Playing with fi(b)re

Startin' 'em young

2012-01-22T12:51:00.001Z

The toddler in my life is very amused with retractable tape measures.

I like to think that because of my good influence, she'll be out-crafting me by the time she's old enough to wield a scissors with adult supervision.

Forgotten knits

2012-01-21T17:50:00.000Z

I have somehow forgotten to show off these finished knits, in spite of the fact that I wear them on an almost constant basis.

My Handspun Hat;

Yarn; spindle-spun 3 ply yarn, using mixed-fibre batts from LHogan. This particular batt was named 'School Uniform' & I picked it up at the 2010 Knitting & Stitching Show. I dunno about you but my school uniform was never this interesting! The batt was 100g; I did not use all the yarn to make the hat.

Needles; 4mm (taking my slightly loose tension into account.

Pattern; Made up. Based on many social occasions when surrounded by fellow knitters, I have come to the conclusion that I have an abnormally large head. Seriously, no grown woman that I have encountered has beat my 23.5 inch circumference. More room for brains?! So your typical woman's hat pattern is usually too small for me.

I cast on 96 stitches & worked in 2 x 2 ribbing for about 2 inches, and then worked the rest of the hat in stocking stitches. The crown decreases are a combination of left-leaning & right-leaning decreases.

I'm reasonably happy with the finished knit; it is slightly but not overly slouchy & very warm. However in extremely windy conditions I can feel it beginning to slip off my head. I do intend to re-knit the ribbing with a few stitch decreases for a little negative ease and a more secure fit.

Stocking Stitch Cowl:
Yarn; Malabrigo Lace, less than one skein, in 'Tuareg' colourway. Which amuses me as there is also a 'Tuareg' tea in the Tea Garden
Needles; 3.5 mm needles
Pattern; Another makey-uppey knit; this cowl is super cosy & super simple to knit. I cast on 140 stitches and knit in stocking stitch until I got fed up / a cold neck. This cowl is very light weight & thin but very cosy. It is long enough to cover my neck and the lower part of my head; for colder days I would have it tucked under a scarf and up under my hat just to make sure there are no gaps allowing in the cold. I've pulled it up over my face when walking into a cold wind, & have it slouching around my neck on not-so-cold days for just a little warmth. While malabrigo lace wears very badly, this simple cowl will still be useful & cosy even if pilled & fuzzy.

It's been very useful for some recent windswept hillwalking excursions.

Photos by Tom (aka 'The Fella')

Doodles

2012-01-21T16:55:00.000Z

In the past few months I have been doodling again. In my previous life as an art & design student it was something I did every day in every spare moment, but up until very recently I had been lacking in motivation. A couple of months ago I was asked to do some design work...

... And this week, I got to see a finished object based on my doodles; these shawl pins were delivered to This is Knit, made by NovaSteel & designed by yours truly.

The design was inspired by the annular & penannular brooches in the National Museum of Ireland - for example, the Tara Brooch - though it's been simplified both to suit modern tastes & the materials. Besides, no knitter would want their beautiful lace shawl outshone by a piece of jewellery! I am delighted with the finished piece; it looks even better than I had imagined. More than anything, I am honoured that the lovely Lisa from This is Knit put her faith in my doodle abilities when commissioning this design. It's given me a boost & I have since been experimenting on paper for some knitted designs... watch this space!

Giving gifts

2012-01-18T21:18:00.001Z

This winter I was adamant that I was not going to knit gifts for Christmas; I did not want the self-imposed pressure, especially after all the baby knits of the year.

However, I did cave every so slightly...

For the other knitter in my family, I spun up some roving from LHogan; this was a recent installment from Laura's delicious fibre club. I did not take process photos and did not take note of the finished length, but the recipient made the appropriate happy noises and yarn-squishing gestures.

And then, with about 2 weeks to go before Christmas, I decided to knit one single gift... or rather a pair, for my dear Nana. I couldn't bear to think of her having cold hands!

Pattern; Borough by Veronica O'Neil
Yarn; Mirasol Kutama from This is Knit
Buttons; from Studio 54, Blackrock.

Based on the recommended yarn (Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted) I assumed, in my last minute Christmas gift rush that an aran weight yarn would suit & sent the other half into my 'third home' (he works practically next door) to pick up some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran - a safe bet when knitting for others. The fabric was far too loose for the pattern. Cue an in-person visit to peruse yarn tags & recommended tension information; I settled on the Mirasol Kutama because it just seemed right.

Modifications; I knit the top of thumb in reverse stocking stitch (the garter stitch thumb would have been too thick). I also made the wrist length shorter; I only knit 3 inches of garter stitch for both yarn saving purposes & for ease of wearing with a full sleeved winter coat. I also added partial lining at the wrist in leftover malabrigo lace, as the yarn could be slightly prickly to very sensitive skin.

The mittens were well received, even if the weather has gotten warmer since the end of December. But mittens don't go off!!

Newgrange in Autumn

2012-01-09T22:10:00.000Z

Ooh look. Photos I took ages ago & never shared. These pics are from a fairly recent trip to Newgrange with The Fella. It was a lovely clear autumn day.

I love this tree; it looks like it's about to come to life like something from Lord of The Rings.

Near the foot of that tree... lots and lots of spider webs on the grass glistening in the sun. I've never seen anything like it before!

Inside the Newgrange visitors centre, there's a display that includes clothing from back in the olden days - flax & nettle fibres...

and some dog hair - turns out 'Chiengora' is far from a new concept!

Everyone really is fond of owls...

2011-12-10T22:10:00.001Z

I've given up on re-knitting my owls jumper for now; I'm just not in the mood for knitting a whole garment at the moment. However, the owls obsession continues, thanks in part to this video. I've also been spotting owls in new & unexpected places... like this strange fluffy creature in a children's clothing shop window...

... and this bizarre ornament spotted in my local woodies, with added sparkles.

Most impressive of all, the owls gathered by my Knitmas swap secret elf; Irish knitters on twitter recently took part in a christmas, or knitmas gift swap... (check out the fabulous wrapping paper, covered in owls!)

...and I was the lucky recipient of hand-made stitch markers, sweet treats, spinnable fibre, and a fabulous wee owl who's still waiting for a name.

Thanks so much to L for my lovely gift, and to S for organising the whole gift swap.

The Haul (RDS Knitting & Stitching Show)

2011-11-19T22:19:00.000Z

Last weekend, I suspect that almost every fibre crafter in the country was at the Knitting & Stitching show. I recently realised that I had barely knit any of the yarn I bought at the show last year so was determined to not go too mad. In fact I didn't buy any yarn for myself at all. I was impressed with the new pattern kits on sale at the This Is Knit like the Slushie Cowl but decided against purchasing just for now. I focussed on picking up fat quarters & half metres of fabric for some simple sewing projects.

I think my favourite buy was this set of 4 owl buttons from Pippa Blue. I have no idea what I will do with them, but they were too cute to pass up.

I also hit the Oliver Twists stand and picked up some brightly coloured wool intended for a needle felting project...

And some silvery threads intended to become festive decorations.

I also picked up some tweed fabric from Magee Clothing - the woollen fabric feels really substantial & weighty to touch. I have no idea what this will become yet, but had to try it out.

Of course, once I got home I had great fun arranging my fabric bundles in complimentary colours... perfectly normal behaviour! I have already started to use some of it -more details later.

Belfast Botanic Gardens

2011-11-14T21:00:00.000Z

The fella & I have been to Belfast a few times before but it has always involved stumbling out of a bus into a concert venue & back again. On this occasion we chose to spend a little extra time, and get to see a bit of the city. As the weather was lovely & dry for this time of year, we decided to stroll through the Botanic Gardens. I was fascinated with the decay, condensation & shadows of the greenhouse windows & dying flowers.

My favourite photo, with a ghostly apparation...

... in the form of finger smudges on a filthy window.

I'm sure my ma wouldn't approve but there is something very photogenic about dirty windows!

Finished Objects - baby stuff.

2011-11-13T21:24:00.001Z

The last baby stuff for this year!!! I specify this year because there are already two babies due next year in my 'to-knit-for' list. I have been knitting most of these over the last few months but couldn't post until the gifts had been given.

Pattern; Lil devil baby hat by Kitty Schmidt
Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK
This is the second time I have knit this pattern. It seems highly appropriate for baby girls with rocker parents; cute and a little bit mischievous.

Pattern; Tomten by Elizabeth Zimmerman

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK

Needles; 4mm

Buttons from the Trim Wool Shop

I've added an applied icord edging in contrast colour & icord button loops. I really should have measured this before giving it over to the wee child. It's a bit roomy on the wee 15 month old in my life; she is currently wearing 9 − 12 months sized commercial clothes. She's also quite slim for a little toddler. It should keep her snug in the cold winter. Because of the garter stitch it will stretch to fit her as she grows.

Pattern; Baby sweater on two needles by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Yarn; Cashmerino DK
Needles; 4mm
Buttons from Studio 54 in Blackrock
This will accompany the little pink baby devil hat, even though they are completely mismatched.

Pattern; Devils Cap (purl free) by Irene Birk
Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK in 2 colours
Needles; 3.5 mm
This is more of a formula than an exact pattern; a little bit of sums based on your tension & head size.
I made this in a 1 − 2 years size at a tension of 22 st per 10 cm. I thought this looked very big for my favourite little toddler but it's just a little roomy - perfect for some growing room. She still won't leave it on her head, but at least it can be tied on when the weather turns cold!

Pattern; Offset Wraplan by Sara Morris
Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK
Needles; 3.5 mm
Buttons from Studio 54 in Blackrock - I love these buttons; they look like wee smarties
Hat; made-up

This was my second time to knit this wraplan pattern; this time I separated the 2 fronts & back sections to allow for equal numbers of stitches in the front & back of the garment. I still think the garment looks rather short compared to its with so will probably make this again, longer.

That's it; no more newborn baby knits this year. I think I've knit for 9 babies this year. I may have lost track slightly. And I have already decided that there will be no knitted gifts for C******** (I refuse to type that whole word before December 1st). For now, I knit, spin & sew whatever I feel like, with no deadlines!

