Njoya presents-"The Harlem Knitting Circle"

This Saturday, June 21, 2008-Come Crochet Your Plastic Metro-Card Purse or Bag!

BRING YOUR METROCARDS AND PLASTIC BAGS AND MAKE YOUR PURSE AND SHOULDER BAGS!

BUSTIER OUT OF PLASTIC?

CROCHET METRO CARD PURSE @HKC!

PLASTIC BAGS, METRO CARDS, AND A HOLE PUNCHER...., OH MY!

CROCHETER'S START COLLECTING YOUR METROCARDS AND PLASTIC BAGS AND GET READY FOR "RECYCLABLE CROCHET WITH MS. ALMA @ HKC!"

LEARN HOW TO RECYCLE THESE ITEMS INTO A GREAT CROCHET PURSE/POCKET BOOK WITH HKC'S PHENOMENAL MS. ALMA!

ON SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2008, FROM 11AM UNTIL 1:30PM, MS. ALMA, WILL SHARE HER CROCHET TECHNIQUES AND SHOW US HOW TO RECYCLE THOSE METROCARDS THAT LITTER THE FLOORS OF NYC AND CREATE BAGS AND PURSES USING PLASTIC BAGS!

PLEASE BRING A CROCHET NEEDLE, 20 PLASTIC BAGS(LIKE THE ONES FROM SUPERMARKETS), AT LEAST 20 METROCARDS, (JUST LOOK DOWN AS YOU WALK THROUGH NY!), AND A HOLE PUNCHER(SINGLE PUNCHER..., NOT BINDER ONE).  IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN USING TWINE OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF RIBBON BRING IT WITH YOU TOO AND MS. ALMA WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO UTILIZE THE MEDIUM TO CREATE FUNTASTIC ENVIORNMENTALLY CONSCIOUS BAGS! 

HKC's Crochet Coral Reef Luncheon

On February 23, 2008 I gave a "Crochet Coral Reef Luncheon" for my members who were participating and contributing to THIFF's Coral Reef Project! How did HKC get involved you ask?  Well, many of HKC's members/participants go to more then one organization.  Some of my ladies are also members of the NY Crochet Guild which meets every Wednesday at the Citigroup Center and they go to Guild's "Crochet in Public" meetings. These meetings are in the Atrium at the CitiGroup Building on 53rd between Park and Lexington Avenues every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. This is for any and all crocheters.   I asked my group of crocheters what they were working on during one of HKC's Open Knit/Crochet sessions. They explained how they were working on this project at the Crochet Guild and what is was about.  When I heard the words enviormentalism my ears perked right up!  As an elementary teacher I've done a Green Thumb project with my class each year, so this was right up my alley! I contacted Margaret and Christine Wertheim at the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles, CA(www.theiff.org, mail@theiff.org), to ask for more information on their project.  Their response was immediate!  They said they were happy to hear from us and would be in NY in March and they'd love to stop by HKC!  I was estatic! Margaret knew she had to give a lecture at NYU later in the day and said she could stop at HKC first and give us a preview lecture/workshop!  I agreed, my members went to work, and I put the word out for all to join us in our efforts to what we agreed was a worthwhile cause!  Anything to save the enviornment is worthwhile, so I dug deep and held a Coral Reef Luncheon the following Saturday for those who worked so cohesively on this project!  They deserved it! The ladies came en mass and the luncheon was superb!   Good Spanish food and desert bought by newly appointed HKC supervisor Zina Malik!   They crocheted our hearts out and even got me started! New crocheters arrived and I began giving out yarn!  I just opened up the vault and began handing out the goodies!  Thanks to Sue who helped me organize the yarn and put it back!  I was exhausted by the end!  Zina has been making so many crochet reefs!  She is the Crochet Coral Reef Diva at HKC! The library had to remind us when it was time to go we got so comfortable and focused! 

"HKC's Holiday Sock Event" or "Attack of the Dreaded DPN's!" December'07

The final Saturday's in December'07 super crochet/knitting certified teacher Esperenza Z. and I organized a Holiday Sock Event at HKC!  I was so jazzed!  Finally, I'd learn to work with the dreaded "DPN's!" We put the word out and they came!  These are just some of HKC's members and participants that participated in the Holiday Sock Event! It was great!  It was over a two week period, so the following Saturday ladies came back with the mistakes to be fixed at our Sick Sock Event!

"Now..., where's your sock Njoya?", you might ask.  Still on those dreaded "DPN's!"  I've discovered that when I'm starting something I am no different from my students that I teach..., I fare better in the beginning at a "one to one" approach or small setting and that wasn't happening at HKC! So yes..., my sock still languishes on their DPN's!  They're put to the side..., but not forgotten! Esperenza has moved on as so many of our participants do, so I'm open to any knitting/crocheting dynamo who is looking for a Saturday home, is open to a "whole lot of teaching, enthusiastic that she/he's sharing the craft" and will help me get my wee little sock of my DPN's!!! Hey.., just come on down!  My sock, my members, and I are awaiting you with open arms! 

*And hooray to HKC member Ms. Cinnamon who was the first to completely finish her sock!  

HKC Made the NY Times!

 Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 I woke up and was greeted by the following email:

"Hi Njoya,
             Congratulations..., you made the NY Times!"
                                 Millie

Don't miss NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/arts/design/04crochet.html?ex=1205298000&en=541e5a7c70c37e34&ei=5070

I was ecstatic and the email response has been great & overwhelming!

HKC went to NYU to support the Crochet Coral Reef Lecture & Workshop after Margaret Wertheim,  of The Institute For Figuring, PO Box 50346, Los Angeles CA 90050, www.theiff.org and mail@theiff.org, left the George Bruce Branch Library-518 West. 125th St, NY NY 10027. 

