Sunday 18 January 2015

Calling all creative crocheters and knitters


Why flower power, and why freeform?

It will be 50 years this coming November since the term 'Flower Power' was first coined in Berkeley, California, and used as a passive resistance slogan for non-violent protest against the Vietnam War.  By the 'summer of love' a few years later, the movement had spread; the term 'flower child' was synonymous with 'hippie', and a counterculture had sprung up embracing psychedelic music and art.  This art style is often recognizable from its simple, graphic, brightly coloured, poster-like designs; and as many flower children sought a return to basics and simple living, crafts had a resurgence, and a distinctive style of no-rules crochet sprang up as a small part of the hippie, grass roots ethos.

Why Sydney?

Fibrefest will be a new show for Sydney, but similar shows have been mounted in other Australian cities, and thousands of keen textile enthusiasts always attend.  The displays at these events are always innovative and exciting.  I have not only exhibited my own work at shows such as this one, but over the years I have also mounted a number of other joint displays, and they are always very well received.

How do I join?

You can be a part of this latest cooperative work by crocheting or knitting a bright and colourful flower motif (or a rainbow, or a peace symbol, or a heart, or graphic '60s-style sun or shooting star...or by creating a whole psychedelic scrumble) and then mailing it to me by March 8.  I will arrange everything that is received into a single cohesive design, and then I will join it all together into a huge wall-hanging. 

So unfortunately you won't get your contribution back, but as each piece is received I will document it here on this blog, and I will list everyone's name and location next to the artwork when is displayed.  The completed piece will be available for further exhibitions after the Sydney show.

So, the knitty gritty:

The bigger the better for any individual motifs, and you can certainly use a pattern if need be, but even if you haven't freeformed before it would be great if you could try to change the pattern slightly.  Don't panic if it doesn't turn out quite as you expected...after all, psychedelic images were often somewhat lopsided and misshapen, and I'm sure I will be able to work my magic to fit your piece into the whole.

There are no real rules, and I will aim to use all contributions, but note that I would prefer it if you didn't make your pieces too dense (I don't want the finished piece to end up weighing an absolute ton, so light or somewhat lacy is good), and it would definitely be best for the overall look of the finished work if you choose your colour palette from the brightest yarns you have available.

There is just one thing to keep in mind, though, if you are mailing from overseas: please don't incorporate any bits of untreated wood, or seeds, or fur, or feathers into your piece.  Our quarantine rules are very strict, and if anything looks too natural or untreated, then your piece probably won't make it through.  So if it doubt, leave it out.

Send your flowers etc to:

Prudence Mapstone
P O Box 5242
Daisy Hill,  Qld.,  4127
Australia

Mailing deadline for all contributions is March 8, 2015.

48 comments:

  1. What an awesome idea! I will send my contribution by the end of February when I have returned to my yarn stash. Wish I could be there to help you put it all together ... =)

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  2. fantastic, Marina; I'll look forward to receiving it

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  3. How big does the piece need to be? what thickness of wool should I use?

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  4. it's freeform, Jenny, so whatever size you wish to create will be good. you can also use any thickness of yarn...but if you decide to use very thick yarn throughout, it would make things easier for me it you did a fairly lacy piece, otherwise it will be too heavy and will be more difficult to incorporate into the whole without pulling other lighter pieces out of shape.

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  5. ooh sounds fun, I am in. will share on my page also.

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  6. that's great, Nancy and Donna. great to have you both onboard.

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  7. Far out! Count me in it's a great idea.

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  8. I'm in also, from The Netherlands. Starting crochet flowers soon!

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  9. fabulous! thanks for joining in, Judith and Siets

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  10. This sounds so amazing! Will try and get you something soon and will share on my page!

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  11. many thanks, Jen; that's terrific :-)

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  12. fantastic, Karen; i'll look forward to seeing what you come up with

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  13. This is a fabulous idea! Thanks for the invite.

