My Lorax Project

Last summer, after reading Dr. Seuss' THE LORAX to little Ziggy, I came up with this phenomenal project for the kids' school... sort of an community event / fundraiser / artsy fartsy thing... also, the look of horror my little boy's eyes when he realized that the Oncler, a villain/naughty person in the book, was an evil knitter that destroys the world... "Mum.. you wouldn't do that to the Truffala trees, wouldya?"

Yes, I had an environmentally tuned in 5 year old. which was great, but, oh my - oh my - I had to redeem the knitters of the world in his eyes...

So that's when I came up with The Lorax Project: I posted it in the school newsletter:

Do you knit, crochet or work in textiles? Do you know someone who does? The Friday Lunch Knitting Club is starting a collective project and we'd like to invite you to participate. In keeping with our school's eco-minded sensibilities we have been discussing, and using, environmentally friendly yarns.

What you need to do: Knit/Crochet/Weave/Embroider one 8"x8" (20cmx20cm) (or 16”x16”//40cmx40cm) square in 100% natural fibre (cotton, soy, wool, silk, tencel etc) or 100% recycled yarn. No synthetics. Also, please no linen for reasons of kashruth. You decide the colour, the pattern and texture. Produce 1, 2, 3 or more squares. Then contact Rebel Knitter who will be piecing our Community masterpiece together.

When do you need to get this all to her? May 1st, 2010
What then? We will display our collective project in the school hallway and have a silent auction with the funds going to an environmental / tree planting cause : THE JNF.

Sounds great, right? Only. I have NO IDEA if I'm going to one, two, or fifty squares.... so I'm knitting, I'm crocheting, I'm even considering macrame-ing... OMG, what was I thinking?

So far I have knit a Banana Fibre Square. A Merino Wool Square. A 60% Wool / 40% Recycled Silk Square. And a lot of Cotton... Lots of Intarsia. Leaf Imagery. Bird silhouettes. Peace Sign. Butterflies... and of course a large square with the Lorax's most salient message "Unless" knitted into it... ahhh....

My student knitters seemed overwhelmed at the thought of an 8" x 8" square... so I told them Okay, how about 4 gauge swatches instead.... that seemed less daunting a task, somehow.

We'll see what we get.... But here's the FUNNIEST part. Rebel Knitter has been know to labouriously re-jig camisole or sweater pattern in order to avoid sewing seams... (It's not a laziness thing... it's a mix of aesthetic reasoning & the fact that my 45+ year old eyes just go boinky on me after a while.... so, let's see.... how many seams do you think this little sucker of an afgan is going to need...

I can hear you all cyber-laughing at the Rebel Knitter.... ha ha ha... yuppers, what the *&%^$ was I thinking?

But, yes, my son thinks I'm cool - and I have assured him, this project is no thneed....

I will post a photo of the finished product in good time. In the mean while, however, I have an ophthalmological appointment I think I need to make.