Pat Ashforth and Steve Plummer from Woolly thoughts are are designers of mathematical knitwear.

Checkmate is an Afghan Game. Use it as an afghan or put it on the floor and play the game.

Double Vision appears to have 55 different shades though it only uses 10 ordinary, easily available colours.

Fibo-optic uses the Fibonacci Sequence in two directions, in each of the three dimensions, to give the illusion of a large flying cube.

Give Me A Clew is a repesentation of a Roman labyrinth discovered in Wales (UK) - part of the maze afghans set.

Warning: private human body parts are depicted in yarn (be aware if clicking on links)

sorry guys but it IS alt craft month after all - this is stubby stanly by knit goddess and is a modified version of beanis from the anticraft

‘My World: The New Subjectivity in Design’ Featuring the work of Alison Willoughby, Danny Brown, Committee, Doshi Levien, Neutral, Peter Traag, Wok Media (this review is limited to Alison Willoughby – 10 Skirts) at Pratt Manhattan Gallery (finishes Feb 23)

photo courtesy of Zacheta National Gallery

Alison Willoughby did her BA in Glasgow in Printed and Knitted textiles from 1996-1999 and her MA in London at The Royal College of Art in Mixed Media Textiles from 1999-2001, where she completed her dissertation on the kilt. Study of the Gaelic garment eventually led her to the circle skirt, a simple garment made from just one perfect circle. Lain flat, Willoughby saw this as a canvas for applying materials: badges, pins, pieces cut from fabric, silkscreens. When a circle is cut out of the middle of the original large circle, the flat canvas suddenly becomes a 3 dimensional wearable object even without subsequent shaping – a skirt.

Her approach is perfectly illustrated by the piece “One”, a 3’ tall stack of fabric circles cut from old bedspreads, shirtings, batting, corduroy, twills – all skirts-to-be:

photo courtesy of Zacheta National Gallery

This piece reveals the underlying concept of the 10 skirts in the exhibition (a part of “My World: The New Subjectivity in Design” at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery), which are hung from the ceiling of the gallery, all the better to witness Willoughby’s penchant for layering more than one circle for a petticoat effect.

Embellishment is what really sets her skirts apart, and she frequently carries the circle theme through by creating concentric circles of colored pin badges, or by sewing on smaller circles of fabric, or by sewing on other shapes of fabric in circles.

49 Sensational Skirts: Creative Embellishment Ideas for One-of-a-kind Designs by Alison Willoughby, published by Interweave Press (April 1, 2008).

The show at the Pratt gallery is a nice opportunity to see her work in person, but Alison Willoughby doesn’t just want you to see her work – she wants you to make it yourself. Her new book, 49 Sensational Skirts compiles some of her ideas and techniques and makes them friendly to the home crafter – even to those with no sewing experience.

While first and foremost a book about embellishing skirts, the book does include a basic circle-skirt paper pattern, a glossary of sewing materials and simple machine techniques, and complete information on making or applying closures (ties, snaps, and clips). She also includes a tutorial on silkscreening, transfer foiling, and fusible webbing. The projects range from simple embellishment that can be done in a matter of hours to those involving hundreds of folded fabric pieces sewn closely together in geometric patterns.

Though she gives clear instructions on reproducing her designs, one thing that rings clear throughout is Willoughby’s desire that people make the skirts their own. She encourages the use of second hand ready-made skirts as a basic canvas and of being creative with embellishment. Though all of her ideas and the color photography illustrating them provide inspiration for wearable skirts with a strong sense of individuality, she wants you to use them as a point of departure for your own explorations.

Read more: Recent interview with Alison at Whip Up

To celebrate Alt Crafting month - win a copy of Alison’s book by leaving a comment here answering the following questions: (comments will close Sunday Midnight)

If you decorated/embellished an outfit such as in the vein of one of Alison Willoughby’s skirts would you want to wear it or hang it on the wall?

The American Craft Council to Present 25 Searchlight Artists at The American Craft Show in Baltimore February 19-24, 2008

14 emerging artists nominated by the nation’s leading universities, museums and galleries will make their debut at the show in a stunning new gallery space. The work of Searchlight Artists will be presented together in two separate gallery sections of the show: 10 will present at the Wholesale Show (open to the trade only, February 19-21, 2008) and 15 will present at the Retail Show (open to the public, February 22-24, 2008), both at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Our investment in bringing these striving artists from across the country and their work to market –some for the very first time – is a means to further promote the understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. We look forward to the contributions this particular group of artists will make in years to come.

Artists include: Tanya Aguiniga, Stephanie Dearmond, Hisano Takei, Megan Auman, Maggie Casey, Chase De Forest, Andy Paiko, Elizabeth Perkins, Lacey Jane Roberts, Munemitsu Taguchi.

