NicKnits

Doodle4Google

2012-01-25T03:34:00.001-08:00

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

2012-01-18T03:21:00.000-08:00

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.

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Knit Symphony

2012-01-16T04:46:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-10T03:18:00.003-08:00

Well honestly.

Little Birds

Too cute for words.

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Last Minute Knitting

2011-12-22T01:48:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

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?'

The Kettle Are Lowing

2011-12-14T03:31:00.000-08:00

'The stars in the bright sky

Looked down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay

The kettle are lowing

The Baby awakes

But little Lord Jesus

No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus

Look down from the sky

And stay by my side,

Until morning is nine.'

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'Tis the Season

2011-12-12T02:33:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again.

The time when the people in the back of the car start ~~blasting out~~ rehearsing segments from the upcoming school Christmas performances.

In all conscience, I don't think I should keep these to myself.

'Come little children,

come, come, to Bethlehem.

Come see the baby,

flying in the manger'.

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Loopy Ewe

2011-12-08T08:25:00.001-08:00

Apologies me dearies. The combination of a lost camera and an overloaded schedule has left the poor blog a bit unattended lately.

I finally got these pics of a recently completed project.

Introducing Lamb from Itty Bitty Toys. My first knitted toy ever. Fiddly to knit but oh so cute.

One important modification tho'. This lamb had to have a removable coat.

So now I introduce Nekkid Lamb.

Still cute. But maybe a bit chilly.

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Rising Numbers Update V

2011-11-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

Squeeee!

The Ashford Cowl project numbers on Ravelry have jumped to 102. Hop on over and take a look. You don't need to be a member to view the pattern page.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWO!

YAY.

Seems to me this deserves a Classic Happy Dance.

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted. My apologies. Life and Work just gets in the way. There's been lots and lots of knitting tho', so more on that later.

Be well my pretties.

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PIN: Penguins In Need

2011-10-19T10:03:00.001-07:00

Here's some info on a ~~human~~-penguin-it-arian effort to help penguin victims of the New Zealand's recent oil spill.

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'A recent oil spill on New Zealand’s coast has left the environment and wildlife in shambles — including the local blue penguin population. While volunteers are working hard to rescue and clean the animals in the region, they require a little bit of crafty help: tiny sweaters, or penguin pajamas, for the rescued birds. These woolen sweaters keep oil-soaked birds warm until they’re well enough to be cleaned and prevent them from ingesting oil from their feathers.'

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Check it out. You know what you gotta do.

Rising Numbers Update IV

2011-10-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

NINETY NINE!!!

And no, I don't mean one of these...

Although it does look delicious!

Trousseau the Second

2011-10-17T07:19:00.001-07:00

This Shawletter Trousseau is off to Switzerland as a Thank You gift.

Project Stats: Shawlette Version

Pattern: Trousseau from Carol Feller

Garnstudio Drops Delight: 2 skeins

Purchased: The Constant Knitter

Knitting Time: approx 1 week

Verdict: Gorgeous...

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Trousseau the First

2011-09-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Project Stats:

Pattern: Trousseau from Carol Feller

Garnstudio Drops Delight: 4 skeins

Purchased: The Constant Knitter

Knitting Time: approx 3 weeks

Verdict: LOVE IT!!!

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Introducing Trousseau

2011-08-25T04:45:00.000-07:00

Well, the Secret Project is finally finished and off to its destination. I'll be sure to let you know when it's available for viewing. Hopefully soon.

Lots of progress to be seen on the Howth Vest. It is delightful to knit and is growing pretty well, despite the fine-ish needles.

Of course with a mere 3 WIPS on the needles (or is it more?) I had the itch for something new.

Introducing Trousseau by Carol Feller. I'm in need of something very special to knit for a friend and this just took my breath away.

Some big decisions were to be made tho'.

Starting with which yarn? You won't be shocked to hear that I already have rather a wide choice of yarn to consider, but having seen this lovely Storm Cloud* in Drops Delight a while back, this was an easy decision to make.

Next question(s): Big Shawl? Little Shawl? Single stranded? Double stranded? Poached or fried? (OK, so the last one has more to do with the fish than the knitting, but the decision had to be made all the same.)

Swatching** quickly brought me to the perfect choice.

*Ravelry link, but you can still view the pattern without a login

**more on swatching in another post. I have things to say.

Revealing Interior

2011-08-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Recently Little Monkey took part in a Clay Modelling Class. One of the projects she enjoyed most was creating and decorating a clay room, with a base and three walls.

The variety and complexity of the rooms created by the class were truely a wonder and it was amazing what could be fashioned on such a small scale.

(The room shown here is approx 5 inches square.)

I was really tickled with the flat screen plasma TV and the bright yellow cushions. But what tickled me most of all was the remote control on the arm of the sofa.

Oh, that child has great ambitions for her comfort and leisure.

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Oops

2011-08-02T04:22:00.000-07:00

I completely forgot to say that the NicKnit family were going here in July.

Apart from the crushing disappointment of very very very poor weather (cold, windy, cloudy, showery ARGHHH!) we had a wonderful time. Little Mouse learnt to cycle without stabilisers and thereafter was seen bombing about the cycleways like a little pink speedy gonzales on, er, speed.

The island is so pretty, and on the three days of sunshine that we did have, it totally repaid our cycling and picnicking efforts. We spent a lot of time in a local small town Rivedoux-Plage and a nearby beach.

The town is filled with a series of monumental sculptures by artist Casimir Ferrer some on a maritime theme and others showing musical instruments. They were really lovely. There were 18 of them in all and we had a great time spotting them while out and about on our trusty bicycles.

If you're interested, there's more info here.

Anyhow, there was quite a lot of Howth Vest knitting and good progress on that mystery project I keep banging on about.

More on that ~~this-year-next-year-sometime-never~~ later.

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TIK 5th Yarniversary party

2011-07-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

I was very excited indeed to be able to attend the 5th Yarniversary event in Dublin last week. The lineup was stellar, including The Famous Ms Bliss, crochet diva Aoibhe Ni, the super-talented and prolific knit designer Carol Feller and Mr KnitLab himself, Kieran Foley.

Ms Bliss won't mind I'm sure when I say that it was meeting the Irish designers that was the highlight of the event for me.

And that's not to mention the...oh, I dunno...100+ enthusiastic yarnistas from all over the country. With all the catchup up and knit chatter and the oohh-ing and ahh-ing over the knit samples the buzz was something else. It was very entertaining to put faces to Rav names, great to meet new people and lovely to meet old ones again...if you know what I mean.

There were refreshments, cake and champagne.

There were irreverent comments, giggles and laughter.

There were wonderful and inspiring words from the speakers (a big 'well done' to them.)

There were FABULOUS samples of all sorts in crochet, knitting, tweed, lace and cables.

There was a selection of delightful baby bumps in the back row all kicking up a storm.

There was a gate crasher with a baby buggy who wandered in and helped herself to some biscuits. We briefly considered arm wrestling her to the floor and confiscating the kid, but then she fed the biscuits to the child thereby removing the evidence and destroying our forensic trail. If she had waded into the champagne then that would have been a more serious matter. We would have brought her down. Or at least waved our needles at her.

