Workshop #2 - Knit a Bike for Le Tour Yorkshire

Everyone involved in our workshop!

On Thursday 22 May our workshop took over Rowntree Park Cafe.  Everyone soon got going with one or other of the projects.  Above you can see mini jerseys in the making and below - wheel, spokes and frame underway, not to mention a big jersey!

Arm knitting, finger knitting & big knitting

And pompoms were very popular this afternoon ...

Pompom makers extraordinaire

And more pompom makers

Pompoms & spots

Just needed to get those big jerseys done too ...

The final big knit jersey is underway

while the King of the Mountains gets his spots!

We had tremendous support today and people even brought in their homework!

Mini jersey homework!

Anyone wanting to knit a mini jersey to be used in our installation can find the pattern here.  Completed jerseys (only in yellow please) should be left at Rowntree Park Cafe before 6 June 2014.  

I think we've almost got a bike now.  I'm not showing you any more until we've put it up except this ...
 

More of the frame ...

and another wheel & spokes!

We've certainly got all the big jerseys (and some very cute little ones).  

Maillot blanc (well it is the Tour de France)

King of the Mountains

So what can I say?  Just a huge thank you to everyone who came along to #bepartofit. A big thank you too, to Rowntree Park Cafe for having us - fab tea & cake!
 
This project is sponsored by the Friends of Rowntree Park, is part of the Yorkshire Festival, the York: Be Part of it Festival Programme and is championing Craft & Design Month 2014.

Ghost Peloton - Leeds

The Ghost Peloton begins

On Friday night I went to see one of the Yorkshire Festival 2014 main events which was the Ghost Peloton.  It was fantastic.  I wasn't quite sure what to expect but think loads of cyclists in the dark, choreographed cycling to music whilst making amazing light patterns with their bikes and bodies.  And at the same time there's a huge screen featuring lights and dancers.  Can't quite imagine it? Well here are a few pics to give you a flavour ...

Fantastic choreographing

and colour

and light

and music (I know - you can't hear it!)

and without question amazing cycling!

The live performances were in Waides Yard, Leeds.  The Ghost Peloton is a collaboration between NVA and Leeds based Phoenix Dance Theatre with Sustrans, national cycling charity, as a partner, and featuring amazing cyclists (and friendly officials - this is Yorkshire after all).  Epic!

Workshop #1 - Knit a Bike for Le Tour Yorkshire

We took over 3 tables in the cosy basement

It was an exciting day for us on Saturday starting with an interview about the Knit a Bike Project on Radio York with Julia Booth. Then in the afternoon we had a fantastic turnout at our workshop at Your Bike Shed Bicycle Cafe in York.  Men, women and children all came along to lend a hand (and fingers and arms) to Knit a Bike.  Here are some of the photos:

Wheel weaving, knitting and pompoms all being made here

Chatting and knitting

Arm knitting and finger knitting underway

Everyone's very industrious

A big jersey on big needles

Fantastic pompom makers!

A finger knitted spoke is almost finished

Knitting so fast on those big needles it's all a blur!

Progress so far - half a bike!

Deborah and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along to #bepartofit and have a go.  Thanks too, to the Bicycle Cafe for making us welcome.  It was great to get all that knitting underway and have such a lovely lot of people to chat to along the way.  (Thanks also to Fiona from Cakes by No More Tiers & Alex for some of the photos.)

Our next Knit a Bike workshop is on Thursday 22 May from 2-4pm at Rowntree Park Cafe, Richardson Street, York, YO23 1JU.  Do come along - we've still plenty to do!

Sponsored by Friends of Rowntree Park

Find out more about:
Craft & Design Month 2014
Voluntary Arts Week
Yorkshire Festival 2014

The Knitting Mill - My New Toy

 

Knitting Mill

If you have ever tried French Knitting which produces a knitted cord you'll know that it is very time consuming to produce anything of any length.  Well - now you can buy a knitting mill which allows you to make this knitted cord at a rate of knots simply by turning a handle!

First round - yarn caught by 1st & 3rd hooks only

First of all you thread your yarn through the lower and upper guides on the mill.  Then whilst turning the handle clockwise make sure that only the first and third hooks pick up the yarn. On the next round all four hooks should pick up the yarn.  Make sure the weight is in position on the end of your cord and you can now pick up speed.  You have to move your weight up as your cord gets longer.  I attached it with a safety pin as this seemed easier than trying to get the rather thick hook on the weight through the cord itself.  Also it helps to give the cord a tug from time to time to make sure it is properly weighted down.  You do just need to keep an eye on it all to make sure everything is going smoothly.

Subsequent rounds - all hooks used and weight in place

Ideal set up for knitting mill!

In this photo you can see the full set up - weight attached to cord & yarn in a container to stop it rolling away.  A slatted table is particularly good as the cord can hang through the slats and the knitting mill can sit on the table. Without slats you have to hold the mill off the table so the cord can feed through the hole that runs up the middle of the knitting mill.

This is what it produces - I used double knitting yarn ...
 

Knitted cord from the Knitting Mill

I used my first attempt at knitted cord for my Le Tour Yorkshire mini jersey bunting part of the Knit a Bike project. 

Mini Tour Jerseys on Knitted Cord

Can't wait to make more!