Doodle4Google

Forget the X-Factor and Dancing on Ice.

Let's harnass the voting power of knitters.

Make your vote count by voting in the Doodle4Google 2012 schools competition and win a **10,000 EUR technology grant** for the winning school.

And if you'd like to support my daughter Maeve, (5 years old, Senior Infants, St Saviour's NS, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow) then click on this link.

Vote for Maeve.

The theme of this year's competition is 'I wish...'.

Here is Maeve's wish.

I wish the fun times would never end. I wish I could wear a Santa hat in Summer, a witch's hat in Spring, see butterflies and colourful flowers in Winter and green trees in Autumn. If the fun times never ended the world would be a happier place.

Please pass it on. The school could REALLY do with those computers.

(And afterwards she said with a knowing smile. 'Mummy I know what your wish would be. KNITTING!')

It's Snowing

Yup, it's snowing! Here are some sample flakes.



Please excuse the blurry pictures. I am reduced to uploading images from my ancient phone. It'll really be a snowstorm when they're blocked.

Don't worry. THIS is more like what I'm after...



Check out Attic 24 for the pattern and tutorial.

And THIS is what I got.



A great quick and easy Christmas gift.



Pictures courtesy of H (again).

Now. Seriously. Where IS that darn camera!?

Seriously.

.

Knit Symphony

Driving to work this morning I was simultaneously:

a) pondering an interesting knitty problem, and

b) listening to the radio.

Specifically I was listening to something lively and joyful by Shostakovich - a lovely waltzy thing.

And I suddenly realised how alike music and knitting are. Or at least how alike creative things are. Yes I know it sounds a bit pompous, but gimme a break. I'm no Missy Sunbeam, but I'm telling ya, this morning I heard that tune.

Call it fancy, or call it Spring madness or call it what you like, but sometimes knitting is an ART FORM people!!! Sometimes it's a single pure clear note and sometimes a whole orchestra. Whether it's the twist of a cable, the lilt of lace, the sweep of a seam or a crescendo of nupps, it goes surprisingly well with a melody.

So the next time you're conducting knitting a great pattern, tap your toes while you're at it. Or at the very least hum along.

Off we go now...dum dum da dum, dum dum dum dum da dum da dum dum...


PS: 113 Ashford Cowls. ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN! Now there's a happy tune. Time for more patterns I think.

A Little Bit Bohemian

Finally, some Christmas knitting. This was for H, and thanks to H for the pictures.

(Darn you camera. 'Where ARE you?')



Pattern: A Little Bit Bohemian

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Palermo (2 skeins)

Verdict: Quick project, and my absolute favourite scarf pattern. Bar none.

Too Tweet

Well honestly.



Little Birds

Too cute for words.

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Last Minute Knitting

There's some frantic LMK going on around here.*

Coupla these, one of these and lots of these.

Hope you're happy knitting or whatever it is that brings you joy.

I can imagine that some of you might be baking. (Just a wild guess H!)


* Pictures later on when I can get them uploaded off my phone. Damn you Technology. Grrrr!

Nellie The Hat

Some time ago. Around this time, I spent a while playing with 2-colour charts. And it was fun.

After many diversions, this was the result. And I was most pleased indeed.

One cul-de-sac that I travelled down resulted in Nellie. A chart that I posted for fun on Ravelry. Just to share the Nellie Love.




Imagine my delight this week when I saw this project. A beautiful hat knitted from the Nellie chart but without some of the fussy detail, and also without the elephant saddle*.

Good decision. Much nicer in this simpler version.



This knitter has many lovely projects using animal and floral charts so I am flattered indeed that Nellie is part of the gallery.

Thanks S! and congratulations on your lovely project.


BTW, it turns out that an elephant saddle is called a 'howda' - which is so like the local greeting 'howya' that I laughed out loud.

I can just hear it in an Irish accent. 'Howya, how's yer howda?'