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Portrait of Amos
by: Amos

Knitting (and crocheting) for the greater good – fiber arts news

The need for animal adoption is something we’re all likely well aware of – but did you know that furry friends with black or dark hair may have a harder time finding a home? Not for long if a new trend takes hold: Dark-haired canines donning delightful jumpers! Thanks to volunteers, the outfits are a hit! Shelters report that fashionably adorned pups are finding fantastic families.

Believe it or not, we’ve seen articles on chicken knitting before. But this delightful article in the Boston Globe was too good to pass up. It seems that in another little-known corner of animal welfare needs, certain exotic breeds of chickens need help with cold New England winters: Residents of Fuller Village to the rescue! Story got picked up by many, there is also a great AP video here.

On the other end of the size spectrum: Knitting to keep elephants warm? Well, looking closely at the photos we’d guess it’s crochet. But we sure did look closely because the photos are amazing! Seems that the sanctuary where these elephants are protected gets a little colder than their comfort zone. Fiber arts to the rescue! Or more precisely, awesome fiber artists :-) to the rescue.

Finally, this story really is marvelous: Volunteers are providing premature babies with a comforting environment by giving them crocheted octopuses. Why octopuses? The theory is that the “tentacles” mimic the feeling the the premature babies had in the womb since the tentacles are similar to an umbilical cord. Of note for aspiring volunteers: the pattern and materials must be followed exactly, for safety’s sake.  The photo and story above are from the UK, but, the effort started several years go in Denmark. For some history and a free pattern, check out this Polish site or the original Danish site here. Hip-hip hurray!

Portrait of Amos
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