Stephanie DeArmond: Ceramics

Megan Auman: Chair from living room - powder-coated steel 35″ x 23″ x 27″ 2006

Lacey Jane Roberts: cold world, knitting

from press release:

New Section at the Baltimore Show to Feature 15 Emerging Artists New York, NY (February 1, 2008) – The American Craft Council has opened the doors of its most prestigious show, The American Craft Show in Baltimore, to the New Wave Craft community – artists typically labeled ‘indie’ as they usually exhibit and sell their work at small local craft shows.
The Council invited 300 artists of the national New Wave Craft community to apply to a special section of the show: out of 100 applications, 15 have been juried in. Their handmade items are varied and include: lampshades made out of cocktail umbrellas; colorful adult and children’s clothing made out of vintage and reclaimed fabrics such as sheets, drapes, table linens, and lace; and jewelry incorporating Barbie parts; among others.

Amy of Soda will be there

caption: robot girl with handle, item # cl-106, celadon center and clear glazed porcelain cup with etched design [left]

ciahats [right]

Margaux Lange [smile ring]

[cylinder moka pot] circa ceramics

by lisa at steal this sweater I am pretty much in awe of how fabulous this sweater/skirt combo is. WOW! link

sukigirl at flickr has made this Tunisian crochet South Park afghan [via crochet me and craftzine]

Nina Braun knitter sneakers and Camilla Engman’s design at converse (congratulations!) [all via magpie and cake]

Out of the Ordinary: Spectacular Craft by by Laurie Britton-Newell (Author), Glenn Adamson (Contributor), Tanya Harrod (Contributor), published by Victoria and Albert Museum (November 1, 2007) to accompany the exhibition by the same name. - 13 November 2007 - 17 February 2008 A V&A and Crafts Council exhibition.

Out of the Ordinary - a group of international artists who place craft at the heart of their practice, transforming everyday subjects and materials. … a showcase of examples of meticulous making and attention to detail. Challenging conventional ideas about craft, these artists use tradition to achieve unexpected outcomes. … artists included Olu Amoda, Annie Cattrell, Susan Collis, Naomi Filmer, Lu Shengzhong, Yoshihiro Suda and Anne Wilson.

Catherine Bertola - works with ephemeral material - dust. Carefully collecting and preserving the matter that V&A conservators and cleaners strive daily to remove, she transforms dirt and dead bugs creating a site-specific installation that tells a story about the history of a space.

caption: The property of Two Gentlemen (installation view), 2006, Household dust, pva glue, two Georgian chairs, engraved brass plaques. Photo credit: Douglas Atfield

Susan Collis’s work might at first glance appear to be out of place in an exhibition, and you have to look closely to discover it. Mundane things, seemingly left behind from a previous exhibition, are actually meticulously worked by hand. An apparently paint-splashed dust sheet or ladder which are in fact intricately embroidered or inlaid with lavish materials such as diamonds, silk and mother of pearl. Labouring for many months on a single piece, Collis consciously celebrates both the humility and discipline of making something really well.

caption: Susan Collis, Waltzer Wooden broom, 2007, Opals, turquoise, garnets, seed pearls, mother of pearl, black diamonds, white diamonds, fresh water pearls, coral, black onyx, marcacite, Image courtesy of Seventeen, © Susan Collis, Courtesy of Seventeen.

Yoshihiro Suda creates hyper-realistic flowers and weeds from wood. He carves and paints each piece, using traditional Japanese tools, taking many days to complete a single petal or leaf. His work has been compared to a haiku poem The carved pieces of magnolia wood that become flowers in his hands are whittled down to paper-thin petals, stamens, sepals, leaves and stem with incredible realism, in the same way that language is stripped in haiku, to a very small and pure thing; something momentary. Also, there is a structured and skilled approach to describing nature which exists in both; and further, a fine haiku is able to be very small and exercise a great deal of power. (from circa)

caption: Yoshihiro Suda, Weeds paint on wood, installation view at Naoshima Contemporary Art Museum 2002 , Courtesy Gallery Koyangi.

These are just three of the artists whose work appears in the exhibition - the book which accompanies this show is extraordinary as well, images and text give further information about heach artist, there are interviews with the artists as well as images of their studios and work practices - absolutely fascinating. Only a few days left to see this show - if you are in London you must go! more info here

Kathryn Spence makes use of scrap fabrics from clothing and household linens, material from disassembled furry toys, as well as other scraps such as plastic bags trash to create these wonderful Owls and other birds.

