craftyrainbowhead

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2009-08-15T14:28:00.003+01:00

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Night in Dublin

2009-06-16T10:17:00.000+01:00

She smelled him before she saw him. That mix of cologne, stale cigarettes, beer and man-scent. She gasped as his arms went around her waist and she could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck.

She had known he would follow her. They made eye contact in the bar; this tall, dark Irishman with the burning eyes.

“It’s dangerous for a woman to be standing out here alone, at night,” he growled in her ear.

When she entered Buskers Bar & Boomerang Night Club, after a day at the Dublin Writers Festival, it was filled with boisterous men screaming their support for their favorite team. Large-screen televisions glowed with athletic action. This was probably not a place for a lone woman to enter, but it was convenient and she was craving a beer.

She traveled here on her own to explore the home of James Joyce, to bask in the literature of the festival and to lose herself in the Irish culture. Her friends thought she was insane for traveling alone to a country she had never been, but she didn’t care. She had always welcomed the excitement of the unknown.

She thought the bar would be a safe choice, located where she stayed, at the Temple Bar Hotel. For the most part, her quiet entrance went unnoticed, except for the man with the dark, burning eyes. She felt his eyes on her from the moment the door closed behind her.

She went straight to the bar and ordered a dark ale. The strong liquid immediately warmed her. As she turned around to look over the crowded room, she saw him staring at her. The warmth she felt quickly turned to heat.

She blushed, turned back to the bar, and downed her ale a little too fast. It was probably not the smartest thing to do, on an empty stomach. As soon as she set the empty mug on the bar, a second ale was placed in front of her.

“Excuse me, but I didn’t order another one.”

“S-okay miss, the gentleman took care of it.”

She knew exactly where to look. He stared at her from the corner of the bar, and raised his glass in a salute. His face was serious and there was no indication of friendliness, just a smoldering look.

She returned his salute and tried to look away, but she couldn’t. She expected him to move towards her, but he didn’t. His eyes held hers – not relinquishing their hold. Her hand shook as she raised her mug to her lips. He raised his at the same time. When she lowered hers, he did too, slowly licking his lips afterwards.

The heat she felt deep inside her increased. She felt herself grow wet. No, this was wrong. She needed to escape.

She finished her ale, turned, and blindly headed for the door. She didn’t look back – she didn’t dare. Bursting through the door, the night air slapped her face, and she felt the alcohol rush run through her.

‘Walk – I need to walk,’ she thought, trying to escape the inexplicable feelings that were stirring inside her.

It was a short couple of blocks to the river. The lights from buildings on the other side caused rippled reflections. It was quiet as she stood at the railing. She needed this time to calm down. But still, she waited, wondering.

His arms pulled her closer, molding his body against hers. His lips touched her neck, behind her ear. She did not fight him as she felt his hardness push into her ass. What was the point? She wanted this.

She leaned back against him, raising and tilting her head as he continued kissing her neck, nibbling her earlobe. Her hands rested on his arms. Her body felt hot, yet she had goose bumps. There was a need building in her that screamed to be met, and it scared her.

He turned her in his arms, pulling her close. Her breasts were crushed against him. His mouth came down on hers, devouring it. She answered his kiss with a passion that surprised him. She needed this. She needed him.

His hands clenched her hair as he held her face to his. Her hands went around his waist, trying to pull him closer. She ground herself against him. It was then he knew for certain, and tore himself away from her.

“You’re coming with me,” was all he said, as he reached for her hand.

She found herself running behind this tall, dark stranger. His grip was vice-like. He was not going to lose her. One time, she stumbled, and he quickly turned and caught her in his arms. A quick flicker of concern appeared on his face, but it was gone as quickly as it arrived. Certain she was fine he turned to lead her again.

She had no idea where she was, or how far they had gone, weaving up and down the Dublin streets, but they soon found themselves in a doorway. He made quick work of the lock, opened the door and led her through.

Once inside, he pushed her against the wall, kissing her deeply. His tongue invaded her mouth, as he possessed her. He broke the kiss and led her upstairs to an apartment. Once inside he wasted no time.

As he removed her jacket, she tore at his shirt. He lifted her sweater over her head, and her hands went to the buttons on his pants. The movements were desperate, urgent. In just a minute, she stood before him, wearing nothing but her bra and panties. He stood before her, wearing nothing but his hard, uncut cock.

She tried to calm her breathing as her chest heaved. Her nipples were hard with excitement and they strained against her lace bra. He looked down at her lace-covered mound. He could smell her desire. He stepped forward, one arm went around her waist, the other dropped and his hand went between her legs. She moaned as he rubbed her up and down. It was just as he thought, she was already wet. Her arms went to his shoulders, steadying herself.

He brought his lips back to hers in a hungry kiss, and began to walk her backwards, through the door, into the bedroom. Back, back until they reached his bed. He took his hands and placed them on her shoulders, guiding her to sit on the edge of his bed, her face now level with his cock.

“Suck me,” he commanded.

She took to his cock as hungrily as a newborn animal takes to its mother’s teat. With one motion, she took him deep into her throat. Christ, he hadn’t expected that. All eight inches were held by her mouth, very tightly. It was she who finally backed off and released him. And then, she began.

She gave him long, firm licks, up and down his shaft. Each time she reached the head, she pressed her lips around him, easing his foreskin down and bringing the sensitive head into her hot mouth. He shuddered and placed his hands on her head, just running his fingers through her hair.

He wasn’t sure how long he would last, when she released him from her mouth and took him in her hand. She raised his cock, stroking him up and down, while moving to his balls. She immediately sucked both of them into her mouth. He opened his legs to give her better access. She sucked and rolled them while her hand continued its movements. He eyes closed and he began to lose himself in this pleasure, as the minutes ticked by.

He felt the cool air of the room on his balls, before he realized she had released them. He looked down to see her put her fingers in her mouth, thoroughly wetting them. She smiled and went back to his balls, but this time there was a difference.

As she stroked his cock and sucked his balls he felt her slide her other hand through his legs. She ran her wet fingers up and down his crack, working their way in. He felt a gentle, but firm pressure at his sphincter. At that moment she stroked his cock harder, rolled his balls in her mouth and pressed a finger into his ass.

“Jesus, woman!” he cried out.

His control had been removed. Stroking his cock, sucking his balls and now fucking his ass with her finger, this woman became his Mistress, and he, her slave. More and more, the pleasure was building, as she pushed a second finger in. His hands grabbed at her hair, not meaning to, but pulling at it.

She sensed a change in him, and felt his balls tense. She knew his juices were beginning to boil. She took his cock in her mouth once more, put her hand on his balls and drove her fingers in to press on his prostate.

“Arrghhh!”

His reaction was almost immediate. He howled as he forced his cock deep into her throat, firing his seed into her stomach. Never-ending spurts were urged more and more by the pressure she put on his gland, and her squeezing his balls.

She swallowed every drop greedily, emptying his cock. His hands released her head and his cock softened in her mouth. She let go of his balls, and removed her fingers from his ass. While she very gently licked him clean, she moved her hand down her belly and began to rub herself through her panties.

She curled her tongue around his cock, cleaning every inch. He looked down as this woman intently catered to him. He had just cum and yet, he felt urges rising in him again. What was she, a witch?

He put his hands on her arms and urged her to stand. He placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head up and kissed the mouth that had just brought him such pleasure, tasting himself as he pushed in his tongue.

She felt her body melt against his. She also felt her own juices seep from inside her. When they broke the kiss, she looked in his eyes. They weren’t black, but a deep ocean blue. She brushed his black hair out of his eyes. The two were silent.

His hands went to her back and unclasped her bra. Her ample breasts dropped as he slid the straps down her arms and dropped the bra on the floor. He stepped back and looked at the beautiful white globes and their very prominent, hard, pink nipples. He placed a hand underneath each, as if weighing them, and then bent to capture one in his mouth.

Her hands went to his head, holding him closer.

“Harder,” she demanded.

‘Oh,’ he thought, ‘she likes it a bit rough.’

His arms held her body tight as he gnawed at her nipple. In a series of licks, sucks and bites, he had her moaning and trembling. He turned his attentions to her other breast and was rewarded with the same reaction.

“Please…” she whispered in a husky voice.

He released her breast. He had the smile of the devil as he moved her back and laid her on the bed. He hooked his fingers in her panties and pulled them down and off her. Her smell saturated the air and made his need to taste her undeniable. He spread her legs and saw her hair was visibly wet.

He moved to kneel between her legs and ran his finger over her slit, parting the hair. She trembled at his touch. He opened her with his thumbs and leaned his face into her. Her clit was hard and red, aching to be touched. He blew his hot breath over her, and she moaned.

She tasted sweet as he ran his tongue up her slit, stopping before he got to her clit. He ran his tongue again, this time diving into her hot, quivering hole, to lap up more of her nectar. Her hips were writhing, anxious for him to explore all of her.

He knew what she wanted, but he toyed with her. He pressed his tongue in and out of her like a small cock. Her hips kept moving trying to force his tongue elsewhere.

“For God’s sake, please…” she begged.

That was all he wanted. He wanted her to beg. He dove straight at her clit and sucked it into his mouth. Her cry was music to his ears. He pressed his teeth above it and pressed her clit into them with his tongue. Hard on one side, soft on the other – her mind registered confusion, pleasure and pain.

Sucking, nipping, licking her clit, he curled his two middle fingers up and thrust them inside her. She started to fuck herself on his hand at a fast pace. Her head rolled back and forth as mewing sounds came from her throat.

He massaged her g-spot with vigor and sucked her clit hard. Her back arched, her legs tensed and she cried out. Quickly, he pulled his fingers from her and stuck his tongue in deep. He was greeted by her flowing juices, and he drank from her.

He kept drinking from her hole, gently rubbing her very sensitive clit. He was amazed at how hard and how long she came. As he slowed his movements she began to calm.

He rose up and lay on top of her, cupping her face in his hands. He tenderly covered her face with kisses, finally ending at her mouth. His kiss was deep and penetrating. The pair smelled and tasted themselves on each other. He rolled off of her, gathering her in his arms. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the beat of his heart. Exhausted, they dozed.

