I think that the KnittUps! do stripes really well:

Images courtesy of the KnittUps!

While digging into the stash and coming up with colour combinations on the fly is fun, there are a few tools that I adore on days when I’m feeling stuck.

The Random Stripe Generator. An oldie but a goodie, the random stripe generator lets you pick approximate shades of yarn, and how many rows you would like the stripes to be. It then spits out a pattern for knitting or crochet. This is such a fun tool to play with. It really helps you visualize how your project will turn out.

Here is a stripe that I made this morning:

A few tools that I use as a graphic designer really help me with my knitting. I adore Kuler. Kuler is a social community where folks can create and post their own colour palettes (which then can be directly imported into graphic design software such as Adobe Illustrator). Even if you are not a graphic designer, it can be a fun site to hunt around when you need to feel inspired. Who would have ever thought that they would need a palette inspired by Blade Runner or sushi?

Similarily, Color Lovers is a social community where folks contribute articles on historical colourways, trendy hues, and up and coming prints.

Have you used any of these tools in your work? If so, I’d love to see the results!

I’ve been chatting with some folks on Ravelry about developing a set of universal measurement standards for street furniture which we’d like to publish in the book – they’ll come in handy if you’re knitting a tag for a place you haven’t been before, or if the weather isn’t cooperating when you are getting ready to crochet a new piece. If you’d like to contribute to the conversation, put your measurements up here in the comments section or join the discussion in the Yarn Bombing or Knit Graffiti groups on Ravelry.

Here are the measurements that I have taken in Vancouver, Canada:

Wooden telephone poles: 42.75” circumference

Canadian mailboxes: 54” tall in front, 47” tall in back (slanting roof), 22” wide across front, 20” in depth

Park bench height and width: seat length 70”, seat width 16”, total height from ground to top of seat 32”

Metal railings: 6.5” circumference

Door knobs: standard square shops handle 5” long, 3 inches around

Standard round knob: 6” in circumference

Antenna lengths on cars (varies according to car make):
VW Bug (a new bug, not the old fashioned type) antenna: 13”
Chevy Cavalier 30”
Jeep Compass 32”

Stop sign pole: 7.5” circumference, 73” from ground to the bottom of base of the sign

Pay phone: receiver is 5” long, 4” in circumference. The cord between the receiver and the phone is 29” long

Dumpster: 71” long, 52” high, 39” width

Push buttons at crossing lights: circumference of face plate

Lamp post circumference: 21” up to 27”, varies in location

Parking Meter:
Base circular 9”, base height: 31”, meter circular 17”, base height 23.9”

If you have the time to take a few measurements and post them – it would be a great resource for the urban knitting community!

Also, if you read this blog and are on Ravelry, I’d love to connect with you. My (Leanne) user id is yarn bombing. I’ve really been enjoying the groups Knit Graffiti, Guerilla Knitters, and the Crochet Liberation Front.