Knit the (Pittsburgh) Bridge Project Going Strong

Samples of crocheted/knit panels for Knit The Bridge 

Pittsburgh, PA is known for many things -- a certain NFL team, sky high sandwiches, three meandering rivers -- and bridges. Come visit our fair city and you will be impressed by the iron structures that bring visitors and residents alike together.

A project is underway to bring even more attention to our bridges. Knit the Bridge is a grass-roots project organized by local community members to create a "large-scale, aesthetically stunning fiberart installation on a Pittsburgh bridge in conjunction with an international fiberart exhibit."

The word went out to handcrafters a few months ago that large panels of brightly colored yarn needed to be crafted to cover the railings on both sides of the Andy Warhol Bridge, the middle of Pittsburgh's Three Sisters bridges. That's all it took. Knitters and crocheters are by nature a kind, helpful lot who love to be part of things and have a purpose for the work they would do no matter what. 

Officially, the Knit the Bridge project was created in conjunction with Fiberart International 2013, being exhibited in Pittsburgh now through August, with the intention of celebrating the history of Pittsburgh as a city of bridges and steel as well as to celebrate the region’s thriving, contemporary arts scene. 

My friend's completed panel for Knit the Bridge

 

 

 

I  was fortunate to be able to attend one of the group meetings where crafters work on their own panels, sew donated squares together to make even more panels and re-purpose discarded yarn projects into panels. It was a great way to spend an evening, among friends I had just met. I hope to go back.

Once official permission to line the bridge with yarn is had, and that should occur soon, the panels will be installed on the bridge during the month of August and later taken down, cleaned and given to those who need a little handmade comfort in their lives.

Creative Spotlight

A cute birdie decoration

After keeping busy making baby blankets for nieces and daughters of friends, I made this cute little crocheted bird following directions at a great new crochet site I happened upon. Attic24 contains the creative crocheting energy of  Lucy who lives in Northern England.

What I really love about her patterns is the full bore use of color! Rainbow colors attract me every time. (I used to favor pastels, so much so that one visitor to this house when we first moved in thought I must be a perennial optimist because of the pastel color choices.) Now I lean more towards jewel tones, possibly a sign of maturity? Naw!

I hope you will visit Lucy's site. She has promised a new "creative mess" project soon, using buttons and bows and all sorts of things from her stash. Can't wait to see it!

 

In the meantime I am making a couple more birds for friends. I will post photos of them as they are done, like the cardinal above.

Creativity Tip No. 40

Halloween's a'coming!



I whipped up these Halloween potholders last year for my daughter-in-law to brighten up her kitchen. I crocheted them and had fun adding the details.

For those who crochet, basically you make two orange and two black circles, whatever size you want. Then you add little crocheted details, also simple, plus a little embroidery for the cat's whiskers and mouth.  Sew the two circles together and then crochet a short strip to be used as a hanger.

These are more decorative than useful.. If you really want to use them to hold hot pots, you will have to add some type of insulation between the two main circles. I prefer to hang them on the refrigerator where they make me smile and stay clean!