The Fairy Tree...

2011-11-10T18:00:00.000Z

On a recent gorgeous autumn day we took a walk in Marlay Park & visited the Fairy Tree.

Hilarious. I wonder if there are ninja fairies;

The gifts & notes pinned to the tree are constantly changing; I really think it's time I added my own.

It's the little things...

2011-11-08T23:30:00.000Z

Like a cluster of wild mushrooms at the foot of a tree..

The texture of leaves on a horsechestnut tree handing just over your head.

The sun shining on leaves,

autumn colours,

And a cheeky little friend.

I love those cold-but-sunny autumn days, & can think of no better way of spending them than exploring Marlay Park.

Obsession

2011-11-05T17:30:00.000Z

I've been toying with the idea of re-knitting my owls jumper at a tension more suited to the yarn. With just a little wear it has become baggy & a little shapeless. My own fault for knitting with lighter weight yarn than called for by the pattern. It seems appropriate that owls are everywhere...

I picked up this little fella in Article. This is one candle I will not be burning!

Finished objects; handspun shawl & cowls

2011-11-05T16:35:00.002Z

I've been on a bit of a relatively thoughtless knitting rampage lately; stocking stitch with occasional bits of texture, and with nobody in mind for the finished knits.

First up, a simple triangular shawl that I knit as an antidote to all the machine washable baby knits I have been making recently, started about a month ago. The fibre is bluefaced leicester from Hedgehog Fibres. I used 3.5 mm needles, and knit it mostly in stocking stitch, with a few rows of texture for a bit of interest.

I've also knit a cowl from some handspun yarn. I bought some mixed fibre batts from LHogan; I roughly separated the colours & spun the yarn from light to dark shades of blue, & then chain plied to keep the colour progression. It seems that I didn't bother writing down any notes as I knit this cowl. I probably used 3.5 mm needles. It's mostly stocking stitch with occasional purl ridges & rows of YO, K2tog across. Ooops.

This cowl was knit from a full skein of Jawoll Magic sock yarn, picked up at last year's knitting & stitching show. I have recently realised that I have knit almost nothing I bought at last year's show. Which leaves me doubting whether or not I should go this year. But as pointed out to me, even if you don't buy much, there is plenty of inspiration to be had at the stalls & exhibition spaces.

For this cowl, I used 3.25 mm needles. I cast on 150 stitches, and knit in stocking stitch in the round, with an occasional band of reverse stocking stitch. The finished cowl is very long & drapey, & will fit over your head as a hood for extra snuggley warmth.

I'm currently knitting more cowls. It seems to be a bit of an obsession at the moment, & I don't have specific people in mind for these cowls. Might be best to donate to a craft sale in aid of a good cause.

Dressing up

2011-10-23T00:49:00.000+01:00

I just cannot help myself. Over the last couple of weeks, some work colleagues have been talking about their kids' planned Hallowe'en costumes, & the difficulties of keeping the kids happy without spending a fortune. Being someone who enjoys making things, I offered some help... Because I really am the sort of person who just happens to have this sort of stuff lying about the house.

And I have just spent a rather pleasant Saturday stitching & hemming bits of fabric.

The first little boy wants to be a pirate just like Jake; I made a waistcoat from a piece of denim fabric I have had for years. I also had the perfect excuse to buy some skull & crossed-swords fabric, which I hemmed to make a headband. His mum is going to pair this with some denim shorts & striped socks.

The second child has been watching rather a lot of Horrible Histories and wants to dress up as Caesar. Now, most 'Roman' costumes would involve draping some sheets, but an Emperor really should have some royal purple garments too. I picked up some synthetic purple lining fabric for about 2 euro, & hemmed it. I think this will set off the draped undyed muslin fabric. The final touch, courtesy of his mum, will be a gold leaf crown. I cannot wait to see post-Hallowe'en photos of the kids!

All this stitching has me very tempted to get & dress myself up too...

Special delivery...

2011-10-16T12:15:00.000+01:00

The results of an excited auntie-to-be clicking away on the knitting needles;

Pattern; Shale Baby Blanket by Jared Flood

Yarn; 8 balls of Debbie Bliss Rialto DK

Modifications; because I was using DK weight yarn instead of the recommended aran weight, I added in an extra 20 stitches when casting on to allow for one extra lace repeat. I continued to knit until I was almost out of yarn.

Finished measurements after a good blocking; 80 cm wide x 101 cm long.

Cardigan Pattern; Offset Wraplan by Sara Morris in 3-6 months size.

Hat Pattern; Flame On by Jessy Henderson

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK.

Buttons are from Studio 54 in Blackrock.

The flame hat is an ode to my brother (the daddy)'s past like of flame shirts & boots, and of course, a cardigan to match. The cardigan numbers baffled me a bit; the back of the cardigan was much wider than the two fronts combined. The shape of the finished garment seems proportionately very wide, compared to its length. I do like it though, and will knit again with some modifications.

Pattern; Classic Cardigan by Debbie Bliss in 3-6 month size
Yarn; Baby Cashmerino; I used just under one ball of the contrast colour, and about 1 1/2 balls of the main colour.
Buttons; from Studio 54 in Blackrock.
I found the construction of this cardigan ridiculous; you are advised to knit the back & 2 fronts separately before seaming together and joining with the sleeves for the raglan decreases. I have since started to knit another one, and have cast on the back & 2 fronts in one go, allowing for seaming stitches.

Pattern; Duffel Coat by Debbie Bliss, in 3-6 months size

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Rialto DK

Buttons; from Studio 54 in Blackrock.

Modifications; I did not add pockets (seriously, what infant needs a pocket?) and used a 3 needle bind off to join the hood instead of casting off & sewing up later.

Pattern; Beyond Puerperium by Kelly Brooker in 6 − 12 month size

Yarn; Rialto DK

Buttons from Studio 54

Modifications; I wanted a contrast colour button band & edging; when knitting the body I omitted the button band stitches, & then picked up & knit the button band in contrast colour later. The similarity to Australia's sports colours is simply coincidence!

Pattern; made up, inspired by Wurm by katushika

Yarn; leftovers of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK

I cast on 68 stitches in the round; knit 2 x 2 ribbing for 3 cm, & then alternated between purl & knit bands, changing colour as I changed the stitches. Decreases were terribly fudged. I will probably make more of these, but suspect I would sit down & do some proper sums first!

Pattern; made up

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Rialto DK

I seem to have a thing for horizontal stripes on babies. I suppose, they don't worry about whether or not their bums look big in stripes.

After all of this, I has the baby knits fatigue. Just another hat to make & I'm done though. And then I can move on to some adult-sized things in hand-wash only yarns, huzzah!

New addition

2011-10-09T17:07:00.002+01:00

This week we welcomed baby Alexander to the family. As a first-time real auntie I've been excitedly clicking away at the needles, but can't show off the knits because they have yet to be delivered.

The new daddy reckons Alex has long guitar player fingers...

Some knitting I can show off; last night I cast on for a simple shawl using some yarn I spun up during the Tour de Fleece earlier this year. It's mostly stocking stitch with a few rows of textured pattern for interest; I'm firmly of the belief that mutitcoloured yarn is best used in simple stitches.

I also have some stash enhancement to share; Pure Cashmere lace from Hedgehog Fibres in 'Ink' colourway. I had recently decided that I was going to try and cut down on the yarn stash but this just called to me. The lovely rich blue colours are so vibrant, and the cashmere fibre so soft... mmmm

You must be mistaken - Cowl pattern

2011-09-27T22:50:00.001+01:00

After all the recent baby knits I have been itching to knit something for an adult, in chunky weight yarn & with next to no sewing up. It's a chunky textured cowl knit in mistake ribbing, & is ever so cosy. It's simple enough for even conservative wearers, though you could liven it up for more daring types with a contrasting colour in the i-cord bind off & with decorative buttons

The cowl is first knit in the round, & then knit back & forth to make a slit to one side. It's intended to be worn folded down at the top, but of course, you can wear it without the fold & tucked into more layers on cold days. The finished cowl is approx. 23.5 cm high & 23 cm across.

Yarn; 108 g / 130 metres of chunky weight yarn

I used Debbie Bliss Rialto Chunky (50 g / 60 m per ball, recommended tension of 15 st/ 10 cm)

The body of the cowl used 2 balls; the partial 3rd ball was for the optional i-cord edging.

Recommended Tension; 14 st/10 cm in stocking stitch.

Needles; 5.5 mm circular for the body, 5 mm circular for the i-cord edging.

Spare DPN for picking up stitches.

(I'm a slightly loose knitter; you may need to use larger needles)

Instructions;

Cast on 74 stitches & join for knitting in the round, being careful not to twist.

Mark the beginning of the round with a stitch marker.

Knit in mistake ribbing in the round

Round 1; knit all stitches

Round 2; *K1 P1* repeat for the round.

Continue knitting these 2 rounds until the piece measures about 15 cm, ending with a knit round. Increase one stitch at the end of this round.

Change to knitting flat

WS; * P1, K1* repeat until last stitch P1

RS knit all stitches

Continue knitting these two rows until you're almost out of yarn - approximately 8 cm (or until the desired length).

If you do not want to add i-cord edging bind off now.

i-cord edging

WS facing, and using the smaller needle; (knit, YO knit) into the first stitch. Slip these 3 stitches back to the left needle tip without twisting.

*K2, K2tog, slip stitches from right needle to left needle tip* along the remaining live stitches.

Pick up 16 stitches along the first edge of the side slit; continue knitting the applied i-cord onto these stitches. Pick up another 16 stitches on the second slit edge, & continue with the applied i-cord until just 3 stitches remain. K2tog, k1; slip last 2 stitches onto left needle tip; K2tog.

Weave in ends, & add decorative buttons, if desired.

I may have spoiled myself by knitting this; the yarn is ever so squooshey & cosy & lovely to handle. Watch this space for more cowls....

This little piggy...

2011-09-26T18:44:00.001+01:00

... went 'SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!' all the way home.

(when she got her new stitch markers in the post. From the Wee Ones etsy shop. They are very wee & amazingly detailed and the little owls have hats on. Hats!)

