Knitted Links

This morning I am a happy man. Don't you just love it when things are going well and the future seems bright!

Yesterday was so much fun with the regular and new members of the Idle Hands crafting community. People shared and developed their skills, sad looking everyday objects got some fiber love and we even recruited a few new members.

Now there is talk of having a crafters event this winter at the ABC Treehouse and so I am excited to be on the planning team of that. I will keep you posted on it's progress. All I know for now is that Maila from Penelope Craft is totally on board. Good news!

In other plans to work together with fellow yarn organizations, the Yarnies Picnic is still in the early planning stages but there is so much excitement and enthusiasm amongst crafters about it that it can only be a success. 

Now I am going to sit and wait for Tuesday night's Idle Hands Delft group so that I can be around some more yarnies doing what they do best. Gossiping.

Knitting at the Amsterdam Urban Cultural Event

This was fun. A day in the Spui outside the American Book Center in Amsterdam with good friends, lots of yarn and loads of people thinking that knitting and crochet is great! It was fun to plan and promote with the ABC and Donna on the Amsterdam English Breakfast Radio Show. I love going on there. I am so vain! I even watched it back online in the evening. 

I want a chat show. I WANT ONE!!!!

New faces joined with the lovely Malia and Sanne who we all really hope become regular faces at Idle Hands Amsterdam and all the other events that we are going to do!

It was great to get together and bond over small pieces of knit and crocheted fabric. Marjan finally came out of the closet and crocheted in public realizing that it's actually appreciated when people do nice things in public and that they won't spit at her for making lovely chains of flowers to cheer up a lonely tree.

The event attracted quite a number of people, some who came and sat with us and others who took photos, business cards and asked about the Idle Hands meetings that take place in Amsterdam every Wednesday. There was even interest from a rather handsome Irishman who learned to knit as a child; I hope that he comes!

There have also been lots of ideas about the Fourth Wednesday Workshops. Sanne is going to take the first one which will be in lace knitting. I think that it's going to be a popular one and will be interested to see the reaction to the Facebook event page that I will make for it.

Rick was the planner of the Urban Cultural Event and we chatted after about having a crafter's weekend event with all kinds of things going on. We could have it at The Treehouse and try to get some big names involved. I like this idea and will work on it with Malia and Pauline to make the proposal in a few weeks.

It really feels like big things are beginning and I like the way it feels!

Guerilla Knitting and Graffiti Crochet!

This is exciting! Idle Hands will be a part of their first professional engagement and it's set to be a good one!

The Amsterdam Urban Culture Event was first held last year by the American Book Center on Spui. This year the graffiti artists will return to pimp up people's sneakers, umbrella's, nans and whatever and we will be there to bring some well-needed yarn art to the otherwise sad and chilly-looking local benches, lampposts and railings. We may even give the odd parked bicycle a bit of a spruce with some cheeky knitted and crocheted bands of colour and love!

I am hoping that we will be able to have a repeat of the success that we experienced on World Wide Knit in Public Day. Although why can't everyday be a World Wide Knit in Public Day?

World Wide Knit in Public Day!

What a great day! Good weather, great people and a wonderful response from so many people! Sitting here in the window seat at Cafe Luxembourg on the Spui in Amsterdam we were quite the tourist attraction!

Starting in Den Haag with the gang from Woool we made some new friends and built up the connections between knitters across The Netherlands! 

Taking our WIP's on tour we knitted on the train all the way to Amsterdam where we found Saskia doing her bit for the cause on a bench surrounded by interested viewers she knit away on her random project of green madness and then wore it like a fabulous knitting busker (perhaps this is something for next year?!!).

The evening ended nicely with vodka tonics and tired fingers.

Now we are all looking forward to the Amsterdam Urban Cultural Event! Spannend!