The smell of smoke and the strong scent of sex woke her. His cigarette glowed in the darkness, as he sat in the chair, watching her sleep. She smiled as she looked at him. Her hair was tousled and her lips looked soft and full.

She sat up and stretched her arms over her head. The movement lifted her large breasts out from under the blanket, and his cock reacted immediately to the sight.

Dousing his cigarette, he walked to the bed and pulled the blanket away from her body.

“Woman, you have bewitched me,” he whispered hoarsely.

She looked at him and smiled again. Her hand reached out to his cock and she began to stroke it. He moaned as it grew.

Without ceremony, he reached for her and rolled her onto her belly. He lifted her ass and began probing her pussy with the cock she had stroked to hardness. She was still drenched, but she was also well on her way to fresh wetness.

As he held the tip of his cock to her hot hole, she backed into him, desperate to have him inside her. He played with her, sliding in an inch, then out, then two inches, then out. It was agonizingly slow. It took all his strength not to ram his meat into her with each re-entering. Her pussy seemed to grab him tighter, and tried to pull him in.

Finally, he could take no more. He firmly moved his length into her and then held still. She felt deliciously full of him, and could feel his cock pulse inside her.

His moves were slow and deliberate, as he began a steady action of in and out, in and out. He enjoyed the feeling of the hot wetness that wrapped his cock. He enjoyed the way her body tried, over and over, to pull him in.

She moaned with each entry. She tried to back up and force him in deeper, faster, but his hands that gripped her hips held fast. He was in control and he intended to stay that way.

“Damn it, I need you to fuck me!” she hissed.

“Patience, woman, patience.”

Frustrated, she tried to pull away from him, but still he held tight. He started moving a little faster, but with the same deliberate in and out motion. He knew deep down she wanted it harder, rougher, but he was so enjoying making her sweat.

On and on, in and out, he loved the feel of her pussy stroking his cock. He looked down to watch as he slid in and out of her. He spread her ass cheeks and his eyes were drawn to her red rosebud. He smiled and then spit on her, hitting his target.

Still moving, he placed his middle finger on her back hole, and spread his spittle around. As his cock pulled back, he pushed his finger into her. She groaned when she felt the invasion. As his cock pushed in, he drew his finger out, leaving just the tip of it inside her. Thus began the see-sawing motion of cock and finger.

He kept up this deliberate pace, listening to her moans of pleasure. But now it was he who needed more. The effort of his next thrust surprised her. She cried out as he rammed his cock in. At the same time, as his finger began its thrust, he placed a second finger inside her. She had never felt so full.

His thrusts were manic, his fingers relentless. Her head and arms rested on the bed, as she reached back under her belly and began to rub her clit. He could feel the walls of her pussy contracting on his cock as a deep wail tore from her.

She drove herself back against him, her body craving release. She moved away from her clit as her spasms started, her body went rigid, every muscle as tight as a violin string. She threw her head up and screamed.

He drove his cock and fingers in as far as they would go. He saw white lights as he exploded once more. Pushing, pushing, and making her accept all his body would give. Their juices combining, leaking down her legs, spilling over his balls. His hand leaving red marks on her hip as he gripped her tight, his other hand trapped by her anus.

They rocked together until they had drained each other completely. He collapsed on her back, kissing her neck and biting her shoulder.

They rolled apart, and then came together their lips hungrily searching out the others. They stayed like that for a long time – holding, petting, kissing, and enjoying the sensuality of the night.

“I really need to shower and get back to my hotel,” she said.

He stood up, offering his hand, and leading her into the bathroom. His eyes moved up and down her body, and she felt her resolve waning.

“No, please, let me shower. I have to leave.”

So, he left her, and returned to the bedroom. He put on his pants and grabbed a sweater, preferring to keep the smell of her with him for a while. He found her clothes and set them on the bed, except her panties. He sat in his chair, lit a cigarette, and held them under his nose. He never tired of a woman’s natural perfume.

She came into the bedroom, wrapped in a towel, her hair in wet tendrils. She smiled as he held her panties. She walked over to collect them from him and he pulled her into his lap. He cradled her in his arms, kissing her deeply, starting to play with her towel.

“No, I really can’t. As much as I want to, I need to sleep. I have a long day, tomorrow.”

“So be it”, he said releasing her.

He watched her dress, realizing that underneath her gentle ways, a slut was hiding.

“Could you call me a cab so I can get back to the Temple Bar Hotel?”

“It’s not far. I’ll walk you.”

The streets of Dublin were quiet in the wee hours of the morning. They walked with his arm over her shoulders in a protective fashion. She was surprised at how near the hotel they were.

As they approached the main entrance, he pulled her aside and drew her into his arms. He kissed her deeply, longingly, until he felt her arms go around his neck, and she returned his kiss. He buried his face in her neck and just held her.

It was she who stepped out of the embrace. She held his face and kissed his lips.

“I need to go in now. Thank you.” She said breathlessly, as she turned to leave.

“But miss, I don’t know your name,” he said.

As she walked to the door she looked back, smiled, and said, “It doesn’t matter.”

Knit & Vroom : WWKIP & RRRO

2009-06-13T17:40:00.003+01:00

It really is amazingly tough to find male bikers confident enough in their masculinity to pose with my knitting. Just to pose with it. Not knit it. A guy I've known 9 years nigh on went white at the thought of appearing on this lil ole blog. What if folks thought he actually knit!!!!!

Gadzooks! Egads! That would just be AWFUL!!!

:rolls eyes:

Pffff!!

I think there's something really attractive about a guy who's comfy enough to pose with knitting. Now give me a guy who can actually knit. That would be well cool :) Hand eye co-ordination, manual dexterity and patience in one masculine package. Hello! I'd date more guys if there were more guys like that.

Oh well.

I did however find a few game souls to pose with my WIP in honour of merging Red Ribbon Ride Out with World Wide Knit in Public Day.

Tom & borrowed motorbike

Billie Redbeard :)

(L-R) Kate, Tim & Billie

Loving the look on Billie's face. Mwah ha ha. She's never pulled knitting out of a helmet before.
Thanks guys.

Once the bikes vroomed off I made my way to the White House for some KIP, followed by Fennesseys.

All in all a good day.

A La Yarnharlot :)

Happy crafting folks

New WIP for latest kid on the Mayo block

2009-06-12T15:15:00.004+01:00

Words later. Got to head for bus to Clonmel now. Baking on public transport here I come!

Cross-posted: 13th June 2009 Red Ribbon Ride Out

2009-06-11T18:29:00.003+01:00

Reposted from one of the organisers Bebo page:

Hi Everyone,

The Irish AIDS Day Ride Out is back due to popular demand!!

This year it is slightly different.....we do not require sponsorship for you to ride with us!! YEH!!

It's just slap a €20 on the table and away you go!!

We are riding the coast again, and stopping for lunch on the way.

Meeting in Bedford Row at 11.30 to hang around and look cool, make noise and attract onlookers (and possibly other riders)!!

Leaving for the run at 2pm sharp.

We will be accompanied as always by the Red Cross, The Irish Motorcycle Marshalls and the Guards.

So if you want more infromation about how you can get to be waved through red lights and make a huge noise all in the name of charity contact John Simons (event organiser) on 061314354 or John (at) redribbonproject (dot) com.

Hope to see you all there,

Keep it between the ditches and rubber side down!!

*****************

I know it conflicts (or coincides depending on your view) with WWKIP day, but I figure it would make for a great photo opportunity to bring one's WIP on WWKIP to RRRO.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist playing with the alphabet soup :snigger:).

In plainer English that would be bring your work in progress to the Ride Out and help raise awareness of our crafts and of the day's cause. Maybe you could be sponsored to knit or crochet a certain amount before the riders make it to their finish point.

Plus, I'll be there and I'd love to meet some other crafty souls.

This boi has had the pleasure of joining the Red Ribbon Ride Out in previous years as a passenger. The bikers are a brilliant bunch of people coming together for a great cause. If ya like bikes this really is the place to be, even if you don't have or can't bring your own. If you're like me, you may even find that a rider might have a spare helmet and be willing to take a passenger. :) Ya never know.

Turn up, cheer 'em on and slap some money on the table as a donation (even if it is 50cent).

Happy crafting folks.

Est voila, c'est fin! Bedazzling UFO now an FO

2009-06-11T14:39:00.004+01:00

It needs a wash in order to settle down the stitches but other than that DD seems pleased with this eye zinging bolero.

I'm quite pleased that I finally got it finished.

Happy crafting folks.

Bedazzling UFO - don your shades

2009-06-10T00:02:00.003+01:00

Not for those with sensitive eyes. Heh heh.

DD picked the colourway an age ago.

I cast it on an age ago.

I got to a part where I needed to sit down and concentrate.........and cast on a new project to take with me on my work commute.

Now that I'm taking the summer off in anticipation of being a full-time student and to give DD the novelty of a summer where she doesn't 'have' to go to summer camp, I now have the inclination - and scads of time - to get around to finishing of my UnFinished Objects.

I've got both sleeves and the back done.

I currently working on the left front.

Tis about time I made my child some knitwear. Poor pet. Folks think she must be bedecked with knitwear but......um......no. She's grown like a weed for the last several years. Needles and yarn are woefully ill-equipped to keep pace with such a rate of growth. Plus, I knit far more now. Still, there is that rule that states what a parent thinks is cool/cute/good invokes momumental eye rolling bested only by members of the Simpson family.

My parental ego can only take so much.

Still, she shall be gifted with more knitted articles. Most likely bags, blankets, clothes for dolls and jewellery.

I figure it can go one of two ways. Either she gets brassed off at my inability to choose cool colours and will pick up sticks and yarn herself to customise her own stuff (oh happy day!!) or I'll have commissions up the wazoo for co-ordinated accessories for her and her friends.

Time will tell.

Heh heh.

Happy crafting folks.

A tad late but howsever......