And there was a funny moment when Ms Bliss took my arm and asked if I had a measuring tape. I gestured at the audience and her microphone and said there was likely one 'out there'. Of course when she asked the audience the same question, 50% of the arms went up. Knitters come prepared, is all.

I sat beside Knit Inc while knitting her design Howth Vest. I'm sure there's a term for that. Or if there isn't there should be. Designer Adjacent Knitting perhaps.

It was all so exciting that I managed to leave a knitting bag behind containing my precious tube of dpns, stitchmarkers, weaving-in needles and most irreplaceable of all my miniature swiss army knife with built in scissors. Fortunately, it was well looked after in my absence and thanks to the good offices of a friend, I had it back in my grasp within 2 days.

Many many congratulations to everyone at TIK and thanks for a great evening. And thanks to Kneehigh too. You really made me laugh. And hunted down my knitting bag besides.

And the double-whammy-bonus? I was able to drop into my LYS knit evening on the way home and catch up with my local designer stars and knitting friends too.

Sigh. Perfect.

PS: for pictures go here (thanks Carol!)

Howth Vest Progress

2011-07-01T07:48:00.001-07:00

Ah. It's so nice to be able to show some knitting progress.

My intention was to knit this just as far as the rib and then put it aside for another project with a tighter deadline.

As you can see, this intention was completely in vain. In fact it is already several inches longer than this photo, taken 2 days ago.

The yarn is delightful, the chart is addictive and the knitting is compulsive so it is growing nicely. This project came out-and-about with me to some knitting events recently and has been much admired.

I do loves me a pattern that makes me look good.

Thanks Knit Inc!

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Dum & Mad

2011-06-24T01:56:00.000-07:00

On a recent car journey, the young-ones-in-the-back spent a lot of time reversing and transposing the letters of words that took their fancy. Mostly the words for parts of their bodies, especially those parts that make noises.

Much hilarity ensued and the Giggle-O-Meter levels rose steadily. It went right off the scale however when the elder daughter renamed her parents. 'Dum' and 'Mad'.

Now, I just wonder. Which one am I?

(Knitting content following shortly. Promise.)
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Nellie The Elephant

2011-06-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

"Nellie the elephant packed her trunk
and said goodbye to the circus
off she went with a trumpety
trump trump trump trump!"

Free chart from me to you over on Ravelry. Just for fun.

Good luck Nellie!

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Gardening

2011-06-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

OK.

So, I make no claims to be a gardener. At all.

Like baking, gardening is an art that I don't really understand and undertake on a hit-and-miss basis. Not that the Knitting Mama's skills weren't abundant in both the garden and the kitchen, it's just that I wasn't paying much attention at the time.

Fortunately, the combination of hubby's skills and nature's bounty means that we are well served at Chez Nic for garden delights.

So, even tho' this ain't one of those knitting blogs that sidesteps into hymns to spring flowers or a celebtration of culinary achievements, sometimes one just can't help it.

On a recent sunny Sunday I couldn't help but notice the lovely palette around me.

So here it is.

A Project Poised

2011-05-26T05:06:00.001-07:00

Now isn't that a lovely sight?

A mini yarn mountain and a project poised on the edge of flight.

Beautiful swatch. So soft. So lovely.

Howth Vest here we come.

Thanks Knitinc!

Pattern: Howth Vest by Sinead Cahir

Yarn: Drops Karisma from The Constant Knitter. Superwash and super soft.

The Constant Knitter

2011-05-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

Some time ago, the lovely R from The Constant Knitter ~~challenged~~ invited me to design something for Drops Alpaca yarn. Not one to resist a challenge or turn down an invitation I went home with two lovely yarns in my bag and a great idea for some fingerless mittens.

Oh those mittens were going to be lovely. So delicate. So fine.

While I have heard that yarn can decide for itself what it wants to be, I have had no experience of it until now. In this case however, I can attest to it. I began with a very clear idea of fine lace ruffled mittens in this most delicate of yarns, yet several days later I had something something completely other on my needles.

Something outdoorsy, dense and very warm. Something more suited to hauling logs or chopping wood than waving away suitors or holding a dainty parasol aloft. Something beautiful all the same, but nothing like I had intended.

Regular (and smart) readers will see where this is going, especially from the yarn colours shown above.

Yup, after many iterations the Tuar Mhic Eadaigh Mittens came to be and I also had an entry for this year's St Patricks Day Celebrations competition over on Ravelry. The rest, as they say, ~~ain't geography~~ is history.

Just goes to show where things can take you if you let them. In my book this is a good philosophy.

Of course, a runaway horse will take you someplace you don't wish to go, so please use your own judgement.

Thanks Constant Knitter!

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Oh Wow!

2011-05-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to show you this fabulous book published by the really really really talented Nicola Brown and her equally talented friend Chrissie Day.

There are so many things about this book that thrill and inspire me. Let me outline them in terms you will understand:

Row 1: (RS) It's fabulous.

Row 2 and every WS row: It's mine. Not yours. Mine I tell you (To get your own copy, go here. Seriously. Go.)

Row 3: It's full of *great photos, clear info, inspiring detail and fibre friendship ** repeat from * to ** as many times as you wish. What could be better?

Row 4: As Row 2.

Row 5: Love the book title. See Row 3.

Row 6: As Row 2.

Row 7: www.blurb.com. Self publishing. Love it. Great concept.

Row 8: Y'know.

Row 9: This is an inspiring piece of self-publishing. Me likey. (Watch this space.)

Congratulations to both of the authors. Or friends. Or 'fauthors' maybe.

Of course I don't know Chrissie Day (yet), but by evidence of a) her friendship with Nicola and b) her great contribution to the book I'm pretty sure that I would like her - a lot.

IDEA: Any chance Chrissie would come visit?

I'll make the tea.

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So much knitting...

2011-05-11T05:54:00.000-07:00

...so little time.

Y'know, when things get quiet around here, it's far more likely that lots of knitting is happening rather than not much. I'm knitting several things that may be current and future designs so of course they have to remain under wraps.*

Of course that doesn't make Chez Nic a very interesting place to hang out, so I'm gonna show ya some bits 'n pieces where I can. That's if anyone out there is still awake.

First up are some swatches for a special gift-in-progress and hopefully a future design submission.

This is Manos Lace (yuuummmmm!) and is basically a lace sampler of knitting thoughts.
I haven't knit much lace before and not with proper laceweight and I am totally in luurve with the results.

Since this is not the destination yarn for the project and this is not the lace that I picked, I think it's ok to show here. (Geez, you'd think this was a top couture design house, eh?)

But just in case. Don't tell anyone, ok?

* Just for clarification for those who may think that all this cloak-and-dagger is a bit over-the-top, knit/crochet designs are not accepted for publication either in print or online if ANY details have been shown in the public domain, i.e. on blogs, Ravelry etc. Fortunately this does not apply to self-publishing - in fact the opposite is true. The more exposure the better.

A Fairy Tale Romance

2011-05-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Awwww

2011-04-30T05:11:00.000-07:00

Awww. Just beautiful.

And the DRESS?! Fabulous.

Sigh.

