Welcome to our series of monthly contests.

This month’s subject: creative things to do with lots of rubber bands…

First, the back story. In the course of ordering needles and notions, we accumulate a ridiculous amount of rubber bands. I mean lots and lots and lots of rubber bands. Whole forests of rubber trees. It’s insane.

Here are some fascinating rubber band facts to inspire you. They’re from wikipedia, so they are probably, but not necessarily, true.

• The rubber band was patented in Australia on March 17, 1845 by Stephen Perry.
• A rubber band’s length is half its circumference.
• While other rubber products may use synthetic rubber, rubber bands are still primarily manufactured using natural rubber because of its superior elasticity.
• About 3/4’s of the world rubber is synthetic - made from crude oil.

And more inspiration from therubberband.info:
Artwork
Weirdness
Apparel

This month’s prize: A lifetime supply of rubber bands… and The Little Box of Knitted Gifts by Sandy Scoville, published by Martingale.

Past winners

The winning entry will be chosen by Twisted’s proprietresses, Emily and Shannon. Our selection will be totally subjective and based on no predefined criteria we can articulate ahead of time. As they say, we’ll just know it when we see it.

Entries will be accepted through June 30 at midnight Pacific Time. One entry per person, por favor. We’ll mail the prize to the winner free if you’re in the US, though be warned it will be via the postal service’s slowest snail. Your entry in this contest comprises your agreement to all of the above and your permission to publish your entry and name on our blog. Good luck!

Past winners:

May 2008
Theme: a slogan for Twisted
Prize: Bumper sticker and t-shirt with the new slogan
Winner: TBD

April 2008
Theme:Crafting and the weather
Prize: Knitty Gritty Knits by Vicky Howell
Winner: Brianne P.
Rivulets of rain
make cables down my window.
Inspired, I knit.

March 2008
Theme: Knitting and pets
Prize: Stylish Knits for Dogs, by Ilene Hochberg
Winner: Alessandra, Faye, and the Sockettes
Bucky’s sweater rocks.
What about his naked friend?
Carat needs a dress!

February 2008
Theme: Knitting for someone you love
Prize: Silk dragon tote
Winner: Carrie G.
Just for you, my love,
I knit plain socks in black yarn
in February.

January 2008
Theme: New year’s crafting resolutions
Winner: Andi C.
Prize: Winter Knits Kit, by Sara Lucas and Allison Isaacs
ORGANIZATION!
Must bite bullet and face stash.
Need patience, liquor.

December 2007
Theme: Holiday crafting
Winner: Lucy Anne T.
Prize: Trekking XXL color 150
Knit, purl, don’t worry,
Christmas stockings make lovely
Valentine presents.

November 2007
Theme: teaching someone else a craft
Winner: Leila W.
Prize: Lacy Little Knits by Iris Shreier
tongues sharp as needles
drool at alchemy of yarn
nephews think I’m cool

October 2007
Theme: crafting horror stories
Winner: Bob S.
Prize: Frabjous Fibers Banana Silk and pattern
Wet drive, knitting drags:
Like a trail of crumbs work ravels
To show my way home.

September 2007
Theme: crafting triumphs
Winner: Katie E.
One last row to do.
It doesn’t look like a hat…
Do you like my bag?

August 2007
Theme: learning a new craft
Winner: Lynda
Steek my knitting? Yikes!
Shining blade down Fair Isle rows.
Take deep breath. And cut.

July 2007
Theme: summer knitting
Winner: Pam
I sit by the pool
And wonder if I can float
While knitting my socks