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by Molly McCall
Thu, January 11, 2007, 3:00 am PST

Time travel can be chilly. For that reason, seasoned practitioners sometimes sport curly mops of hair and a robust scarf—or at least, one of them did. In the annals of space-time transportation, few are as legendary as Tom Baker's Doctor Who. And in the ranks of time-traveling neckwear, none is as well-known as the good doctor's scarf. Show biz being show biz, several mufflers actually wrapped Who's neck over the course of Baker's tenure. The first established the pattern: lengthy, colorful, and striped. The second grew more complicated, but maintained the multicolored tassels and scarf-on-steroids length. Season 16's pattern, with its brightly dyed bands, is our most favorite. And the final iteration must have pleased those who liked their hero in more sober hues. (Potential knitters note: "The tassels should consist of the orange and burgundy colors only... (no purple).") Whatever your preference, you can follow these cheerful directions to knit your own. Blue police boxes not included.

by Maria Cianci
Sat, December 30, 2006, 3:00 am PST

Reacting to the Soviet invasion of their country in 1979, Afghani rug weavers began stitching complex war imagery into the time-honored designs of their renowned knotted Baluch rugs. Thus evolved "the war rug." How extraordinary to find numerous examples of these works of art—an ironic meshing of the worst (war) and best (traditional folk art) of humankind's capabilities—in one blog, the brainchild of Aussies Nigel Lendon and Tim Bonyhady. To appreciate the history and iconography of the rugs, weave through the precursors, propaganda, and interpretation categories. Entries like "Portrait Rug 3: Stalin," "Modernising traditional motifs," "Mystery fortress," and "Sometimes it's easy" give witness to the weavers' remarkable artistry and skill. And if you, too, become fascinated with these magical carpets, you can seek a dealer in war rugs.

Filed under: Blogs, Crafts, War, Design, Afghanistan

by Trystan Bass
Mon, December 18, 2006, 3:00 am PST

Neither a Devo fan site nor a meringue tutorial, Whip Up is dedicated to handcrafting in a hectic world. You don't have to be a domestic diva with a huge staff to string a pretty beaded bracelet or recycle a thrift-store sweater into a nifty purse. You just need a few minutes to enjoy making stuff with your own two hands. How about constructing Christmas stockings for the grown-ups in your life? Or giving handmade gifts to boys instead of more video games? Maybe that's a little radical, but it's still more fun than battling crowds at the mall. See what crafty artists are making of tight T-shirts and comic book covers, learn about the best quilting tools and safe dyeing tips, or snap pictures of your fabulous creations for the monthly contests. You too can whip it good—without breaking any eggs.

Filed under: Blogs, Crafts

by Jill Robinson
Sun, October 08, 2006, 3:00 am PDT

Tea cozies aren't just for Grandma anymore. Knitting has transcended the stereotype of expectant moms and grannies—now the young and hip have enlisted. Just over a year ago in Montrose, Texas, Knitta began as a way to find a home for wayward and unfinished projects. Today, a crew of guerilla knitters regularly hits the streets, dedicated to "warming the world, one car antenna at a time." They wrap trees, ketchup bottles, street poles, park benches, stair rails, and jump ropes with soft, brightly colored woolens. And that's just in New York City. They've also taken their knit graffiti to Washington, California, Arizona, Maryland, and Paris. Even the Great Wall of China has been "tagged" with the Seuss-inspired "knitta bombs." The revolution will not be chilly.
by Mike Krumboltz
Wed, March 15, 2006, 2:00 am PST

"What do they want? Public acceptance of male knitters! When do they want it? Now!"

Even in this diverse and accepting world, men don't often knit in public. They're too afraid of being laughed at. MenKnit.net wants guys to be loud and proud with their yarn and needles. True, the cause isn't exactly on par with women's suffrage or gay rights, but doesn't everyone deserve the right to construct a scarf without being mocked by insensitive bullies? The site's collection of photos should convince any bashful males they aren't alone. And the history of male knitting offers a look at the hobby's evolution and how men (yes, men!) "invented" the pastime. Come on, men! One, two, three, four -- what are we knitting for?

Filed under: Crafts, Men, Knitting


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