Come On, Get Involved

The Pink Auction would love for you to become involved! Here are a few of the ways you can make a difference:

Do you knit, sew, design textiles, crochet, dye wool, weave, or create fibre art?

Auction items will be your beautifully crafted donations of high-quality, sellable textile art. This can be: Crochet; Knitting; Lace; Weaving; Quilting; Felting; Batik. We welcome creative textile donations in a range of creations, including: Fashion; Creative textile jewelry; Quilts; Blankets; Shawls; Bags; Wall hangings; Mittens; etc... Donation Guidelines

Are you a member or leader of a community group?

Community groups are wonderful forums to create a collaborative project for the auction. Blankets, baby sets, or quilts are wonderful for groups to make together and donate.

Do you own a wool or fabric shop - or have clean wool/fabric to donate?

We're seeking donations of fibre materials, such as wool, yarn, fabric, thread, felt, and fabric dye for asylum seekers and our volunteers to create auction items. It may not seem like much, but even a skein or two of wool or a meter of fabric can be made into something beautiful. We have volunteers with skill and dedication, now we just need to give them something to work with.

Are you a publican or restauranteur?

You could host a workshop or publicity event to promote awareness. It doesn't have to be big to make a big difference.

Are you on Facebook, Twitter, or Ravelry?

You don't need to create or donate to help us spread the word about The Pink Auction in Cork City. Look for us on Facebook, Twitter, and Ravelry and tell your friends!

Free Pattern Friday: Sew Summery

This week's Free Pattern Friday link list was compiled by Evin of Spring Stitches.

Some of the most delicious blooming flower hues are stitched together this season, so today's Free Pattern Friday focus will be things that are sew very summery! After all, doesn't it feel more like summer when you're wearing those cheery colors?

Square Deal™ Pincushion from Heather Bailey

Various Quilts from Amy Butler

Summer Dress from Threadbanger

Quick Gardening Gloves from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing

Classic Tote from Sew, Mama, Sew!

Nigella Silhouettes Wall Art from Amy Butler

Summer Patterns from Sew, Mama, Sew!

Fabric Necklace from Amy Butler

Mila Dress from BurdaStyle

Keep in mind, some of these patterns may be suitable only for personal use, not for resale.

The short link for this blog post is: http://bit.ly/fpf-7

Our Knit In Public Event

The weather threatened to interrupt our plans, but held off long enough for us to thoroughly enjoy our Knit In Public event. Almost one dozen knitters and crocheters joined Pink Auction in Fitzgerald Park last Monday to celebrate public displays of craftiness while learning a little more about Action Breast Cancer.

Free Pattern Friday: Robots

This week's Free Pattern Friday link list was compiled by Evin of Spring Stitches.

A friend of ours LOVES quirky things, including robots and when we saw these patterns, we thought of her, which is always a happy thing to do. So, as you read this, think of your cool friends who enjoy fun things and make you smile when you get to see them. And while you're thinking, here are some amazing robot patterns for knitters, sewers, and crafty creative textile lovers of human and robot origins.

Knitting Pattern Central's Proto the Robot knitting project (pictured)

Applique Robot from Beth of Project

Christina from 3 Sweet P's has an Applique Robot that looks great on a boy's tee.

KnitPicks has three-robot kit (patterns and yarn), so we're linking to this even though it's not free just because it exists and how many robot patterns are there out there? Maybe more than we think.

Free Pattern Friday: Fair Isle

This week's Free Pattern Friday link list was compiled by Evin of Spring Stitches.

They're elusive and intricate, but actually not impossible to knit - Fair Isle! Here are a few of our favorites...

Cascade Yarns shares a Colorblock Fair Isle Pullover designed by Melissa Leapman

The Piper offers a Wee Fair Isle Sweater from Barbara Harris-Pruitt

Berroco brings a bit of Christmas to their John Stocking to be hung by the chimney with care - or for someone who likes this style sock.

If you like the idea, but want something a little quirkier, check out Jen Small's Pondemonium Sweater, which has a Fair Isle premiss in a ducky theme.

Join Pink Auction for World Wide Knit In Public Day

As mentioned before, we're looking forward to World Wide Knit In Public Day (WWKIPD) 2010 and hope you'll join us for...

Pink Auction's Knit In Public Day in Cork!

On Monday, the 14th of June, we will be knitting in Fitzgerald Park (Cork City) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., even later if people want to stick around. Please come along, stay as long or as short as you want. We encourage all to bring friends, family, children, and pets.

Look for us down by the roses. We'll have balloons so you should spot us we will give info on Action Breast Cancer and on the Pink Auction. It free. It's fun. Hopefully, it will be sunny. There is no rain date for this event, if the weather is very bad it won't take place.

We are in the official World Wide Knit In Public Day event listing.

Please pass along message. Enjoy the long weekend everyone and thanks for your support. The short link for this blog post is http://bit.ly/wwkip10

Free Pattern Friday: Handbags

This week's Free Pattern Friday link list was compiled by Evin of Spring Stitches

There are two things crafty women seem to collect - fibre and handbags. Well, here are some patterns that will bring the two together in perfect harmony. As with all our Friday posts, we are linking to free patterns!

10 Simple-to-Sew Totes, Purses, and Bags from Better Homes and Gardens

Basic Bermuda Bag Cover from Knit Green by Joanne Seiffs

Bag and Tote Sewing Patterns from BellaOnline

Bag Patterns from Straw.com

2725 Knit Purse from Free Vintage Knitting

Crochet Patterns for Purses from FreeVintageCrochet.com

The short link to this post is: http://bit.ly/fpf-4

Special Letter to YOU

Dear YOU,

This coming October, we are holding the first ever Pink Auction in Cork City. The auction will bring together many people with two goals ---- to promote creative textiles in Ireland and to raise money for Action Breast Cancer, a programme of the Irish Cancer Society. People within the community as well as around the country are participating by making and donating handcrafted creative textile items to be auctioned off. The event will take place at The Imperial Hotel on Sunday, the 10^th of October, 2010.

You can help us in getting the word out to the public and this is a vital component to the success of the auction, both in soliciting donations and encouraging people to come and bid on auction items. The more people that hear about the Pink Auction the better so please share this or the links to your websites. The more support we can get the more we can do and the better it is for breast cancer awareness. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, read our Volunteer Request blog post.

The Pink Auction seeks donations of high quality textile art. Creative textile art includes: crochet, knitting, lace, quilting, weaving, felting, batik, textile jewellery. Donations may be in any colour and we actively seek handcrafted blankets, shawls, bags, fashion, baby clothing, mittens, etc… As the auction event approaches, smaller events and workshops will be taking place in the city. We anticipate community involvement as we promote creative textiles while encouraging donations. Local venues can help by hosting small workshops between now and early September or displaying auction items to spread the excitement for the event. Stores and craft groups can help by donating wool or textile supplies for pre-auction workshops or to be used in auction items.

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about Cork’s Pink Auction in support of Action Breast Cancer. If you need anymore info, please do not hesitate to contact us at PinkCork gmail.com

Yours sincerely,

Julie Anne & Evin

Event Organizers