Knitted Nature

UKDIY: Knitted Nature Installation

2009-06-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Knitted Nature installation is finally complete.

After many months of collecting all of your wonderful knitted and crocheters leaves and flowers, from across the globe, ArtYarn spend a few days over at Rochdale Touchstones Art Gallery this week installing this wonderful installation.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed, can you spot your leaf or flower??

Many thanks to the following participants:
• Rita Heys, Rossendale
• Doris Scott, Rochdale
• Isabel Lees, Whitworth
• Dorothy Forshaw, Rochdale
• Kath Thornley, Milnrow
• Margaret Stoneman, Rochdale
• Jane Wells, Littleborough
• Helen Chicot, Littleborough
• Robyn Chicot, Littleborough
• Miranda Johnstone, Cambridge
• Joshua Wilson, Bury
• Sarah McMahon, Manchester
• Gemma McMahon, Manchester
• Irene Popps, Prestwich
• Jenny Matthews, Bolton
• Cheryl Beswick, Rochdale
• Jenny Beswick, Rochdale
• Gwen Taylor, Rochdale
• Rosie Hunt, Rochdale
• Eleanor Cooper, Rochdale
• Anne Buczynski, Bury
• Marrie Pattison, Manchester
• Roger Newton, Withington
• Valpuri Vihriala, Manchester
• Sarah Hardacre, Salford
• Rachael Elwell, Salford
• Yvonne Hardman, Rochdale
• Allison Cooper, Rochdale
• Okadascat, Hartlepool
• Gweneth Hanson, College Bank
• Lindsay Kennedy Smith, Birmingham
• Amanda Doran, Leicester
• Adamandia Kapsalis, Chicago, USA
• Laura Hughes, Todmorden
• Lia Chasen, New York, USA
• Chsristine Lister, Burnley
• Diana Hudson, Norfolk
• Jane Undsworth
• Barbara Taylor, Rochdale
• Ann Elfarrissi, Anglesey
• Pat Brock, Manchester, The Ladies of Click Talk, Dumfries Museum
• Catriona McLaughlin, Edinburgh
• Lynda Robinson, Ripponden
• Frances Britten, Bury
• Therese Kerbey, Arizona, USA
• Yvonne Prince, Bolton
• Sunnycrest 'Knit & Natter' Group, Bacup.
• Allison Burrows
• Julian Jefferson
• Sarah Gray

As part of our Knitted Nature project we also made an our door crochet installation using one of the trees in Broadstone Park which is opposite the Touchstones Art Gallery.
Inspired by the orange trees in Valencia, Spain, ArtYarn crocheted 100 bright orange balls which are now proudly hanging from this very beautiful tree.
many thanks to Yvonne, Paul, and Sarah for their help installing the balls.

The Orange Gatherers

2009-05-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvas, 1890

John William Waterhouse

More Flowers!

2009-05-17T02:07:00.000-07:00

Checking out the blog of okadascat (aka Chris Walker from Hartlepool), we were delighted to find a post showing flowers being sent for the Knitted Nature project!

Many, many thanks! We're excited to get to the gallery and see them up close!

www.okadascat.blogspot.com

Valencia Oranges

2009-05-09T02:44:00.000-07:00

ArtYarn have been busy working away at Islington Mill,

occupied with outputting oranges!

Inspired by the oranges groves of Valencia in Spain, our crocheted oranges will form an outdoor installation in Broadfield Park in Rochdale, as part of the UK:DIY series of events, exhibitions and projects.

Being just across the road from Touchstones Rochdale, the orange tree will accompany the Knitted Nature installation in Gallery Two and will also run from Saturday 6th June to 6th September 2009.

We'll let you know more about the opening events as soon as we can. Weather permitting and all being well we're hoping for a 'knit out' at the Band Stand in Broadfield Park!

Stay tuned for more news of events to celebrate the opening of the two

Knitted Nature installations on Saturday 6th June 2009!

A Gift of Flowers

2009-05-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

Our most sincere gratitude goes to our friend Roger Newton aka 'That Roger!', who has contributed these beautiful crocheted blooms to the Knitted Nature project.

The deadline for receiving your flowers and leaves is 27th May 2009, so there is still plenty of time to become part of this project and join all the knitters and crocheters who have already made such kind and creative contributions.

And the installation of your work will open in Gallery Two at Touchstones Rochdale, alongside the 'En Plein Air' exhibition, on Saturday 6th June 2009 and will run until 6th September 2009.

There will be an event on the day to celebrate the opening and we'll update you with details very soon.

Come on, knit some nature!

Workshop Day at Touchstones Rochdale

2009-04-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the workshop launch event for the Knitted Nature project at Touchstones Rochdale. A wonderful day of knitting and nattering, crocheting and creating, laughing and learning was enjoyed by all. And a flurry of flowers and foliage...

Our most gracious gratitude goes to everyone who attended the workshop, bringing along contributions of flowers and leaves and joining us to knit and crochet the day away.