2009-06-08T10:09:00.006+01:00

I meant to post this after getting back from Cork Pride but better late than never. :)

Corkonian Michael James with Pride Scarf

Those of you who read both this and my Limerick Drag Kings blog know that I'm a drag king. My character is a goof ball cowboy who delights in wearing his handknit pride scarf on any occassion and can be seen snapping photos at key LGBTQ events where a dash of colour and cowboi-foolery add to the fun.

Chase N. Koch-Rayne & Madonna Lucia
Check out the leather coat. The madness!

Discussing Textile Decoration with fellow SnB member Fatandfortysomething

Cork Pride was one such event and the iconic handknit pride scarf was brought along (having learned from nearly melting with the heat of last years Limerick Pride, this cowboi knows better than to wear leather & knitwear while marching).

The result - Drag king Meltdown

Anyhow, as this cowboi was dashing back and forth along the parade route snapping as much of the colour as possible, lil dude Michael James sallied forth his cry of "Are you a cowboy?". Well, gosh, how can any self-respectin' cowpoke not halt his dash, turn about face and declare "Yes siree, ah sure am lil pardner". The lil dudes father (?) encouraged the boy to pose for the photo, not get ice cream on the cowboy's scarf and thanked the cowboi for coming over the say howdy.

:D

Awwwwwww!

Cork rawks.

Finished!!

2009-06-08T00:06:00.004+01:00

DD & Sunshine Prayer Shawl

This pic was taken while we were in Dublin. The weather, for those of you not in our emerald isle, decided to surprise us with scads of rain. Yes folks, us Irish can indeed be surprised by rain after more than a solid week of sunshine.

After baking for a week we anticipated more of the same and ventured forth prepared for dehydration and mild sunstroke. I had even had to buy lighter shoes as I'd been roasting in my new sneakers over the previous week. I was even wearing ankle socks. This just does not happen!! Ankle socks and me are virtual strangers to each other.

The sun stayed with us while we ventured up to Dublin and twas a glorious evening on Friday as DD bounced between the beds in our family room and tested every piece of furniture placed in the hotel foyer leading from our room to the restaurant. The sun still valiantly shone as she squealed with joy (oh my ringing ears) at the prospect of swimming in the hotel pool.

The view out the window the next morning was dank, grey and stereotypically Irish (more's the pity). So the best was made and there was much swimming indulged in by DD. She had the pool to herself for the best of an hour and then only had less than a handful of folks to share it with after that.

Later in the afternoon, DD & I found ourselves waiting in the car for a while. It got a tad nippy. I was working on the Sunshine Prayer Shawl so DD asked in her best I'm-still-only-little (even thought I'm nearly 5 feet tall) voice for it. With it still on the circular needle and still a work in progress she snuggled herself under it and had a grand lil snooze for herself. She has since commissioned one for herself.

It's only when I took this photo that I realised that it's reminiscent of a certain super hero.
Any guesses as to which superhero I'm thinking about??

Not a square not a triangle

Perfect for around the shoulders or over the back of a chair imho

Now it's been cast off and the ends sewn in. It's ready to be laundered and conditioned before gifting to it's intended recipient.

At least I know it's snuggly. :)

Happy crafting folks.

A Cheery Tea Cosy Part 2 - Frankie Brown's Fundraising

2009-05-29T16:02:00.004+01:00

I promised in yesterday's post that I would come back and edit it to include a link giving credit to the pattern creator. Today I thought the creator deserved a post of her own.

This is from her About me section on Ravelry

I would describe myself as a normal person with a perfectly well-balanced interest in all things woolly. Others may beg to differ!

I spend as much of my time as possible making stuff. Mostly knitting but I also crochet, quilt, bead, spin….. I don’t really knit clothes (unless bags count) and I get bored following patterns. Mostly I enjoy making things up as I go along and producing my own designs ranging from the useful (bags and blankets) to the frankly esoteric (anyone for a knitted ammonite?). My all-time knitting hero is Elizabeth Zimmermann.

The patterns I publish on ravelry are all free but I would welcome donations to the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation www.justgiving.com/frankiesknittedstuff So, if you enjoy knitting my patterns, please consider helping this very deserving cause.

I am happy for my patterns to be used for teaching purposes but please contact me first.

Frankie's fund raising page is here.

And here is a link to the free pattern for the Mistake Rib Tea Cosy.

Now that I've made my cosy I must get under way and make a donation to the Children's Liver Disease Foundation. A quick read of their website shows what a worthy cause this is.

If you can, please help Frankie Brown's fundraising.

Happy crafting folks.

For anyone in and around Cork this week....HAPPY PRIDE!! :)

Cheery Tea Cosy

2009-05-28T19:35:00.004+01:00

It's really not the weather for it, I know, but I wanted something quick to do to give me that sense of satisfaction that I so love from finishing something. Bigger projects make ya wait to long for that moment.

I'll come back and edit this to include a link to the free pattern I knit this from, but for now I'll leave you with the photographic evidence.

Happy crafting folks.

:)

Oh and HAPPY PRIDE CORK!!

Knitting history & Craft friendly cafe

2009-05-22T17:53:00.007+01:00

I've been home for the last 3 days with my poorly DD.

So what to do?

Knit, clean the kitchen, lug furniture from one room to another and spend a tad more time than usual on Ravelry.

There is a group on Ravelry for fans of Eleanor Roosevelt. She was well known in her day for being a knitter.

Interested by this I duly googled and came across this.

On a different topic, for those of you who haven't had the chance to see it yet, or who are not on Ravelry, here are pictures of the revamped Rainbow Cafe in Leamy house. Rainbow SnB's old haunt is now as colourful as our yarn stashes!

Sammie by Tash

My DD squealed with appreciation when she saw this. Followed by her (slightly less high pitched) verdict of "That's soooooo cool".

The MYLGBT flag

The guy in the photo doing the dishes is Conor a.k.a. fatandfortysomething, fellow volunteer and a member of Rainbow SnB.

I've got a chicken roasting in the oven and a chilled bottle of white wine that's been patiently waiting in the fridge for the last two weeks.

I bid you adieu for a while.

Happy crafting folks.

Cool. This is Knit on tv :)

2009-05-22T13:36:00.001+01:00

Link to it here.

Listen for the surprise in the presenters voice when Russell Crowe is mentioned.

Oh my gosh. Is he not allowed to be multi-faceted???

Indoor sunshine

2009-05-17T12:19:00.003+01:00

Yarny indoor brightness to contrast with outdoor bleh.

Finished!!

2009-05-13T18:15:00.007+01:00

My chocolate cardi is finished.

Its resemblance to original design?

None.

No resemblance whatsoever and that's fine by me.

It fits and it is snuggly comfy.

Ta Daa!!

Cuff Detail

I'm going to sit with it as it is for a while and at some point I may well add the collar and borders, but for now, it's staying as is.

:)

Happy crafting folks.

Last night...

2009-05-13T09:03:00.006+01:00

I brought my chocolate cardi with me to my volunteering stint so that I could join in with the SnB from afar.

Raglan seams were joined, stitches picked up, directions followed.......

The wrong directions.

Gah!!

There's an option for a shawl collar version of this cardigan, which is fine, except I'm not doing the shawl collar version!! :face palm:

Also noticed that I had one of the sleeves sewn in back to front.

Bah humbug I so energetically say.

Anyhow, back to the darning needle.

:sigh:

The shawl is coming along nicely and has become my chug-a-long project.

It just grows and grows.

Balm for the frustrated knitters soul.

Coptic Textiles at the Hunt

2009-05-12T15:57:00.004+01:00

I made my way into the talk. Settled myself down with my knitting. Knit away until everyone who knew each other (and there seem to be a bunch of regulars) had chatted to their hearts content. Kept my knitting up through the microphone endeavouring to deafen the attendees. Security guard to the rescue! Heh heh

The talk was given by a lovely Polish academic who lives in Kildare with her equally academic husband (whose name I wont' even attempt to spell). She studies the Coptic/Egyptian textiles in the National Museum and treated us to a condensed paper on her PhD material. While I did pause my knitting to listen to her I took it up again about 15 minutes into the talk (what can I say, the room was dark and somnolence was setting in). I am a much more attentive listener when my hands are busy. :)

Anyhow, the main thrust of the talk centred around the Coptic (early Christian) use of symbolism as wards against demons and other negative influences. These wards were incorporated into their textile design, most notably their clothing.

The speaker charted the influence of Greek design aspects on Egyptian clothing which persisted and blended with other influences over time.

Christians are the groups referred to by the term Copt and Coptic. Their styles of dress can be used to chart how they emerged from the prevailing group to become a social force in their own right. They also blended their spiritual beliefs and thoughts arounds their moral code into their material possessions - clothing, house textiles and ceramics.

Slides were shown of dancing saints and such other images which, today, would not readily sit with our concepts of early Christians. This image was from a period of time where Christians felt safe and comfortable and this showed in their textile artworks.

There's more, but I think that's as much as I can piece together for now before I have my lunch.

Cheerio folks.

Some of you may see this more than once but....

2009-05-12T11:57:00.003+01:00

Here's the link to Rainbow SnB's blog with details of time and location for their meet-up.

New faces are always welcome.

I can't make it tonight but click through and read the post for details of who your hosts tonight will be.

Happy crafting folks.

:)

So...

2009-05-11T22:21:00.003+01:00

...since the last post I've pretty much been in transit between Limerick and Shannon and back again. Therefore, joining of raglans and picking up of stitches took a backseat to spending time with my honey and cruising along in the sunshine.

I wholeheartedly endorse this wilful sidelining of my crafty endeavours in the name of child-free shenanigans.

:bounce:

:D

Does the picture remind anyone else of frosted chocolate cake or iced carrot cake.

C'mon.

It's not just me.......is it?

The icing, by the way, is my second attempt at a prayer shawl for a friend whose husband passed away earlier this year. I've decided on a simpler design. It's essentially going to be a garter stitch blanket/shawl. My original idea was really just too fussy.

Plus, to be honest, I had to bring something yarny with me over the weekend. I'm a grown up and can't go relying on my SO to keep me occupied for an entire weekend, now can I?

The fact that the knitting stayed in my satchel more than out of it should, however, speak volumes.

Progress

2009-05-08T00:58:00.004+01:00

Looks more like a cardigan, don't it? :)

At this point I have the back and both sleeves done.

