The Day of The Big Draw Bus Lines

We had a fantastic day on the World Financial Center Plaza. Thank you to everyone who participated in Sheila Pepe’s communal art project and knitted, crocheted, braided, pom-pommed and tasselled their way around and inside the Big Draw Bus Lines.

Here are some pictures to show you the fun. 

The Downtown Connection Buses on the Plaza when they first arrived.
outside before

and inside before.

The Big Draw Bus Lines – the fun begins

Craft tables where more materials for the Bus Lines are being made

First time knitter shows his stuff

kids in action connecting the buses

towlines and more connecting

views inside the bus

views through the Bus Lines

getting the Big Draw Scarf ready

final touch – wrapping The Big Draw Scarf

Today on the Plaza at the World Financial Center

Saturday Sept. 8
Join us today to join the buses on the Plaza
at the World Financial Center 11am to 4pm
Click HERE for The Big Draw in Friday’s
New York Times Arts section

“Spare Times: For Children”
by Laurel Graeber [...more]

All of our work at the Drop Offs, Knit-Ins & Craft Stops will become part of Sheila Pepe’s Big Draw project as we draw in space with knitted, knotted and crocheted lines.

 Scenes from Thursday and Friday’s Craft Stops

Donated yarn waiting to be turned into scarf sections, pom-poms, tassels and knots

Craft Stop knitters & crocheters

Scarf section reaches 6′-2″ and 300 rows and counting

Group tied up with knots

Scarf sections being grafted together

Dolly models the scarf sections and the pom poms

Knit In / Craft Stop Canopy

Scenes from our 3rd and Final Big Draw Knit-In and Sheila Pepe installing the Craft Stop canopy piece.

The Knit-In group last night busy knitting and crocheting

Sheila Pepe installing Craft Stops canopy

The week of the Big Draw

Tonight’s events Wednesday, Sept 5:

The 3rd Knit-In and Installation of the Craft Stops Canopy

The knitting and crocheting will continue as we start to piece together The Big Draw Scarf.
While we’re doing that, Sheila Pepe and the arts>WFC crew will be installing her sculptural piece among the palm trees in the Winter Garden.

It’s going to be an amazing process. Click on the page “Sheila Pepe” to learn more about her work, including a video of the installation at Hand Workshop Art Center. 

Sheila Pepe, “Come fly with me” at Weatherspoon Gallery

Events on Thursday & Friday, Sept 6 & 7

The Big Draw Craft Stops
On both days, at lunchtime and after work, there will be Craft stations in the Winter Garden where instructors will teach you how to knit or crochet & where you can make pom-poms, tassels, knots and other shapes with yarn.

Everything produced here will be used in the communal art project happening at the grand finale: The Big Draw Bus Lines.

Saturday, Sept 8

The Big Draw Bus Lines
World Financial Center Plaza

The Big Draw Craft Stops

The Big Draw Craft Stops will take place in the Winter Garden this Thursday & Friday, Sept. 6 & 7.

At these workshops everyone can participate in creating materials for the communal art project, The Big Draw Bus Lines, which will take place on the 8th. This Big Draw project is led by the artist Sheila Pepe, who is also installing a sculpture piece in the Winter Garden.

The Big Draw Craft Stops in the Winter Garden

Got 10 minutes? That’s all you’ll need to learn how to knit or crochet, even if you’ve never picked up knitting needles or a crochet hook before. You’ll produce your own rows to be added to The Big Draw Scarf.

Sailor Knots and Pom Poms Learn how to tie fancy knots, make pom-poms, tassels and other embellishments to be added to the Big Draw materials.

We provide the yarn and equipment, so take a lunch break in the Winter Garden or stop by on your way home. There will be two sessions per day, 12:30-2:30pm & 5:30-7:30pm.

