This is my Project Yarnway Design Challenge for March on Ravelry. I decided to call it KnitNews.
It is supposed to grow up to become a desk caddy for holding mail. I can hear Tim Gunn saying to me “Make it work, designer!”
It started out as those annoying and wasteful newspaper-like ads that get delivered in the daily mail. I ripped them into strips around 1 1/2″ to 2″ wide, tearing with the grain of the paper. I did have to sacrifice some as I experimented to find the right direction to tear.
I really love the way the colors are blending together, I think it’s looking cool.
I tape the strips together using regular adhesive tape, only creating about a yard of paper ‘yarn’ at a time. I twist the paper yarn by hand as I knit, sometimes turning and folding it to get the right color to show up. I add strips as needed.
I cast on with the Provisional Cast On using florist wire – because of the fragile nature of this paper yarn it was my best option. I am knitting every row on size US 11 aluminum knitting needles, and the Garter Stitch makes the fabric nice and sturdy. Yes, I have problems sometimes with the paper ripping as I knit, I just slap a small piece of tape on it and I’m good to go!
By the way, in case you aren’t familiar with Project RUNway, which our Ravelry group, Project YARNway, is modeled after – the clothing designers on the reality show have to design garments based on whatever challenge they are given for each episode.
Recently they had to shop for materials at a hardware store and create fabulousness out of unusual items, such as garbage bags, screening, cord, washers, and even copper flashing!
Fortunately for me, in our challenge we didn’t have to make clothing! Could you imagine if I had to knit a garment out of this paper? Anyone want a paper bikini?