Baby Boom continues...

2011-09-18T23:41:00.001+01:00

I've been churning out the baby knits.

First, a hat & cardigan set for a little boy due in November;

Cardigan Pattern; Sweet Bunting by Laura Chau

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK

Hat Pattern; made-up.

Buttons; from Studio 54 in Blackrock

For the cardigan I (obviously) ignored the wee colour pattern. I just wanted a relatively seamless cardigan for an infant.

I knit a wee hat to match with some of the leftover yarn. It's made from a mixture of previous patterns. I'm usually one for knitting in the round where possible, & avoiding seams. However, I don't like the appearance of coloured stripes when knit in the round.

Yarn; DK weight

needles 4 mm ( I used 3.5 mm for my loose tension)

Tension; 22 st / 10cm

Cast on 74 stitches (2 stitches for seaming); knit flat; knit 2 x 2 rib for 2 - 3 centimetres.

Then knit in striping stocking stitch for 10 centimetres.

Decreases; Row 1 (RS)Knit 1 *knit 7, k2tog* (across row) knit 1

Row 2 and all WS rows; purl

Row 3 Knit 1 *knit 6, k2tog* across row, knit 1

Continue in this way, keeping first and last stitches as seam stitches, until you decrease to 6 stitches.

Bind off first & last stitches over the next round; knit last 4 stitches in icord until long enough to tie a wee knot.

Sew seam using mattress / ladder stitch.

I may or may not have had to fudge those last couple of decrease rounds. I intend to knit a few more of these, to use up partial balls of DK weight yarn.

This baby boy already has a 3 year old sister who loves hats & the colour purple, so I decided she deserved a gift too.

Pattern; Capucine by Adela Illichmanova (Ravelry Link)

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

Needle; 4.5 mm circulars.

Buttons; from stash. Heart buttons from A Rubanesque, Crayola button from a previous Knitting & Stitching show

Some of the pattern directions were a little.. vague. Tension, for example. Anyway, this makes a very cute wee hat. I'm a slightly loose knitter, so most others may need to knit using 5 mm needles to get a similar size. I only moved on to the second ball of yarn for the last couple of decrease rows & the tassles. I used sewing thread for the buttons to ensure they were secure.

Then I decided the other half's niece (now 15 months old) deserved a knit too; using aran-weight leftovers.

Pattern; Scrap-Happy Celebration Hat by Cosette Cornelius-Bates

Yarn; leftovers of Debbie Bliss Aran weight yarns

Needles; 4mm

When knit according to the pattern (CO 96 stitches) this was big enough to fit over my abnormally large head; I started with 80 stitches, changed colour when the colour ran out & then fudged the decreases. I also should have added under-the chin ties because 15 month olds are not known for leaving hats on their heads.

Baaaaaaa

2011-09-18T22:59:00.001+01:00

Quite a long while ago, during my first trip to Springwools, I picked up a kit to knit Shaun the Sheep.

Poor Shaun was ignored for a long while. Then, about two years ago I knit up his individual parts.

He then languished at the very back of the yarn stash for another two years.

Until today. I spent about 3 hours sewing him together. Really, with toys, knitting is such a small part of the work. Not how I want to spend my time.

Though I think I have enough yarn left from the kit for a second Shaun. Possibly wearing a jumper.

This Shaun has gone to live with the cutest 15 month old in the world; her favourite nursery rhyme is Baa Baa Black Sheep.

Baby Boom; finished knits

2011-09-11T22:21:00.001+01:00

I've recently finished & given some knitted gifts for the bumps-in-progress, so I can now show freely show off my knitting without spoiling surprises!

Bitty Cabled Cardigan by Heather Cabanas
Yarn; Louisa Harding Kashmir DK

This is a dotey wee cardigan & it knit up in a flash. I knit the largest size (intended for a newborn) & it seems tiny. I would normally knit at least 3 − 6 months for babies, but the mother-to-be really liked this one.
It'll hopefully fit the child long enough for a photo!

Rib-Knit baby hat by Jennifer Sauselein
Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

A very simple pattern; knit a tube of ribbing & then bind it closed at the top & adorn with button/toggle/beads of your choice. It's very stretchy so I think it will last the wee ones for a while as they grow. I used just under a ball for each hat so it's be a great way of using up those odd balls of aran weight yarn.

Daisy by Stephanie Pearl McPhee
Yarn; (grey cardigan on left) Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
(blue cardigan below) Debbie Bliss Rialto DK

I've now knit this pattern 4 times; enough!! For these two cardigans, I sewed the sleeves & body together before knitting on the collar. My recently learned mattress stitch skills meant the original knit-on collar would not sit right.

The baby knitting continues, & the bumps continue to grow.

Treasure!

2011-09-11T21:45:00.003+01:00

There's only one thing better than my own jar of buttons....

.... the tin of buttons at the bottom of my mother's sewing box; neglected leftovers from her clothesmaking days in the 70s and 80s.

Gone to seed

2011-09-05T08:30:00.000+01:00

I've noticed that as the blooms die away my fuschia plant has started to drop these little pods...

.. which look a little bit like a fruit when opened. It seems they may even be edible but I'd rather collect the pots & try grown more plants from seed next year.

PS Thank you for the lovely comments on the Frankenshawl; It was gratefully received even with a 'dye-may-run' warning. The mother also received a lesson in wearing a triangular shawl in non-traditional ways. I couldn't have her looking like an island -dweller from a century ago!

The Frankenshawl

2011-09-01T02:00:00.000+01:00

For the last number of weeks I have been struggling with The Frankenshawl. My mother celebrates a big round birthday this coming Sunday & I wanted to knit something special for the occasion. But no one pattern seemed to suit. So I decided to mix & match charts from a view different patterns.

Patterns;

Miralda's Triangular Shawl

Laminaria

Fylleryd

Yarn; The Natural Dye Studio Dazzling Sock in Bluebell

Needles; 3.5 mm circular

I began with the set-up instructions from Laminaria, & then knit the Star chart from the same pattern, until I had increased to 196 stitches.
After much sketching & doodling & charting, I realised that the 3-into-3 stitch in the Laminaria shawl is the same stitch called a gathered stitch in the Miralda Shawl lower border. Starting with a WS row, I knit a modified version of the Miralda lower border chart.
Next I knit the Laminaria star chart again, increasing until I had 365 stitches, & then repeated the Miralda border, but with fewer garter ridges.
At this point I knit the Blueberry chart from Fylleryd, & then finished with the edge chart.

I'm quite happy with the results, in spite of the troubles with excess dye in the yarn.

I adore the curves created by the nupps & yarn-overs in the Fylleryd charts & am determined to use these stitch patterns again.

I just hope The Mammy likes it!

Indigo woes

2011-08-31T21:40:00.002+01:00

One of my most involved recent projects has been a gift knit with 2 skeins of Dazzling 4 ply yarn from The Natural Dye Studio.

Throughout the whole knit I have been frustrated by excess dye rubbing off onto my fingers; I don't mind getting covered in dye but was concerned with the prospect of giving a flawed gift.

I tried a few experiments with sample sized pieces of the yarn, based on my previous dye-speriments, & on advise from the Natural Dye Studio.

L-R;
1 Simmering in vinegar solution for 40 minutes; blue yarn was turned grey, & excess dye still marking hands
2 Soaking overnight in vinegar solution (a glug of vinegar in small basin of water); yarn was slightly faded & still marking hands
3 Washing with dish-washing liquid; in this case Ecover; yarn was very faded but did not mark hands anymore
4 Untreated, for control purposes.

After trying these experiments I was livid; with only a week before the gift-giving occasion I had to make this work. I was gutted that the only method of stopping the yarn from marking the wearer would significantly effect the colour. I was not going to end up with the same colour yarn I had purchased. But I had to give a wearable knitted item, so I washed the finished object as directed;
Soak in hand-hot water (if you cannot keep your hand in the water, it's too hot)
Remove & liberally apply detergent (ecover in this case)
Rinse until water runs clear.

I ended up rinsing out the suds in the bottom of our shower tray - I may have applied the detergent a little too liberally. I was frankly shocked by just how much dye came off in the initial wash - the water was dark navy blue.

Thankfully the finished knit did not fade quite as much as the first test. I think I managed to rinse out all the excess dye, but will give a disclaimer tag with this gift; give it back to me to fix if it runs more!

Based on discussions on Ravelry, it seems that this is a common problem with natural dye substances,

in particular the indigo used for blues (and in greens & purples too). The explanation given for this is;
Indigo coats the outside of the fibres rather than soaks in. We double wash all our yarns, however as they are dyed in big hanks sometimes the yarn in the middle of the hank doesn’t get as much washing as the outside.

I am disappointed that the yarn is not the same colour as when purchased, but am relieved that I have a gift-able finished object to show for it all! I will certainly be cautious in future before buying any naturally dyed fibres or yarns, but I suppose now that I know what to expect I won't find it so stressful.

There's a chill in the air...

2011-08-31T20:50:00.002+01:00

... and the leaves are starting to change colours.

The baby boom continues, so I've been knitting & planning & knitting some more.

Kerry

2011-08-23T21:25:00.009+01:00

The fella & I went to visit family in Co Kerry at the weekend.

We explored ruins...

...a stoney beach...

... a sandy beach in sunshine...

... And had a nap.

I did bring my super secret knitting project, but it hasn't been going very well, because I've been making it up as I go along.

Oh well.

Gorguss things

2011-08-22T20:26:00.000+01:00

I recently passed by a card shop & spotted some really striking cards on display; cute & dinky but also slightly sinister. These cards were designed by Suzanne Wollcott, & so far, the 3 below have found their way into friends' letter boxes. I actually find myself trying to think up excuses to send something in the post so I can include one.

Does anybody want some snail-mail?

