Back to the Future: Knitting & Crocheting Trends: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow...

Life moves in a circle where fashion trends travel around from generation-to-generation like the DeLorean in our cherished Back-to-the Future saga.  Knitting and crocheting are no exceptions to this reality. 

  What's that?  You still have this iconic 1970s poncho tucked away in your attic, rescued from your childhood closet.  Mine was purple and cream, and when I inevitably lost interest in wearing this fun alternative to a sweater, Mom sewed up the middle and voila, I had a comfy afghan no longer measured by the fashion scale of the times.  My new afghan was always in season when I sought physical and emotional warmth. (Mayo Performing Arts Center)

New Millennium Poncho

Our New Millennium poncho has a lot more sass, but yesterday's influence gives a nice shout-out from the cowl neck.  

 (Red Poncho - Purple Kitty Yarns Free Pattern)

(moddeals.com - Beige Poncho) 

Back to the Future 2015

(Back to the Future II)

Tim Flattery, concept artist and designer who created a 2015 
Back to the Future Part II that levitates, sports hoverboards and electronic gadgets for instant necessities.   You can see from his illustrations that he nailed a lot of it.  But, we're still patiently waiting for the flying cars and the robot-run gas stations.  

As for hoverboards, Hendo Hoverboards blazed this new frontier six months ago for use in warehouses and factories.  It's just a matter of time we're zipping to the minute mart for nachos on one...welcome brave new world.

Wearable Technology

(Wearable Technology- The KipstR wristband tracks 

when you fall asleep, and sets your TV 

to record the rest of the show.)

Flat Screen TV

(Newsweek.com - CBS.com)

(Sharp Aquos LED TV)

Video Photo Album

Digital Photo Album

(Sears)

 Kitchen

 (Newsweek.com)


Here's Snaidero-USA version

 (Snaidero.com - Acropolis)

  Back-in-the-Day

So I started thinking about 40 and 50 years ago in the 1960s & 1970s.  Our yesterday knitters and crocheters are not so far behind us.  In fact, what was yesterday found new popularity in new generations who never touched a transistor radio or polaroid camera.

Let's hop into our First Tuesday-Third Wednesday DeLorean and see where a few of today's knit and crochet fashion firsts came out to play.  And how we added our New Millennium swag.    (Chrissy Growing Hair Doll - Hub Pages)

I had a few of these vests I crocheted with a lot of help.  And yes, First Tuesday-Third Wednesday members, I crocheted them with the help of a very patient angel called Mom.  My hands remembered knitting after a (clearing throat) years hiatus, but my hands experienced amnesia when it came to crocheting.  2015 is when I give my memory a swift kick.  You read it here first. 

Sadly, knitted and crocheted vests and shells haven't sashayed their way back onto the New York and Paris runways.  Their replacement--shrugs and boleros--are now a favorite go-to for today's picky fashionistas and busy Joans. 

 (Pinterest.com - onestopplus.com)

(Let's Knit - Free Broomstick Crochet Shrug Pattern)

(Easy Lace Knitted Shrug - Free Pattern - Lion Brand.com)

(Crocheted Bolero)

 

 (The Retro Stop)

But wait...shrugs and boleros didn't just spring up in the New Millennium, our great grandmothers also crafted and wore these timeless pieces that turned a boring dress into a fashion show-stopper.

We can pump up our chests for technology innovations, so let's give it up for our knitting/crocheting trail blazers who created the patterns and shared them with the world.    

The Future Awaits 

What can we expect in our knitting and crocheting world 20 years from now?  

Most likely what was popular now will become popular again--but taken up a notch.  You do remember the circle analogy.  

Like the wheels on a Mini Cooper, we go round and round.  Since I don't have a time machine in my knitting bag, I'll let my laptop keys do the surfing and see what we find.

Without tapping my enter key, I can hazard a guess that technology will enter our craft world in an even bigger way in the future.  (We love to have our tablets with us during our First Tuesday-Third Wednesday get-togethers.) 

