We’ve been following the International Fiber Collaborative project for quite some time now, and I’m psyched to see that they are finally finished:

Last summer, grad-student and artist Jennifer Marsh sent out a call for contributions of knit or crocheted panels that were to be sewn to create a gigantic gas station cozy, in order to raise awareness about gas consumption in the United States. Not only is this a new and provocative way to continue the discussion about dependence on foreign oil, but the results are visually compelling.

Check out their website at www.internationalfibercollaborative.com for pictures, artist statements, and additional information.

Hi all! Sorry for that brief hiatus; my international spy activities called me to India, where I had to save some royals and capture bad guys and such, but I’ve finally returned to bring you the neatest knitting stuff on the web. Like this super tutorial for a row-counter bracelet!

Find out how to make this handy (and lovely) thing here. It looks like a much classier system than the one I normally use, which involves tic-marks on the back of my hand in permanent marker. Eesh.

So that ripple blanked I’ve started working on forever ago- I know you must have given up hope, thinking that I could never have finished a project of that magnitude, requiring of such stamina, endurance and fortitude. Well you’d be wrong, because it’s done! Finally! I’m super excited, it turned out so beautifully, this picture doesn’t even do it justice.

Pattern: SusanB’s Easy Ripple Afghan - This one’s a classic but got fanatically popular recently. It has the whole granny chic thing going on and you can really go nuts with the colors, if that’s your thing. This site is great for inspiration.

Yarn: Cascade 220- I’ve only used this yarn previously for felting, but it makes an amazing blanket. The color palate is astounding- including the heathers, there are over 200 colors! It has great yardage too; it’s really ideal for a project of this size. A special shout-out to Jean- thanks so much!

Notes: I wasn’t exactly paying attention when I did the brown stripes so you may notice a little discrepancy between the two halves of the blankets. I think it gives it more personality though, right? It was a gift for my best friend’s birthday and even though I love her, it was very difficult to give up. This is, hands down, my favorite present I’ve ever made!

If you have any questions about this project, please leave a comment. I’m so amped up about how well it turned out that I’d love an excuse to talk about it more!

I keep returning to look at this picture because it makes me laugh hysterically and say “awwwww” at the same time.

You’re either asking yourself “Why?” or “How?” or “If all of a sudden, rats started dressing like this on their own accord, would this not be the coolest thing ever?” Welcome to Teeny Project Runway, a miniature design project put on by the Mason Dixon ladies. Head on over to cast your vote! Warning: the slide show is kind of hysterical.