A Little Book of Craftivism

Hey y'all.
We were in the new Rough Trade shop in Williamsburg today.  Funny, but most of the customers were "of a certain age," not unlike your hooker here.  Absolutely gorgeous shop, omfg! Oh, and?  Freaking PRICEY!!!!  We paid $15 for a CD that was less than half that on iTunes!!! But that's not the point here.

While there, I came across this awesome book: A Little Book of Craft Activism.  What a fabulous little tome!  Sarah Corbett shares messages of hope and awareness through her cross-stitching and through her craft, tilts the world in a direction of greater justice.  Her work is really inspiring and humbling.  While I don't know that I can commit fully to doing work as she does, it definitely has me thinking about how to better use my love of crochet and knitting to do something more. 

There is also this (not exactly new) book: Craft Activism, by Joan Tapper and Gale Zucker - another fabulous book filled with ideas for becoming more politically involved via your craft.  Whether it's as simple as exposing others to the beauty and creativity of working with one's hands (especially that which is more readily considered "women's work"), to raising awareness of endangered species, the importance of recycling, or crafting for a cause, this book shines a light on the many areas where craft makes a difference in people's lives.  Oh, and it has awesome patterns, to boot!

While I generally have my head firmly up my ass when it comes to connecting the crafts I love with make the world a better place, these books remind me that it's not all about me.  Or you, for that matter.  

I am humbled by these women and inspired to do more.  Let's see if I do!

Vintage Hooking Rediscoveries

I was doing some post-Nemo (big-ass blizzard, for those in a cave) poking around my studio and happened upon a stash of vintage goodness I'd not seen in a while. One was this treasure, "Fourteen Filet Crochet Sweaters" by Emma Farnes. Based on the clothing worn by the models and by the nouveau-style font used on the cover, I would have guessed these were from around 1915-1918. But if the newspaper clipping from "American Farmer" inserted long ago is a clue, it seems to be from around 1921. Oh well, my bad.

But I thought all one of you might enjoy seeing some of these beauties and the scanty instructions that accompany them.

 Besides the Filet discovery, I also came across these gems.  One thing I absolutely love about vintage pattern books are the marks left by their former owners. (Actually, that's one of the things I love about used cookbooks, too). Take Collingbourne's, for example.  Apparently, someone didn't care so much for the artistic crochet contained within these pages, as she (I presume) glued other patterns straight over them!  Virtually every page has been rethought with an "improved" pattern glued over the inferior one.

 Another favorite, and among the books that compelled this hooker to bloody learn to knit,  are these copies of Leach's.  Take a look.  Do I really have to explain?  I mean, that cape is faaaaaaabulous!

2013

Your Subwayhooker has been out of circulation for way too long and nary the day passes when she doesn't feel the burning desire to share a mot, Bon or no, with what appears to be some regular visitors.  Imagine my surprise to see that some of you haven't given up on me.

Rather than annoy the lot of you with maudlin excuses, lets just jump into it, shall we?

If memory serves ( and that's a stretch these days), I may have shared my admiration, nay, obsession with Japanese crochet and knit design. Witness the latest result of my dropping copious yen at Kunokuniya Books near Bryant Park:

First of all, the sweet, sweet sweater on the cover is crocheted ohmigod. But this simple cover taint nothing compared to the treats that await inside. Check out this awesome cowl that I think would work well with a bit o' Lion Brand Amazing yarn:

They also have this fabulosity within:

Check it out - the neck and bottom opening are offset to create a whole Commes des Garçon vibe, which your Hooker thinks is hot hot hot.

But the Japanese aren't the only ones doing this right. For all over quality, it's really tough to beat the German publication Filati Handknitting for cool and sophisticated design. The issue I picked up (50, if you must know) is chock full of breathtaking designs for home and human.

A sample:

And another:

Rather than drag this post out, lemme sign off for now and start working on making more eye grub for y'all!

TTFN!