Winding yarn by hand

2011-08-17T21:20:00.002+01:00

A couple of yarnie friends have recently mentioned that they are not entirely comfortable hand-winding yarn into centre pull balls (or 'cakes'). I use the inner tube from a roll of cling-film; it's longer & sturdier than a toilet roll insert, so I find it easier to handle, especially for 400 metre skeins of sock yarn. I've covered mine in clear contact plastic because I cannot stand the feel of yarn rubbing against cardboard. I also use a swift to hold the skein; this is much less of a work-out than unwinding the skein over your knees or a chair, & takes less time. It takes me about 30 minutes to wind a 400 metre skein of sock yarn, while watching TV & not particularly hurrying.

I feed the end of the yarn down through the centre of the tube, & use a little bit of sticky tape to fix the end into place about halfway up the outside of the tube.

Then, I start winding the yarn around the tube from left to right (as seen from the front of the tube).

After a few strands are wrapped around the tube, it's easier to wind the yarn diagonally, from bottom left to top right).

Keep wrapping the yarn in this way, laying the strands closely together & turning the tube slightly as you move around the forming 'cake' shape. I tend to turn the tube very slowly with my left hand towards the left, while winding on the yarn with my right hand, towards the right.

As the yarn mass grows bigger, do not continue to wind the yarn right up against the tube; use your fingertips as a spacing guide between the tube & the yarn as you wind it on.

Keep winding the whole skein of yarn.

Remove the tube from the centre, taking care to remove the sticky tape too.

It's easy to find the centre end of the yarn because it was taped into place & fed through the centre of the cardboard tube. No more yarn-barf tangles!

A lovely yarn cake. More fibre and less calories than the chocolate variety.

I believe this is quite similar to the winding method used with traditional nostepinnes, though have not got one of my own to try out. Maybe some day...

Finished knits; the baby boom!

2011-08-15T22:28:00.003+01:00

The babies have started to arrive, so I've been rushing to finish some baby knits.

First FO; Owlet by Kate Davies

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran; this was the 6 month size.

Second FO; a log cabin blanket. There are several blanket patterns available online, so I knit a variation of the theme, starting with 10 stitches & increasing by 10 stitches for every section. I knit this using 3 shades of Sirdar Snuggly DK & finished with a crochet edging.

Of course, my family pointed out that my choice of safe gender-neutral colours are also the Kerry County colours. And this new baby is in Cork. So I had to knit something red.

Hello Baby Hat by Susan B Anderson

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran.

I decided against making the wee fruit topper as per the pattern.

This will go in the post later in the week. I am assured that new mam & baby boy are doing well, & the new auntie (my bestest friend in the whole world) is looking forward to conversations about art & politics in a few years.

Offerings...

2011-08-11T21:29:00.004+01:00

I went for a walk in Marlay Park again...

.. to visit the fairy wishing tree.

There are many new gifts...

... and brand new notes...

... and signs of giving up babyhood.

I was sad to see that the wee doorbell has gone missing though.

Colour!

2011-08-05T19:53:00.001+01:00

My balcony pots are blooming; I just love the colours.... and the super-macro setting on my compact camera.

I have fuschias, sweet pea & begonias out on the balcony...... and some tomato plants indoors. Home-grown food, how exciting!

FO; Lacy Baktus scarf in handspun yarn

2011-08-04T20:08:00.005+01:00

Pattern; Lacy Baktus by Tehri Montonen

Yarn; 'Louisa' merino tencel fibre, dyed by LHogan and spun by me (2 ply)

Needles; 4 mm

I enjoyed knitting this pattern; it was just simple enough to carry around for social knitting, but the lacy pattern, combined with the subtle shifting colours of the handspun yarn make a nice, interesting and just-pretty-enough finished scarf. The only difficulty was figuring out the middle of my yarn so I could make the most of it! Mostly because I didn't weigh & mark the yarn into halves before knitting.

PS.. yes this is the yarn that appears in my blog header.

Unimpressed...

2011-07-28T20:50:00.001+01:00

Yes, more gratuitous shots of cute animals that belong to other people. Jasmine, above, is a female ginger cat, which I understand is quite rare, who loves to play with toys & anything that you can dangle & drag along the floor. She has clearly perfected the art of looking unimpressed.

Remembering the good times

2011-07-22T21:57:00.003+01:00

Today would have been my grandfather's 86th birthday. Instead, he slipped away in his sleep on July 2nd, less than 3 weeks ago. But it was no shock; for the past 3 years he's been slipping away. It started, rather gruesomely, with infections on his toe that would just not heal. He was diabetic, so knew what this meant; eventually both his legs were amputated to save his life. At the same time, his mind started to wander. He was unable to keep a conversation & was in a state of almost constant agitation. He'd called me by an aunt's name for years, but now seemed to think I actually was her; introducing me to nurses as his daughter. I realise there was no point in contradicting him; it would just upset him more. Watching his physical & mental self slip away was the hardest thing I have ever had to witness.

I've spent the last number of years grieving for the shell of a person he had become. Now I feel like I can celebrate the person he really was. I realise now that I did inherit some traits from him; a work ethic (for employment, not housework!) and my love of animals, especially big dogs.

He was fairly strict as far as grandparents go, though he would pause from his hard-working ways long enough for a wee hug & a spin on the bike, or a walk with the dogs when we were big enough to hold a lead. My brother & I often got roped into stacking boxes & helping out around the home-based business, sometimes even getting a spin in the van for deliveries.

Of course, it wasn't all hard work. The best breakfast was Nana's fresh brown bread & tea from a saucer, before the working man left the house for the day (once we learned to sit still).

I take comfort knowing that he lived a long life, & passed away in his sleep with family around him. If only we could all be so lucky.

Tour de Fleece day 18; second finished yarn!

2011-07-19T20:55:00.004+01:00

100 grammes of brown Corriedale Fibre from World of Wool has become 195 metres of a 3ply sport - DK weight yarn. I spun the singles from the fold for a little extra loft.

The fibre is softer than expected, but is slightly sticky to touch; I imagine it will work rather well in a stranded colourwork piece. It's still in need of a wash though.

Tour de Fleece day 17; day of rest (from spinning)

2011-07-18T19:42:00.003+01:00

Today I have been carding some fibre, making mini-rolags, for spinning later in the week.

Fibre; merino/silk slivers from Ashford
This will be a woollen-spun 3 ply yarn, approx sport - DK weight, & requested by a knitting friend for a special knitting project.

Today I also got my eyes tested. The hardest part was picking new frames, though I was highly amused by how ridiculous & hideous the new Gok Wan frames are. Ugh.

Tour de Fleece, day 16; spindling on the go

2011-07-17T22:23:00.003+01:00

I didn't get a lot of spinning done this weekend, but did enjoy a picnic with a friend & a stunning view of Carlingford Lough.

It may have rained a bit and we may have had some of the picnic from inside the car, but it was still good fun.We also enjoyed some lovely tea with oat biscuits & a selection of toppings...... and there was even some spindling.

Fibre; Merino/silk from Hedgehog Fibres; I've been working on this for a while.

Tour de Fleece day 15; plying

2011-07-16T10:03:00.002+01:00

In the wee hours (after midnight so technically today) I managed to ply 1 bobbin full of the brown Corriedale. It's a 3 ply yarn & I'm not going to bother checking length until the whole lot is done.
I'll probably get another 2 − 3 bobbins of finished yarn from this. I still love this fibre; it's somehow surprisingly soft even with its hairy appearance.
I'm not likely to get much more spinning done this weekend but will have a spindle tucked in my bag for any sneaky moments I can get.

Tour de Fleece day 14; Have you any wool?

2011-07-15T22:43:00.004+01:00

Woo hoo! Three bobbins full! (okay, it's brown, not black but you get the idea)

I've spun 3 bobbins of singles from lovely brown Corriedale fibre, ready & waiting to be plied.
This is so much softer than it looks. I'll be sad when I've finished spinning.... until I get to knit with it!

Tour de Fleece day 13; spindling on the go!

2011-07-14T22:12:00.004+01:00

This morning I tucked my spindle into my bag before work, & spun during breaks, and even while waiting for the dodgy work computer to restart! (Always so glad for some fibre hobby supplies at slow-computer / no-computer moments)I spun some more singles in Hedgehog Fibres silk/merino roving. Yum!

The spindle later came to the beach with me but I thought spinning while trying to watch out for live crabs(!) underfoot was asking for trouble, namely a wet spindle & fibre.

Splish Splash!

2011-07-14T22:07:00.005+01:00

We had great weather earlier this week. I just love any excuse to walk around barefoot so was longing to go dip my feet in the sea, but had to 'do things'. So today, I was determined to go visit a nearby beach ... even if it rained. T & I took off our shoes and rolled up our trousers for a stroll along Seapoint beach.
One tends to forget about the life under your feet, but there were many reminders on the beach today; this teeny little crab was smaller than the tip of my little finger.T doesn't get so excited about these things. T reckons this crab was alive; I wasn't so sure if it was just moving in the water currents.We sat on a nearby wall to let our feet dry off....... and left the beach just as it started to rain.
You gotta love dramatic skies!

Tour de Fleece day 12; brown corriedale

2011-07-13T21:47:00.004+01:00

I have been spinning for the last couple of days, but just haven't been near my camera in decent daylight. I've been spinning some dark brown Corriedale fibre. This is much softer than you'd imagine from its hairy appearance, with a lovely lofty bounce.
So far, I have spun 1 bobbin of single-ply; I intend to make a 3-ply yarn that I reckon will be roughly light DK weight.

The fibre has a slightly stickey, but not quite rough; I think it will be lovely in some stranded colourwork with some bainin or a lighter natural brown shade... watch this space!

Tour de Fleece day 9; exotic fibres

2011-07-10T20:57:00.004+01:00

Today I have been playing with slightly exotic fibres;

De-haired baby camel;

This is more like fluff than hairs & came apart a little too easily to get anything very fine. It was difficult to keep a consistent thickness. I spun from the fold & chain-plied. 51 metres of DK / Aran weight. I'm undecided on whether or not I actually like this fibre; I'll have to knit up a wee swatch after it's washed.
And more experiments with a finer break-band on the wheel. I'm hoping to eventually spin a 2 ply cobweb weight yarn in large quantities.