I hinted previously that I had some good knitting news.

Recently I have had a design accepted for an online knitting magazine. I'm delighted. First tho', it needs to be reknit in a different yarn and altered somewhat. Great. That will keep me busy. Fingers crossed Version 2 goes well.

No. Of course I can't show you anything. Not allowed, see?

So go back and admire the photo above instead.

Awww.

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Shocking disregard for one's readers.

2011-04-12T07:27:00.001-07:00

Well! I knew things had got too busy for posting here in the past few weeks but I did think very hard about several posts. I am genuinely quite shocked to see that these never got posted.

It turns out that there's no wireless link from my brain to the blog? Pity.

No.

Wait.

Considering all the @#;%%@X! that goes through my brain every day, this is something we should ALL be grateful for. In the meantime, I was very pleased that the Tuar Mhic Eadaigh Mittens come 3rd in the competition.

MANY MANY THANKS for all your votes. Another post on the mittens coming shortly.

Oh ok. You got me.

As soon as I can then.

Oh yes, and some good knitting news to share. .

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Tuar Mhic Eadaigh Mittens

2011-03-18T03:48:00.001-07:00

The St Patrick's Day Celebration competition on Ravelry is finally open.

Voting is open between Monday March 21st until Sunday March 27th 6.00pm Irish time. Any votes cast before that time will be discounted so please hold your horses. Presenting the Tuar Mhic Eadaigh Mittens.

These mittens are named after an area of stunning natural beauty in Co Mayo, Tuar Mhic Eadaigh (Tourmakeady) where they had their 1st outing before they were even finished. It was a VERY cold day and the mittens are sooooo warm. (Er...technically, I should say 'mitten' here since only one mittens was complete.)

I really enjoyed designing these mittens.

I love colour work and learned a lot about mitten construction along the way. Pattern coming soon when I can get it together.

My thanks to my lovely model G and my equally lovely niece L for the forest photography. And for full disclosure, yes, I ran out of yarn, just yards from the finish line so one mitten is a teeny bit shorter than the other.

So I guess I’ll keep them for myself. Tee hee.
And no, I am not canvassing for your vote. Vote as many times as you like, or not at all. Just enjoy and appreciate the work presented by the group. Check out 2009 and 2010 too. I'll be back with pics of my favourite entries from other years soon.

BTW:

BIG THANKS to The Constant Knitter for yarn support and encouragement. Hop on over there and check it out! .

Rising Numbers Update III

2011-03-09T02:40:00.000-08:00

NINETY SEVEN!!!!

Wha?

Numbers falling not rising?

That's just not right people. Just not right.

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St Patrick's Day Competition

2011-03-07T03:25:00.000-08:00

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Well well well. So it's time for this competition once more*.

Boy that was a fast year. It doesn't seem any time at all since I stood in O'Connell St finishing up last year's entry.

To make up for all my bleating lately about being really busy knitting but unable to show anything, here's a teaser for this year's entry.

Tune in on Paddy's Day for more.

* for those of you without Ravelry access, this is an annual competition for an Irish themed knit project to be completed and posted by 17th March. As you can see, last year my project really came down to the wire.

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Yarn Passion

2011-03-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

Sweet Mother of Yarn, WHAT is this divinely soft lovliness?

It's Manos Del Uruguay Lace and it is silky soft beyond belief. Really. 'Tis.

I did think I was familiar with the delights of high-end yarns and ~~not at all~~ somewhat immune to the lure of a special skein of something. But by golly I was ~~entirely and completely~~ incorrect.

Of course there's a clue in the yarn content as listed - 70% Baby Alpaca, 25% Silk, 5% Cashmere. That's gonna be soft you'd think. But still I was stunned into a kind of yarn coma by the reality of its silky softness as I began to swatch with it yesterday.

Geez, and this has been in my stash HOW long? A YEAR? I should have had it on my pillow.

What? Oh yeah, it's for a super-secret-project that I can't even think about in case people near me can read my thoughts. So no peeking.

In the meantime, I'm just sitting over here. Petting yarn.

Rising Numbers Update II

2011-02-16T06:57:00.000-08:00

NINETY EIGHT!!!!!!!

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Own Trumpet, the Blowing of

2011-02-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

On page 45 of the new Knitcircus Magazine you will find an interview with Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting. Alana is responsible for many, many lovely knit designs including the Shawl Collared Cowl, which I blogged about here.

Go over there and check them out. Go'wan. I'll wait.

Alana also presents a twice-monthly knitting podcast on her website.

Regular readers here may remember that the story of the Jolly Green Giant was featured on Alana's podcast waaaay back in 2009, (Episode 22). Some more podcasts followed (Episodes 28 & 37).

I was so surprised and delighted at what I read yesterday at the top of page 53 of Knitcircus.

Now, ain't that nice?

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Random Wednesday

2011-02-09T08:24:00.001-08:00

Spotted in the centre of Blackrock Village, Co Dublin, Ireland.

Has a nice ring to it, eh? 'Nic's Place'. (Cue the Casablanca music.)

Actually the name of the bar is 'Tonic' and some of the neon is missing.

S'funny, eh?

There's a lot of knitting going on at Nic's Place I can tell you, but I can't show you as some is for design submission and some for a gift.

Looks like I'd better cast on something else as well so we have something to talk about.

Oh goodie. Any excuse.

Good thing I've a Howth Vest in my future. Just waiting for the yarn!

A Little Bit Bohemian

2011-02-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

Hi there. Don't mind me. I'm just busy ~~drooling over~~ styling my new scarf.

This is A Little Bit Bohemian, (or ALBB to it's close friends) designed by my pal Knitswithpenguins over on Ravelry. It's a classic design with an easy lace repeat and beautiful shaping. It really has the 'wow' factor - check out some of the other projects in finer yarns. Lovely.

How's this for a lovely smile?

Doesn't it go so nicely with my long winter coat?

So nicely in fact that I was inspired to make something else to match.

Patience now. Wait and see.

Rising Numbers Update I

2011-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

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NINETY SEVEN!

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Itty Bitty

2011-01-25T02:27:00.000-08:00

Normally, folks, the thought of knitting a toy gives me the heebie jeebies.

Let's face it. All that teeny tiny knitting, complicated shaping and (gasp!) sewing up just makes me want to go find a large garter-stitch-something to knit.

Not to mention the sourcing of itty bitty scraps of yarn in the right colours. And besides, there's only so much cuteness one person can stand.

However. There's a change in the air.

Look thee here.

Itty Bitty Toys (Amazon link)

I might just have to do this.

And my goodness.

I'm even thinking about SOCKS! and Elvish ones at that.

Rivendell (Rav link)

What is my world coming to?

Rising Numbers

2011-01-13T03:52:00.000-08:00

What rising numbers are those?

The numbers of unemployed people? (Sad)

The numbers of inches of snow? (Deep)

The numbers of times that I forget to decrease 4 stitches on Row 8 of my current pattern repeat? That's a rising number for sure.

Nope! It's the numbers of Ashford Cowl projects in Ravelry. For a long time the number floated around the 60-something, then it crept up through the 70s and 80s and suddenly I noticed it had passed 90.