I see computerized stitch counters and markers.  A computer-driven machine that creates our beautiful cables.  But won't we lose something dear in the process?  

There's something about the rhythm of the needles, the passing through the yarn--and the excitement we feel when a pattern takes shape that a gadget can't duplicate.  Do we really want machines deleting this treasured process that gives us many hours of enjoyment? 

Do I need to press the return, or hop into the DeLorean and see what our knitting/crocheting world will be like 20 years from now?  

I agree.  We'll see it when we get there.

 (The Jetsons)

So sit back and enjoy 2015, and all the joy you'll craft into your life.   A quote to live by:  Today is a good day for a good day.

Happy New Year!

First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Knitting & Crocheting Club

(cable knitted chair cover)

 (free pattern)

 So far so good, snow drifts have stayed away and the temperatures are no sweat thanks to our hand-knitted/crocheted caps, scarves and headbands.  

Did you like that segue?

We've extended the time for our Love Headbands and Caps for the children at Shriner's Hospital and the blocks for our Compassion Afghan.  Don't forget to bring your lovely creations for girls and boys to our February get-togethers.

 (Knitted Valentine Envelope)

Our next gatherings are Tues., 2/3 at Glenside Library and Wed., 2/11.  Feel free to wear red or pink to celebrate Valentine's Day. (If you so incline.)

                                  January's First Tuesday

We had a wonderful time.  I enjoyed your stories:  Alice, Elise and Linda.  Our humble group has fascinating members, so starting with our next blog, we'll profile those who are willing to share, throughout the year.   It's completely voluntary.

Speaking of interesting folks, we had quite a few visitors and little visitors (there to see the movie, Frozen) drop in to say hello, and to find out what we were up to.  It was great!

Congratulations, Linda on your first headband!  I'll have the photo up on the blog shortly.  I'm still learning my phone.  If you took a photo, please email it to me. 

We'd also like to welcome Crocheter Kathleen to our fabulous group of passionate knitters and crocheters.  We meet monthly the first Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:45 at Glenside Library and the Third Wednesday at Elkins Park Library.  You can stop by at any point during this timeframe.  We hope to see you next month.

Well, that's it for now...short and sweet.

Happy Knitting!  Happy Crocheting!

It's a Felt World After All!

It's our birthday!  Break out the hats, balloons, cake and ice cream...we're in celebration mode.  Partay!

In a not so faraway land, there was a youngish woman who lived in a brick twin-- and when she wasn't paying attention, she re-discovered her knitting passion, despite a lengthy hiatus.  

One day, she decided that she needed a few knitting and crocheting friends to craft with for a couple of hours once or twice a month--while sipping and noshing on coffee and sweets.  To her surprise, this fairytale came-to-life with a happy beginning.

We're celebrating our one year birthday!  I conceived it in my head in 2012, and finally birthed it in 2013, as soon as Stephanie Campbell, Glenside Library's Head Librarian, gave me the go-ahead.    

So, on the First Tuesday of October 2013, I nervously entered Glenside Library's meeting room with my two picnic baskets full of yarn, knitted cell phone purses and a dream, afraid I would enter an empty room. 

Smiling faces greeted me with more following behind, and it hasn't stopped since.  And that's how the First Tuesday Knitting & Crocheting Club was born.  In January 2014, we added the Third Wednesday at Elkins Park Library with the support of Head Librarian, Beth Cackowski.   

 (ThinkOldThinkNew-Etsy.com)

And to our members, thanks for your commitment to sharing your awesome talents.   Okay, I promise not to get mushy.   But when knitters and crocheters come together, crafting miracles happen that many can enjoy for years to come.  

 

It's a Felt World 
After All!