The Big Draw Craft Stops
Thursday & Friday, September 6 & 7
12:30-2:30pm & 5:30-7:30pm (two sessions per day)
World Financial Center Winter Garden

Making Progress

Thank you to all who attended our Second Knit-In. Our group is growing - I think we had each borough of NY represented, plus Bayonne, and London. Thanks, Brigitte, for coming all the way from across the Pond to join us. It was lovely meeting you and your husband, who graciously tagged along to the Knit-In. We’re looking forward to seeing your photos. Telling us about your experience with The Lion Scarf was inspirational, and we’re happy to include the rows you made with us onto our Scarf.

I took this photo the next day of Dolly modeling some of our handiwork.

As you can see, we have the most amazing yarn to play with. We still have lots of donated yarn (visit our Thank You page), so please, anyone wishing to add to the Scarf, stop by and pick some up (see The Drop Off page). The next and last Knit-In is on Wednesday 6p-8p. Or come to The Big Draw Craft Stops this coming Thursday and Friday. If you’re new to knitting and crocheting, 10 minutes is all you need to learn and add your section to the scarf. Every row counts.

London Calling

We may have a visitor at the next Knit-In from London. Brigitte from the Stitch and Bitch group there emailed to say she’ll be visiting NY and may stop by on Wednesday. She has quite a lot of experience with long scarves – here are some pics from The Lion Scarf project they had earlier this year.

The Lion Ladies (and gents) at London’s Trafalgar Square 

 

Check out more pics and read about the Lion Bescarfing and the idea behind the giant scarves on their blog:

http://stitchandbitchlondon.wordpress.com/tag/lion-ladies/

Knitting Spotting

At the movies, on tv, on the street, in the subway, where ever.
Keep the camera handy and send in your pics.

 

Click here for gallery.

First Knit-In

Our first Knit-In was a great success. We had a nice representation from some of the WFC companies, the neighborhood and the knit & crochet meet-up group.
Special thanks to Ina Braun for donating 4 bagfuls of beautiful yarn. We had our pick of colors and types - everything from delicate ribbon to thick wool. We accomplished many, many rows – knitted and crocheted. We also got a lot of stares from passers-by. Of course that didn’t bother us because we were having a good time.
 
One of our bashful knitters at the Knit-In.

We hope many more join us at the next Knit-In on Wednesday Aug. 29, 6-8pm.
If you can’t make it, but would like to make sections for The Big Draw Scarf on your own, see the FAQs page.

The Big Draw Knit-Ins

Two Knit-Ins down, One to go

Join us at the World Financial Center Winter Garden
Wednesday August 22, 6:00pm – 8:00pm see First Knit-In post
Wednesday August 29, 6:00pm – 8:00pm see Making Progress
Wednesday September 5, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
These are free and open to the public.

We invite all knitters, crocheters and craftspeople to help us create THE BIG DRAW SCARF (The World’s Longest Line).

40,000 rows representing 40,000 employees at the World Financial Center companies.

In case you’ve never visited the Winter Garden, here are a couple of photographs. It’s a beautiful place to sit and knit, with a glass atrium ceiling and grove of 16 palm trees. We’ll have the tables along the West Wall which faces out onto the Plaza and North Cove Harbor on the Hudson.

 

Directions:
WFC is in Lower Manhattan, between West Street and Hudson River, and Liberty and Vesey Streets.
There are two pedestrian bridges that cross West Street. One along Vesey Street and one over Liberty Street.

Our location is very accessible by subway or bus.
By Subway: 
E to World Trade Center,
1 to Rector Street,
6 to City Hall switch to 4 for Fulton Street Stop,
N/R to City Hall (it’s a bit of a walk from there.)
By Bus:
The M20 and M22 buses stop right at 3 World Financial Center.

Once you’re at the World Financial Center buildings, ask anyone to point you in the direction of the Winter Garden.

Some amenities you’ll find here:
Starbucks
Financier Patisserie
Ciao Bella
Godiva
Lots of Restaurants
Not to mention the shopping: Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, The Gap, Montmartre

Almost forgot. The Winter Garden is also a free WiFi hotspot.
Here’s how to log onto the Lower Manhattan Wireless Network at the Winter Garden
http://www.downtownny.com/wifi/wifi.html