CraftSanity with Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

This week’s guest is Betty Christiansen, a 37-year-old freelance writer, editor and knitter living in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. She is the author of an inspiring new book called “Knitting For Peace: Make the World a Better Place Once Stitch at a Time.”

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This is a bit of a departure from my usual crafty offerings, but it's creative, artistic and worthy of a mention none-the-less. Last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting Sami Mermer, a filmmaker from Turkey, who is screening his first full-length film "The Box of Lanzo" (see clip) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 at the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids.

Click here to listen to my interview with Mermer.

The film shows his efforts to make a film about homeless people in Grand Rapids while he struggled to obtain refugee status in the United States, a request that was ultimately denied. 
 
Interspersed with documentary style interviews with homeless people are dramatizations of Mermer's repeated run-ins with FBI agents who questioned him about why he was filming in the city. His Middle Eastern appearance and penchant for video and still photography drew unwanted attention from law enforcement in a post-9/11 world, but he pressed on with his film project which offers an outsider' s view of Grand Rapids and the homeless people who live there. Like the homeless men he features, Mermer was displaced and searching for a place to call home. The story is intriguing.
 
Friday's benefit screening will be a rare opportunity to view and discuss the film with Mermer before he moves to Morocco next week with his wife, Hind Benchekroun
 
Attendees are encouraged to make a $10 donation at the door. Proceeds from Friday's event will help Mermer finance the remainder of his project. A special reception and discussion will take place from 9 to 9:30 p.m. A benefit celebration with live entertainment and a painting exhibition will follow at 10 p.m.
 

We had a record number of entries from quilters and non-quilters, alike. Thanks to everyone who participated. And a special thanks to authors and FunQuilts owners, Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr for donating the books!

The three randomly selected winners of the "Color Harmony For Quilts" giveaway are: Brooke Mylrea, of Minneapolis, Minn., Kevin Kosbab, of Philadelphia, Penn., and Beth Howard, of Nashville, Tenn. Kevin and Beth are experienced quilters, while Beth is getting started. I'm sure all three will enjoy the book that will be arriving soon in their mailboxes! Congrats to each of you!

Check out the gallery to see the fantastic quilt photos submitted by CraftSanity listeners.

This week CraftSanity features an interview with Melissa Alvarado and Hope Meng who, along with their friend Melissa Rannels, co-own Stitch Lounge, an urban sewing studio in San Francisco and co-authored the fabulous refashioning book "Sew Subversive: Down & Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista."

Tune in to hear the story of how these three crafty women stitched their way into business and the wonderful world of crafty book publishing.

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In my not-so-spare time, I write book reviews for The Grand Rapids Press where I work as a staff reporter. Here's my review of "Knit 2 Together" that appeared Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006.

By Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
The Grand Rapids Press

I know what you're thinking: "What does Tracey Ullman -- the famous comedian and actress -- know about knitting?"

Well, I haven't had the opportunity to knit with her, but it's clear she knows enough to collaborate with a pro. "Knit 2 Together" (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 168 pages, $27.50) is a fantastic knitting book that Ullman co-authored with knitwear designer Mel Clark.

Ullman met Clark at Wildfiber, Clark's knitting shop in Santa Monica, Calif., and asked her if she'd like to write a book. The result is a collaboration that is wonderful for veteran knitters and rookies alike.

Clark cooked up all 32 patterns while Ullman supplied the star power, humor and newbie knitter perspective. So, relax all you crafty skeptics, Ullman doesn't have to be a knitting expert because she collaborated with one. And readers don't have to be experts either. A "knitting basics" section includes detailed photos that clearly illustrate how to cast on, knit, purl and bind off, so beginners don't have to miss out on the fun.

Clark's designs give readers ample reason to pick up those pointy sticks and retrieve a fantastic yarn from their stash. Likewise, Ullman's humorous knitting bits -- ranging from reports of sex talk at the knit shop table to an outrageous tale of a runaway yarn ball -- can keep folks entertained when it's time to take a break from the stitching.

The patterns include a flirty, vintage inspired "Saucy Apron," a "Tutu Tea Cozy," comfy "House Slippers," and a "Grownup Bonnet," which is essentially a ribbed scarf with a toasty hood attached. The book also includes patterns to make sweaters and hoodies, a stuffed mouse family, a lovely baby cape, a super herringbone "Doctors Bag" purse (large enough to transport knitting and other craft projects with ease), a dress and a simple striped tie that would be fun to stitch for any fiber-tolerant male.

The patterns range from beginner to expert. If you're an expert, skip right to page 136 and get going on the sophisticated "Ponsonby Suit," a tailored jacket and skirt that looks store-bought. And if you want to add a little whimsy to your life, knit the green "Sea Anemone" felted messenger bag complete with 75 orange tentacles hanging off the flap. And if you really want to make a statement, make the "Knit 2 Together Sweater," for two pictured on the cover and go for a stroll with someone dear.

Star power or not, this book is worth checking out.

As promised, here's a look at the cute little purse Hannah Rogge made out of one of my CraftSanity T-shirts. It's complete with a hot pink zipper and hand stitching to match the screen print. I love it! Thanks again, Hannah. I think I might make a couple more for my girls.

If you haven't already, I invite you to check out CraftSanity Episode 42 to hear Hannah Rogge's story and learn about her first book, "Hardwear; Jewelry From A Toolbox." Her next book is all about T-shirt refashioning, alas the cute CraftSanity purse.


Here's the necklace (right) that I made out of hex nuts after loving how the design looked on the cover of "Hardwear." It was super easy and cost less than a buck to make. You gotta love the kind of crafting that is easy on the pocket book.

Recently I had a knitting awakening. Lorilee Beltman, owner of City Knitting in Grand Rapids, Michigan offered to give me a quick "Continental" knitting lesson. As a veteran "thrower" or English style knitter, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to see how the other half knit. I brought my video camera along to record the tutorial for all of you. And while the video is no substitute for the real-life knitting lesson, I hope this will help take some of the mystery out of Continental knitting.

Here's a quick primer from Wikipedia to get you ready. The online encyclopedia describes the difference between the knitting styles this way:

"Knitting with the yarn in one's left hand is commonly referred to as Continental knitting,German-Style Knitting, left-hand knitting or European knitting. Unlike English knitting, the yarn is kept in the left hand and more importantly, the left hand never leaves the needle. While the English knitter can work by lifting the one hand up off the needle to wrap yarn around the opposite needle, the Continental knitter keeps both hands on their respective needles at all times.
Most German/Continental knitters feel that this style is more efficient than the English/American method.
Continental/German style knitting is also referred to as 'picking', whereas English/American style knitting is referred to as 'throwing.'"

Okay, let's roll that tape.


Many thanks to Lorilee for agreeing to star in this tutorial. If you happen to live in West Michigan and want to learn more, you can check out Lorilee's upcoming knit and purl Continential classes on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5.

Hannah Rogge, 28, of New York City, is a crafty woman with a unique style of her own. With blue hair and nail polish and jewelry fashioned from nuts and bolts from her local hardware store, Hannah isn't afraid to craft outside the box. Tune into this week's podcast for the story of how this Rhode Island School of Design graduate splits her life between her day job designing animated windows and her after-hours craft habit.

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Weeks Ringle, 45, of Oak Park, Ill., shares the story of how she launched a home-based contemporary design studio called FunQuilts with her husband and business partner, Bill Kerr.

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