Dear Kay,
I love a contest.
As you know, Project Runway is one of my all-time favorites. The newly announced Fiber Factor knitting design competition is right up my alley, but I didn’t get an application together, so I’m watching, not swatching.
Except that I actually am swatching, over here in the bleachers.
I decided I would use the Fiber Factor as excuse to cook up some projects that draw on the challenges posed to the contestants. I’m not a prolific designer, so this seems like a good way to get me moving.
If you haven’t heard of The Fiber Factor, here’s the introduction:
Cirilia Rose and Karin Skacel are the head judges. They are awesome. Cirilia has great hair. Karin is wearing a handknit.
The twelve contestants seem great too: a real smorgasbord of ages, talents, and design skills. There’s some wacky in there, some scary technical ability, and at least one cartwheeler. I haven’t decided who to root for yet, but with Project Runway I usually find one person who becomes my favorite.
So: Challenge #1: Knit Your Life!
This is a classic Project Runway challenge. They are always making contestants cook up some garment that reflects their life, or design philosophy, or “Point Of View” or whatnot. I was expecting this one–I’ve been stockpiling newsprint to spin into a nice bulky weight two-ply.
KIDDING! I don’t spin!
Contestants are limited to yarns provided by the Fiber Factor administrators. I recognize zero point zero of these yarns. Obviously need to get to Germany more often.
• HiKoo Cobasi
• Schoppel Laceball 100
• Schoppel Leinen Los
• Schoppel Zauberwolle
• Schulana Kid Seta
• Schulana Milford
• Schulana Piumino
• Schulana Sumerino
• Zitron Filisilk
• Zitron Finest Royal Alpaca
• Zitron Patina
• Zitron Unisono
• Zitron Unisono Solid
My yarn constraint will be that I have to knit from my stash. This may prove to be a problem, but the stash zones are looking pretty flush, and I ain’t getting any younger.
So.
Stay tuned. The deadline for this first challenge is May 1. The contestants got their assignment on Monday, so I have a lot of knitting to do to get this done. My goal is to finish my project in the time frame of the contest.
Anybody else who’s doing this, please give a holler so we can commiserate and be grateful that we don’t have to end up being judged by that first panel of judges: Franklin Habit, Clara Parkes, Jennifer Burt, and Ysolda Teague. YIKES! Terrifying group of humans! So mean, all of them!
Knit your life? Seriously? Does it have to include seventh grade?
Love,
Ann
Schulana Kid Seta is the only yarn on the list that I’m familiar with. It’s astounding how we’re always learning… how much we don’t know! 😉
Seventh grade SUCKED. Skip it, and move straight on to FABULOUS.
Oh, I can’t wait!! Love this whole thing. 😉
I think that these yarns might be moving into the US market, as I just saw the HiKoo Cobasi at my LYS yesterday. I’m familiar with Schoppel lace and zauberballs, and Schulana (though I’ve never used it, I’ve seen it in store)
Kid seta is basically kid silk haze. I bet you have some of that stashed.
‘Knit your life’. That’s exactly the sort of tosh that made me hate art college! X x x
When I first heard about the contest, it sounded like something that might push me beyond my comfort zone of knitting right smack into design. Then I saw the contest rules, and my comfort zone immediately looked like a mighty fine place for spectating! There will surely be some awesome results, and I’m looking forward to seeing them, but now I am looking forward just as much to seeing what the non-competitors produce from the bleachers. Or armchairs 🙂
Is this a web program or is it on TV like Project Runway? I’m curious and would love to follow along. Oh, never mind. I can google it. Thanks for the info about it. I hadn’t heard.
Well, it was y’all posting this that got me to post it further and Meg got it from me, and now she’s a contestant!
So, you know, if you’re considering “root for” applications.
haha- i was thinking of knitting along from home, too! can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.
haha- i was thinking of knitting along from home, too! can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.
Well, I know just how I’d represent my chronic acne woes. Nupps and bobbles, anyone?
Seriously, I’m more of a crocheter, but am looking at this contest for inspiration, too.
As soon as I heard the theme for this first challenge I wanted to unearth my grandmothers’ handcrafts. I have long hand plans for updating them but have never taken it on…now you’ve given me a push. Thanks!
Thanks for keeping us up to date with this! I’m fascinated by the idea of Fiber Factor, and even considered entering for about 5 seconds, until I remembered my behavior and looks under knitting deadlines. No one wants to experience the swearing, crying, stained sweatpants and bedhead that are my trademarks! : ) Thanks also for the list of yarns. I tried to get some of them just from the audio, and came fairly close to HiKoo Cobasi, but completely missed “Leinen Los.”
Oh, and the seventh grade portion would have to include tangled yarns, dropped stitches, and general uneveness. Though now that I come to think of it, that might already have happened in 7th grade home ec…
schoppel zauberball is the best sock yarn ever!
Let me think wasn’t 7th grade when …Never mind.
I am familiar with almost all of them. My LYS stocks most of them or has stocked them in the past. FilSilk? Yum.
Let me think wasn’t 7th grade when …Never mind.
I am familiar with almost all of them. My LYS stocks most of them or has stocked them in the past. FilSilk? Yum.
I looked at the website when I first heard of it, I’m not a designer either, but glad to know they are going so I can follow along too. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.
Stephanie
Hmmm. Maybe one of them will design an infinity scarf that is thin enough and light-weight enough to wear during a climate change summer drought…. I hope….
What a hoot! I met Cirilia at a conference last year and she’s super sweet.
Makes me wish I had more time. I am totally appreciating designers more, having started writing patterns myself. And totally understanding the schtick that they knitted more before they designed. Sigh.
Seventh grade = hell… I would represent it as a hugely tangled mess of yucky yarn…
Awesomeness. Stroke of genius contest. Can’t wait to see what all y’all knit up!
Thanks for reminding me to follow along! I thought about applying, but I live outside the 48 contiguous states – and it’s just as well.
No knitting 7th grade – it’s hell for everyone and you want to show your uniqueness!
Um, you could say I’m doing it….I’m one of the 12! lol I have to send my stuff in on the 1st – you have until the 5th to send a picture of yours. 🙂 http://thefiberfactor.com/?page_id=233
I know these yarns:
• Schoppel Zauberwolle
• Schulana Kid Seta
• Zitron Filisilk
• Zitron Unisono
• Zitron Unisono Solid
and I must say, that Zitron Unisono is one of the most amazing sock yarns I’ve ever seen & used. You don’t need to get to Germany, just pop on up to NYC and the UWS and drop by Knitty City – they have those above (and maybe others, but haven’t paid much attention).
“Doing factor” is so right on about one of my favorite characteristics of yarn. Please someone do a comparative list of highly doinghy yarns.
OMG, this sounds like so much fun, to watch…
Viewing the contestant videos I got the giggles trying to imagine myself sitting down and, never mind, congrats to the lucky 12! I can’t wait to see their interpretations of ‘knit your life’
OMG, this sounds like so much fun, to watch…
Viewing the contestant videos I got the giggles trying to imagine myself sitting down and, never mind, congrats to the lucky 12! I can’t wait to see their interpretations of ‘knit your life’
I am not particpating but the first yarn on the list is fabulous. CoBaSi is a cotton, bamboo and silk blend. I used some on a Jarod Flood shawl and loved every bit of it!
I am not particpating but the first yarn on the list is fabulous. CoBaSi is a cotton, bamboo and silk blend. I used some on a Jarod Flood shawl and loved every bit of it!
Ooh, I’d love to play along but I’m sidelined by a crafting injury and can’t knit right now (or do much of anything else with my hands). Maybe I’ll catch them on the next one…