Oh yeah, it's a felt world after all… and as the temperature drops, we'll be grabbing for felted everything and a nice cup of cocoa.  
Karen felted the beautiful entrelac knitted handbag above.  It has a wonderful Art Deco feel that I love. The Entrelac stitch has its own unique beauty--felting it, adds an extra wow!  
This exotic felt wrap, styling ever so elegantly on my left--also gives homage to yesterday's fashion as today's treasure.

It reminds me of the second generation 1930s mink stole my Aunt Betty wore on her cold weather visits from Brooklyn.  She always smelled of expensive perfume and sweet peppermints.  Needless to say, I kept plenty of peppermints in my cheeks and stayed sweetly scented when Aunt Betty and Uncle Jay came to town.                                                      (Felt Scarf  - above)

 Aah… don't you just love them?  Felts take me back to the past, a time when things seemed less complicated.  Felting can be a little physical if you're doing it old school, i.e. manually.  But with today's high speed front-loaders on the scene, it can be done in a breeze.
(orange cloche - funkshui.com)

(Rare Birds)

And it doesn't stop with hats and scarves, felting was also made for walking in these lightly hand-felted crocheted slippers below.

These delicate slippers are made from three different yarns in an azure, French blue and citrus mix.  The edging is crocheted with pure wool in mushroom and lightly hand felted.  This process helps keep its shape and is available at: White Noise Maker on Etsy.com.

Crochet felting like knit felting is a great way to add distinctive flair to a lot of goodies we use on a daily basis.   If you're anything like me, you're always searching for easy ways to carry your craft paraphernalia.  Twitter's @ACuriousGirl13 made this cute crochet hook roll.  

 (crochetconcupiscience)

I couldn't find this free crochet pattern on the website it directed me to, but I found this non-felted crochet rollup pattern.  You can choose your wool and felt away! 

(allcrafts.blogspot.com)

Tis the Season to be Felted

In a few weeks, we'll be entering the happy felt season from cozy hats and gloves to striking wreaths and ornaments.

(woolysomething)

(curbly.com)

Home Sweet Felted Home

Felt Furnishings take it up a notch, beautifying our nests.  I can't get enough of this poppy color in the cloche at the beginning of our adventure and on this ruffled pillow in society's favorite mid-century modern chair--the Eames chair.

(Etsy.com)

I think the accent pillow above was hand-knitted.  Now let's take a quick visit to felted furniture land.

(Felt Fusion by Tash Wesp)

The Muchas Rosas chair by Ricrea-

You want a rosy disposition?  Sit in this head-turning chair made of a ton of felted roses.  Look, but you can't sit--that would be my motto if I had this baby in my living room.  How would you clean it?  But it sure is pretty.

Happy Felting!

(October-Breast Cancer Awareness Month)

First Tuesday & Third Wednesday 

Knitting & Crocheting Club

(Etsty.com)

As I mentioned earlier, we're celebrating our first birthday.  And yes, the cupcakes and goodies are on their way.  We'll have to get over our camera shyness though.   But first, we want to welcome our newest members:  Yolanda, Shilpu and her nine-year-old daughter Jiya who took to crocheting like a minnow to a stream.  Great job, Jiya!  

Oops... one got by me!

Happy Birthday, Joquina!   Her birthday was 10/13.  Don't forget to send her your belated birthday wishes.  

And a second Oops, In Our 9/24 blog post, "Show-n-Tell, Not Just for Grade-Schoolers..."  the blue shawl that Iman modeled was actually knitted by Karen.  Sorry, for the error. 

Now, let's recap our fun year, shall we?                                

Thank you, Glenside and Elkins Park Libraries, for keeping us caffeinated and munching on delicious biscotti. 

Hooray!  

We've past the 1000 mark!  We have 1016 page views on our blog-- firsttuesday-thirdwednesday.blogspot.com.  