[via dear ada + Ullabenulla]

As part of our alt craft month, we will be posting links to cool ideas and inspiration as well as tutorials and articles. We are still taking tutorial and article ideas for the month so please email your ideas and stories to me at whipup[at]gmail.com.

am loving these Still life wallpaper - iron on transfers that osci bear sent in.

Valentines day propaganda is everywhere I look - but I am also noticing some alternatives to the lovey dovey sick making pink - so check these out - lots of fun.

plush black heart by etsy seller batteries not included

Submit your anti-valentines arts/crafts to Dabbled’s Black Heart Anti-Valentine’s Contest. Closes 11pm EST on Feb 12. Winners will receive either a stuffed cashmere black heart, or an original sketch of a suitably black hearted nature. [thanks craft for the tip]

LIMITED EDITION Valentine kits from the fabulous cartoonist, Natalie Dee! available at subversive cross stitch

and the ever fabulous domiknitrix has her ’spank me’ love heart pillow pattern available for a small fee on her website.

and something just a week bit cute is this knitted love heart ring - pattern available at pieknits for free download.

And I do love this knitted anatomical heart by flickr user pretty cranium [via ravelry]

Plush show with Jenny Harada, Heidi Kenny and Spooky Daddy Sat 9 Feb, Gettysburg PA.

I am curious about why you have chosen to write a book and spill the beans on your designs?

Ha Ha thats what you think………The techniques I use are simple, and they can be taught, its having a certain style and skill that I have, or any other designer, that you can try to teach but everyone has their own style and you can’t teach that.

49 Sensational Skirts: Creative Embellishment Ideas for One-of-a-kind Designs by Alison Willoughby, published by Interweave Press (April 1, 2008).

A bit about your background - you studied textiles as an undergraduate and then Constructed Textiles - Mixed Media as a post graduate and wrote your dissertation on the kilt. Making these skirts you say was an inevitable outcome of your process - can you tell me a little about how you came from the kilt to the simple design A-line skirt that you use now as a basis for your designs?

A kilt is basically a wrap with fabric manipulation in the middle, a very simple shape, a strip of fabric. I don’t use an A-line skirt, I use a pattern that is a wrap skirt between a half and quarter circle skirt. Its the idea of a wrap and the fact I can lay a wrap flat on a print table, or a sewing machine and manipulate it with surface.

(more…)

artstream gallery - both an online and bricks and mortar gallery - is hosting an exhibition called Lovely Hearts 2. Last year the exhibit drew artists and crafters from all over the world to raise money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The artists may donate or retain 50% of the sale. There is still a week to get your entries in for the show. All work, small in size (up to 10×10x10 inches) and priced at $100 usd or less are eligible. Emphasis is on all aspects of love as the theme and all media is greatly encouraged. More info at artstream.

in LOVE with these doily trees by Lisa from her recent show at little bird gallery October 13th - November 8th, Lisa Solomon “over the river and through the wood”.

love this post at decor 8 on doily fun - wow what a lot of fun and fabulous uses to put those doilies to - this idea from sweet paul caught my eye.

Pricked: Extreme Embroidery at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, November 8, 2007-March 9, 2008

The average person encounters embroidery in daily life mainly in the form of tea towels and certain types of clothing. Few people think of the craft as a medium to be explored, a medium whose boundaries, capabilities and functions can be stretched. Pricked: Extreme Embroidery lifts the craft out of the realm of royal or religious vestements, out of the everyday table and bed linens and places it firmly in the realm of artists working not just as craftspeople but also as interpreters of contemporary life.

The exhibition is divided into 6 themed categories: NEITHER MORE NOR LESS concentrates on works incorporating text and words.
Judy Chicago, the doyenne of embroidery in contemporary art, is represented with Its Always Darkest Before the Dawn, where embroidery plays its traditional role of adding depth and luminosity with colorful silk threads.

Tilleke Schwartz’s two works are like embroidery sketchbooks, with motifs, words and images overlapping and interplaying on hand dyed fabric. Count Your Blessings, a travelogue of the artist’s visits to Australia and the US, intersperses phrases and sentence fragments with the question: Are craft people making money on the Internet?

Andrea Dezso’s Lessons from My Mother, a wall with dozens of 6”x6” embroidered illustrations of her mother’s adages. Each one begins with “My mother claimed that…” which is followed by some very interesting statement and an illustration of the sentiment.

Every visitor seems to read them all, and once read, the viewer can’t help but feel that she has just spent a few moments with the artist and her mother in the flesh.

(more…)

both of these via craft - led gingerbread man at kitchen budapest on flickr. and felt gingerbread cuties by my paper crane

I love that ornaments come in all shapes and sizes and themes.

The Tardis [via extreme craft]

Mr Pickle from my paper crane

Santa squid