Participants of the project so far:

Rita Heys, Rossendale
Doris Scott, Rochdale
Isabel Lees, Whitworth
Dorothy Forshaw, Rochdale
Kath Thornley, Milnrow
Margaret Stoneman, Rochdale
Jane Wells, Littleborough
Helen Chicot, Littleborough
Robyn Chicot, Littleborough
Miranda Johnstone, Cambridge
Joshua Wilson, Bury
Sarah McMahon, Manchester
Gemma McMahon, Manchester
Irene Popps, Prestwich
Jenny Matthews, Bolton
Cheryl Beswick, Rochdale
Jenny Beswick, Rochdale
Gwen Taylor, Rochdale
Rosie Hunt, Rochdale
Eleanor Cooper, Rochdale
Anne Buczynski, Bury

Thanks also goes to Julian Jefferson and Yvonne Hardman at Touchstones for all your support. And for your contributions; Julian making many flowers with his expert crochet skills and Yvonne learning casting on, purl stitch, increasing and decreasing to produce some lovely little leaves.

The workshop in the gallery of the En Plein Air exhibition.

Gemma learning to knit with her Grandma Irene.

Miranda and Robyn making flowers with french knitting.

And a very special thanks goes to the members of the former Sunnycrest 'Knit & Natter' Group of Bacup. Sadly, the Sunnycrest community centre where the group used to meet has been 'reappropriated' by the local council and in temporarily disbanding, the group has so kindly contributed their knitted sunflower emblem to the Knitted Nature project.

And there is still plenty of time for you to take part in the Knitted Nature project by sending your flowers and leaves to Touchstones Rochdale. The deadline for donations is 27th May 2009.

The installation in the gallery that will compliment the En Plein Air exhibition will open on Saturday 6th June and news of further events and activities on the day will be announced very soon.

The 6th June will also see the finishing touches to ArtYarn's crocheted orange tree in Broadfield Park and perhaps a knitting session in the Bandstand to celebrate.

Knitted Nature Event - 18th April 2009

2009-04-16T03:18:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 18th April ArtYarn are holding a knitting and crochet workshop to launch the Knitted Nature project at Touchstones Rochdale.

Between 11am - 3pm come along to the Gallery to make knitted or crocheted flowers and leaves to contribute to the installation which will become part of the En Plein Air exhibition – all welcome – novices and experienced knitters alike and the event is free.

If you have your own materials and equipment feel free to bring them along and if not there will be plenty at the gallery for you to use.

ArtYarn will be on hand to show you new skills and tell you more about the project and there will also be pattern workbooks for you to take away.

So do come along this Saturday to join in the fun and we hope to see you there!

First Flowers

2009-04-09T01:44:00.000-07:00

As spring is springing and blossoms blooming all around us, ArtYarn are getting to work on creating the first flowers for the new Knitted Nature project at Touchstones Gallery in Rochdale.

And already we're so grateful for the help of some very special people. Valpouri, ArtYarn's new friend who's currently studying at MMU, has been making lots of flowers. And Alison Burrow's at the Kings Arms Knitting Club has been crafting up loads of leaves, over 50 so far we're told!

We'll get some pictures of these amazing creations here soon. For now, here are some of the flowers we've made from the patterns on the right hand side of the blog.

Notes on Knitted Flower Patterns

Knitted Flower Pattern 1 - Working to the pattern, the flower produced is rather big, and makes for quite a bit of knitting.

Begin by casting on 6 stitches to make a little less work. Take a look at the blue and pink five petal flowers above for a comparison in size.

..............................................

Knitted Rose and Leaf Pattern 1 - Again, for this pattern, you can half the amount of stitches for half the amount of knitting if you'd rather.

Begin by casting on 50 stitches for a smaller flower, and 12 stitches for a smaller leaf. See the red and yellow curled flowers above for a comparison in size.

Welcome to Knitted Nature...

2009-04-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our new project Knitted Nature!!
In conjunction with UKDIY and Touchstones Rochdale we bring you a brand new yarn crazy project to get involved in.
We are now collecting knitted and crocheted flowers and leaves which will form an indoor instillation to accompany the En Plein Air exhibition.

En Plein Air
Rochdale Art Gallery 14th March - 6th September 2009

Image courtesy of www.link4life.org

This exhibition from the Art Gallery’s permanent collection will focus on artists who were part of the trend of painting out of doors or ‘en plein air’ in the later 19th and early 20th Century, often basing themselves in the artists colonies which sprang up in Staithes, North Yorkshire and Newlyn and St Ives in Cornwall. Sometimes referred to as the ‘British Impressionists’, they were influenced by French artists such as Jules Bastien-Lepage who advocated painting even large-scale canvases outdoors rather than in the studio.

ABOUT THE KNITTED NATURE PROJECT
*********************

Artyarn invite you to take part in the Knitted Nature project, an installation work at Touchstones Art Gallery, Rochdale for UKDIY.

We are now collecting knitted and crocheted leaves and flowers from around the world which will contribute to a hanging installation to be displayed in the En Plan Air exhibition from June 2009.

You can use any leaf or flower pattern you desire, any colour
and texture you wish. Make sure you include your name when you send them to us as you will be credited along side the exhibition.

SEND YOUR FLOWERS AND LEAVES TO
****************************************

Touchstones Rochdale
The Esplanade
Rochdale
OL16 1AQ
UK

Please keep updated for new patterns, contributors pictures and other related Knitted Nature news.