Perhaps winter has felt as long for others as it has for us, in spite of the unusual (and troubling) bursts of temperate days and rainfall rather than cold and snow. Certainly recent events in the mid-east (and Africa, and Balkans) are dispiriting at times – one wonders how it will be possible for Jews and Palestinians (or Sudanese tribes, or Serbians and Kosovans) to settle their political and ethno-religious disputes in the face of continued violence.
As I try to stay abreast of the news, I continue to knit for peace, and hope that others will carve small bubbles of time out of their busy lives to join me. The most recent round of violence in Sderot-Gaza and Jerusalem prompted me to respond by creating new foliage TikkunTree, knitted leaves that join colors and stitches, like the disparate peoples that must eventually find paths to co-existence.
These first efforts feel something like knitted prayers, each leaf an opportunity to reflect on a variety of ways I can (and ought to) contribute to the peace process: through art, through conversation, through financial contributions, through political activism, through prayer.
Here is the pattern for a medium-sized, single-sided leaf. Instructions for the double-sided version will be added soon, along with the modifications for a somewhat larger leaf (with a more prominent, 6 st cabled vein) and a two-color “coexistence” version. NOTE: this post will be edited and updated freely until all the patterns and their photos are included and corrected, with date of last revision included.
TikkunTree Cabled Leaf and variations
(rev’d 3.13.08)
Materials:
- two shades of green worsted weight yarn (one used as main color, the other color used for the central cabled vein)
- Size 6 needles (4.0 mm), 6-8″ dpns or circular
Abbreviations:
MC — main color
CC — contrast color
RS / WS — right side / wrong side
CO — cast on
M1 — increase 1 st (either by yarnover, or a “ladder-lift” increase)
M1R — make 1 right-leaning st by knitting into right side of next stitch below (instructions and video demo here)
M1L — make 1 left-leaning st by knitting into left side of two sts below (same st) (instructions and video demo here)
ssk — slip 2 sts as if to knit (knit-wise), return these to the left needle and knit together
k2tog — knit 2 sts sts together
C4R — slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back, knit 2 sts from left needle, knit the 2 sts from the cable needle
12.20.08 UPDATE: THIS PATTERN IS CURRENTLY BEING REVISED. IT WILL REAPPEAR IN ITS NEW FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE REGRET ANY INCONVENIENCE, AND HOPE YOU WILL STOP BACK SOON – AND CHOOSE TO KNIT A FEW LEAVES FOR PEACE!
THANKS – Leslie
These leaves were inspired by Cyntergomes’ veined leaf pattern, for the Burning Man Project.
Please don’t hesitate to let me know if there are problems with these instructions; if you want to help test patterns, please contact me (!) at: tikkunknits (at) yahoo (dot) com.
8.2012 UPDATE: THIS PATTERN CAN NOW BE FOUND HERE ON ETSY.
WE HOPE YOU WILL CHOOSE TO SUPPORT THE TIKKUNTREE PROJECT AND KNIT A FEW LEAVES FOR PEACE!
This is one awesome design – simply beautiful. I LOVE leaves and this is the best one I have ever seen. Great job.
Thanks very much for your kind words, Karen. I hope you’ll bring your enthusiasm for this special leaf to a pair of knitting needes and contribute a leaf or two to the project soon.
What a beautiful design! I’m so happy to have part of the inspiration for this creation. I can’t wait to make leaves from your pattern.
Is the pattern shown still viable?
I would like to make a few.
Thank you.
This pattern is now available here on Etsy.
We hope you will choose to support the TikkunTree Project and knit a few leaves for peace!