achel John, Extreme Textiles, broke records by knitting with a 1000 strands simultaneously!
It is a challenge for all of us to take the waste products that our society produces and to put it to good use. This video was made in order to stimulate that process.
The comments on this video have been an insight into how people view things when taken out of context. For instance – should I be knitting blankets for charity? I do much charitable work – I cannot increase the hours on this as I wouldn’t have time to earn the basics for living. I am happy if this stimulates others to find waste and turn it into blankets for needy. Especially as – using my tools – you can make blankets in a twentieth of the time it takes to make one in squares. If you feel there should be more knitting for charity, join your local group, set one up if there isn’t one, and see what you can achieve. You may find a whole new community that brings you joy and a feeling of worthiness. I am one person with the same number of hours in my day as you and they are pretty full already!
No yarn was wasted in the making of this installation – the yarn will be put to good use when the piece has finished circulating as a 1st in the world example of taking multi strand to the limits. – – – – –
Over half the yarn in the installation was deemed as waste for shredding – this is normally made into felted pads which is then used in applications such as padding/stuffing for sofas, mattresses etc. – – – – – –
The rest of the yarn was out of fashion yarn that was sitting on the manufacturers shelves. None of the yarn was of the good to best quality that stuff is kept for very practical purposes. – – – – – –
In the making of this we were taking the waste yarn and turning it in to a mattress without the need for reprocessing. – – – – – –
We are very eco conscious and would never waste materials as a matter of course. All trimmings – no matter how small – are collected for use as filler for a variety of purposes such as cushions, so not even a centimetre of yarn is considered waste in this studio. – – – – – –
We also have what we call a spinners collection of fibres. We were very inspired by a lady from New Zealand who collected every single hair, every bit of fibre, all possible spinning material and when her stash was enough she would spin it in to yarn. She would then use the yarn in the normal way. The work she produced was wonderful and always, always practical. She never bought yarn she always made it from sweepings. – – – – – – –
In due course, and when the working schedule allows, we shall be expanding on the theme of finding and making yarn.