Grey Gotland wool; spun from the fold, 2ply, 26 metres of fine laceweight. The singles broke very easily, especially while plying. It's a lovely slinky fibre that pulls apart easily, but can feel a little hairy.

Grey Shetland wool; shetland sheep were specifically used for very fine shawls in the Shetland islands, so I was hopeful that a very fine yarn would be possible, and it was. Again, spun from the fold, and then 2 plied, 30 metres of fine laceweight. It was not difficult to draft to a fine thickness & did not snap or break during plying or handling. I think this will be the right fibre for superfine spinning, but I just need some practise!

Tour de Fleece day 8; very thin experiments

2011-07-09T22:50:00.007+01:00

One of my long-term spinning aims has been to spin a very large quantity of very fine, cobweb weight yarn. I've read / watched a couple of different articles describing how changing the break-band on your wheel can affect the tension or take-up of your wheel. A thinner break-band means less surface friction with the bobbin, so less tension trying to pull yarn on to the bobbin & out of your hand, which is a good thing for very fine yarns.

First attempt; some sewing thread, attached by a hair elastic. This snapped straight away.

Second attempt; mercerised crochet cotton, using the wheel's original spring. This worked! And it definitely changed the take-up of my wheel, giving me more time to draft very fine fibres.
I spun some lovely soft baby alpaca fibre, from World of Wool; I decided to try spinning from the fold with this fibre....
... and it seemed to work! I made about 25 metres of 2-ply yarn.
My spinning is not entirely consistent, nor as fine as I was hoping.

The alpaca feels very different from anything I've spun before; it does not 'spring' quite like wool, but drapes with a slight fuzz.

I don't think it's entirely suitable for the intended project, but I will certainly enjoy spinning more in the not-too-distant future.

I had hoped to actually go out on my bicycle today & bring the spindles to the park but discovered I had a puncture & no kit to fix it. Poor bike will have to stay sad & lonely for another couple of days.

Tour de Fleece day 7; spinning in public

2011-07-08T23:39:00.004+01:00

Or at the fortnightly Fibre Fun Friday meeting anyways...

I didn't spin all of this fibre this evening; this is some fibre I have been spinning on & off for a few weeks. The fibre is some silk/merino samples from Hedgehog Fibres, from This is Knit's yarn tasting last year, & the spindle is one of my fimo clay & chopstick creations.

Tour de Fleece day 6; samples

2011-07-07T21:36:00.002+01:00

I did not get to spin yesterday; family time instead.

So today I got back at the wheel with gusto. I did not make a huge volume of yarn, but I did work on samples I've been meaning to do for ages. A friend has requested sport weight - DK weight yarn for a specific project, so I made some samples to show what's possible.

The fibre is merino/silk slivers from Ashford. The first mini skein was made from carded mini-rolags; spun woollen (ie fluffy & airy) and then chain-plied. It's 30 metres of approx. sport weight.
The second sample was spun from the same fibre type; split lengthways into pencil-roving thickness & spun worsted (fibres parallel, for a smoother, harder wearing yarn), & then chain-plied. It's 15 metres of an almost-DK weight yarn.The carded fibre gives a more even colour throughout the yarn (on the left); I think this would be the better option for lace or cable patterns. The non-carded fibre (on the right) gives a smoother texture yarn, with more clearly visible plies & a more variegation in colour; I think this will distract from anything other than the plainest of stitch patterns.

Tour de Fleece day 4 - finished yarn!

2011-07-05T09:45:00.001+01:00

My first finished yarn of TDF 2011!Approx 306 metres of sock-weight yarn; 2-ply, spun worsted.
Next up; I haven't a clue. Will have to have a think about that one!

Tour de Fleece day 3 (second day of spinning)

2011-07-04T21:36:00.003+01:00

Today I plied 1 bobbin of yarn; it's been a slow spinning day.

Next, more plying.

Tour de Fleece! (day 2)

2011-07-03T20:37:00.004+01:00

I had completely forgotten about the Tour de Fleece; it began yesterday. I had no intention of taking part this year, with the bumps-in-progress knitting taking priority. But Beatrice (my wheel) was lonely.

I decided spin up some bluefaced leicester by Hedgehog Fibres that I picked up in This is Knit during the week. I split the fibre lengthways for fractal spinning; I spun one half of the fibre as one single and split the other half into 4 roughly equal pieces for the other single. I intend to make a finished 2ply yarn over the coming days.

Case for circular needles

2011-07-03T08:24:00.001+01:00

Circular needles are particularly useful things for knitters, but are also particularly messy. They get tangled. So I decided to make a case with individual pockets for each needle.

Cue much drawing on paper; measuring, stitching & folding, & tacking stitches to 'draw' on the right side of fabric.In spite of my attempts to be neat I still had wonky stitches...
..and uneven pockets.But even wonky pockets can hold circular needles.

I used a piece of felt inside the fabric, at the back of the pockets for a little extra stability. I'm mostly happy with the results; my sewing errors don't effect the functionality, and are only visible if you check under the pockets. I'm also rather pleased that I put some fabric & button leftovers to good use.

I am enjoying my recent sewing projects & hope to turn my machine to some garments soon. Watch this space!

FO; Dollheid Tam

2011-07-02T23:34:00.005+01:00

Pattern; Dollheid Tam by Kate Davies

Yarn; Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift in Mooskit, Raspberry & Peacock

Needles; 3 mm circular

I thoroughly enjoyed knitting this hat; the slightly rough and sticky yarn works so well for stranded colourwork.

There is something very satisfying about corrugated ribbing.

I am so thoroughly pleased by this hat that I even love the inside stranding.The only modification I made was to add a lining around the inside of the headband in super-soft malabrigo laceweight leftovers.As much as I loved knitting this pattern, I can admit that it's a little too girlie for me to wear, so it will be a gift.

I just hope the recipient likes to wear it as much as I liked knitting it!

Sewing up some project bags

2011-06-13T22:00:00.001+01:00

Inspired by L's lovely project bag (and by inspired by I mean directly copied from) I decided to make a few of my own. You can never have enough bags to hold your knitting projects on the go!

After rifling through the fabric collection I cut a paper template; I drew a rectangle in the size of the desired finished bag & then added 3 cm for a fold at the bag opening and 1 cm seam allowance all around. I folded the fabric, placed the paper template flush with the fold and cut the fabric to size. Each bag is made from 2 pieces of fabric; the outer & lining.

Turning the right side of the fabric to the inside, I seamed the 2 edges of the fabric rectangle together to make a tube shape; I then seamed the bottom closed, as shown below;
I did the same to the lining fabric, before placing it inside the outer piece. Then I cut & pinned the top edges together to make a 3 cm fold that would allow me to use a draw-string closure;It was easier to sew this fold with the bag turned inside-out!

Once the sewing was done & everything was neatly ironed, I used a safety pin to thread through the drawstring;

And then I got a bit carried away & made a few as gifts for other knitters.

The double-layer of fabric means pointy needles are less likely to poke through the bag; the drawstring means that your knitting is less likely to slip out inside your handbag.
There are a few things I would do differently if I were to make more, and I think I will. There is something very pleasing about having my knitting projects tucked into pretty individual fabric bags; this is definitely my inner girlie-girl making an appearance!

Comfort knitting

2011-06-12T20:01:00.001+01:00

As anyone I converse with over Facebook & Twitter is probably aware, my place of work has announced redundancies. I know that my current email / admin role will be offshored to another country, and that it will probably happen between October & April of next year. We have been given no further information & are expected to continue on as normal while waiting to be told what will happen to us. Of course, this is all very upsetting; the company has made massive profits yet still seeks to make redundancies & has refused to acknowledge any responsibility to myself & other agency-employed workers. So, to distract from feeling rather sorry for myself, I have turned to knitting; stranded colourwork knitting that requires a little concentration; knitting that involves in improving techniques that make one feel like A Very Clever Knitter; knitting in slightly sticky rough-ish yarn that is perfect for such projects, and is ever so satisfying to handle.

In the mean time, I just keep reminding myself that a few weeks off work will give me time to knit up some of the stash! On a more serious note, this might be the opportunity to push myself to find something that I would find more gratifying.

Finished object; Laminaria shawl

2011-06-12T15:00:00.000+01:00

Before blocking, knitted lace can look a bit, well, unpleasant. (I have used the phrase 'elephant scrotum')
After blocking, it is transformed!
Pattern; Laminaria by Elizabeth Freeman.

Yarn; Alpaca Lace by Dublin Dye Company
I had my issues with this pattern; mostly because it can sometimes be difficult to maintain concentration for hours of fine knitting. I'm not a hugely experienced lace knitter so it can take a while for me to see & recognise an emerging pattern in the lace stitches. As a result I can't read my knitting & notice errors immediately, so there were some lengthy sessions unpicking & re-knitting to fix errors. All difficulties aside, I am delighted with the finished shawl; I love the gently rounded droplet shapes of the border stitch pattern & feel like A Very Clever Knitter while wearing it.

And because it is knit in an alpaca yarn, it is surprisingly warm. Beautiful & cosy; I suspect William Morris would have approved.*

*I am currently reading 'The Children's Book' by AS Byatt; this novel is set around the turn of the 20th century & the characters all have interest in the literary, social & design movements of that time.

It's raining, it's pouring...

2011-06-12T13:51:00.002+01:00

So I don't feel bad about sitting in with the knitting all day.

Oh, and the fuschia plants I recently bought have started to flower, so I must be doing something right!

Spinning artefacts at the National Museum pt II

2011-05-31T10:44:00.006+01:00

I can't believe it has been 9 whole months since I last posted about the National Museum's collection. Since then, the Museum have updated their camera policy, hurrah!!
The exhibition areas in the museum are rather dark (good for the artefacts, not for photos) so please excuse the bad quality pics; I suggest going to visit the museum on Kildare St for yourself to really see just what our ancestors were capable of.

Some whorls, spindles and a suspected 'yarn winder' in the medieval display;

The following photos are from the 'Viking' display, mostly found around the Wood Quay / Fishamble St area in Dublin.