Now I'm watching it like a hawk. Don't want to miss that magic 100 number.

Exciting innit!? Well, as we say in our house, it's kinda-a-little-bit exciting anyway.

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2011-01-11T04:08:00.000-08:00

More gift knitting, this time for the Knitting Mama.

A pincushion for the Sewing Table in the Tower. Literally, in a tower. So cool.

Details: Posey, a free pattern from Kris Knits.

Yarn: scraps of Debbie Bliss Fez. Pretty much any yarn would do I'm thinkin' so long as it's knit dense enough to hold the filling (which was in this case scrap yarn ends in many colours.)

It was a little bit fiddly to put together but worth it. The smallest section was puzzling me for a while wondering what it reminded me of.

Garlic. Wouldn'tja say?

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Ta Da!

2011-01-04T10:35:00.000-08:00

Well, the Creamy Delight was a delight indeed. It was a last-minute hassle but I'm really thrilled with the finished item.

Modified slightly from the previous version by adding a 3 stitch garter stitch edging to counteract the minor rolling. Next time I'll make it 4 stitches. I'll also go up a needle size, it's a teeny tiny fraction too dense for my liking. Me likes drape.

LOVE the buttons. These were purchased a year or two back when the Wicklow Knitters gathered in Avoca for their annual fabric and supplies ~~orgy~~ sale.

Just goes to show that the perfect project for your favourite buttons is out there somewhere, even if it takes several years to find it.

(Stash Justification is my thing. Don't take it away from me.)

And BTW, yes I DID get a phone call when the recipient was 3 miles away to say they were coming early. Yikes!

Fortunately the project was ready.

Can't say the same for the housework.

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Creamy Delights

2010-12-21T03:50:00.001-08:00

Another Shawl Collared Cowl from Nevernotknitting.

A quick and cosy last-minute gift knit.

Hmmm. VERY tempted to keep this one myself!

There's definitely another one in this colour in the future for me. It's not just 'cream'. Like lots of the Rowan Cocoon colours it is full of depth and sheen and sheer luxury.

The knitting is finished now, but it is still unblocked and awaiting buttons. Hmmm. Better get those finishing touches out of the way before I get a phone call saying that the recipient is half and hour away.

There's a recipe for panic if I ever saw one.

Why settle for one?

2010-12-21T03:48:00.001-08:00

When you can have two.

Work in progress for Little Monkey. Colour choices and stripes are all her own idea. This is the size aged 10 years. So it'll take a little longer I guess.

See? Told ya I was knitting!

As Promised

2010-12-21T03:40:00.000-08:00

A parade of pink lovliness.

Love the garter stitch details and the I-Cord edging and buttonholes.

Now...when the snow eases up I'm off out for some buttons. Yay!

Liebling Iceling

2010-12-20T05:56:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a while since the last post. Apologies. I've been busy. Also been busy knitting.

This is the M and Freddy Show modelling Iceling, the kid version of Iced.

I got perfect gauge with Artesano Aran so you can guess that it's a really warm and cosy project and in this freezing weather my lap really misses it now that it's done.

Good thing there's another one on the needles. Better photos of the knitting coming very soon.

'Mum. Freddy says he wants one too. Puleeese!'

I'll bet he does. That's a smart bear.

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Crafting Mama

2010-11-14T01:35:00.000-08:00

Geez. I guess it was only a matter of time. Mama is crafting now. And knitting Continental style.

Go over to Eskimimi Knits for her blogpost on Crafting Mama.

And no. I don't think I'll be looking for this one anytime soon. When Mama gets mad, Mama is scary!

Leaving-On-The-Edge

2010-11-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

In keeping with the theme of showing you other people's designs (because mine are too freakin' slow to finish) I gotta show you this design from SheKnitUpThatBall. Leaving-On-The-Edge*.

Due to a heady yarn-fume-fueled purchase in the past, I have lots of Debbie Bliss Como in the stash. Buried somewhere under lots of other yarn-fume-fueled purchases. I have several colours but I think the dark purple-y one will be the 1st choice.

Also would be nice in Rowan Cocoon which I (ahem cough ahem) accidently bought recently.

Anyway, I lurrrve this design. Such a chunky and leafy statement. Definitely one for the Gift Bin.

Available on Ravelry and also here.

*(I guess the fact that I have the song 'Leavin' On A Jetplane' ringing in my head can't be blamed on anyone.)

Multiple Babouches

2010-11-02T08:03:00.001-07:00

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More Baby Babouches to be found here.

Honestly, aren't they the cutest things?

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Fun With Blogger

2010-11-01T01:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's a little bit childish of me, but after spending some time recently not blogging while I am here, it amuses me to post when I'm not. All thanks to Blogger scheduling options.

I love technology when I can use it. When I can't, it's the work of the devil and I'll have none of it. Like I said. Childish.

Anyhew....I'm not home.

I'm here.

And hopefully the sun is shining.

Happy Halloween to you!

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Swatch Necklace

2010-10-28T01:22:00.000-07:00

More finishing class samples. Here's a necklace of swatches.

I was so sick of never having enough samples that I spent 24 hours knitting little blue squares. In case you're curious, the stitches are live (i.e. not bound off) to demonstrate 3-needle grafting etc.

It was surprisingly satisfying!

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Blocked / Unblocked

2010-10-26T01:14:00.000-07:00

Nah, don't worry. It's not a domestic plumbing issue.

Some blocking samples for a Finishing Class at The Yarn Room to demonstrate the benefits of blocking.

Blocking for lace is such a transformation. Notice how the blocked sample almost completely fills the image space.

unblocked

blocked magic

Poetic.

/

Baby Babouches

2010-10-23T00:59:00.001-07:00

Just flying past to show you this, the unbearably cute baby version of this from Chezplum.

Baby Babouches. Love 'em.

10.10.10

2010-10-11T02:35:00.001-07:00

Hi there.

I break the silence of this small blog-slump to celebrate today's date.

The tenth of the tenth two thousand and ten.

Pretty cool.

It's not a knitting slump btw, I just have lots of knitting for things that I can't blog about because they're gifts or design submissions.

Oh yeah. Actually. I forgot. Silly me. A finished object is so rare around here that I completely forgot to show you the Shawl Collared Cowl by Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting. It was the September KAL project for the Cowls Group on Ravelry and for ONCE I actually met the deadline. Wow.

S'lovely innit!? It's knit in Rowan Cocoon which is divinely soft. It's a teeny tiny bit tickly, but otherwise the yarn is great. I got the perfect buttons at The Yarn Room so there will be blocked and modelled photos coming soon.

Or if not soon, then as soon as possible.

Er. OK.

Let's say 'sometime' then. And leave it at that.

Obama Yarn

2010-09-30T23:56:00.000-07:00

And just to prove the point, lookee what someone over on Ravelry* did with my blog post. Funneee!

Can't see it? Look closer.

(Link needs a Ravelry account. If you're a knitter, go get one.)

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You Know You Knit Too Much II

2010-09-24T05:32:00.000-07:00

...when you see this on your national news website (RTE) and think that President Obama is worried about yarn.

Seriously. I did.

(Betcha it's Kitchener Stitch that's the problem.)