124 Google+ followers and 32, 473 views.  We're also on Pinterest and  Facebook  .

We have 24 likes on Facebook, but we need more!  Send your family and friends our Facebook link  so we can reach 100 or more by January 1st 2014.  That's our challenge!  Can we do it?  Let's give it try.  It starts with you.  Like us on Facebook and then spread the word.  And don't Forget Google+ 

A special thanks to our favorite head librarians, Stephanie (Glenside Library) and Beth (Elkins  Park) for not saying no, when I asked to start a knitting/crocheting club.

Thanks to all our members for their dedication, contributions, smiles, laughter and encouraging words.

Audrey created our artistic name place cards for us, and taught Sixteen-year-old Tanya how to knit.  Toni inspired us to Show-n-Tell.  Linda supplied our first yummy treat in December.  Kathy baked up delicious Hamantash, one of my favorite sweets.  Sixteen-year-old Samir also showed off his baking skills with a delicious chocolate layered cake.  Mary kept us in mini cupcakes.  Thank you, Karen for supplying us with larger coffee cups.  

We love our coffee!   

Thanks, Cheri in advance, for helping me with the member contact list.  Iman, thank you for sharing your story.   Thanks Sally, for keeping us laughing.  Dawn and Karen... you two are the cable queens.  Joquina, you make sure we each get a Show-n-Tell turn.  

Last Spring, we launched our first Chat & Chew at the Hibachi Grill and had a blast!  Speaking of Chat & Chew...

Our Fall Chat & Chew is Just Around the Corner!

On Saturday, November 1, we're celebrating Fall and our birthday at Da Bistro Mediterranean Grill at 11:30 to 2 p.m.  Please RSVP by Friday, October 31.  Feel free to bring your crochet/knitting and a craft friend.   We can chew, chat and craft to our heart's content.

Don't worry, if you miss it, we'll have another celebration in our knitting/crocheting room, soon,

Compassion Afghan for a Dialysis Patient

First Tuesday 11/4 & Third Wednesday 11/19 in November are when we're turning in our 10x10 knitted/crochet blocks.  We'll discuss our weaving strategy and set a time at our two sessions.

Our Next Project...  headbands for girls and skull caps for boys battling diseases.  Elise already made a great start.  She finished several at our last First Tuesday session.  Great Job, Elise!

Yarn Bombing Anyone?

Elkins Park Library gave us permission to do a small yarn bomb project.  We probably have only a month to keep it up, but it would be nice to show the visitors that we're there.  Anyone interested in lending at hand, let me know by Friday, 11/7. 

See you on Saturday!

"Show and Tell"...Not Just for Grade Schoolers

Welcome to the start of a new school year, a new season and a new chapter for many, including our First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Knitting & Crocheting Club.

We couldn't let children have all the fun, now could we?  At our Third Wednesday session, held in September only on Monday, 9/14 -- we incorporated a twenty minute Show and Tell at the start of our two-hour session.   It's a good thing we added 30 minutes to our crafting fun.  We now meet from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., monthly on the first Tuesday and Third Wednesday, and the reason for our catchy name. 
(Above - dhgate.com)

 (Karen's Socks)

 (Craftsy,com)

Well actually, most of the knit/crochet eye-candy you'll enjoy in today's post were modeled before we made the Show and Tell official.

Of course, we ran over our guesstimated time -- but we still crafted away as we rattled off questions and examined everyone's masterpiece with an inquisitive and appreciative eye. 

 Yes, the reviews are out for our debut Show and Tell.  It was a great opening night, and we look forward to many more.

And Away We Go!

With Autumn now upon us, we're picking up the pace with our pre-holiday projects.  
Before you know it, we'll begin to nest as we watch the leaves and temperatures drop from inside our safe cocoon we call home.
(Above - digsdigs.com)

 (Karen's Top Knitted)

Changing leaves and cooler temperatures not only represent knitters'/crocheters' delight, but also announce that it's time for the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, New York on Saturday, October 18, 2014.  This festival bus trip is sponsored by The Tangled Web, Philadelphia's source for knitting, needlepoint and more… located at 7709 Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.