Imagine pinning up your hand-spun and hand-knit shawl with a modern reproduction of one of these;
More pins - again, I would love something like this for myself!
These teeny tiny spindles are about the same length as a crochet hook; the whorls were tiny...
... perfect for spinning very fine threads. The individual strands in this piece of woven fabric are finer than your average sewing threads today. I cannot comprehend hand-spinning such fine thread with such consistency, but it is clearly possible.
Shears and a yarn-winder;
Handles from weaving & carding tools;
Stone & bone whorls & sewing needles;
These items were labelled as a distaff and weaving tablet; not being a weaver I cannot figure out how this tablet was used, but I'm sure some proper research would be enlightening.
spindle & whorls;

At the top of the staircase, this woollen cloak is displayed; I just love the texture.

Even though the camera policy has changed officially I still feel rather bold taking photos in a museum; it's one of the very few places where I appreciate the value of strict rules.

The way to a knitter's heart...

2011-05-26T13:35:00.002+01:00

is through a new project with some delightful details & new techniques to try.

Vikkel braid from Fugue by Kate Davies

This is a lovely new-to-me technique that is just involved enough for some added interest, but not difficult at all. First time I've tried stranded colourwork in purl stitch. The foul humour of yesterday evening was banished. I look forward to finishing work today just so I can start into the stranded colourwork pattern. YAY!! charts!

Self-medication

2011-05-25T20:56:00.001+01:00

I've had 'one of those' working days & am in a pissy humour, with another 2 whole days in the office to get through. There's only one possible solution..

Cast on a new project. Baby knits be-damned.

Teeny knits - some FOs!

2011-05-25T19:40:00.001+01:00

In addition to all the babies that will be due later this year there have already been a couple of new humans, both girls. Now I get to share photos of some gifts I knitted for them. (Really, a project doesn't feel finished until it has been photographed & shared with the interwebs.)

Pattern; Aviatrix Baby Hat - no modifications

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK

Pattern; Louise Cardigan - no modifications

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Rialto 4 ply

Pattern; Daisy Cardigan

Yarn; Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK

The pattern recommends knitting on the collar / hood & then sewing up the seams. Inspired by the finishing class I took recently, I sewed up the seams & then picked up & knit the collar. This is the second time I have knit this pattern, & it is much neater than my first attempt.

I have been assured that the first 2 projects fit the new human nicely; the third is on its way. Better get on with knitting for the 7 bumps still in progress...

Easily influenced

2011-05-22T17:20:00.000+01:00

I like books. In fact, I love books and I love owning quite a few of them. So after reading this post about sewing and this book review I decided to order a couple of books for myself online.

Typically, I have yet to sit down properly with the books & have a good thorough read.

'Bend the Rules Sewing' has some ever-so-cute patterns that appeal to my twee side, though does assume a certain amount of knowledge on the readers' part; a little off-putting for something that is supposed to have beginner-suitable projects. However, with a little google-fu I'm sure I will be able to follow everything in it.

'Poems of Colour' has a fascinating section on the history of the Bohus knitting group, and some patterns including the gorgeous Wild Apple Yoke pullover... though I imagine it will be a while before I take on something quite that intricate.

I think it might be time to buy some new, bigger bookshelves...

Finishing

2011-05-15T21:11:00.001+01:00

I recently took a finishing class at This is Knit, & learned about mattress stitch, fake grafting, and a few other tips to perfectly finish those precious knitted gifts. Most important tip of all; take your time, and always have a cup of tea on standby.

Gorse

2011-05-14T10:08:00.002+01:00

Certain parts of the hills near my home are covered with gorse bushes, which are in flower at the moment. Whole sections of the hill are yellow.

Sunny!

Sewing

2011-05-13T21:54:00.003+01:00

I've been meaning to drag out the sewing machine for a while now, and after reading this blog post by Kate Davies I had to have a good root through the fabric stash & have a go at making my own.I settled on some extremely bright colours, like nothing I would ever actually wear, & got to work.

I started by cutting out a template in paper; I'd forgotten how time consuming exactly square squares could be. It's not perfectly shaped, but I did learn about shaping, & sizing, & ironing & seam allowances, and I certainly learned how to make the next one closer to what I had intended.

In spite of its flaws, it does hold pins & needles rather well.

Super Special Spin-in Sunday at This is Knit

2011-05-11T20:52:00.001+01:00

Last weekend, This is Knit held a super-special spin-in Sunday with lots of treats; we had fibre samples to play with & talks from experienced spinners; lots of giggles, fun & opportunity for first-time spinners to have a go.

Laura showing how to spin silk hankies (or mawata);New spinners got to see spinning wheels in action...and even have a go;There were lovely sweet treats (banana bread by Lisa)but most exciting of all; the extreme spin-off (spinning from a balcony to reach the floor below)

This was incredibly nerve-wracking for the participants, & bemusing for passers-by. The prize went to Laura, who managed to spin all the way to the floor with just one flick of her spindle. She haz mad skillz.

Before & after...

2011-05-11T20:39:00.000+01:00

Last week I decided to get out the dyeing kit again in an attempt to make a one-off birthday gift for a friend. Some bluefaced leicester tops became...
Kermit green.

I like to think that my dyeing has improved since my first attempts a couple of years ago, when I gave little or no consideration of what the finished yarn would look like. This patchey green & red yarn was taunting me every time I searched the yarn stash, reminding me of poor choices. Until I realised I could fix it! While I had the dye pots out I over-dyed this mess...

with a lovely shade of rust.

I used Ashford dyes for wool, with vinegar in a stove-top saucepan. I intend to experiment soon with readily-available Dylon dyes, but more about that when I get to it!

More spindles...

2011-05-11T20:18:00.000+01:00

I've been making spindles again; I had promised spindles to a few fibre friends ages ago, so finally got my fimo together & made a few more.

The most difficult part of making these spindles is trying to get the whorl balanced; placing the hole in the very centre of the fimo. Graph paper certainly helps.

Since my first attempts to use the bottom-whorl spindle, I've become much more comfortable with it. Bottom whorl spindles are a lot more forgiving of slight imbalances, which is good for an imperfect home-made attempt.

The fibre is easier to secure without a wee hook on a bottom whorl too; I first secured my yarn as in the photo below; down over the whorl, around the end of the chopstick, back up over the whorl & secured at the tip of the spindle shaft with a half hitch.

I've since learned the trick of wrapping the fibre up the shaft at an angle, & then securing with a half-hitch. This feels much more secure.

I've since handed out the spindles to some fibre-loving friends, who also managed to spin something yarn-like. The friends seem to like them, but that could be just the sparkles!

A gift

2011-05-07T21:26:00.001+01:00

These socks finally got the wash & wrapping they deserved before making their way to the birthday girl, belatedly.

Before handing the socks over, I did get to try out my new sock blockers. I previously thought they were rather frivolous & a bit of a gimmick, but handing over several messy looking pairs of socks to dear friends with smaller feet than I has convinced me otherwise. A good wash & dry-to-shape will always improve the look of knitting.

''Gardening''

2011-05-06T21:10:00.001+01:00

... aka many pots on the balcony.

I'll be honest; I really don't have a clue when it comes to gardening, and I'm not really one for following instructions very closely. I do know that plants usually need sunlight & that the soil needs to be kept moist, & this approach seems to be working out okay for me.

Several years ago, I did have notions of only growing useful things, ie herbs & vegetables, though I really don't take my cooking seriously enough to use up the gluts of cherry tomatoes & basil this resulted in. This year I have planted some potatoes. Actual potatoes, & they seem to be coming along nicely. The previous year's chives, I've let it flower - ever so pretty.

This is the first year I've bought some wee plants; I have petunias, ...geraniums (how I love the shape & markings of these leaves)...

...and begonias (mostly for the nostalgia, I remember these in my parents' garden as a child).

I only potted up these plants about a week ago; while they seem to be doing well at the moment it's a bit early for me to have already killed them!

Endless hours of fun!

2011-05-04T08:57:00.002+01:00

Oh how I love my jar of buttons.

As a child, I used to love rooting through the Mammy's button tin, at the shiney things of colour. Now, I have my own button collection & can do silly things like arrange them by colour.

So satisfying.

Lazy Day

2011-05-03T14:29:00.001+01:00

There's nothing more satisfying than when your grumpy days coincide with a day off, when you can indulge the want for pure laziness. Cue much slouching on the sofa, drinking of tea, knitting of stocking stitch, and reading of blog archives; I got (knitting) stuff done and learned something at the same time, which is really rather productive for a lazy day!

Of course, lazy days are thoroughly enhanced by the cooperation of that certain someone who brings me tea & toastie cheese sandwiches every now & then.

Gratuitous

2011-05-02T20:39:00.006+01:00

It can be difficult to photograph something dark. Something dark & furry, even moreso.

Something dark & furry that wriggles & jumps every time I dare to remove one of my hands from belly scratching duties to pay attention to my camera...

Even with the help of a lovely assistant, it's difficult to capture the cuteness of Guinness on camera.

Guinness is just a few months old. He is a cross with a bit of spaniel & a bit of terrier in him.

He has recently moved in with a family member, so no, he's not mine, but I do get to play!

But don't let these little cute puppy eyes fool you; he definitely shows a terrier personality, jumping & lunging at poor Max.

Max, at almost 4 years old, has always seemed to be the typical Labrador, an eternal puppy, until Guinness moved in. Now he's settling into the role of wise older dog, and doesn't seem to mind being used as a mattress.

Birds of a feather..

2011-04-27T09:13:00.001+01:00

I've recently been fascinated with crows & related birds (Ravens, rooks, magpies & blackbirds). They look so graceful & ominous while wheeling in the sky above, but are awkward goofy creatures up close.

They have inspired so many myths & stories, associated with gods of death & war, fairytales, and even some lace.

Only the baby-boom box of teeny knits is keeping me from casting on Kieran Foley's Blackbird shawl right now.

New look!

2011-04-25T16:23:00.001+01:00

Sharing your home & life with a graphic designer often means that you are ignored for hours on end, while he tinkers away on his laptop. I usually return the favour by playing with sticks on strings. Having a designer on hand does have its advantages when you want to liven up the look of your blog.

