This weekend marks the 18th annual Alice Springs Beanie Festival.
(Friday 20 June - Monday 23 June)
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| A selection of my crocheted beanies. |
Alice Springs, in central Australia (Northern Territory) is the beanie capital of Australia because it gets sooo cold overnight in its arid environment.
The Alice Springs Beanie Festival gets bigger every year!
One of these years, I will have to participate, won't I? Especially after my 'beanie marathon' last year.
My imagination has taken off now and I envision a great rail journey on The Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs - sitting in a comfortable carriage, crochet in hand as the changing scenery inspires my creativity.
If you need creative inspiration, the Beanie Festival offers free downloads of beanie patterns (.pdf) here.
If you cannot get to Alice Springs, you may be lucky enough to view the Beanie Festival's touring exhibition if it travels to your district.
For more information about the Beanie Festival and Alice Springs, just follow the link to <www.beaniefest.org>.
What is your favourite beanie?
Do you use a pattern? If so, which patterns do you recommend?
P.S. I love an article and video by ABC Alice Springs of "How to Crochet a Beanie" because it states that the simplest technique for making a beanie is crochet! Also, if you need a fix of the Australian accent, this will delight you.
Links
- ABC News stories about the Beanie Festival:
- 2014 (News) - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-20/red-centre-stitches-up-head-turning-entries-for/5539062
- 2014 (News) - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-20/benie-festival-beanies/5539318
- 2012 (AM radio program) - http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3531748.htm
- 2011 - http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/06/23/3252012.htm
- 2002 - http://www.abc.net.au/radio/rpf/stories/s1305801.htm
- Alice Springs: http://www.travelnt.com/alice-springs-and-surrounds.aspx
- Alice Springs Aboriginal language and cultures, Alice Springs Desert Park: http://www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/kids/culture/groups.shtml
- Alice Springs Beanie Festival: www.beaniefest.org
- Alice Springs Beanie Festival National Tour: http://www.beaniefest.org/index.php/news-and-events/national-tour
- Alice Springs Indigenous communities, Alice Springs Town Council: http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/alice-springs-community/indigenous
- Alice Springs Tourism, Alice Springs Town Council: http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/tourism/tourism
- Beanie patterns (free) from the Beanie Festival: http://www.beaniefest.org/index.php/2013-11-12-01-28-43
- The Ghan (Adelaide - Darwin): http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/the_ghan.jsp?gclid=CPjmyvTmkroCFYtgpQodMGYAAQ
- Great Southern Rail (The Ghan & Indian Pacific): http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/home.jsp
- "How to Crochet a Beanie", ABC Alice Springs: http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2011/06/23/3251641.htm?site=alicesprings
- Indigenous beanie making programs: http://www.beaniefest.org/index.php/our-story/indigenous-beanie-making-programs
- Lupey Loops, "Beanie Marathon", blog entry, 31 May 2013: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/beanie-marathon.html
- Travel NT: http://www.travelnt.com/
Hi, this is my first tome here, and I like what I see and what I read..
ReplyDeleteYou are brave and I agree with you when you think that crochet helps you.
I was sick with my stomach these last 3 years, and to be occupied with hand work is very good.
For my part, I like to Find patterns for free on revelry.
Have a great weekend.
Miss.
Welcome to Lupey Loops and thank you for introducing yourself. I enjoy getting to know new people - it has been said that a stranger is a friend you haven't met yet. :-) I am sorry to learn that you have been struggling with long-term illness - not fun. I am glad that handiwork helps you too.
DeleteI read on your blog that you like to holiday on Prince Edward Island. I have a friend who lives in that part of the world who has an entire section of his blog dedicated to Prince Edward Country. He is a fabulous photographer with a special interest in nature photography. Here is the web address to information and views of Prince Edward County: http://danielspixelcollective.blogspot.com.au/p/prince-edward-county-links.html
I am not sure how to make a link in a comment so I apologise if it needs to be cut and pasted into a browser instead of a quick click.
Thanks again for taking the time to comment and if there is anything in particular that you especially like about what you see and read here, I am keen to know. All the best, Jodie
We missed out on Alice whilst in Aus :-(
ReplyDeleteLooks like an epic trip to do, you must go one day!
What a shame! It is a big country though so it takes a while to see it all. I agree with you, put a trip to Alice and Darwin on the must do list. :-)
DeleteGreat post Jodie. I will check out the beanie pattern later :-) Thanks
ReplyDeleteTracey xxx
If I can share some helpful resources and it helps or inspires, I am happy.
DeleteI love the idea of including emu feathers in the beanie designs. I must get up there to have a look one day and maybe participate in a workshop. Spinners might find interest in the mention of Indigenous spinning methods on the Beanie Festival website.
I spotted something online about this only a week or so ago and I thought it was a brilliant idea. I'd love to go to the festival too someday. The last couple of times I've been to Alice (really through Alice) it was waaaaayyyyyy too hot to be wearing beanies, I'm not sure I want to experience it when it is cold.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are right about being too hot for beanies in the summertime. It can get very hot in Central Australia with temperatures in the 40s (Celsius) during the day and at the same time of year the temperatures can fall to near freezing or below zero overnight because it is very arid and there is no humidity or cloud cover to keep the heat in overnight. I am not sure how my messed-up metabolism would manage a temperature difference of over 30 degrees within a couple of hours.
DeleteWhat was Alice like when you went there? I must admit I have never been. There are so many places I want to visit in this life.
That festival sounds like fun! Would love to visit it some day!
ReplyDeleteDo you know the Brainwave Beanie? It is fun to make when you get the hang of it. Can be found for free on ravelry!
Take care
Anne
http://crochetbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.de
Maybe a bunch of us should organise to meet there one day. What a fun thought! I need some years to save up though!
DeleteI do know the brainwave beanie by Liz McQueen of Playin' Hooky Designs and have the link here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brain-waves-beanie
The wave pattern is similar to that of my silk mohair scarves.
I will look out for that scarve! Sounds great!
DeleteOh, going to the festival together sounds great! Need to save up money first too though. I plan to travel to Australia again next year to visit family and friends but I don't think I will be there in time for the festival.
Take care
Anne
P.S. I added your blog to our blog roll :-)
Thank you for the compliment of adding Lupey Loops to your blogroll, Anne! It is a pleasure to do likewise with Crochet Between Two Worlds. My daughter visited Germany last year and my friend Adrienne has German connections. I studied German to matriculation and am interested in German culture.
Delete