In England, a group of knitters has been commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS) to knit model breasts.
The knitted breast replicas are much useful when teaching new mothers about breastfeeding. Particularly compared to the balloons which the NHS nurses and breastfeeding consultants formerly used.
Berroco is offering a free pair of Handeze gloves! Click here to be entered in their drawing. 20 winners will be selected randomly.
Shifting economics have driven the price of lamb through the roof in Britain, where sheep rustling is commensurately on the rise. Most sheep theft involves between 10 and 50 sheep, according to a spokesman for the National Farmer’s Union.
But the latest theft is that of an entire flock of 271 sheep, worth a whopping 27,000 British Pounds (about $50,000) in total.
Life is hard enough for people who raise livestock for a living, without adding the possibility of theft to the mix!
I don’t half understand the ins and outs of the “demon sheep” meme, but it’s getting new legs thanks to the Democratic Party of California. The Demon Sheep II ad attacks back against Carly Fiorina, and… um… it’s got demon sheeps.
Politics! Fiber-bearing animals! Laser eyes! Okay!
The Chicago Times has a great article on a fiber co-op that’s formed in Illinois to help promote local shepherds and fiber mills. The co-op members provide fiber for spinning and carding, and spun yarn for knitting, to local residents.
I love the idea of going to the yarn co-op to buy yarn! The only real option for buying local fiber, aside from driving all over hell and gone to visit farms which may or may not be set up for retail customers, is the marketplace at fiber festivals.
More states need fiber co-ops!
Handicraft 1.0 is an app for the iPad with patterns for quilting, knitting, crochet, and embroidery. Along with the patterns (only 150 patterns across all four crafting disciplines) the app includes HD instructional videos and “500 pages of content.”
It is the perfect companion for needlework or crafting offering modern day patterns, materials and more. Every topic is carefully defined with easy to follow how-to’s that are fully illustrated and delivered in a step-by-step approach with HD video lessons.
Not a ton of patterns, but the instructional videos and “content” (depending on what exactly that is) could be pretty spiffy! It’s definitely intriguing.
This book, by the venerable Ann Budd, is the latest knitting book to focus on eco-friendly yarns and patterns.
Detailing a wide range of perspectives and approaches to environmental issues, this unique crafting manual offers ideas for knitting conscientiously. Leading figures of the industry, from designers to yarn company executives, share their methods for integrating green principles into their work and lives–selecting organic products, facilitating an alternative to chemical detergent, recycling old projects, reducing disposable plastic bags, and creating pieces that provide warmth and save on energy.
I can’t wait to have a look!
Complementing the release of Origami, Berroco’s other new yarn for spring is called Weekend, which is 75% Acrylic, 25% Peruvian Cotton.
Weekend™ is the perfect yarn for any laidback knitting project. A soft, comfortable machine washable blend, this yarn is uncomplicated from start to finish.
I’m intrigued by the pairing of acrylic and cotton!
Berroco’s new spring line includes a new yarn called Origami, which is 58% Acrylic, 16% Linen,
15% Nylon, and 11% Cotton.
Origami™ is an exciting new yarn for warm weather months. Many multicolored strands run parallel to each other, wrapped by a black binder and it knits into a remarkably light and crisp finished fabric.
You may have read Yarn Harlot raving about this yarn in a recent post!
Rowan’s latest yarn is Purelife Revive, which is made from 36% recycled silk, 36% recycled cotton, and 28% recycled viscose.
Rowan Purelife Revive is made from used garments which have been selected according to the silk, cotton and viscose content. These are then carded to make regenerated fibre, which is then spun into this beautiful, high quality yarn, which gives life to new hand knitting designs.
Did you really NEED another reason to love Rowan more?