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Ah Jane!

2010-09-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

I love Jane Austen.

Yes, I know, that's not exactly startling news, (or even interesting you may say), but I cast my net wider than dear Jane. I love the whole Georgian & Regency Periods too. Beau Brummel, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Count of Monte Cristo...everything from the French Revolution to the Crescents of Bath. I love it all.

I love the history, architecture, fashions, furniture, textiles, wallpaper, social etiquette and even the politics. And they do all come together rather nicely in Ms Austen's work, one must allow.

Recently I treated myself to these treasures: (Book Depository links)

Jane Austen's Sewing Box

and this

Jane Austen Fashion: Fashion and Needlework in the Works of Jane Austen

Tippets, cravats, muslin and lace.

I'm having the lovliest time.

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Franklin does it again

2010-09-05T00:58:00.001-07:00

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Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening (delete as appropriate). I hope you are well.

May I direct your attention to this.

Love it.

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Beach Knitting 2010

2010-09-02T03:38:00.000-07:00

Now there's something to add to this and this from the previous Beach Knitting series. Here is the Beach Knitting 2010*.

This is the curent design project knit in King Cole Bamboo Cotton, purchased here. This project has taken months and months and MONTHS of thinking, charting and swatching but is finally in the finishing stages. Well, Stage 1 of the finishing stages I guess. There's a tricky construction issue that I haven't begun to solve.

S'funny, I just realised that both of the previous beach knits have become self-published Ravelry patterns - Miss Potter Mittens and the Ashford Cowl. Perhaps that augurs well for this one.

Maybe beaches are lucky. Let's hope.

PS: that's a knit project bag made for me by my Knitting Mama, a.k.a. The Bag Lady. She makes them to order. If you'd like to order one (they're reasonably priced), just give a shout in the comments.

Finally

2010-08-31T02:25:00.000-07:00

There are no words.

It's a very long time since I've knit, and more importantly finished, a garment for myself. Mittens, hats, Twists etc have flown off the needles, but not a garment.

I've barely taken this off since it was finished. And ok, so it's too big and it droops a little in the front, and the sleeves don't match.....but it's sooo soft and creamy.

That's funny. 'Magine that. I managed to find some words after all.

Holiday Report

2010-08-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Starting at the beginning. No, we did NOT get a smooth crossing from Ireland to France. There was a storm at sea and we had a very rough crossing indeed.

So bad, in fact that on a visit to the Irish Seal Sanctury this weekend we met some baby seal pups who had been separated from their mothers and rescued the morning after the storm. Poor little things. Such cuteness. BTW, they will be released into the wild at 3 months old when they can catch their own nourishment. But. I digress.

Fortunately, due to a comfortable cabin and liberal doses of anti-travel sickness medication, nobody was actually ill or felt too rotten. This is a minor miracle and I thank heaven for modern medicine. My childhood method of sitting out on deck, clenching my teeth and staring at the horizon would not have been much use to me this time.

It was bliss. For 2 weeks we swam, cycled, ate, knitted (well that was just me actually) and rested. The weather was mixed, but overall it was good and we split the time between the pool, the beach and the deck.

On the less-than-sunny days we had trips to the circus, Sealand, a lovely zoo and some high adventure at the Feeling Forest where we swung, crawled, clamboured and zipped between pine trees at a great height and got some great thrills and many interesting bruises. (Well, again, that was just me.)

Fearless Little Monkey in action

And oh yes, there was knitting. More on that anon.

Perfect Love

2010-08-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

I know it might seem odd, but something has been haunting me.

After the previous post, I remembered that years ago I used to play a game of words with poetry which distilled the rhythm and words of a poem further than the original.

I'm sure I thought it was very clever at the time tho' I wouldn't have been able to describe it in any way.

Therefore I give you:

sweater,
nubs,
been.
machine
think
breathe
knuckles
knit
exhale,
perfect,
love.

Try it out yourself. Sometimes of course the meaning and tone of the original poem is completely altered - but that just makes it more interesting!

There's something about that 'perfect love' that gets to me.

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..

When You Knit My Sweater

2010-08-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

Home at last. We had a really great holiday and there was lots of knitting done, tho' Iced isn't quite finished.

Photos and more details in a few days.

In the meantime, look what I found on the ever-entertaining blog of Sheknitupthatball.

by Gayle Brandeis

When you knit my sweater,
leave some holes, some knobbly nubs,
I want to see where your hands have been.
I don't want anyone to think a machine
has knit this, don't want anyone to think
it came from a store. I want you to breathe
through the gaps in the wool, want your knuckles
to bulge at the collar, the hem. I want to feel
your knit and purl like an inhale and exhale,
surrounding me like a fly in the perfect,
imperfect, spiderweb silk of your love.

Isn't that just wonderful? I defy anyone not to be moved by that, and especially knitters.

You already know that I'm very sentimental so I'll freely admit that I got a lump in my throat.

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Bon voyage

2010-07-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

Finally the time for holidays has come and we are off to La Belle France tomorrow. The girls are beside themselves with excitement and I'm not far behind. This is a picture of me singing an Aria of Happiness in honour of the occasion.

Er, ok, seriously tho'. I have shorter hair. This is from the latest Knitty, a pattern called Iced with which I instantment fell dans huge amour. Isn't it wonderful? Cool, casual, stylish, flattering and ideal holiday knitting. It's by the fabulous Carol Feller and I gotta say, she just keeps outdoing herself. Her patterns are wonderfully produced with great photography so I'm a bit of a fan.

It just so happens that I scored 6 skeins of Araucania Nature Cotton in a lovely cream colour at The Yarn Room 1st Birthday sale last weekend.

Soon as I realised that Iced was a perfect project for the yarn it became clear that I didn't have enough yarn with only 600 metres. I swooped down on the YR last night just before closing time and ~~snatched up~~ picked up the last 3 skeins available. If it wasn't for the fact that I did pay for my purchases it was more like a drive-by yarn mugging, since I had to divert at high speed from my commute. Talk about a Yarn Dash.

I haven't had time to swatch properly yet so I had to swoop down again this evening to get more needles, just to be sure that I have every possible needle size that I might need depending on gauge. Can't be too careful y'know.

Also in my suitcase is this book, Confererates in the Attic, by Tony Horwitz, a travelogue/series of essays about the American Civil War. Since I love love love history and especially social/human history, I'm really looking forward to this.

Plus I have Love of the World, a collection of essays by John McGahern. Just because there isn't enough John McGahern in the whole wide world.

AND Ghost Light by Joseoh O'Connor. As a writer he just gets better and better. Plus see above comment re human history. This is a fictionalised story of a woman who had a long affair with the (real) Irish playwright J.M. Synge, famous for his play The Playboy of the Western World which was part of an Irish Nationalist artistic revival in the early 1900s. It's a great play of human nature which I believe has stood the test of time.

There are in fact more books to bring, but who am I kidding? I'm not going to get that much solo time, not to mention the knitting that I'm so looking forward to. Which brings us back to where we came in.