Thanks for the new blog header, Tommy.

Teeny knits (contd)

2011-04-22T09:00:00.001+01:00

The knitting of the baby stack continues apace...

... and by all accounts, the expectant mums are tolerating the nausea & tiredness rather well.

Summer is on its way...

2011-04-20T21:06:00.002+01:00

Ravens may bite

2011-04-15T14:14:00.000+01:00

I've been fascinated with the crow species lately, and was highly amused when I spotted this sign during a recent visit to the Tower of London.

Spinning - Blue Ice

2011-04-14T22:01:00.000+01:00

Fibre; Blue Ice Mixed Fibre Batt from LHoganI roughly separated the batts into strands & arranged by colour; leading from light blues to darker blues.I spun singles & then chain-plied to maintain the colour progression from light to dark.

The finished yarn is 170 metres & approximately DK weight. I think it is destined to become another simple triangular shawl.

I think all my non-knitting friends will be getting a simple triangular shawl this year - slight obsession with making them right now!

Do you believe in fairies?

2011-04-13T22:01:00.003+01:00

On previous wanders through Marlay Park I was convinced that the wooded areas are perfect for hiding fairies. I had also noticed a tree trunk with notes & trinkets attached to it.

On my most recent trip, I stopped to read the notes & letters; they were addressed to the fairies! Clearly I'm not the only one who thinks this is perfect fairy territory.

I noticed more details today, mostly with the help of a small girl who was passing by with her parents; a tiny door at the base of the tree trunk almost hidden from grown-up view.

The door has a tiny bell attached; my new friend rang the bell in the hope that the fairies would come out and say hello.

I also noticed, for the first time, a castle atop this tree trunk. How did I never notice this before?! I love the fact that our long traditions of leaving presents for the fairies lives on; that small children, & even some adults take comfort in leaving their wishes with a tree.

A little bit of google research gave me some more information; the sculptures were installed as part of a bird care project by St Michael's House. I cannot find any account of a wishing tree in the area previously.

From St Michael's House newsletter;

Perhaps the crowning glory of our bird project to date is the installing of a purpose built Fairy castle upon a tree in the forest at Marley Park. This five-towered castle, built in special weatherproof material is designed as a nesting and roosting site for small birds and insects.

Our fairy tree is designed to keep the imagination of young children alive, as they wander through the forest and then are surprised to find the small fairy door at the base of the 300-year-old beech tree. As they look up and see the fairy castle, they remain enraptured by the magic and as we wait in excitement to see if the birds in the forest will react as positively and take up residence in their new home.

Why don’t you develop a bird nesting or feeding site in your unit or home as well? It brings so much joy to all, to see Mother Nature at work.

April showers?

2011-04-12T22:30:00.000+01:00

The last few days have been really nice weather, unseasonably warm & sunny. (Just like the last couple of Aprils). I have been enjoying walking outdoors.

The last time I walked in Marlay Park, though the day was sunny, the ground was still soggy.

It was so nice to hear the crisp leaves breaking underfoot...

.. and to hear birds in all directions; crows high above in their sparse looking nests...

... and little songbirds, hiding in the leaves.

The whole park is so colourful.

Spring is definitely here.

PS I heart the super-macro setting on my compact camera.

Spinning Wensleydale

2011-04-11T10:39:00.001+01:00

I recently bought some Wensleydale fibre from Hedgehog Fibres. This is like nothing I've ever spun before.

The fibre has a really long staple length, & really wavey crimp.

It has an appearance almost like human hair.

The spun fibres have a strange lustre & heavy drape, but I found it impossible to keep from having a halo of loose hairs around the spun yarn (not unlike most mohair yarns I've encountered). The fibre shed as I spun & loose hairs stuck in my clothes. The sensation reminded me of those loose hairs you find in your clothes after getting a haircut; not pleasant.

I chain-plied the singles to end up with roughly a DK weight yarn.

I only spun a small portion of the fibre; I suspect that changing my spinning methods to suit the fibre might result in something a little easier to handle.

Teeny little knits

2011-04-10T22:18:00.001+01:00

I guess that many people here in Ireland found alternative ways to keep warm during the cold winter snow & frost, because a lot of people have announced pregnancies recently.

My needles will be busy.

Edit (April 11th) there are now six bumps-in-progress, that I know of due between August & November.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-04-03T09:00:00.001+01:00

I hope all the caring mammies I know get to put up their feet today & do something for themselves. And to the many expectant mammies I know too!

Finished!

2011-04-02T21:00:00.006+01:00

My WIP basket is as messy as ever; mostly because I can't stop my silly mind from racing ahead & planning new projects, even though I'm barely finishing anything.

However, I have managed to knuckle down & complete a couple of gift knits;

Pattern; Wurm

Yarn; Rowan Baby Alpaca DK

Mods; I knit this in stripes alternating between 2 shades of grey; I added in an extra knit row in the dark grey before knitting purl sections in the same colour, to keep the colour changes crisp & clean. The recipient lives near, & has visited an alpaca farm, so was delighted with baby alpaca yarn. It is lovely & soft.

Pattern; Oak Ribbed Socks

Yarn; Kureyon Sock

This was a gift for a teenage girl who is slightly obsessed with bright pink colours; she was delighted when she saw the ball of yarn, but hasn't seen the finished socks yet.

Both these gifts were for birthdays on February 17th. Only 6 weeks late. Next up; Feb 21st birthday gift. Oops.

Spring spinning!

2011-04-01T21:27:00.011+01:00

Spring is so uplifting; the extra sunshine & the flowers peeping through, buds on trees, & birds singing. I've been inspired to spin strong bright colours.

Mixed Fibre batt from LHogan, from last April's Batt club, containing merino, silk & angelina.

Spun into a 2 ply yarn, of approx sport - DK weight. I have no idea what this will grow up to be; I spun this one for the fun of playing with the colours.

Merino & Tencel in 'Louisa' colourway, also from LHogan; unfortunately my spinning mojo seems to have left me, so this is taking a long time to finish. I've split the braid in half lengthways before spinning into singles, and have ended up with a light fingering weight 2 ply yarn. I think this is going to be another simple triangular shawl when it grows up.

London, Baby!

2011-03-31T21:21:00.001+01:00

During a recent trip to London I insisted on making a visit to at least a couple of yarn shops. I didn't stop & take photos of the shops as I was more than a little overwhelmed by the yarn fumes & general niceness. I tried to buy sensible purchases, of yarns that are not available here in Ireland.

First shop; Loop in Islington.

I think it's the London equivalent of This is Knit, but with sofas. It was so inviting, over 2 floors, crammed with lovely yarns, accessories, books and with lovely helpful staff. But the lovely yarns...

Approximately 2.3 kilometres of yarn 'fell' into my bag...

... Followed by another 1.9 kilometres from iKnit London. This shop had some lovely yarns too; I especially loved the Angel 2 ply lace from the Natural Dye Studio, but just didn't have the same cosy atmosphere.

While in London I was determined to take in some of the cultural tourist attractions. I particularly enjoyed the Science Museum. Spotted in the display about Airplanes & flight...

Suspected handknit socks. Hanging from the ceiling.

Floral Cheer, & crochet's not so scarey after all!

2011-03-30T18:06:00.008+01:00

I recently had the excuse to get in touch with my very inner girlie self for a special group project. My attempts at making realistic flowers were dreadful, so I attempted to make general floral shapes in crochet, using hyperbolic crochet shapes. I think the general bright & good cheer comes across.

Of course I added a wee anatomically incorrect creepy crawlie for an extra little giggle; they do say laughter is good medicine.

Basic flower shapes;

(Disclaimer; UK crochet terms. Also I'm not entirely familiar with crochet terminology. So this might sound more difficult than it really is)

For the petals;

Chain 10 stitches. Double crochet (DC) into each stitch once (10 st), chain up one, turn.

Treble crochet (TC) into each st twice (20 st), chain up two, turn.

TC into each st twice (40 st) & bind off, leaving a tail about 20 cm long.

Sew piece in a vaguely spiral shape, sewing in ends, & sewing down any 'corners' in the crochet fabric.

Repeat a few more times (I used 3 'petal' shapes in each cluster of flowers)

For the leaves;

Chain 15 st; skip one chain loop & slip stitch into the next.

DC into next loop.

TC into next 8 loops (leaving a little bit of chain as a 'stem').

TC into next loop 3 times (this will make a rounded edge).

Slip stitch onto central chain to hold in place, & start back down the other side of chain;

TC into 1st loop 3 times (you'll have a vaguely symmetrical shape with your original chain as the centre line)

TC into next 8 loops;

DC into next loop;

Slip stitch into last loop & bind off leaving a longish tail for sewing.

Make a few more (I used 3 leaves for each cluster)

Sew in end at tip of leaf, looping around the first & last stitches to keep that leaf-tip shape.

Arrange flowers & leaves together in whatever way you fancy & stitch into place.

I varied the size & shape by starting with slightly different numbers in the crochet chain.

Optional stems made using knitted 4 stitch i-cord, & lengths of crochet chain & treble crochet stitch; tendrils made using crochet chain & double crochet. It's all supposed to be varied & somewhat organic looking, & most of all a bit of fun!

Fizzgig...

2011-03-29T20:49:00.004+01:00

Since I was a child I have loved Jim Henson films & TV shows, especially the Labyrinth & the Dark Crystal. Last week 'the fella' & I went to London to see one of our all-time favourite musicians, Devin Townsend. Devin is also a massive fan of The Dark Crystal so I thought he would appreciate my attempts to recreate Fizzgig (youtube link).

Mini-Fizzgig was lovingly crafted using some scraps of hideous novelty yarn, a piece of red felt fabric & safety eyes & nose, in a completely made up pattern.

Mini-Fizzgig was chucked up onstage during the gig, successfully. I spoke to Devin after the gig; I believed he used the word 'Awesome'.

Disorganised & overwhelmed

2011-03-23T21:36:00.000Z

I've been getting far too easily distracted by various yarns, patterns & techniques lately. And Then realised I have quite a few gift knits to catch up on.

