Etsy NY Team Crafting Demo at Montague St. Summer Space

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If you're looking for a fun activity to do this weekend to celebrate the first day of fall, join me this Sunday, Sept. 22 at Montague Street's Summer Space in Brooklyn Heights from 1pm - 4:30pm for a free crafting demonstration with the Etsy New York team. I'll be showing how to make cute mini books like this one I made as a gift for my boyfriend A. for our one year anniversary. Two years later, it became the inspiration for Porcupine Hug's Why I Love You card.

While you're there be sure to check out the Afro-Brazilian samba reggae performance by an all-women's drumming band, free yoga and Zumba workouts, food and games courtesy of local merchants, and the Brooklyn Heights dog show.

Montague St. Summer Space

September 22, 1pm - 4:30pm

Montague Street between Clinton and Hicks Streets in Brooklyn Heights

See you there!

Dorkys - Porcupine Hugs

Knitta Installation

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{NewNew} team knitters by Jonathan Hokklo

On Wednesday evening, the parking meters on Montague Street, in Brooklyn Heights, were transformed from stark grey poles to colorful coziness. The Knitta Please public art project, known as "69 meters" and commissioned by the Montague Street Business Improvement, was installed.

Running late, I rushed to a first floor meeting location in a building adjacent to St. Ann's Church. People's attention and cameras were directed toward the front of the room where Head Knitta in Charge, Magda Sayeg demonstrated how to attach the sleeves to the meters.


Installed with Bike attached

Fellow {NewNew} team members, Kimm of KimmChi, Nguyen of KnitKnit and Lydia of L'elephant Rose were in attendance to install their pieces. Each installer received a clear numbered bag containing their sleeve that corresponded to a numbered parking meter. Kimm headed toward the Promenade in search of hers. Nguyen and I paired up since our numbers were close together. As luck would have it, our meters were across the street from the church. Although one of her meters had a parked blue bike locked to it, Nguyen installed her cozy which features her signature power cord pattern. I installed three, including one created by a friend who could not attend.

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Photo by Nguyen Le
Knitta Please: 69 Meters Installation
Originally uploaded by nguyen le

Through out the entire installation process, it was evident that passersby were curious about what we were doing. There were a lot of looks. New Yorkers stopped to talk, to inquire, to ask "What's the significance of this?" These fleeting moments with neighbors, fellow Brooklynites, strangers, and visitors alike, may just be the best part of this project.

The project is expected to stay up for at least 3 weeks. So if you're in the Heights anytime soon, make sure to stop by Montague Street.

Click here for more photos.



Red Bridge Studio

Knitting for the Streets

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Shortly after exiting the Court Street train station, the pink blossoms of a flowering tree beckoned. At the corner of Montague and Clinton, I stood in front of St. Ann's Church and took out my camera to capture the neighborhood. There was a saxophonist playing in front of the the stained glass Gothic windows. Making my way past him, I noticed a woman kneeling beside a parking meter. She appeared to be "fitting" it with a brightly colored tube. I snapped a photo. Still kneeling, she said to me, "We're making 70 of these." Having put two and two together, I responded, "I'll be making some too." It turned out that I had run into Magda Sayeg of Knitta.

Both of us were on our way to an introductory meeting about the upcoming project commissioned by the Montague Street Business Improvement District. Knitta has been commissioned to cover 69 parking meter poles on Montague Street with knitted sleeves.

Self described as a "yarn vandal," Knitta is known for tagging urban spaces by wrapping knitted art pieces around poles, door handles, monuments etc. Through its "crew" of knitters, Knitta's work has made its way to streets throughout the US, tagging Austin, Seattle, New York and Hollywood and claims international notoriety in Paris.

Next month tagging comes to Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. The community and local area knitters have been enlisted to realize this project. Several members of the {NewNew}, signed up to participate. Nguyen of KnitKnit and Lorina of Beadscarf are two members who were able to attend the meeting. Should you meet a knitting {NewNew} member at a craft fair in the coming weeks, that project just may end up on a parking meter on Montague Street. Though the poles will be covered, you will still have to pay the meters.


-Red Bridge Studio