Help Save the Bead Museum!!!!

The Bead Museum in Glendale, AZ is in danger of closing after 23 yrs.

We can’t let this happen!!!! As an amazing national (and international) resource, this would be an enormous loss to the bead community as well as to historic and cultural reseachers. This is only museum in the world dedicated to the preservation and research of beads and beaded artifacts. The Bead Museum’s collection rivals( and in several instances surpasses) cultural anthropology and archeology exhibits in the Smithsonian or Peabody museums. The museum’s most rare beads are 40,000 years old.

To find out more about the museum’s situation, read here. From the Bead Museum website: 20 ways you can help it from closing. Their website mainpage has a paypal button you can click and send a donation. Also, the wonderful people at Interweave has made it easy and quick for everyone to make a $5 donation thru their website to help keep the museum doors open.

I’ve been to the museum the one time I was in Phoenix. It’s really amazing museum and resource for jewelry artists. I encourage all my readers to help save the Bead Museum by doing what you can, and helping to spread the word.

Whether you love the cottagecore vibe, are heading to a Renaissance faire, stitching something fun for your Halloween costume, or just want to keep cozy on your fall rambles in the woods, the Wandering Woods Knit Hood from Yarnspirations should be your next knit.

The skill rating is easy, and it calls for worsted weight yarn to knit the hood with an integrated seed stitch border worked in a contrasting color. The hood is worked flat and seamed, then you pick up stitches along the bottom to knit the cape portion.

The cape part is shaped just like a raglan sweater, with increases on each side of four points across the cape. If you’ve ever worked a raglan project before this will be simple for you. And if you haven’t you’ll be ready for your first raglan sweater after this project! The front edgings are worked at the same time as the body, and you’ll finish off with the contrasting bottom edge, as well as I-cord ties for the hood.

This cape is pretty short, just covering the shoulders, but you can knit it as long as you like and even make a full length cape if you’re going for high drama (and warmth!).

There are four size options for the cape, to fit a chest measurement ranging from 28 to 60 inches (71 to 117 cm). As shown the cape edges don’t meet in the front, so if that’s something you want you can work more increases, which will also make the project longer. I’d love a version that’s longer and with a fun clasp to make it even cozier, but you can make it your own way.

The pattern calls for Red Heart Super Saver, but this would be a great project to knit in wool or a wool blend for extra warmth.

You can grab a free copy of the pattern from Yarnspirations, and if you want to make it as shown you can also get a kit that includes the two colors of yarn you need and other supplies if you want them.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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