I ran out of yarn before the raglan and neck shaping for second of the front pieces.

This is the only piece left to finish before I can head on to the final stage.

Yay!

Limerick Riverfest & Progress

2009-05-06T08:35:00.004+01:00

Progress to 04.05.2009

Chilling out in The Lock Bar
Chowing down on French Sweets

Mom, give me the camera & I will take better pictures

Adopted daughter was ready for her close-up this time around :)

Home!

2009-05-03T10:00:00.005+01:00

The sun shone on the journey down to Cork which is always a good thing.

Except, when one of the passengers is my Darling Daughter, who doesn't take the heat well, and thus turned into Lil Miss Kvetch.

:sigh:

Thankfully herself and AD fell asleep for the latter half of the journey.

Below is DD's reaction at the very thought of budging out of her comfy position when we'd reached our destination.

Monkey!!

The carpark we landed in was situated between Linc and South Parish Hall and offered up an alternative decorating theme.

Why can't all carparks be this colourful?

I think there should be more spaces where graffiti - in it's thought out and colourful form - is encouraged. It certainly makes for a more colourful urban landscape.

Cool Graffitti

As for knitting progress.....well....there wasn't any.

It was that kinda weekend where the folks around me got more of my attention than my WIP did. That reflects well on them, dontcha think?

Other than sincerely enjoying the company of my loved one's (including my exasperating DD), I also had the edge of a headache to contend with, so that too, may have conspired to keep my WIP in my bag.

Since it was past lunchtime by the time we reached Cork, food was high on our agenda. The Flying Enterprise got our vote and we in turn got really generous portions of food. Yours truly pigged out on the yumminess and for the next several hours could nigh on have been tied to somone's wrist and carried aloft like a balloon. The Bailey's coffee finished me and I was the one nodding off in the car on the way home.

Our friend Minniemouse joined us for lunch and caught us up on her antics since the previous evening. The Cork Women's Fun Weekend was just that for her, despite her jacket being swapped with someone elses, and her wallet going off on an adventure. She excitedly showed us her organic homemade lube and was jazzed to let us know that it's mainly made from linseeds. Betcha didn't know linseeds could be put to such a great use, now did ya? Heh heh. :) SO and I really must stay in Cork for the 26th Cork Women's Fun Weekend. As it is, we're heading down there for the table quiz that kicks off at 4.30p.m., presumably in Loafers.

We managed to squeeze my pigged out self into Loafers for a post-Lunch drink. Cue my DD being swept up in an energetic hug by a blond woman in front of Loafers. Turned out to be a mate from Limerick. My DD does have quite the social life!

The bar was jam packed with folks watching 'The Match'.

I ended up under the telly while the match was in play. Eep! It's quite something to be near the focal point of an energized group of fans whose team are not playing as they feel they should. Wow!

At the end of the match we all spilled out into the beer garden at the back and discovered that we weren't the only ones to have brought kids. Always nice to see other kids at these events.

Of course, once DD's friend had headed off to view an exhibition we were met with that old chestnut "So, can we go home yet?"

Pfffff!!

Kids.

The sun is out. The sky is blue.

2009-05-02T10:14:00.007+01:00

There's not a cloud to spoil the view and the sun....is streaming through my window.

The weatherman said clear today, he doesn't know how right he was....

Add musical notation and sing to the tune of Buddy Holly's Raining in M y Heart.

Wrong mood entirely, but I love the melody and the it was the first song to pop into my head.

This lovely sight is what I can see through my office window.
Pretty, yes?

Since last I typed:

The Old Quarter has won RainbowSnB's affections and is now our yarny haunt for the forseeable future.
The mother of all yarn tangles has been transformed into a sprawling stash inventory
I broke one of my 3.25mm interchangable needles tips :( Boo!
I sourced yarn to continue my choccie cardigan (nearly left it in our hotel room in Waterford, but I digress).
There has been progress on my choccie cardigan :)

This is the view on the floor of my sitting room.
Breath-taking, yes?

Progress to 31.04.2009
1st Sleeve finished & 2nd started

Progress on 2nd sleeve to 01.05.2009

This afternoon will see me arrive in Cork with all of my girls - SO, DD and AD (Significant Other, Dear Daughter and Adopted Daughter. Shauna may as well be our adopted daughter as she spends that much time with us).

It's Cork Women's Weekend.

:bounce:

I'm falling back on my genetics to attend this fest of female shenanigans and general good times.

I may well bring my choccie cardi to work on. So if any of my dear readers should happen to spot a boi about Cork town with knitting accoutrements and you've the notion it may be me, come on over and say hi!

Even if tis not me, you'll have made a new acquaintance. Tis all good. Heh heh

Off to Nancy Blakes

2009-04-28T18:45:00.003+01:00

For this week's SnB meet up.

I may well be the only knitter there but at the very least twill be an excuse for a pint.

I'll be working on my Man's Vee Neck cardigan.

Come over and say hi if ya see me.

:)

The faint of heart may want to brace themselves......

2009-04-23T23:03:00.003+01:00

...this is a sight no knitter should behold

The Soft Focus Version

The soft focus version is bad enough.

Check out the true sharp focus horror.

The Harsh Glare of Knotted Reality

Umm....Eeeeep!!

My blond bombshell & her best mate decided to 'sort through' my stash a couple of weeks ago. Once I lifted my head away from Ravelry for long enough to realise what they were doing I informed them that in order to avoid Mount Parent from erupting they had better put everything back in.

They did.

And the above scenes of devastation are the result.

Somehow, through fiendish calculations and sleight of hand, they managed to hide the mother of all tangles within the bosom of the stash itself.

:sigh:

Looks like I know what I'll be doing for the next.....while.

Chocolately progress

2009-04-22T23:13:00.003+01:00

Right Front of Cardigan
Progress to Saturday 18.042009

Sleeve Progress
Monday 20.04.2009

A new week....

2009-04-20T20:59:00.007+01:00

And new stash.

I had to wait for a wee while in the city one day. Took a wander into O'Mahony's and just had to offer a good home to Wendy Bernards "Custom Knits"

Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard

Then, of course, I had to pick up the next copy of Yarn Forward. Plus the buzz on Ravelry about the current issue, the cover top being photographed inside out and general chatter made me curious to get it.

Yarn Forward: June Issue 13

Following on from my "Eeep" post regarding my newbie knitter error of failing to check if my subsitution yarn went by the same yardage as the suggested yarn....:face palm:.......and the subsequent need for 5 more balls to complete my chocolate top, the roadtrip to source same was had. Thank you Ro!

Getting to Ennis town was easy enough.

Finding parking was pretty easy too.

Finding Feirin....well, let's just say we had a grand aul walk around Ennis and enriched our stores of vitamin D thanks to the sun shining merrily on down. :D

Thanks to MadeMarian I knew there was a decent craft store in the town. We came across 3 by the time we were through. We went into one of these to beg directions. Armed with same...well, Ro armed with same, as I'm a sieve head with directions....we set off in search of the aforementioned Feirin.

Found it!

Just so you guys can plug it into your sat navs, here's the address:

81 Parnell Street,
Ennis,
Co. Clare

Tel: 065 - 6848765

Twas worth the trek. As, despite MadeMarian's sage advice to the contrary, I hadn't contacted the store in advance to see if they stocked the colourway I require. Yes, MadeMarian does know best when it comes to planning ahead in yarn related matters (or pretty much any matters. I'm so gonna hire her when I have a bricks'n'mortar yarn store).

In these times (no, I'm not gonna type the R word), it's important to support our Local Yarns Stores. Just because Feirin isn't, technically or geographically speaking, my LYS didn't mean I couldnt' support it as a continuing resource for Co. Clare based yarn crafters. (Oh how I doth rationalize stash enhancements). Plus, there was a bargain bin...or three. Couldn't pass reduced price yarn up......

:D

Anyhow.

I got me some:

Sirdar Spree Cotton Rich Chunky x 2 100g
Patons Lulu x 1 50g
Wendy Allegra x 1 50g

Partly, this impulse buying was to show my blond bombshell that I can and do go for bright colours when it comes to yarn. I like bright and varied colours......I just don't necessarily wear them.

Patons Lulu
Shade: 07005 Dye Lot: K1236
100% Polyester

Wendy Allegra
Shade: 957 Dye Lot: 0490
32% Alpaca, 31% Acrylic & 37% Polyester

Sirdar Spree Cotton Rich Chunky
Shade: 0093 Dye Lot: 1734
60% Cotton 40% Acrylic

Speaking of my blond bombshell, she required a hospital referral today for a tummyache which could have been appendicitis. All is well, if still ouchy. Neurofen to the rescue (seriously, that's what the hospital doctor said to do. Keep an eye on her & give her Neurofen 3 times a day). So anyhow....faced with the prospect of a wait in the count of hours rather than minutes in the hospital, I did what any sane knitter does, I brought my WIP with me and did some KIP.