HKC'S media specialist, Joe Major, documented both events.  All of these pictures are by Joe Major who can be reached at joemajor2003@yahoo.com, joemajor@verizon.net.

Earlier that morning Margaret had stopped in and gave a wonderful presentation at HKC and the ladies were estatic that she'd taken the A-train to Harlem to give us a preview!   The ladies "ooed!" and "ahhed!" as she pulled various colored crocheted corals from her bag.   The corals were large and small of various colored plastic in it's many forms-from the NY Times baggies to the plastic twine we use to tie boxes.  She showed us one made from VHS tapes, but my favorite was the one she wore as a scarf!  As she packed up the ladies and I looked at each other.  We hasn't initially made plans to go to NYU, but after that teaser we all knew we had to go see the lecture and experience the workshop!    Joyce Yip, one of HKC's most scintillating crocheter's, (you should see the pocketbook she crocheted out of leather strips!  To die for!!!!), headed down early and grabbed a seat right up front!  Crocheting with different mediums is right up her alley!  The rest of us closed up shop and made our way down there with our illustrious Media Specialist and Knitter Joe Major.  He documented our travels as we braved the cold, (the wind was killing me!), but my ladies had gotten bitten by the Coral Crochet bug.  Anniqua Wilkerson, HKC's former Children's Supervisor, (she's busy working on her degree!), was walking, talking, and crocheting as we walked through the streets and waited for the train.  Anniqua is one of the fastest crocheter's I've seen!  HKC's supervisor, Zina Malik and her sister Jackie also made the trip.  We even had a first time participant troop down with us and she bonded with one of HKC's earlier members Ife!  We all crocheted and talked about the goodies we'd seen and so excited about the workshop we were headed to!  When we got there the lecture was in full swing, so we settled in quietly.  I sat down and heard my named whispered and looked up to see the director of the NY Crochet Guild sitting across from me.  We smiled and exchanged greetings.  In this wide world of Fabric art/Threads/Knitting/Crocheting/Beading we all hear our names called or read about what the other is doing; so it was good to say hello to Barbara, needle to needle, again!  After the lecture the audience was instructed to go upstairs to the workshop.  It was great!  I was especially excited, because at HKC I very rarely get to work on anything because I'm doing administrative work, but here I was free to learn and create!  Now truth be told, both my Grandmother's taught me to crochet, but it was knitting that my Mother's mother taught me and that I really took to.  But crochet has always frustrated me and I made a point of sitting between Aniqua and Jackie.  I was determined to crochet a coral reef this day!  Joe continued to take pictures until his battery ran out.  Joe's presence was especially grand, because he was the only male knitter there, and like me, wanted to learn to crochet!  Oh ladies..., Joe's knitting is fantastic!  He specializes in hats and his stitches are so even and tight the hats look machine made!  The photographer from the NY Times became engrossed in the colors Zina had chosen to make her coral from and began snapping many pictures of her!  The journalist from the NY Times spoke to Aniqua and myself as Joyce became engrossed in a coral that Margaret was exhibiting.  The workshop  participants were as varied as the coral reefs themselves!  HKC will be working on Coral reefs until the exhibition, so stop in if you're looking for a Saturday workshop.  We always have yarn and patterns for you, (just for the crochet project); just please bring your crochet needles with you.  If you're another knitting or crochet group in Harlem stop by and join us!  Zina, our Crochet Coral Reef Diva, will get you started!  I had such a wonderful time and I look forward to the April 2008 exhibition at the Winter Garden!  See you there!

Learning to Quilt at The Harlem Knitting Circle!

Our quilting event has blossomed! It started under the Black History Theme of this month, but is trying to blossom into a full fledged component of HKC!  What can I do?  I must answer the cries of "Njoya..., we want Dawn here every Saturday!"  Ms. Nellis and her quilters of mixed levels, (but mostly beginners), have caused HKC's growing pains! And We Love It!  What part of the "fiber arts" world can I say no to?  None!  I love it all and I intend to have it all filter through HKC at sometime throughout it's existance! Here are some pics of  my "HKC Quilting Crew": teacher Dawn Nellis, my HKC members, and some of the quilts in their beginning stages!  Stay tuned for more!

Knitting & Crocheting for the Survivors of Hurricane Katrina/Rita!

(Click on pictures to enlarge!)

Since the devestation in the Gulf due to Hurricane Katrina/Rita many around the world have lent a hand to those who survived!  Many sent money, food, and other supplies.  Hundreds went down to the Gulf!  As we watched our family struggle in the aftermath I felt that there had to be something that we as a collective could do. 

HKC decided to narrow it's focus and work for the children.  Members of The Harlem Knitting Circle put their time and hearts into making children's blankets for those who have had to migrate to NYC to start over.  Using yarns donated from various manufacturers the Harlem Knitting Circle began it's project.  The yarn came pouring in from all over the state! 

The blankets that are displayed on this site are the heartmade creations of HKC's members and will be leaving to go to the new residents of New York, hoping it will bring a sense of comfort and spiritual warmth to those who were blessed to survive! 

As we began many other guilds and circles heard about what we had taken on and have sent blankets and children's sweaters that they knitted/crocheted!  The response has come from as far as California to as close as the Westchester Knitting Guild! I humbly thank all of those who donated yarns, needles, and children's blankets to help us with our goal!  I want to thank each and every member that took the yarn and turned it into a garment of love and blessings!                               

To all of my members..., Thank you and Bless you!  Names of the manufacturers and other donaters will be posted soon! To all who participated in helping HKC help others..., Thank you! Peace & Blessings...., Ms. Njoya Angrum-Founder/Director of The Harlem Knitting Circle