So, this is by way of an au revoir for a while. Needles crossed that the knitting goes ok. Needles crossed (and fingers and toes) also for a smooth crossing to Cherbourg tomorrow. There was a big swell on the sea today and today's crossing was rough. I am a very very very very very bad sea traveller so I'm praying for Neptune's Mercy tomorrow.

Take care ya'll and happy knitting.
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WIP

2010-07-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

Not much to say about this other than it's part of an ongoing design process that has occupied me fully for the past few months. It's for a 2-colour bag roughly 16" square. With wooden or knitted or I-cord or leather or something-else handles. You can see that ~~I'm winging it~~ I've really thought it through.

Seriously tho'. I've learnt something very important here. I spent weeks tricking around with the design elements, (colour combinations, charts etc.) before I picked up the needles. Once I started knitting, 80% of what I'd planned went out the window and the other 20% was on shaky ground.

It just goes to show that all the overthinking and planning in the world is no substitute for the practical work.

Plus I somehow thought that it had to be 'right' before I could even start it. And that the design process was mostly a mental one. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Another lesson learned as knitting kicks my ass once again. Le sigh. Still, I'm happy that it'll be an improved version in the end, so I forgive it.

Mayday Mayday

2010-07-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

Is this your knitting?

I'm passing on an APB Knitting appeal from the Dublin Knit Collective. This lovely piece of knitting was found on a train at Heuston Station, Dublin, Ireland.

I don't know where the train was coming from, but my guess is that if it's yours you'll recognise it.

(Including a picture of the station just because I've always liked it.)

Please comment here if you recognise this lovely red cabled item.

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Finally!

2010-07-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

You know? You guys need a lot of patience to hang around here. I just want you to know that I acknowledge it and appreciate it, even tho' I can't promise to do much about it.

Recently I took some long overdue photos.

At last here's the answer to a question that I just know has been torturing you. Unless of course (like myself) you had completely forgotten all about it.

This is the squishy soft lovliness that awaited me on my return from that volcanic ash-thwarted trip to Paris in May.

It's a Nuno felted scarf in wonderful granite colours from the truely fabulous Nicola at Clasheen. I spotted it in her Etsy shop sale and zing pow click it was mine. Just 5 ft of exquisite felted lovliness. Le sigh.

Doesn't it look lovely against the stone wall and the...er...stones? I can't wait to take a Nuno felt workshop with Nicola sometime. Gorgeous.

...

Mystery Solved

2010-06-29T03:17:00.000-07:00

I'm really delighted to be part of the Midsummer Day's Dream series over on LightingLittleFires.

This is a series of 12 creative and thoughtful projects which LittleFire introduces:

'Starting on the 21st of June, the Summer Solstice and longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, I propose a fortnight (yes, 14 days!) of crafting, baking, music, articles, fun, community spirit and with any luck a little bit of sunshine.

Every day for 2 weeks something new to make, do, eat, drink, laugh about, think about or listen to will be posted right here for your enjoyment, in the hopes of making your start to the summer that little bit sunnier.'

The projects so far include yoga, baking, crochet and knitting. Can't wait to see what's coming!

Isn't it a cool idea?

PS: Just to be clear - the typos in the instructions are all mine!

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Sneak Peek

2010-06-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

Recently I was invited to contribute something to something.

It's almost ready.

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Chez Plum does it again

2010-06-16T03:53:00.001-07:00

I just have to share this stunning project with you. Aren't they amaZING! More great pictures on Ravelry here.
I've been flirting with crochet for quite a while now, but this project has flipped me over the edge into a full blown passion. I want them so badly that when I first saw them I had to remind myself to continue to breathe in and out.
Of course, I'll need some....er...um...(cough!)...help with reading the pattern, being completely crochetignorant an' all.

Let you know how I get on...

WWKIP 2010

2010-06-11T01:52:00.001-07:00

This year the Wicklow Knitters invite Fiber Fans of all kinds to join us for WWKIP 2010 in the courtyard of Mt Usher Gardens, Ashford, Co. Wicklow. There's outdoor seating in a lovely setting and great choices for coffee/tea/cake/buns or whatever you fancy.

Bring your yarnie stuff and come prepared for blazing sunshine or pelting rain...depending on the whim of the gods.

If you have any unwanted swatches or knitted squares or pompoms bring them along. There's a rumour that some flora things might get festooned with some yarn things.

Fun fun fun folks!

If you can't join us, I hope you have a good day somewhere.

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Circle of Hats

2010-06-04T09:35:00.001-07:00

At last the camera was put to good use.

Here's a taster. More coming soon...

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Okay OKAY!

2010-06-02T12:25:00.000-07:00

So.

I know that I'm a little bit behind the knitting, the blogging and the posting.

Here's something to keep you entertained.

http://nevernotknitting.blogspot.com/2010/06/nevernotknitting-podcast-episode-37.html

For those of you checking in from overseas. And those of you nearer to shore.

...

Mon Escapade II

2010-05-23T01:35:00.000-07:00

Well....we did it!

Did what you ask?

We booked a ferry and a chalet for 2 weeks in la belle France in July. It's a family campsite holiday with swimming pools, watershoots, kids club and restaurants. Oh, and a beach close by.

Usually we spend a lot of our holidays making ~~utterly~~ slightly insane travel connections and running about. Looks like this time it'll be more manageable and the kids will certainly enjoy the activities.

Can't wait.

Just.

Can't.

Wait!

In knitting news, I'm hoping to have pics of stuff to show you later on today. It's a gloriously sunny weekend here, so it's time for a photoshoot methinks.

In the meantime, this is the garden post that often models my knitting.

Hungry? Here. Have an apple.

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Mon Escapade

2010-05-16T05:49:00.000-07:00

Things are sooooooo busy here it would wear me out to describe it, and you to listen.

Still, there is some knitting going on and as always, overly ambitious plans for other knitting.

As part of the general daydreaming, I'm looking for a holiday rental in France, hopefully in July.

Part of the search takes place at Mon Escapade, an online holiday rental business run by my friend Sylvie, aka the talented crocheter Chezplum.

A couple of weeks here wouldn't do any harm, now would it?

Of course, there may be some translation issues, but I'm sure we can sort that out.

Wish me luck!

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Home again, home again

2010-05-07T00:25:00.001-07:00

Phew!

Made it back in one exhausted puddle. Thank goodness.

Lots of stress and travelling, but I'm home and that's what matters. Boy, the security gates at Charles De Gaulle airport was like a riot. Don't want to repeat that experience in a hurry...then a last minute change of departure gate was just to keep me on my toes.

Arrived to a nice surprise waiting in the post that made it all better.

The kind that's all squishy in a jiffy bag and light as a feather.

Pictures and details later on...

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Gay Paree

2010-05-05T02:30:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. Here I am once more in Gay Paree.

Stuck. In the ~~mud~~ ash.

Volcanic ash and closed airports do not a homeward journey make.

There are far worse places to be stuck of course, and at least there's knitting in my suitcase, if I ever get a chance to take it out.

You'll be happy to hear that I'm taking the mature route in my reponse to this unfortunate turn of events.

I WANNA GO HOME!!!!

Le sigh*!