No-one batted an eyelid at me......or if they did, I didn't care nor notice.....until a little boy walked past with his mother and his eyes stayed focused on my knitting while he continued walking. Thankfully, he swung his head around before his neck achieved an impossible angle for a still breathing homo sapiens. Once his mom had a seat, he returned to me and this was pretty much our chat:

Boy: "Are you knitting. What are you knitting?"
Crafty: "Yes, I am. It's going to be a cardigan sleeve"
Boy: "Where's the rest of it? Is that the rest of it?
(He reached into my bag & pulled out my cardigan front. No stitches were harmed in the execution of this scene) :holding & squeezing knit fabric: Oh, that's going to be lovely and warm"
Crafty: "That's part of it. I knit it up in pieces but don't bring them all with me. They're better off left at home, and yes it should be nice and cosy when it's sewn together"
Boy: : stares enrapt:
Crafty: "Do you know anyone else who knits?"
Boy: "My nan before she died"
Crafty: "I'm sorry she died. It good you know she knit. Did she knit for you?"
Boy: "No, but she had a big bag full of that stuff" (points to my bag full of needles, yarn, an Art of Knitting throw square in progress etc).
Crafty: "So, she had straight metal needles too?"
Boy: :discussed differences between straights & circulars and how his gran held hers: "Can you knit hats?"
Crafty: "Oh yeah, I've knit hats"
Boy: "Can you knit me one?"
Crafty: :D Heh heh "But, I don't know what yarn you'd like"
Boy: "I like that one" (The chocolate yarn of my WIP)
Crafty: "Cool. But I wouldn't know what size to make it or how to get it to you"
Boy: "Could you knit me one now?" (Brain working like a whippet)
Crafty: "Umm....I'm enjoying knitting my cardigan now & I'd like to get that finished first."
Boy: "Do you knit all your clothes?" (Bless, but I love how fast he thought I could knit).
Crafty: "No, I don't. I'd be waiting a long while for clothes if I did that. I knit because I enjoy it and it keeps me patient, especially when I wait in queues"
Boy: :nods in sage agreement & ponders: "Do you find that (knitting) easy?"
Crafty: "I do. I've been knitting for a long time, which is why I can knit so quickly. But knit and purl are easy enough to learn. l bet you could learn how to knit if you wanted. I bet you're smart enough"
Boy: "What?:
Crafty: "Did you ties your shoe laces and dress yourself this morning. Cos if you did then you're smart enough to learn how to knit if you wanted to."
Boy: :with pride in self: "I tied my own laces & dressed myself this morning" :back straigher & smiling:
Crafty: "Oh, well, in that case, you're plenty smart enough to learn how to knit, if you wanted"
Boy: :insert massive grin here:

He returned to his mother and I returned to my knitting & tried to ignore my rumbling belly as the time approached 1p.m.

On my way out with my blond bombshell, I caught sight of the boy again, gazing at.....another KIP knitter!!!!!!

Gadzooks!!

I'm not alone!

Yay!

This lovely lady made time to natter with my spiked haired self and we got into a right ole chat about knitting, Ravelry (she'd not heard of it before), soakers, patterns........and Rainbow SnB :D

Hopefully, we'll see her lovely self at one of our SnB meet-ups. Details of tomorrow's meet-up can be read here. Hyperlink will take readers to the RainbowSnB blog.

Eeep!

2009-04-16T19:24:00.003+01:00

Egad!

Omigosh!

And dang it!

Singer Sewing Centre only had one remaining ball of the colourway I'm using for my chocolate top.

:O

Thankfully, there's a yarn store in Ennis that Triona referred me to that she is fairly certain also stocks Sirdar Escape Wool Rich DK in sufficient quantities.

Roadtrip!!

There was of course stash enlargement anyhow. We took a wander into Hickey's and my blond bombshell decided that her doll needs new handknits. Therefore we gave a loving home to a 100g ball of Wendy Bambino as shown below.

Wendy Bambino Double Knitting for Babies
Colour: 1470 Dye Lot: 6683

I also picked up two decently sized duck feather filled cushions which are destined to be covered with a custom made LukeOblivious hand knit. :)

MadeMarian's ladybug decided to take a wander around my desk (ably assisted by my blond bombshell's restless hands while she surfs the net).

Looks kinda like he's exploring Mars, doesn't it?

Post Rainbow Meet-up

2009-04-15T23:56:00.004+01:00

Wherein I got plenty of knitting done and squeezed in some bitching with my blond bombshell offspring heh heh. There were only the two of us as MadeMarian had a class, Froodie is without mobile & got my Tweet late, Abydos is up to her neck in eZine editing and Fatandfortysomething is most likely working.

I figure these things need to start somewhere though.

My kvetch about The George as a location would be:

Coffee: Twas stewed....urgh
Lighting: Twas fairly dim

A different venue required methinks.

Still, worth doing as it got me out of the house and the weather perked up (a wee tad less grey). Afterwards I took my blond bomb to Chocolat for dinner. A worthy pitstop in any itinerary. Blond bomb tried Caesar Salad (which bless her cotton socks she called Kaiser salad). I got their take on Mango Chicken and enjoyed it muchly. Blondie decided next time she gets a "Kaiser" salad it will be without the pine nuts or the sauce.

.....so that will be a plain salad for my gourmand in the making. :)

Between our mini SnB and home based knitting afterwards I have cast off the left front of my chocolate cardi as pictured below.

Left Front
Mans Vee Neck Cardigan
15.04.2009: Day 9

Even with the scads of knitting accomplished over the last few days, I had restless hands after casting off. I figured it a foolhardy enterprise to cast on the right front of the cardi as I failed to reach Singer Sewing at all this evening and thus have yet to replenish my stash of Sirdar Escape Wool Rich DK required for this WIP.

So.......I cast on something completely different.

The Art of Knitting
Issue 119
Diagonal Garter Stitch & Embossed Leaf

It will get finished tomorrow.

Good night folks and happy crafting.

Rainbow Stitch'n'Bitch Meet Up

2009-04-15T16:49:00.003+01:00

Off to The George.

Wherein I shall knit copiously, enjoy coffee & scope out the place as a suitable haunt for yarny folk.

If anyone can come along, just keep an eye out for me with:

My current WIP
(work in progress)

My blond bombshell
(minus Binks the cat)

My Rainbow Scarf
(draped over a couch or some such)

Don't be shy. Come on over and say hi!

:D

The best thing....

2009-04-15T00:07:00.003+01:00

....about volunteering to sit beside a phone for a couple of hours in case it rings is that one gets a super amount of knitting done.

Left Front
Man's Vee Neck Cardigan
14.04.2009: Day 8

MadeMarian got it so right when she observed that posting regular photos of my current WIP's daily growth would serve to motivate me to keep up the good handiwork.

At this point I'd feel rather sheepish if I didn't have some decent progress in pictorial form to upload. It pretty much slays the procrastination monster outright.

I did knit some more once I got home.....through an episode of Angel.

My lil (though becoming more teenage by the second) blond one looked over at one point and exclaimed:

"Ohmigod, mom, you're knitting to Angel!! And like really fast!! You crocheted to Britney! Now you're knitting to Angel"

:insert goggle eyed expression......here:

:snigger:

It was the soundtrack on the episode we were watching that I managed to unwittingly knit in time to.

Yes, I did at one point find myself crocheting to the beat of a Britney Spears track.

No, it wasn't a bet.

:face palm:

Happy and amusing crafting time to ya folks!

:)

Progress!!

2009-04-14T15:30:00.002+01:00

Sweet!

I've just cast off the back of the chocolate cardigan.

It's knit up quickly for me & behaved itself since the last stitch-by-stitch frogging back.

Back of Man's Vee Neck Cardigan

Yay!!!!!

2009-04-14T10:30:00.007+01:00

Whoop & all that jazz. I finally got the Raglan decreasing right. Wahey! The multiple stitch-by-stitch undoing of row upon row of garter stitch paid off. It's right and now I can move on with the bloomin' thing.

Raglan Shaping Detail
Back of Man's Vee Neck Cardigan
a.k.a. My chocolate cardi

Overall Progress: Day 8
Back of Man's Vee Neck Cardigan
14.04.2009

Easter Bank Holiday Weekend

2009-04-13T14:26:00.006+01:00

My weekend was filled with sunshine, a road trip, a mystery tour to Coolock, finding This is Knit in Blackrock Village, knitting & undoing my chocolate top several times and spending lovely time with my girlfriend. It was such a good weekend that I got precious little knitting done save what I clocked up in the car journey up to the big smoke.

The last time I was in Dublin was for the Alternative Miss Ireland weekend & on that occasion made my way to This is Knit in Powerscourt. This time around I landed in there so that I could ask directions to their store in Blackrock. I zoned out while directions were being given to my lady, who has a far better head for such things than I, & had a good look at their Knitpicks needles & sock club yarns. :drool:

Prettiness at Blackrock Village

We arrived in Blackrock Village, which is pretty by the way and plans are afoot to head there again and explore the local eateries. It was easier to find the store on foot rather than by car. Once there I kinda didn't want to leave as there was such a lovely atmosphere in the store, not to mention a wealth of lovely yarn and plethora of books that I've not been able to get in Limerick. We reckon the next time I head to This is Knit to drool over yarn and funky buttons, my lady will make herself comfy in a local cafe to spare her feet.

Heh heh

As it turned out, while I added to my collection of YarnHarlot books, my lady got to add an item for herself to my queued knitwear list.

Oh lookee!

At Knit's End by Stephaine Pearl-Mcphee
Things I Learned from Knitting by Stephaine Pearl-McPhee
Knitting Rules! by Stephaine Pearl-McPhee
Men's Knits by Erika Knight

My lady took in the variety of yarns available and settled on Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino....no that's not quite true....she scanned the array of colours available and zoned in the on hot pink. :D

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
55% Merino wool 33% microfibre 12% Cashmere
Colour: 340029 Dyelot: 20

I figured that if we gave a caring home in my stash to six balls of this colourway that there would be enough yarn to knit up a vest type top. Once we were home in Limerick my stack of magazines were flicked through (which competed with SG-1 for her attention I might add) and out of the possibilities and probabilities the cropped cardi below beat the other competition.

Cropped Waitcoat by Sian Brown

Sourced from Knitting magazine
Issue 56 November 2008

It's now in my Ravelry projects list which means it has to get done! Heh heh. :)

The runners up

From Left to right:

Vintage Summer by Martin Storey from Knit Today Issue 23 July 2008
Fantail Tunic by Rita Taylor from Knit Today Issue 32 April 2009
Autumn Tank Top by Sian Brown from Knitting Issue 55 October 2008

I'm gonna be a busy lil fire sign yarnista methinks :)

I also picked up a pair of KnitPro Interchangeable needles in size 3.25mm. These will nicely enlarge my set of Knitpicks Options Harmony Interchangable circular needles.

The event which had us Dublin bound in the first place was this. Hence the Coolock mystery tour as it took us a fair while to actually find the astro pitch in question (apart from my standing transfixed in This is Knit). To know what I'm going on about you're actually going to have to click the link. Go on. You know you want to. :)

The only downside of travelling to Dublin for the weekend was that we missed Club Wilde :(
Read more about Club Wilde here. We'll make up for our absence by dropping in the door fee to Rainbow Support Services during the week.