So my knitting basket is a bit of a mess; current projects include 3 pairs of socks, a lace shawl, jumper, gloves, hats & other miscellaneous things. Better get knitting!

Trip to Nottingham

2011-03-20T21:21:00.004Z

During a recent quick trip to Nottingham I didn't bring any knitting with me. I got very fidgitey very quickly, & dragged the other half on to the nearest source of knitting supplies; John Lewis.

I've never been to a JL store before so was taken aback by just how fancy everything was. It reminded me of a more fancy, more expensive version of M&S. Anyway, the yarns; lots of Rowan, Debbie Bliss & some acrylics. All quite lovely, but readily available over here. And I really did love touching up the entire wall of yarn.

I ended up picking up 2 balls of Rowan Alpaca DK & a set of wooden circular needles. Then I felt ill with stomach aches for the rest of the weekend & didn't feel like knitting. Apparently wine really does not agree with me.

I was thoroughly cheered by this though;

Yes. Coronation Street, live on stage. It amused me.

Ooh, flying from Dublin airport, the security got suspicious about a metal crochet hook that I'd forgotten in my bag; once they actually discovered what it was I was let through with it. Staff at East Midlands Airport (for the return journey) didn't even question the hook or knitting needles. They did insist we put our carry on liquids in a plastic resealable bag of a particular size though.

Look what I made....

2011-02-27T21:35:00.003Z

... a brand new spindle spinner!My sister-in-law was in the vicinity of the Dublin monthly Sunday Spin-in today, so I coerced her to give spindling a go. She used some bluefaced leicester tops & my Ashford student spindle & made this yarn in about a half hour. I'm very proud!

Close-ups

2011-02-23T20:20:00.001Z

I'm mildly obsessed with textures, close ups, details and the 'macro' settings on my digital cameras.

So my recent walk around Marlay Park on a bright sunny day was a perfect opportunity to capture more close-up photos.

I feel a need to make some wee fairy dolls for more adventures in the park.

A cunning plan...

2011-02-22T20:43:00.000Z

See this?Each strand is part of a 100g sample of tops from a different breed of sheep with the exception of the brown baby alpaca (baby alpaca, so soft!). I intend to do some 'speriments with the aid of a Margaret Stove instructional video. That's all I'm sayin' for now!

Going for a walk...

2011-02-21T20:00:00.005Z

Saturday morning was lovely & sunny so I decided to drag the other half out of bed for a walk in Marlay Park.

Fortified with hot drinks & yummy pastries from the market, we spent hours wandering around the wee mucky paths that were so dark & dull just a couple of weeks ago.

This park really gets my imagination going; little secluded paths with constant rushing streams of water & singing birds just out of sight.

I am convinced that fairies live here, but they run away & hide before humans can spot them.

Ignorance is bliss

2011-02-14T13:31:00.002Z

Yes, another shawl FO. This is the fifth triangular shawl I finished so far this year, and certainly the most challenging. Mostly because I was incapable of reading the chart & its key carefully. As a result of printing out the pattern in black & white, I mistook the first few hundred beads that I should have added for 'purl on RS' stitches. In fairness, I did intend to use fewer beads than called for in the pattern. I also confused the symbols for a single decrease and a double decrease at one stage. However, I did finish the project on time for a friend's birthday, and I am fairly smug with the results.

Pattern; Aeolian by Elizabeth Freeman

Yarn; Hedgehog Fibres pure cashmere lace in 'Glacier'.

Beads; Japanese seed beads 8/0 round ( not knowing much about beads, I assume this refers to size & shape)

Lessons learned; adding beads with a crochet hook & reading the bloody pattern very carefully. Also noting the perils of printing charts in black & white.

While I don't wear particularly girly clothing, I do enjoy making it, & I seem to have found a very willing recipient for my efforts.

Day Trip to Newgrange.

2011-02-13T20:30:00.001Z

I love Newgrange. When I studied Art History in school it was one of my favourite topics. It makes me feel all warm & gooey that our little island has a substantial building project even older than the pyramids of Egypt, and even more so that we were clever enough to figure out that whole winter solstice / light box thing. I've even tried to alter a stranded colourwork sock pattern to imitate the carvings on some of its kerbstones - more about that later when I actually finish the socks! So it baffles me that I had only been to Newgrange twice, during school tours. It's only up the road!

So myself & a dear friend decided to make the trip as her pre-birthday outing. You have to visit the Bru na Boinne visitor centre to book onto the shuttle buses for access to the monument. We spent about an hour looking through the exhibitions & gift shop before our shuttle bus was ready. I was delighted to see some displays explaining use of textiles & fibres back in the day; nettle fibres & dog hairs were in use, as well as the unsurprising furs & wool.

The visitor centre is in a lovely setting alongside a river & with many trees; all rather peaceful & delightful on a non-raining day in Ireland.

The shuttle bus zooms along narrow country roads to the monument itself, perched high on a hill with views of the surrounding countryside (I caught glimpses of my first lambs of the year from the hill). It was cold & windy in front of the monument, but that didn't matter. We had old stuff to see!Our tour guide was really informative, & I learned some new things yesterday; the somewhat controversial white stones that have been placed on the outside of the reconstructed monument really were on the outside of the original monument. When the mound was being reconstructed, many tests were performed, stacking wall stones & allowing them to fall repeatedly to determine the most likely configuration of the building materials. The big grey bite-sized chunk out of the front of the monument is not historically accurate, but was intended to protect the carved entrance stone; if Newgrange did not have this wider opening, people would have to climb over the entrance stone to gain access to the chamber. Seems kind of obvious but it had never occurred to me before.

Inside the passage is lower & more narrow than I remember, but I suppose I was about 15 at the time of my last visit & much smaller. Photography is not allowed inside the chamber, but there are images available online. If I remember rightly, our guide told us, once inside the chamber , that we were surrounded by 200, 000 tonnes of stone & earth - a sobering thought.

During all visits the guides turn out the lights & use 2 bulbs to simulate the winter solstice sunrise, that comes in through the roofbox over the entrance door. It's an eerie moment,

& I'd love to see the real thing, so my friend & I entered our names for The Lottery. About 100 people will be admitted over the few days around the time of the winter solstice and there are 'only' 25,000 applicants so far for this year...

When we came out of the chamber we walked around the outside of the mound. My friend wondered how they cut the grass; I noticed a warning sign & suddenly thought I wanted to climb the mound. But I didn't.

After the visit to the monument, a shuttle bus took us back to the visitor centre. We had a lovely late lunch of hot dishes with salad on the side & a pot of tea. The menu seems a bit expensive but they do really load your plate with food. I had another browse through the gift shop & was utterly disgusted by little trinkets containing 'Irish' 4 leaf clovers, before I removed myself from the touristey gack in favour of the bookshelves. I bought a book by Michael J O'Kelly, the archaeologist who excavated Newgrange in the 60s and 70s; it seems interesting.

Our guide was adamant that there are a lot of theories about Newgrange which cannot be proved or disproved; as we simply do not know what the beliefes of our ancestors were. I've been reading a book lately that theorises that the large stone bowls & slabs inside its chambers were used to collect rain & dew water; that the capstone on top of the roof could be removed to allow the night sky to be reflected on the water collected inside the chambers. It's an amazing idea, but the builders went to great lengths to ensure this monument would last; moving about the capstone would surely damage the integrity of this structure.

Perhaps this is why Newgrange is so fascinating; we can never know its meaning; we can only guess.

Shawl Obsession.. again.

2011-02-13T12:13:00.003Z

When I finished knitting my first handspun shawl I felt an overwhelming urge to knit more... more simple soothing stocking stitch & more handspun yarns, & more Lazy Daisy shawls. So I did.

Fibre; hand-dyed Merino from Hedgehog fibres.

I spun this yarn specifically for this project; singles spun with an 's' twist (I usually spin singles with z twist) & then chain-plied with z twist. I tend to overtwist all my spinning and am trying to break my bad habits by changing up my spinning methods.

The yarn was ever so cosy & squooshey. I'm keeping this one for myself.

This time I knit 2 garter stitch ridges just before casting off, but still no crochet edging.

Fibre; merino/soy blend from LHogan, in 'Moira' colourway.

This was something I spun up a while ago, in a spinning with no project in mind frenzy. This one will go into a 'future gifts' box.

Ishbel Shawl

2011-02-12T07:00:00.000Z

A family member's recent birthday required a knit gift; something lovely but quick; something that I knew I could knit in a hurry & that was likely to appeal to a more conservative relative.

Pattern; Ishbel by Ysolda Teague

Yarn; Jamie Possum 4 ply in 'Oatmeal'

Of course, I had to miss the relative's surprise birthday party due to a certain someone's recent surgery.

Shawl Obsession

2011-02-11T19:00:00.000Z

I recently found myself wishing away the hours waiting in hospital; the other half had to have surgery after his appendix ruptured. He's well on the way to recovery now with a couple of cool scars (chicks dig scars, didn't ya know?!). At the time I was so very happy to have a super simple knitting project tucked in my bag. It was simple enough that I didn't have to think too hard, but just distracting enough so I didn't spend 3 hours watching the clock while he was in surgery.

Pattern ; Lazy Daisy Shawlette with some modifications; I did not knit the textured garter stitch section or crochet edging. I knit until I ran out of yarn...

Literally... just 2 inches left!

Yarn; my handspun, made from LHogan Merino/Soya blend in 'Estelle' colourway.

This pattern was such a soothingly simple & a perfect use for handspun yarn that I made some more....

Wanderings...

2011-02-10T21:36:00.005Z

I have been knitting plenty, but the dull short days of winter get in the way of taking some nice photos of the knitty shenanigans. The light does give a nice atmosphere for photos during a wee walk in Marlay Park though.

An area that was fenced off until recently is open to the public again, with a large pond, flowing streams and many mucky narrow paths that demand to be explored.

My overactive imagination spotted homes for fairies, hidey-holes for trolls & possibly some woodland nymphs.And it's just far enough away from the road that you're surrounded by bird song, cawing of crows and ducks murmuring amongst themselves. Next time I'll bring some bread; the ducks might just cooperate.