basket at a cafe overlooking the naked bridge. Anyone could come and knit a few rows while they enjoyed their tea or coffee and wondered what the bridge would look like when it was covered in knitting.

                               And this is what the bridge looked like... it was a sight to behold!


The shadows in my photographs are long due to the early hour of my visit... I got up early before I went to work and drove over to the bridge because I almost missed seeing it before it was dismantled!



To see a short amateur video click here...I just love the line the videographer says before the end of the video..."Stuff like this, makes people happy"!
Can you imagine all the hours of work that went into this project? From the knitting of the pieces, the organizing of the wrapping the bridge, the dismantling, then washing and reconstructing the pieces into blankets for charity donation. What an amazing project!
The only thing that stops me from getting out my knitting needles is that I love quilting so much and have so many quilted projects I want to work on!



10 comments:

Judy D in WA said...

WOW! What a fabulous project! How lucky you are to have participated in it. And the guy was right, stuff like this does make people happy and warm.

Libby said...

What a great project. I can just imagine how much it was enjoyed *s*

Mary Lou Casada said...

What a hoot!!! It makes me want to pick up knitting needles, too! LOL (and I haven't quilted since high school -- some 30 odd years ago! :-D)
I'm glad I'm not the only one that quilting keeps from other mad hobbies! LOL
Blessings,
Mary Lou

AnnieO said...

I haven't knit in years and even then the only thing I ever made was one sweater! This is terrific fun--the community project that makes people feel good can't be beat. Glad you got an up close look before it was removed.

Anonymous said...

I have been bitten by the knitting bug. Started last summer and followed through to this summer.Although quilting is my first love, knitting is fun and more portable for me. I do mostly socks and mittens. Kathy socks are not hard, give it a try!!!Your Northern Blog Stalker Scrappynanna

julieQ said...

That is just so cool! I want...need...to learn how to knit!

Ginger Patches said...

What a great story! I want to live in your town:) Love the pictures!

Quilt Rat said...

I would love to have been there. What an absolutely brilliant project.
WAY COOL!!!!

Greenmare said...

that is probably one of the ten top coolest things I have ever seen! what a spectacular idea and so much work! Amazing!!!! thanks for sharing that with us!!!
ps I love the Canadian Thanksgiving time, ours down here is a bit late and it's usually pretty cold by then!

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

That bridge is so pretty! : )
ps- I am a SWer /SA counsellor / quilter. How weird is that!? : )
~Monika
in Saskatoon