Seeing as I have such cool stuff now, tis only fair that I pass stuff on too in the spirit of YarnHarlot's karmic balancing.

This lil guy is for MadeMarian

Plus, I saw this lil guy, and pretty much immediatley thought of the lovely MadeMarian. It's a ladybug magnet. Turns out she has one, but needs a replacement. So I reckon it's just meant to be hers. It can help keep her wedding lists in order on the fridge methinks. :)

Chocolately progress

2009-04-09T00:33:00.004+01:00

Progress Day 4
08.04.2009

I've only just realised that the colour graduation seems to have changed. I have had to move to a second ball of yarn. I didn't notice the difference while I was working, but it's there alright. Methinks I shall have a 'characterful' top by the end of my endeavours.

That'll suit me fine.

:)

The bus journey to and from Clonmel this afternoon facilitated quite a lot of today's knitterly progress. My squished thumb is healing up nicely and no longer getting in the way of my knitting. The plaster is a bit of an nuisance though. I'm letting the air 'get at it' at the moment & I've not yelped with pain since typing with it plasterless so perchance my knitting will go a tad more smoothly on the morrow.

Talking about going smoothly, my yarn smoothly made it way out of my bag and travelled the width and then the length of the bus on the way back from Clonmel this afternoon.

:face palm:

Thankfully, it decided to return to me via gravitational mechanics when the bus stopped in Cahir.

:blush:

Thankfully, my fellow commuters were a patient bunch & merely grinned while I retrieved my errant yarn.

It behaved itself for the rest of the journey. Thankfully!

Happy crafting folks!

Chocolately goodness.....mmmmm

2009-04-08T00:13:00.004+01:00

That's pretty much the phrase conjured up while working with this colourway.

I've seriously been longing for Belgian hot chocolate to sip while working on this.

Have a look. Doesn't it look like someone's just cut a swath through some type of chocolate confectionary?

Day 2 Progress

My decision to use garter stitch for the body of the cardigan has borne fruit in making this a very portable, KIP (knit in public), project. I particularly enjoy the quick pace I work up with garter stitch. Quite satisfying really. I also think that it shows off the colourway well.

:) This project recieved its first compliment from a lady sitting beside me at the bus stop today. I was quite pleased about that.

Day 3 Progress
07.04.2009

It's going to be interesting (for me at least) to see if I can keep my momentum up with this project.

Only time, and comparing pictures, shall tell.

Goodnight folks.

Happy crafting.

Phew!

2009-04-05T23:07:00.006+01:00

Despite thumb squishing I can still knit!

Yay!

My friends won't have to deal with my yarn withdrawal symptoms.

Plus, there has been progress on my birthday cardi.

Lookee.

Man's Vee Neck Cardigan - Back

The graduation between the stripes is turning out to be lovely and gentle. I decided to use garter stitch for the body of the cardigan as opposed to the suggested stocking stitch. I prefer the texture of garter stitch. Stocking stitch can just look so....plain. I'll see how it goes.

Man's Vee Neck Cardigan - Back
Hem in 1 x 1 rib
Main body in garter stitch (knit every row)

Oh lookee! :D

2009-04-05T17:43:00.011+01:00

Thanks to the graphics meister Evil Steve my bloggie has a shiney new header.

:bounce:

Pleased am I, truly.

On to latest new yarny project in the works.

Man's Vee Neck Cardigan: Design B
Sirdar: Simple Easy Knits
331 Code C

I want this.......I don't mean the manly chest (altho that would be a bonus).....a comfy cardigan for lounging around in. Something nice and simple that will let the yarn do most of the work.

The yarn in question, as pictured below, is Sirdar's Escape Wool Rich DK.

Sirdar Escape Wool Rich DK
Shade: Fervour 181
51% Wool & 49% Acrylic

Taking into account the amount of ease built into the design, I've decided to knit it up to fit chest 32/34 inches.

I was looking forward to working on this over the weekend. It's pretty much my birthday top & the only WIP intended for me. The yarn is thanks to a voucher for Singer Sewing Centre that I recieved for my 29th birthday. I'm so glad that the store saw fit to let me redeem it after a year.

I put the kaiboosh on knitting by closing the car door on my thumb last night (um ouch!). There was distraction involved and I am a klutz.

While there was a trip to the A & E where a dressing was put on it to hide the impending multicolourful aspect of the digit - I didn't linger to see a doctor. The nurse checked that I had my full range of motion, assured me that I would be seen albeit there was no telling when, established that I have no earthly notion when my last tetanus shot was & didn't seem too perturbed otherwise. Staying seemed a waste of my friends time & of the A & E resources.

:shrugs:

So I did the butch on it.

:snigger:

My friend did verily roll her eyes at my "I'll be fine" swagger. Especially as I whimpered while sorting out the seat belt.

Impervious boi that I am.

....Pfffff!

Anyhow, there ensued much gogglement this morning over our Sunday morning fry -up.
(If in the vicinity of Shannon Airport's cafe I recommend trying the full Irish. Tis surprisingly good).

The opening of sugar sachets and milk portions alike were beyond me. Much to the miffdom of my uber-independent self.
(Tellingly, my first words as a toddler were "Me do it").

Now that the throbbing has eased and the inflammation has died down, thanks in no small part to anti-inflammatory pain relief, I may try a few stitchs.

Wish me luck.

Squares, stars and rectangles

2009-04-03T14:12:00.008+01:00

If my friends were in any doubt about just how much of a yarn nerd I truly am, their doubts were dispelled when I arrived in Dublin for the AMI with less drag paraphenalia than your average king and more yarn than you could shake a binder at. (If you're curious google drag kings & binders).

I knit in the back of the car on the way up.

I knit in the back of the car on the way back.

I did, however, manage to down my harmony circulars for long enough to take in the fabulosity that is the Alternative Miss Ireland.

For you dear readers unfamiliar with AMI may I please refer you to my other bloggie Limerick Drag Kings for enlightenment. :)

The fruits of my labours are pictured below.

Issue 105: Multi-Colour Diagonal Striped Square
- Incorporates all the colours of the finished throw

Issue 107 : Garter Stitch with Thin Stripes
- Biscuit yarn background wiht horizonatal stripes of Vanilla, Sky, Mocah, Lavender and Fennel.

Issue 114: Diagonal Garter Stitch & Embossed Leaf
- Worked in garter stitch diagonal by starting at the corner and increasing until broadest point of square, then decreasing. The embossed leaf is created at the beginning and is not at all tricky to do. Looks the business though!

And only now do I notice that the two colourwork squares are back to front.

:face palm:

They still give the gist though.

Onward!

You remember 'that' blanket?

Well, I thinking out loud, as I am prone to doing (bless my friends much used ears), I hummed and hawwed to my favourite cub about how to proceed. Ever the graphically inclined wunderkind, he suggested (& proceeded to draw) the punk star as a noble addition to the, by now, epic design process of 'that' blanket.

So off I went and took that idea to the drawing board, by which I mean, of course, that I dived right in and cast on. I just happended to have black yarn in my stash (which is now, by the way, the yarny equivalent to Forty Coats & His Fifty Pockets, I'm not quite sure what's in there at this point).

Punk Star - Version 1

Punk Star - Version 2

Seeing the two versions together, methinks I was on the right track with the first version. However, it has sinced been frogged as I was running out of room for increasing. Version 2 is just too.....skinny. This time around I will sit down with excel and actually plot out a knitting chart for myself.

....Honest!

Alternative Baby Blankie Arrangement - Take 1

Alternative Baby Blankie Arrangement - Take 2

I needed to see how I could put these together in order to make, y'know, an actual blanket out of them. I'm happy with arrangement Take 2.

Opinions?

Off on another tangent, I had a gawk at the visitor feed. I love seeing where my readers hail from. Along with Irish locations, which I do love seeing, I spotted:

Douglasville, Georgia
Minneapolis, Minnesota
San Leandro, California
Campos, Rio de Janeiro

Hi folks

:waves:

Again, I love seeing Cork, Dublin and Clare and all other Irish points popping up, but it is lovely to see how connected the craft communities are thanks to the internet.

Call again.

I'll have the welcome mat out.

(the rectangle :D )

Happy crafting folks!

:)

Because it came up over dinner.....

2009-04-02T21:59:00.003+01:00

When a craft nerd turns 30, of course the conversation is going to include yarn or patterns or both at some point.

As regular readers of this blog will have noticed, I seem to have knit a gazillion squares for a throw from The Art of Knitting.

My lovely friend Marian liked the idea of confining her knitting to a square at a time.

It's a useful exercise really.

Leftover yarn can be used up
Frogging isn't as painful to the ego
Your repertoire of new stitches builds with every square
If you really hate the stitch, you never have to do it again (in theory).
There's a sense of completion with each square
Each square is perfectly portable for knitting on the go
At the end, you get a quilt

So here's the link to The Art of Knitting for those of you who won't be getting to borrow my collection & so you can see what the heck I've been referring to for months.

Oh, and I realised the other day, when setting up my new Ravelry profile, that I've been blogging for just over a year.

Boi but that year flew.

Happy Crafting folks.

Ps.

I spent today putting together a separate online presence for Rainbow Stitch'n'Bitch.
Please have a look and leave a comment to say hi.

Rainbow SnB are also on Facebook & Bebo.

And, um, Twitter , since I was on a roll :D

Pride Scarf & More Squares

2009-03-23T23:33:00.010Z

My Pride scarf is making itself known.

It's accumulating fans.

For details of its latest jaunt click here.

Scarf started off with me, then........
This pic courtesy of my daughter Megs.

Megs & Davey

Me & Davey

Adam

Cecily

There has also been knitting.

Remember this?

'That' Blanket

Well. I became increasingly dissatisfied with it and put it on the back burner.

It's now been taken off the back burner and frogged.

This is its reincarnated self.

Well......kinda.

Maybe as a rebellion about turning 30 I've decided to 'play' with the yarn and see what I can come up with.

Also came up with these.

Neat, huh?

They seem to be co-operating with me and joining together nicely. Time will tell whether their good behaviour continues.