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  14. hi Susan, hope you'll be able to send something

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    1. Of course I will participate, Lets not forget about the favorite colors of the the time orange and olive green! I had orange lamps, couch with orange and olive green flowers and flowers in my hair. My long straight hair that I had to Iron to get it straight . hehe

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    2. hehehe...and olive greens and oranges are still some of my favourite colours!! and that's really great that I can count you in too :-)

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  15. Love it i remember the era well. I think I'm still a hippie at heart!

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    1. then i hope that you'll find the time to do something as well, Lorraine ;-)

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  16. Haha, exciting!!! Will start something bright & psychedelic in the next days! ;-)

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  17. fabulous! i am so happy you will be sending something. i knew that you would already have a good stash of brightly-coloured yarns!! ;-)

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  18. Hi Prudence! I'm holding freeform crochet workshop here in Estonia in February and I'm pretty sure that all the participants would love to contribute!

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  19. wow, Marianne
    ...that would be fantastic :-)

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  20. I remember the flower power movement well. I had clothes with giant flowers on them. I'm a new freeformer and so excited to contribute. I hope my flower will be usable.

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    1. i'm sure it will be great, Marilyn. looking forward to seeing what you come up with

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  21. Far out, man! As a lifelong hippie and a freeformer, you know I'm in! *smile*

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  22. I'm in too
    Long time ago dear Prudence - but I think I still remember hov to freeform:)
    Love from Denmark

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  23. i'm so thrilled to have you both joining in, Barbara and Ingerlise.

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  24. Hi, I'll give it a go ;) will send something from new zealand... (not sure if i can post? i saw this link from facebook) Cath :D

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    1. that's great, Cath. would love to receive something from NZ. happy to have you onboard!

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  25. Great idea,I will be sending you some flowers,love to do them.

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    1. thanks so much Vi; I will be looking forward to getting your package and seeing the flowers you create

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  26. Thanks for posting the link to this blog on A Scrumble a Day. That is how I just found this new blog of yours for this project. I am keen to participate so I hope I can get some scrumbling done in time for you!

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    1. that would be fantastic, Jodie; i, too, hope that you will be able to contribute something :-)

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  27. Just shared on my Facebook page...so, does the piece need to reach you by March 8 or be "in the mail" by March 8? Thanks!

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  28. your package should be in the mail by March 8, Janet. that should give everything, even the pieces from overseas, plenty of time to get here, and will mean that i don't have to rush too much with the joining together.

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    1. Hi Prudence. I mailed my scrumble yesterday. Hope to see you in Sydney. Vicky Ledwy

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  29. I would like to send one of my pieces. I'll send it straight away from NYC. Are you on Instagram?
    NaomiRAG

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    1. that would be great, Naomi. it will still have plenty of time to arrive. my website it http://www.knotjustknitting.com, but i am not on Instagram; sorry!

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  30. Hi Prudence! Greetings from Oregon! I've started working on a sun for you, but I'm afraid that it's already too dense. You can see the face here: http://instagram.com/p/zF3RCJtctZ

    Should I start working on something smaller and lacier for you that meets with the project description, or keep going? Have a wonderful day.

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    1. oh, wow...it is amazing, and I will definitely make sure I find a place for it if you send it. I will need more solid pieces near the top to support the weight of the scrumbles below, so I should be able to work it in fine. I love it, so please do mail it across. cheers

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  31. Hi Prudence, I will be teaching a beginner's crochet class on 3rd March and immediately following that, a class on freeform. It would be fantastic to get them all involved in a piece that could be sent to you for your wall hanging! I wonder if your deadline to have it included he parcel datestamped before the 8th? I am in Brisbane so I guess it ought to get to you before the 8th if that's not the case but of course I wouldn't want to dissapoint anyone by saying it will definitely be included...what do you think?

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    1. the packages only need to be in the mail by March 8, so you will be fine. even if the overseas ones only get in the mail box in their country on March 8, they should all arrive in plenty of time for me to be able to include them. Will be looking forward to seeing what you send.

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  32. I have done my package last Friday at the mail.

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