Scoreboard Knit-A-Long

As Super Bowl 50 approaches and the Fantasy Football fever continues to spread, it is likely that there may be some fireside (TV-side) gatherings in your future. These get-togethers provide a space for food, chitchat, snuggles, and - you guessed it - knitting!

Personally, I am not much of an American football-watcher. I like athletics and can see why people like to play the game, but the allure of American football has always been a bit of a mystery to me. The run-stop-run-stop-run-stop-throw flag-run-stop series of events and big men in tight pants do not pique my interest in the way a jigsaw puzzle might...

Ok, this is not the point. 

The point: Knitting culture has a way of sneaking into the corners and cracks of seemingly unrelated communities. 

Consider the Scoreboard Knit-A-Long (KAL)

The Scoreboard Knit-A-Long was designed by Michelle Hunter, an author, teacher, and designer.

To make the Scoreboard KAL, the knitter works with two or three colors of a favorite football team. The main color in this piece represents the points earned by the knitter's favorite team, whereas the secondary color represents the points scored by any opponents of the favorite team. A third color, such as a white line, can be worked in to the project to allow for a break between games. Then finish piece is a Scoreboard Cowl. PRETTY COOL, AY?

The Scoreboard Cowl can be knitted with two or three yarn colors. 

I found out about this KAL from another knitter in Pittsburgh. This is the Steel City,  after all, and people are totally crazy really excited about sports.

Knit projects, such as the Scoreboard KAL, speak to the culture and community involved in the fiber arts. Knitting is not an untouchable or reserved hobby, only meant for yarn shops, Tupperware parties, or women. No. Knitting is a ubiquitous craft form; knit-purls are for art communities and sports communities. Like I mentioned earlier, the point of this post is to shed light on the beautiful way that the culture of knitting can become part of any community, much like a warm and comfy, one-size-fits-all sweater.