More Squares for The Art of Knitting Throw

Lovin' the stitch definition
Purdy, yes?

Honey Gold Scarf
Louise Harding: Fauve

Another Scarf

This time for my lovely colleague Sharon, who has brightened my day with her bubbly self on many occassions. Such sunshine cannot but beget a knitted something in return.

So, while I was in Lena's, just before dashing to the bus, I picked out colours that reminded me of Sharon.

Bright, energising and eye catching.

:D

They're lovely - purple, yellow and orange.......and still sitting on their lonesome waiting to be introduced to needles as a knitting project.

The yarn I picked up and took in order to bring my total up enough to pay by Laser won the jackpot.

It's a Louisa Harding yarn called Fauve.

The pattern I'm using is the drop stitch one by Ellen R. Marguilies from Debbie Stoller's Stitch'n'Bitch Nation .

It shows off the yarn well while also being an enjoyable knit.

Right.

That's me up-to-date with my projects.

I'm off to my leaba so that I'm all bouncy for my last day of my 29th year tomorrow.

I shall bounce on into The Wild Onion, show my passport, and ask Ruth, nicely, for my birthday cookie a day in advance. (They won't be open on my actual birthday).

Oh and Bettina, it may well be that you'll be finished your throws well before I am.

I seem to be swimming in squares with no hope yet of joining them up.

I shall duly keep you posted.

:)

Happy crafting folks.

P.s.

Copy Bettina and leave me comments!! :)

More knitterly progress

2009-03-08T23:05:00.004Z

These pieces essentially give me a sense of accomplishment. Which is nice. Especially as I have a few ungainly pieces in progress where the end is so not in sight. We won't mention the lingering UFO's (& not of the alien variety).

Openwork Rib Pattern
Issue 104
The Art of Knitting

Openwork Chevron Rib Lace Pattern
Issue 106
The Art of Knitting

Progress

2009-03-06T00:37:00.003Z

Yea, verily, tis true.

There has been actual knitting.

Following by the actual completion of a project no less.

Egads and gadzooks.

Be this a passing state or a more lasting trait.

Time and more finished FO's shall tell.

Taa daa!!
Le objet fin

Craftyrainbow Twitter Hacked

2009-03-05T11:47:00.003Z

Hi folks,

For those of you who follow my Twitter profile, please be aware that due to an icky Trojan on my pc it has been hacked.

Please unfollow it.

I don't have the heart to see what's coming up on it at the moment, but I'm trusting that it's bad :( A friend of mine has let me know not to look. In deference to my stress levels, I'm going to defer to her advice.

So please. Ignore whatever comes up on what was my Twitter account and please unfollow.

Hackers.

Grrrrrr!!!!!!

:shakes fist in annoyed fashion:

Alphabet Soup March Issue

2009-03-01T20:31:00.003Z

It's hot off the printing presses and the cyberspace is still tingling from its digital publication.

Your truly got to prattle away within it's pages too!! :D

Click here to have a gawk at my intro to Rainbow Stitch'n'Bitch.

As always, leave a coment and let me know whatcha think.

Sorry I've been away from my keyboard for so long. I've had a horrid chesty flu hot on the heels of two really deep, side-by-side fillings. Only just feeling back to my usual self in the last couple of days.

There had been crafting in the meantime, just not a lot of it and no pictures as of yet. That scenario shall be rectified however.

In the meantime....

Happy crafting folks!

P.S.

I was well enough to attend Sparkles in UL on Saturday. Head on over to my other blog Limerick Drag Kings to read about that.

Reposted cos it sounds interesting - A call for Dublin Knitters

2009-02-17T21:19:00.002Z

I receive regular update e-mails from the Irish Stitch'n'Bitch Yahoo group. This is one of them. I've just yoinked it in it's entirety and haven't (yet) checked the links.

I do love the term guerilla knitting. What a clash of images! :)

*******************************

We are Amie and Sarah and this is a call for all avid knitters in
Dublin city.

We are Art Students who dabble in sculpture from time to time and we
are involved in a Community Placement programme in Dublin's own
CREATE.
This is what CREATE is about
http://www.create- ireland.ie/ about-us/ who-we-are. html
<http://www.create- ireland.ie/ about-us/ who-we-are. html>
and this is what our Placement Programme is about
http:
<http://www.create- ireland.ie/ learning- development/ placement- programmes. \
html>
<http://www.create- ireland.ie/ learning- development/ placement- programmes. \
html>
//www.create- ireland.ie/ learning- development/ placement- programmes. html
<http://www.create- ireland.ie/ learning- development/ placement- programmes. \
html>
This year is unique in that our Community base has been extended and
we are now able to approach communities that may have interests
similar to our own.
The programme is 6 weeks long, and at the end this there is an
exhibition in The LAB on Foley St:
http://www.dublinci ty.ie/Recreation andCulture/ ArtsandFacilitie s/pages/th\
elabfoleystreet. aspx.
<http://http: //www.dublincity .ie/Recreationan dCulture/ ArtsandFacilitie s/\
pages/thelabfoleyst reet.aspx.>
The exhibition is titled 'From Context to Exhibition'.

We would love to work with a group of people who knit and also to talk
about knitting and the city and lots of other silly things.
Our research has lead us to the idea of guerilla knitting so far, but
everything that we propose to do with a group is up for debate and
change.
So if you would like to get involved in a different type of knitting
we would really like to meet you!

So WHAT is guerrilla knitting?
Well most graffiti is a type of guerrilla attack on the city and its
walls and pavements, think of guerrilla knitting as a gentler and more
subtle form of graffiti...
Here are a few examples as a picture is often worth a thousand words:

Knitta: http://knittaplease .com/KNITTA_ PLEASE.html
<http://knittaplease .com/KNITTA_ PLEASE.html% 20>
(wrapping of the city, there are some really great photos on their
flickr group
http://flickr. com/photos/ knittaplease
<http://flickr. com/photos/ knittaplease> )

Cast Off: http://www.castoff. info/ <http://www.castoff. info/>
http://www.castoff. info/press/ pages/indie_ review_23- 3-04.html
(these guys used to meet up on the circle line on the tube in london
to knit!)

Marianne JÃ¸rgensen: http://www.marianne art.dk/
<http://www.marianne art.dk/> (image) (political but
playful)

Denise Litchfield:
http://www.smh. com.au/news/ entertainment/ arts/graffiti- artist-spins- a-ne\
w-kind-of-yarn/ 2009/01/13/ 1231608708374. html
<http://www.smh. com.au/news/ entertainment/ arts/graffiti- artist-spins- a-n\
ew-kind-of-yarn/ 2009/01/13/ 1231608708374. html>

Maskerade :http://maskerade. blogsome. com/
<http://maskerade. blogsome. com/> (just plain fun)

We plan to have a venue in the city centre one morning/evening a week
for a few chatty hours of fun and knitting. This will only be until
the end of March, so it could be a nice way to break in the Spring!!
If you like the idea of doing something new and fun with your skills
then please email cailin.glas@ gmail.com (which is Amie's address)

The location and time will be decided when we get some responses
as we would like it to suit as many people as possible.
We want to get an idea of how many people would be up for it, so if
you are even remotely interested could you get back to us before
Friday?
(Friday as in the 20th of February)

Thanks for taking the time to read up on guerrilla knitting we hope it
made you ponder on the marvels of knitting and smile at the same time.
Looking forward to knitting with you.

Amie and Sarah.

Nenagh Knit'N'Natter

2009-02-16T12:12:00.004Z

The days are becoming milder and the daylight is lingering ever so slightly longer before giving way to night.

Might we start making plans to attend our beloved yarn gatherings again without having to swear the post carriers oath through rain, sleet, snow and gloom of night?

I'm really hoping so. :)

Since the weather seems to be improving I thought I'd take another crack at setting up a Knit'N'Knatter in Nenagh, using the Abbott's Bar in the Abbey Court as our venue.

Who's with me?

What night suits folks?

What time suits folks?

Please add a comment (comments are always welcome in any case :) ) letting me know or drop a line to craftyrainbowhead @ gmail dot com.

I want to hear from all the yarnistas out there!

In the mean time, as always, happy crafting folks.

:)

Refer back here to see my last post about this.

Progress thus far :)

2009-02-15T22:17:00.005Z

The Antler Scarf is coming along nicely

You, of course, remember my last foray into the Aladdin's cave which is Lena's, whereupon I emerged blinking into the daylight with many yarny purchases and a lighter wallet (I paid by Laser so that part is purely figurative). The Tivoli Drift variegated yarn below was among those purchases. Alighted upon with zeal by my blond bombshell.

Tivoli Drift DK

Aforementioned bombshell gave due consideration to what she would like her yarn choice made into and decided on a bolero - not any old bolero mind you, but one with curving fronts which (and she used her hands to demonstrate, in case my increasing years may have hampered my imaginative & cognitive abilities). Not straight. C-u-r-v-i-n-g.

O-k-a-y. Message received and understood. (Harumph)

Anyhow, I searched ALL my knitting magazines.

Let me point out that I have MANY knitting magazines at this point. So much so that they may require the purchase of additional office furniture.

Alas, all that page turning was to no avail (other than turning up more projects to place in my ever increasing queue).

I was beginning to create a pitch aimed at darling bombshell to guide her in the direction of other nifty designs.....it wasn't necessary however, as........

Whoot!

My pattern hunting was a success!!

Yesterday, shortly before Lena's closed for the day, I scooted in and had a quick scan of their assorted patterns. I was nigh on close to giving up hope and about to indulge in wistful luxury yarn admiration when I happened upon the pattern below.

Pattern 6535 Ages 4 - 14 Elle Monet Bolero Code 05.1941

I worried a tad that I may have had more than a challenge on my hands with the combination of this yarn with this pattern. The Tivoli Drift is a neatly spun double knitting yarn which is generally knit up with 4mm to 4.5mm needles, depending on tension required. Elle Monet, the yarn this pattern supports, is a slubby yarn. It doesn't look neat. It looks like there's been an explosion of multi-coloured cotton yarn around the core thread. It's a lovely yarn. I've used it before to knit up a scarf. The question was would my yarn and the pattern play nicely together.

