Not a poem, but a very cute porcupine.

It’s all about a poem, one to be knit by You. Just imagine – knitters around the world, click, clacking away as they contribute to the world’s first giant knitted poem. Plus, ArtYarn has launched a new social networking site for contemporary knitting and crochet called Subversive Yarn. England’s Poetry Society is celebrating its centenary year. Picture working on a humungeous poem, one letter at a time, and not knowing what the poem will say. That’s what it’s all about. Have they chosen a sonnet by Shakespeare? One by Byron, Shelley or Keats? Elizabeth Barrett Browning? Or a modern and cutting edge poet?

Time to pick up the sticks and knit some poetry!

From Art Yarn’s blog:

To celebrate, knitters everywhere are invited to knit a poem one letter at a time. The final poem, in all its knitted glory will be revealed at the end of the centenary year.

Packs will be available soon, featuring knitting templates, and instructions. There will be opportunities for experienced knitters and beginners alike.

To register your interest, send your contact details to:

Rebecka Mustajarvi
Email: officeassistant AT poetrysociety.org.uk
(please use @ instead of AT when sending your email). Or (if you don’t have email)

Post: PLEASE INCLUDE AN SAE
Rebecka Mustajarvi
Knit a Poem
The Poetry Society
22 Betterton Street
London
WC2H 9BX

P.S. – You might like to join ArtYarns new social networking site: Subversive Yarn. It’s all about contemporary knitting and crocheting. Cool stuff. Join in the fun.

The amazing, musical Knittophone

This is a Kittophone. Developed by Azusa Murakami, it’s a “new type of musical instrument” that utalizes knitting – yes, knitting – to convey the joy of making music. Sounds strange and amazing, doesn’t it? Well, you’re right. It is. But it’s also quite fascinating and beautiful. This piece is from artyarn.org, a great blog site.

‘Knittophone is a new type of musical instrument. It uses knitting to communicate the joy of music making and practice through rhythm, pattern, structure, language and repetition. By learning how to knit and to translate musical notations into patterns, the user will be able to construct a visual record of their improvement. The Knittophone can then be swiped over the surface of the knitting which translates the patterns into music.

‘The knitted and paper patterns on the right produce the tune of ‘Happy Birthday’ when scanned. The patterns in the piece on the left produce an abstract sound as an interpretation of the knitted pattern.

Azuza Knits

In this piece, Azusa knits with needles that produce a sound which alters in pitch throughout the length of the needle. When the piece of knitting then passes through the laptop reader, the pattern is interpreted into sound and produces a bass tone. The two sounds together, the act of knitting and the reading of the pattern make music.

KNITTOPHONE is displayed in the ‘Making Fun Serious‘ exhibition by Design Projects Royal Collect of Art YAMAHA Project, as part of the Futuresonic Festival in Manchester.

Azuza’s amazing and artful blog is here.