All the pieces got washed this weekend and are laid out to dry. I’ll be returning pieces to the yarnstormers and assessing the condition of the remaining items – might re-dye some of the tree sweaters and put them up elsewhere. 

I went over to Kokua around 11:00 am today, checking on pieces and adding a few new ones.

Taken down: the ruffle on a shopping cart and the crochet circle on a ti leaf plant. Both have gotten faded and were looking a little bedraggled. These will go back up again after being cleaned and refreshed. Also noted that the bike rack cozy has a new hole in it where it looks like the yarn snagged and tore. We’re discussing this and asking some yarn graffiti groups about what yarns are best for bike racks – we don’t want to interfere with the utility of the rack. I’ll be back with a patch for the bike rack cozy tomorrow.

Put up: more jellyfish – a few new ones and a refreshed one. A new tree sweater has been added. Another rock doily is now in the garden, and a small rock doily was given to Jonathan (a Kokua employee) to carry around in his apron pocket.

Photos with notes on what has been put up, taken down, and notes on the condition of some of the pieces have been added to the Kokua Market Yarnstorming Flickr group.

Crochet lace-covered stones are appearing in the Kokua Market garden as part of the ongoing yarnstorming! There’s no official pattern for making the doilies on the stones here; Margaret Oomen’s “Little Urchin” pattern, however, makes a great starting point if you’d like to make your own. Freeform crochet is another great way to explore this, and there are classes available at YarnStory in Honolulu.

We’ve gotten a few inquiries about pieces in the exhibit being available for sale. That varies, depending on the piece and who made it. Margaret Oomen (who is not in any way affiliated with the Aloha Knitters or the yarnstorming) sells crochet covered sea stones online (and a search of the Etsy marketplace will turn up other sellers as well). So far the inquiries have been about how people can buy the pieces, and not about how people can make their own. The act of making something with your hands is a very powerful, very human act, which we would like to encourage people to at least try, instead of just reaching for a wallet. There are many resources available for learning to knit and crochet, both online and in person. Locally, YarnStory and Isle Knit in Honolulu and Aloha Yarn in Kaneohe offer lessons, and the Hawaii Public Library system has several books on learn to crochet and learn to knit. Visitors and new yarncrafters are always welcome at Aloha Knitters meetings!

The organizers of the Kokua Market Yarnstorming may be contacted at spam.KNITsubi@gmail.com

I went over today and put two refreshed jellyfish back up (washed them, overdyed them with blue food coloring, and stuffed the bells with some roving that had gotten felted in a dye incident gone wrong), one new jellyfish, and a new tree sweater. Another jellyfish was taken down for cleaning and stuffing. Had a nice conversation with a Kokua employee and a Kokua customer – people are enjoying the whimsy!

A cheesy yarnbomb for the cheese department

I checked on the yarnstorm yesterday and noted that the Fibonnaci sequence bike rack sleeve had sprung a hole (may have gotten snagged on a bike?), and took down two of the jellyfish that were looking a little deflated and bedraggled. The bike rack sleeve got patched today and the jellyfish are currently swimming in a dyebath; after they are rinsed and dry I’ll take them back to Kokua Market.

Feedback from people at the market continues to be positive and enthusiastic, although one of the employees was saddened when he learned that his favorite jellyfish had gone missing (not the ones I took down). I’m crocheting more jellyfish to keep the smack looking healthy! The crocheted mushrooms in the planter have also shrunk in number. While we knew that pieces might go wandering off, it’s been a letdown for some of the regulars at the market who like seeing their favorite pieces when they are in the garden before or after shopping or sitting down and enjoying a meal.

Quick post to let you know that the Kokua Market yarnstorming will go on through the end of November 2011. I’ve set up a page on this blog (look at the bar on the top of this page; you should see a tab for ‘Kokua Market Yarnstorming‘). We also have a Flickr photo group with photos and video.

22 October 2011, Saturday
YarnStory (1411 South King St., Suite 201)
Yarnstorming drop-off/prep 11 am – 4 pm
Natural fibers only, please.
Marine theme to tie in with Hook the Reef appreciated but not required.

23 October 2011, Sunday
Kokua Market (2643 South King St.)
Yarnstorming 11 am – until we finish
**check in with Michelle or Kai when you arrive, please**

More discussion happening on Facebook (Aloha Knitters group and Hook the Reef group) and Ravelry (Aloha Knitters forum).

YarnStory has recently opened in Honolulu – no full review right now, as the shop has not had a grand opening yet (the owner is waiting on some shipments of yarn). Lots of natural fibers, a table to sit at by a sunny window, and free parking.

YarnStory
1411 S. King St., Suite 201
phone: (808) 593-2212
email: yarnstoryhawaii@gmail.com
Facebook: YarnStory
Ravelry: YarnStory

Honolulu meetings are still happening at Mocha Java, where they have finished the kitchen repairs – which means that the veggie hash is back on the menu!

There have been a couple of changes to the Windward meeting location/time – currently we’re trying out Thursday nights at ChadLou’s coffeeshop in Kailua (45 Kihapai St.) from 6 – 8 pm.

Everyone in the group is free to make stuff too – check out the Aloha Knitters Group Tote Bags thread on the Aloha Knitters Ravelry forum for more info on getting together with other Aloha Knitters to make tote bags, for starters. I’m considering setting up a home screenprinting station when I get back to Honolulu and making a few bags and shirts for fun, recycling and reusing things when possible.

- m.k.

Aloha Knitters Small Tote Bag by AlohaKnitter_MK

Aloha Knitters Rainbow Mug by AlohaKnitter_MK