The Social Knitwork #BCBS12
Jun 08
„Whoever is there are the right people, whatever happens is the only thing that could happen.“
The moment I meet you, the moment you tell me a story, our lives become knit together like stitches in a scarf. It might be a very short interaction, or the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Each meeting of people is a unique chance to knit together stories and make something new. At this years BarCamp Bodensee I want to spend time physically knitting our stories together into a scarf. Together our stories become something more than just the sum of their words.
BarCamp
BarCamps are self-assembling conferences on a wide variety of subjects, but most notably Internet and related geek areas of interest. Organizers offer the infrastructure and the participants use it to offer sessions and workshops. Sometimes the participants plan their sessions and sometimes they come about spontaneously from the synergies between the participants. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday I will be attending the third BarCamp Bodensee, located directly by the gorgeous Lake Constance.
BarCamps are always a great place to network and the relationships often translate into Social Networking relationships, either on Facebook, or Twitter. As a passionate knitter I am intent on bringing my craft to any event I attend, always singing the gospel of yarny arts with my needles. So when I recently stumbled on Lea Redmonds Conceptual knitting pattern „Social Knit Work“ I knew I had to bring it to BarCamp.
The Project
During the three days of BarCamp I ask you (yes you reading this) and everyone present to participate in making the BarCamp scarf. You get to choose one of four colors and tell me a little something about why you chose that particular color. I will then knit two rows in commemoration of your story and you. Your story will be flanked by two other stories and new meanings will emerge. I will be recording what I knit as well as actually knitting a scarf, so that we’ll also have an ebooklet, with a knitting pattern and a story collection, at the end of the weekend. As soon as the scarf is finished I’ll post the ebooklet and pictures on my blog (August at the latest).
The Rules
- I present you with four colors; coral, petrol, gray-brown and white. You choose one color and tell me why you chose it. You can share a story, a memory, a curious fact, or an idea inspired by that color. I will then knit two rows in the color you have chosen.
- If you are at the BarCamp please come directly to me, I would love to start a conversation with you.
- If you are not at the BarCamp you can submit your choice, here in comments, on Facebook, on Twitter, or via your own Blogpost (please notify me via tweet or email). You can also email me directly at paula@thenakedalpaca.com
- Your submission can be in any language you want, though I prefer English and German, as I speak those two.
- I will write up all submissions into a wee little ebooklet after the weekend, so please also tell me if you want your name and a Web site/Twitter/Facebook published next to your story, or not, or if you prefer to be anonymous/pseudonymous.
- Submissions will be accepted until Sunday 6pm.
- The ebooklet will be published as soon as the scarf is done. I will send an email-notification to everyone that participated alerting them to the blogpost with the finished scarf pictures and the ebooklet. You will not receive any other email from me, unless you specifically ask to be put on my mailinglist.
- Any submissions that are racist or sexist will be ignored at my own discretion.
Dear Paula,
I choose Coral. The color red has somewhat followed me throughout my life. I was very shy growing up and mainly wanted to be invisible. Somehow, most gifts I received from people were bright red. I got a red camera, a red walkman, a red backpack, a red suitcase. It is hard to be invisible in a world of black accessories when you’re carrying around a “violently red” backpack, as one of my classmates called.
Over the years my confidence grew and instead of people making comments about my bright red belongings, they started making comments about my personality that seem representative of the color red. “You’re too abrasive,” “you’re too ambitious,” “you’re too serious,” “you’re too assertive.” Basically, I was too strong, bright and in your face, like the color red can be.
It is a very hard balance to find, between what you want and believe is right and what others see you as or try to “correct” you into being.
Today, my wardrobe is made up of every color, except for white and black and I make it a point to have important objects in my everyday life that are red – like my yoga mat and my backpack. The color red is a symbol to me of who I am and I wear it cultivate more acceptance and support of myself.
I read a quote somewhere that I’ve found to be true. It’s “Be your own best friend.” The color red is a reminder to be true to myself.
Thanks for being a friend.
Yours truly,
Susan
Twitter: SusPup
/ 9. Jun 2012
I love all the colors! It is hard to choose one. But I will pick the gray-brown.
One of my great loves is Japanese Gardens. The stones in the gardens are often a gray-brown color, and give me a sense of strength and serenity and just-rightness. Each stone, from boulders to pebbles, has a meaning and a purpose and an intent that are not found in many other garden styles. Stones are stories, and I dearly wish to learn their language so that I can hear them.
Twitter: EncouragingBird
/ 10. Jun 2012
Of the colors you offer, coral is my choice.
Color is everything to me.
It brings light & life to dark, dull places, and helps to make the world a brighter place.
Coral in specific calls to me of the sea.
Many things do these days.
I am a Dry Bird of late.
So the sea calls with the voice of seagulls. :>
Please & thank you to use website, Twitter, etc.! :-)
Appreciate the shout-out! :-) :>
The Twitters are @EncouragingBird and the website is ‘ParanormalAvians.com’
Birdy Diamond, Purr-oud Leader of the Bold Kitten Brigade! :> recently posted..You’re Invited!
I choose the color patrole. It reminds me of the ocean. The ocean has always played a big role in my life. It is the place where I could relax. Sitting at the beach and watching the waves go back and forth, up and down has something very soothing. My father lived in California for ten years and except for one year I was lucky enough to fly there at least once every year. His one-room apartment had a beautiful view over the ocean. A couple of meters further there was an overview, where you could sit and watch the waves, the people, the surfers, the sun. These moments where always perfect moments for me. And always the first and last view I got on all of these wonderful trips. The color reminds me of this place with this wonderful view. It’s the proof, that there is a heaven on earth and that there are perfect moments in life.