(Got this expression from my pal L. It seems especially appropriate for today.)
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Knit knit rip rip

2010-04-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

Knit, knit, rip, rip, knit, knit, knit, knit, knit, rip, rip, rip, knit, knit, knit, rip, rip, rip.

Sigh.

Note to self: Make your mistakes with the chart on a sample piece, before you cast on a full garment in the round.

Also, try to see a serious mistake in the 2nd row before you get to the 20th row.

No biggie. Just do your best. That's all anyone can do.

That's all I'm sayin'.

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The Joy of Chunky

2010-04-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

This is what made my lil' heart beat faster this week. (Thump thump thumpety thump). I was unreasonably thrilled to find these here while browsing around last week. The order was made in an instant.

I love love love my Knitpro Harmony set but had resigned myself to inferior products for this (10mm) and this (12mm). And there have been quite a few more knit in the past while.

Now however my knitter's cup runneth over.

There has been a lot of knitting around here, but not quite in a form that I can show you just yet.

There's been some seaming, some swatching, some grafting, lots of cables, a few buttons, an I-cord or three, knitting, praying and lots of blocking.

Patience, my pretties. Very soon now.

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Knitting Future

2010-04-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

Anyone who's been in my LYS over the past 3 months may have seen me drooling over this pattern. It's Guiseley from Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine, No. 46.

It became a thing of regular habit for me to sit mooning over the pattern and musing over the Rowan Cocoon on the shelves. The discussion over the colour selection took weeks and weeks and involved knitting friends, staff, students and general customers.

I picked this colour. Rowan Cocoon in Red Wine. It's really lovely.

The swatching was interesting. The moss stitch swatch measured 11cms x 8cms. I had a small heart attack. The same number of stitches and rows over the pattern however gave the much lauded 10cms square.

Can't wait to cast on,. Even tho' I've 64 hundred other commitments this week, I predict I'll have this baby on the needles by this time tomorrow.

Knit in the round on size 7mm needles, once I'm past the deep moss stitch border it should make good progress.

Except for the chart knitting of course. That might be a challenge.

Stay tuned. I'm guessing there will be tears mingled with the joy.

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Cherry Heaven

2010-03-20T05:29:00.000-07:00

And finally.

This little number is just beautiful. Lovely crisp cotten, and so soft from lots of laundering. And still fresh.

Speaking of laundry, I think it's best suited to Wash Day.

It's more like a clothes peg bag than anything.

(Or a particularly jaunuty pair of boxers.)

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Parade Mittens

2010-03-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

It was a lovely St Patrick's Day in Dublin. We treked to the city by car, train and on foot to find ourselves in a good spot for viewing the parade and basking in spring sunshine for the morning. See that there blue sky? The sun does shine in Ireland folks, honest!

At the Dublin Parade we present Gulliver and 2 of his teeny lady friends. They were having a great time and the crowd loved 'em.

A snatched pic of some beautiful huge blue flowers that I loved. It also gives you an idea of the size of the giant green hat we had to contend with for a view. Native readers will be able to pinpoint the very tree we were standing at by the street view.

And here are the Parade Mittens, my last-minute entry to the St Patrick's Day Celebrations competition over on Ravelry.

These are what you might call a novelty entry, knit on the fly, knit on the Dart on the way into town and finished while waiting for the parade to start. My thanks to the young French woman who kindly picked up my dpn when it plunged into the crowd amidst the many feet.

These are kinda cute and Little Monkey was delighted with them. So that's a win in my book. Hop on over to the competition thread to see the wonderful knits that have been posted already. Some really lovely things there.

Voting doesn't start until after 6pm on 20th March, so don't click the love until then, or it will be discounted.

Hope ya'll had some St Patrick's Day fun. Slainte!

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At Last Miss Potter

2010-03-16T05:14:00.001-07:00

Rowan Tapestry

Finally I have finished re-writing Miss Potter Mittens and published them on Ravelry.

As a single-skein-leftover-yarn project, these make a quick and stylish knit in lots of different yarns.

Just in case you fancy 'em, here's a link.

Artesano 100% DK Alpaca

Sublime Merino Mohair

My next pair will be in bamboo or silk merino. They'd probably be lovely in Manos silk too if I have enough.

Ah the possibilities. Love 'em.

Everyday Apron

2010-03-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

After all that glamour, this is a more everyday version.

It's made from red and yellow pincord fabric with a small pink check trim.

It's still pretty jaunty tho'. Can't see anyone gutting fish wearing this!

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Holiday Glamour

2010-03-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

And what 60's hostess didn't have one of these in her wardrobe?

It's impossibly glamourous. Tiny. Sheer. Frilly.

Oh la la. Mama Mia!

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Word up

2010-03-10T02:51:00.000-08:00

'I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying'

-- Oscar Wilde

Just wondering.

Am I the only one who unconsciously tries to pronounce the word presented by the word verification thingy?

Bed-asta. Like bad-ass, only not quite.

And sometimes in in funny accent.

Suupp-elle. (French accent of course.)

And wonder what it means. Wingen.

To be on the wing, i.e. birds or fairies in flight.

Pire-a-dab. Definitely something unpleasant.

In the medical line.

And my personal favourite.

His Excellency Zez-zzul. A royal advisor to an ancient Court of Kings.

Fanciful? Moi?

Whatever gave you that idea.

Parade of Aprons

2010-03-04T03:18:00.000-08:00

Here's another parade of items from the Knitting Mama. Of aprons this time.

'Vintage' I guess you could call them, altho' since I remember some of them in use, that makes me feel all Miss Marple-ly.

I liked the aprons so much that I even got out the iron before the photos.

When non-essential ironing takes place, you know that says something.

This is one of my favourites. Love the Georgian-type white-on-blue pattern combined with those lovely stripes.

The fabric is really crisp yet tender soft from frequent washing.

Nice one Mum!

It's a Hodgepodge Life

2010-03-01T03:05:00.000-08:00

The Lovely Leslie has included me in a list of blogs under the Hodgepodge life Tribe Talk banner which aims to link up bloggers with new and inspiring blogs of all kinds....I'm honoured!

So here's my list of sites to check out. Definitely a hodge podge.

Irene at Yarn Classes for inspiring crochet, fibre love and chat.

Nicola at Clasheen for fantastic felting and fibre.

Elaine at Jaboopee for quirky and genius artwork of all kinds.

Kneehigh from She Knit Up That Ball for fab knitting and entertaining reviews of all kinds of knitting stuff.

Sinead from Knit,Inc. for creative and stupendous knitting.

So get your groove on guys and pick some bloggers to add to your next blog post. Then go back to Hodgepodge and link yourself in at this post. At least, I think that's how it works.

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Knitting Mama: Sister Coat

2010-02-24T02:57:00.000-08:00

And finally (for now) here's the Sister Coat.

This is the most gorgeous and stylish coat in the world. It's got knitted interfacing, fabric piping, covered buttons, set-in sleeves, turned-up hem, pockets and gawd-alone-knows what else.

Can you just imagine the work this took?

Wow Mama, hats off to ye!
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Schopple Wolle Sample

2010-02-23T07:27:00.000-08:00

So.

The love affair with Schoppel Wolle continues.