Our festival-bound bus departs promptly from The Tangled Web at 6:45 a.m. and departs the festival at 4:00 p.m. Click on either link above for bus trip info. and to save your seat.  Click here for the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival's website.

Here's a sneak peek of the festival's fun. 

 (Fairgrounds)

 (Vendor Hooking)

(Vendor's Booth)

                (Smiling Sheep)

Look at that smile, he's telling you to come and join the fun.

  

Speaking of fun ...Oh yeah, We're Been Busy!

 Julia's Bracelet

(Above-Karen's modeling                                     (Above right-Iman's shawl)
her top-knitted sweater.)        

 (Iman's Shawl)

No way did the dog days of summer stop our First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Knitting & Crocheting Club from knitting poolside at beach destinations, crocheting at picnic tables during family reunions, and doing both at historical landmarks overseas.  Our prized possessions -- a crochet hook, a pair of needles and our trusty yarn didn't stray far from our carry-on luggage, picnic baskets and beach bags.  

I Owe You
In upcoming posts, we'll highlight our members, the yarn, stitches, patterns and stories behind their work.  

Cyber-crafters, you won't be left out either, feel free to hit the comment button and share your stories until your heart's content.

But for now, I'm happy to entice you with our members' lovely projects, as I don my Sherlock Holmes hat and give you more info. in a bit. 

First Tuesday-Third Wednesday's Knitting & Crocheting Club  at Glenside Library and Elkins Park Library --

6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Join Us for Our Second Chat & Chew

We're excited to announce our 2nd Chat & Chew, celebrating our October -- one year anniversary.  That's right, we started the first Tuesday in October, 2013.  Join us as for lunch as we chat, chew, knit/crochet at Da Bistro on Saturday, November 1, from 11:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Check out the Menu.  And don't forget to bring your crochet hooks and knitting needles.

Put on Your Thinking Cap

Besides the Chat & Chew, do you have any additional ideas on how we can celebrate this momentous occasion?  This inquiring mind wants to know.

Compassion Afghan

Our 10x10 knit/crochet blocks are coming along nicely, thanks to all of you.  There's still time to get yours in.  We'll construct them together in November, and present the afghan in December to a dialysis patient.
 

A Little Library Birdie Told Me...

There will be a craft swap in October at Glenside Library.  I'll give you the details when I get them.

(Toni's Socks)

A Sock Workshop
Just in time for Your Holiday 
Gift-Giving...

We're planning a sock workshop conducted by our own Toni on an upcoming Saturday morning at either Glenside or Elkins Park Library.  I'll let you know when we firm up a date and time.

Yarn Bombing at Elkins Park Library?

All systems are a go!  Do you have knitted/crocheted scraps from unfinished projects?  We can use them for our yarn bombing.  Let me know if you'd like to participate in a small yarn bomb project to let visitors know, there's a fun knitting/crocheting club at their favorite hangout. 

(Entrelac Tree)

Children's Hat/Headband Project

We're also in the early stages of planning a hat/headband project for girls and boys, battling illnesses.

Introducing... Navaho Ply Knitting in 

Knit Purl Magazine 

 Knit-Purl Magazine

In this issue, we explore striking knit-purl combinations, big gauges, bold color work, tailored sweaters, cool accessories, and more!

Michelle Hunter introduces us to "Navajo ply knitting," an innovative technique that allows for quick changes between single and triple-strand knitting.  And then we step into the world of New York Fashion Week with the work of a budding knitwear designer. Handknit designer John Brinegar brings us two exclusive designs and talks to us about his work, life, and favorite yarns.

Happy New Year!

What was that?  Okay, I guess I'm rushing things.  I hear you… can we enjoy fall first?  I can't help it, I already have 2015 on the brain.  

Would you like a knitwear or crochet-wear designer to stop by and talk to our humble group?  We'll pull our connections together and see if we can make this happen.

Well, that's all for now.  Happy crafting!