Toronto Craft Alert

Photo courtesy of Robyn’s blog; http://myfairisle.blogspot.com

This just in from NFLD/NYC fibre artist extraordinnaire Robyn Love…a call for submissions of knitted or crocheted squares to put towards a massive piece of public art for the 2011 Cheongju International Craft Biennale! Robyn’s work is well known and loved for her understated and often profound takes on public art. The following text was scooped up from a recent post on her blog, My Fair Isle. Read on for the details you need to know to contribute, and drop Robyn a line at the email address at the end of this post to get her mailing address.

HELP ROBYN LOVE MAKE SQUARES FOR THE CHEONGJU AVENUE OF TREES!

From Robyn’s blog:

“This project will be installed along what is called The Avenue of Trees – a 5 km long avenue lined with London Plane trees (oddly enough, the very same tree that dominates our neighborhood in Queens). I will be installing squares of colour on each of the approx. 1500 trees that line the roadway to create a kind of rhythmic effect of slowly transitioning colour – think colour for music. Since the roadway really only accommodates cars, the piece needs to work at driving speed.

To that end, I am making single colour 50 cm (20 inch) squares that will be wrapped and tied to the trees for the duration of the Biennale. The coloured squares will be organized on site to create the patterns and transitions. Any colour can be used but the square needs to be one colour or stay in close range of tones in one colour. You can use crochet or knitting in any stitch and you can use any yarn you want: wool, acrylic, whatever. The only real guidelines are that it must be 50 cm/ 20″ square and it must be one colour.”

To knit a square:

Using worsted weight wool and size 10US/6mm needles, cast on 62 sts. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) until piece measures 50 cm/20″. Please check your gauge! You may need to change needle size or # of stitches to get the correct measurement.

To crochet a square:

Using worsted weight yarn and a G/4.5mm hook, chain 68, turn. Using single, double, triple, or any variations of those, proceed to crochet until piece measures 50 cm/20″. Please check the gauge! I tend to crochet very loosely, so you may need to chain more stitches at the start.

If you want to make a surface pattern on the square, by all means do so! These patterns are for the most basic square – you can improvise as you desire. Only, please use a single colour, although variations within that colour are ok i.e. a darker and lighter version together.

Deadline: September 3rd.

If you need to mail to me, please email me at thehousemuseum(at)gmail(dot)com and I will send you my address.

A million, zillion thanks!