This is a sample I started with colourway 1507. Isn't it lovely? Look at the way the colours flicker from those limestone tones into green and gold lichen and on into the blues. So organic...so beautiful...so Burren (an outrageously wonderful place of natural beauty in the West of Ireland. Just sayin'.)

The final section moved into dark blues and on into deep reds. Tis a journey so 'tis.

Honest, it's just delicious.

You can see that I tried the sample in diagonal lace stitches and they worked out really really well. The last section was wide ribs and cables, which worked out ok too but the cables didn't stand out too well with the colours.

And if you're wondering how this all turned out in the end, here it is
....

...

Another Yarn Room Twist. See how the colours are the same as above but so different.

Sigh.

I love ~~garter stitch~~ knitting.

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Knitting Mama: Lil' Nic Dress

2010-02-21T02:37:00.000-08:00

In addition to handknitting, my Knitting Mama was a whizz at the knitting machine.

Here's the Lil' Nic Dress, made for me when I was about 3 years old. There's a yellow I cord belt that goes with it too, but it didn't make it into the photos.

I clearly remember loving the way the skirt pooffed out and especially loving the little buttons. And it's still cute.

Isn't it just darling, Darling?

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Knitting Mama

2010-02-18T01:20:00.000-08:00

I've said quite a lot about the Knitting Dad hereabouts so I think it's time to show you some Knitting Mama. When I was a child my mother knit (and sewed) most of our wardrobes and she's still busy.

This fearless knitter has been behind all of my projects, lending support and cheering from the sidelines. I'm sure she picked up more than her share of my dropped stitches and she definitely passed on the love of knitting and the infinite possibilities of yarn.

For this Mama and for so much more, I thank you.

To begin the parade of Mama Knits, I introduce the Brother Sweater. Knit for one brother and worn by everybody else that followed. It's more than a little bit felted now, but all the warmer for that.

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A new dance craze

2010-02-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

Here's another Yarn Room Twist.

(Sorry, no pattern yet. When it's available, I'll linky.)

It was a bit of a gamble really 'cos I had no idea would it be suitable or how the colours would work out.

At first I didn't like it. No. Not at all. No-sir-ee.

It took a while for the colour changes and garter stitch to take shape, but I kept knitting and now I love it. I knit until the yarn was gone and then grafted the ends together with a twist.

This is lovely yarn, but since it’s 100% merino, not at all woolly. An unusual fabric really, very light and beautiful colours.

This was a birthday gift for my brother last week and (another gamble), I wasn't at all sure if he would like it. Thankfully he really does so I'm glad I gave it away - as I was sooooo tempted to keep it.

No problem at all. I'm making another one for myself.

Secret Project

2010-02-07T11:26:00.000-08:00

Some time ago I ~~tortured~~ teased you about a new pattern coming soon.

Well. S'like this.

It is. And it isn't.

It did get finished. But it isn't coming soon.

It just didn't work out as well as I had hoped. It's not terrible, but it's not great either. I'm not anywhere near a proper designer by any means, but I did want it to a) fit and b) be easy to knit and c) look good.

I think I nailed c) as far as the colour choices go, but a) not so much. And it was a bit overcomplicated to hit b).

So it's back to the drawing board. I've an idea of what needs to be changed, so I'm not despairing. But I'm not Wonder Woman either, so it will just take a little more time.

Of course if I'd kept my mouth shut then I wouldn't have to say anything about it. Lesson learned.

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That's Handy

2010-02-02T03:50:00.001-08:00

Just as an aside, you may like to see this little project, a recent gift for my Mum.

The girls drew around their hands on some lovely red flannel and then we I stitched around the shapes. That little thing in the middle is a heart, but they're not happy with it. It probably just needs a little bling. Sequins anyone?

I got the idea from an embroidery workshop I attended at Pick Up Your Needles in Tinahely Co Wicklow. (Next event here). A very easy project, the girls had fun and of course it's a winner with family members.

It's supposed to be a seat cover. Of course it's not actually finished. Did you get me mixed up with somebody else by any chance?

Yarn Room Twist* in Artesano

2010-01-29T07:39:00.000-08:00

Here's sumthin' else to look at.

Boy, I'm feeling the Garter Stitch Love here. Gorgeous, innit?

This is a design by Stephanie at The Yarn Room. Pattern coming soon I believe. It's knit from just over 1 skein of Artesano Aran stranded with 1 skein of Artesano 100% Alpaca 4ply. The paired colour options with these yarns are endless. Be all cool and understated with these colours or mix it up and knock yourself out.

It's luscious and soft and wrapped around twice it makes for style and warmth like you wouldn't believe. I had to replace the 1st one I made for my SIL because it was hijacked by someone living in her house. Replace it? Of COURSE!

It’s soooo soft that people run out of adjectives for ‘soft’ and go kinda weak and make ‘ooooohhhh’ and ‘mmmmmmm’ noises when they touch it.

Here's mine, almost at full length, around 130 cms long, (slightly shorter than the 153 cms specified in the original). There’s usually one of this project on the needles somewhere in the Wicklow Knitters Group. I’m on my 2nd with 2 more planned.

Next time I’ll change the colour of the lighter strand. I thought black would be nice, but the Artesano Alpaca 4 ply comes in a wonderful soft orange colour.....that's the one for sure.

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* named by the multi-talented Ms Lundgaard. Thanks!

Winter Wonderland

2010-01-26T12:11:00.000-08:00

I realise that I'm late with my wintery tale, but it took quite a while to get camera and cables together.

Besides. I was occupied digging my car out of snowdrifts, gathering fuel supplies from the local shop using a wheelbarrow and trying to defrost the water pipes with a paint stripper to worry much about blogging the event. I know it sounds odd, but really we spent a lot of the day oganising heat, water and nourishment.

The rest of the time was spent clothing, warming and drying out children who were dancing in the snow one minute and wailing at the damp and cold the next.

So. We were pretty busy during the Ice Age. It was mostly fun I have to say. Even when trying to work with dodgy internet access and cranky employers. Even on the days without water or electricity we trekked up the very steep and winding hill behind our house to visit friends perched high with wonderful snowy views.

And then there was the high drama of the return trek home in the dusk, carrying torches and trying to avoid being crushed by the slipping and grinding farm vehicles on the treacherous hill. Seriously. I was a bit worried there.

Anyway. All was well. Here's the evidence. Thank you for your patience.

Knotty Needles

2010-01-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

C'mere. I've something interesting to show you.

A young friend of mine (10 years old) showed me a variation he made of an unwanted straight knitting needle.

And then he knitted with it.

So cool.

Recycling? No, that's art.

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Purple Iris Cowl

2010-01-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

Finally some knitting in 2010.

Here's my contribution to the Cowls group January KAL over on Ravelry (For the benefit of my ~~ignorant~~ non-knitting friends, that's a Knit-A-Long, where people sign up to knit a selected item and then ~~show off~~ compare results. I've never joined one before, but this was just too tempting.

Not one, but two cowls.

These are Christmas gift knits. Yes I KNOW it's almost Febuary.

And your point is?

These were knit from almost a single skein of Shepherd Sock Multi in the Purple Iris colourway.

(Don't I just come up with the greatest blog post titles, eh?)

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