I had a think.

After exercising my noodle and envisioning the end result I thought the best thing to do was proceed with the instructions given, using the suggested needle size given in the pattern of 6mm. I figured the worst it would do would create a really open fabric that would be more decorative than practical. Given my bombshells fashion sense and love of layering, I figured this outcome would be just fine.

:D

Ka - Ching!

It's knitting up beautifully and will actually fit its intended recipient and not just one of her dolls.

Colour me all aglow with contented achievement.

Heh heh...bombshells response to my suggestion to just buy Elle Monet yarn and find another use for the Drift was met with

"But you'll love the challenge."

Harumph.

My child doth know me too well methinks.

Happy crafting folks.

(and no I'm not going to refer to a certain Hallmark day).

Coptic Textiles

2009-02-12T22:18:00.007Z

For those in the know, you know you'll want to go to this.

For those of you baffled but curious it's a nicely different way to spend some time and learn about something new.

There is going to be a talk on Coptic Textiles in the Hunt Museum in Limerick on May 12th 2009.

Sounds like an interesting way to spend some time, and since I came across this on Ravelry, it sounds like a cool opportunity to meet some other craft nerds too. :)

(Thank you Stitchlily).

Ravelry is like Facebook for yarn nerds by the way.

It's quite accurately described as a time suck due to the photographs of yummy yarns and delicious projects uploaded by the Ravellers.

Eh...I have noticed that yarn and food seem to go together, at least when descriptors are used....yummy, delicious etc. I've found myself doing that quite a bit. I generally only notice when I read back over a post. I wonder does it have to do with the overlapping sensory stimuli involved. That certain colours remind us of food, or that food is linked so strongly with comfort in our cultures.

Hmmmmm......feeling all philosophical now.

Time for a cuppa!

:)

The fuzzy article below is meant to be crystal clear & show the best of modern 35mm digital photography.

:sigh:

Didn't realise it was clear as the view without my specs until after I'd uploaded it.

Still, it does show that my Antler Scarf is now at least twice the length it was since the last post it featured in.

That's nay bad.

Antler Scarf

Multi-tasker that I am.....

2009-02-10T20:29:00.005Z

I've added another project to my current rotation of WIP's.

Behold the Antlers Scarf by Micha P. Dammeyer.

Antlers Scarf by Micha P. Dammeyer
From Debbie Stoller's book "Son of Stitch'n'Bitch"

Textured Cabling Detail

I'm liking the way that it's coming together and while it looks complicated it's easy to get a handle on the cabling after a few repeats.

The yarn I chose is Sirdar Baby Snuggly double knitting. Tis gorgeously soft to work with. The best thing of all is that this is a portable project. My other WIP is the sunshine blanket which is WAY too big to be working on while on the bus.

That's pretty much all for now.

Thanks to Squid at Limerickblogger for adding my blogs :)

Happy crafting folks.

More Stash!! (oh my poor wallet)

2009-02-03T23:42:00.008Z

I stopped by Lena's after collecting my poorly blond bombshell from my father's.

I only went in for sock yarn.

HONEST!!

And I came out with........

Debbie Bliss "Coastlines"
Pattern support for Debbie Bliss Pure Cottton, Stella, Pure Silk, Rialto DK and Cathay

Wendy Happy 4 Ply
in Taurus Shade 2507 lot 222/109
100g, 75% Bamboo, 25% Nylon
Machine Wash 30'

Free pattern received with Wendy Happy 4 ply
Got 2 - 1 per skein - I'll donate one to Rainbow S'n'B

Meg's saw the yarn below and positively drooled over it (figuritively you understand, no mopping of the aisles required). So, I duly added it to my ever eclectic basket of yarn related goodies.

Drift DK by Tivoli
Shade No. 251 Dye Lot 851
100g, 100% Acrylic, Machine Wash 40'

Megs's now has a stash of her own!

See below for her eye tingling choice of scarf yarn for her bezzie mate Shauna.

Double Knit Special by Stylecraft
in Jaffa (left) Shade 1256 Dye 38272
& Fiesta (right) Shade 1257 Dye 37748
100g balls, 100% Acrylic, Machine washable, cool tumble dry

Pyrm DPN's in sizes 4.0mm & 4.5mm

&
Assorted trimmings to decorate Meg's scarf

And on a completely random tangent........

Check out our double yoked egg. First time I've seen this.

Cool or gross depending on your constitution

Current Project & Directions to Rainbow Stitch'n'Bitch

2009-02-01T23:42:00.012Z

My current work in progress

It's essentially a big sampler of different stitches

Diagonal Lace Rib
Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value 100g 100% Acrylic
Issue 47 - November Simply Knitting

I finally found the name of the first stitch I used for the blanket. It's Diagonal Lace Rib as pictured above.

.......OMG!! Megs just washed the cats!!! They now look like drowned rats. Oh the poor dears. Sorry. I literally just had an "Oh look a kitty moment." .....

Now...um....ooh yes.....blanket. It's coming along nicely. Not exactly a portable knit at this point, but I still stuff it in my back pack in case the chance to work on it arises during my day.

Braid Cable
Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value 100g 100% Acrylic
Issue 28 - December of Knit Today

Open Ladder Work
Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value 100g 100% Acrylic
Issue 29 - Spring of Simply Knitting

Keyhole Cable
Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value 100g 100% Acrylic
Issue 28 - December of Knit Today

Honeycomb Lace

Issue 46 - July of Simply Knitting
Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value 100g 100% Acrylic Shade 0961 Lot 93989

This stitch pattern is from Issue 46 - July of Simply Knitting. It forms a part of the blanket you see in the picture below and has been knit using Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value 100% acrylic yarn Shade 0961 Lot 93989. It's quite a nice soft acrylic and since it can deal with being machine washed and tumble dried without having a breakdown it suits its intended purpose. Its intended purpose it of course to be thrown on a couch (or wherever the recipient decides to place it). The intended recipient has a family full of boys so I figure the easier it is to care for the more likely it is to get used and not stored away in a drawer somewhere.

The kittens have ventured forth

And what's this??......

They've upset one of the residents!

Now, due to popular demand, a pictorial guide to Rainbow Stitch'n'Bitch a.k.a. Directions!! :D

First get thyselves to Hartstonge Street in Limerick city which is sandwiched between O'Connell Street and Pery Square.

Leamy House is the BIG red brick building which will be on your right hand side if you approach from O'Connell Street and on your left hand side if you come from Pery Square.

It's not the dinky little red brick beside it which houses the amusements arcade!!

Once you're in front of the right building you'll see a view very similar to the one in the picture below.

The view of Leamy House from just inside the main gates.

This is the view from just inside the main door

Head up the stairs that you see in front of you.

Keep heading up the stairs. You'll see these posters on the wall ahead of you. Keep going.

You'll see a door ahead that's propped open by a fire extinguisher. I kid thee not. Keep going and head through this door and you'll see.....

The world's smallest sign for Rainbow Support Services which is home to our merry band of crafters. Keep on going and you'll see........

Yet more stairs!!!!! Have I mentioned that attending the Stitch'n'Bitch doubles up as a cardiovascular workout?? No?!

Heh heh. Well it does! So be prepared and wear sensible shoes. :)

....keep going up the narrow and winding staircase........

Keep the faith and you'll eventually see the landing outside the drop-in. The bucket says Red Ribbon Project. It's Rainbow's sister project.

Once you reach the landing you'll see our library...along with a box of delph that we're in the process of finding storage for. The blue door on the left is your ultimate destination and houses the RSS Drop-in a.k.a. comfy sofas!!

Failing these awesome pictorial directions e-mail me at craftyrainbowhead @ gmail . com and I'll give you my mobile so you can give me a buzz and I'll trot down and meet you. Deal?

Oh lookee

2009-01-30T12:57:00.003Z

If any of you are venturing to Kildare village this weekend and fancy doing something different.....
As per the This is Knit blog post Kildare Outlet Village are holding an event celebrating "The Simple Pleasure of Home". Sounds like a pleasant excursion with free knitting lessons from the folks at This is Knit and free cooking demonstrations.

It's worth a look.

See, knitting isn't just something a few people do at home! :D

Happy times to ya folks!

Something New on the Irish Knit Scene

2009-01-29T11:30:00.002Z

A knitting cafe in Dublin called Stitch.

Check them out here.

If anyone has been in there yet drop me a comment and let me know how you liked it.

Well I did say I would......

2009-01-28T00:06:00.005Z

Take more photographs.

I just didn't realise that the subjects would so often be the kittens.

Hmmmm.......

I'm starting to see why so many craft bloggers involve their cats in their posts.

Seeing that mine 'help' me type by walking across the keyboard, swatting their paws at the cursor as it flys across the screen and check out the sturdiness of my monitor by pacing across it - it pretty much is a case of if ya can't snap 'em out of it - snap them while they're doing it!

Binks admiring the view from my office window

Princess had to have a look in too naturally

Apparently my crochet is well cosy

Blissfully so

Open Ladder Work Stitch

My art supplies
(And no, I don't usually leave my knitting in progress on the floor)

I took a notion and rearranged a few things.

My art supplies have now been moved out of a corner of my office and now take pride of place at the top of the landing. I figure the more often I see my art supplies, the more inclined I'll be to use them. It's worked well thus far. IToday, spent time having fun with my oil pastels and charcoal for the first time in simply ages. I doubt it'll lead to anything but a colourful daub, but it's a start.

I learned something new :)

2009-01-27T22:07:00.002Z

From "Talking Crochet with Carol Alexander"

Apparently........

In 1840, to assist in raising funds to erect a monument to the Battle of Bunker Hill, New England women held a fair to sell their handmade items. Young and old alike, those who rarely worked and those who toiled daily, joined together to crochet, knit, sew and embroider a variety of useful, attractive items that could be sold for the purpose of building the monument. The women raised an astonishing $33,066 in several days -- more than enough to pay for the monument. This is a great testament to "woman power," well before it became a socially conscious issue!

*****

That's pretty darn neat!

There has been knitting

2009-01-23T23:16:00.005Z

Vertical Textured Zig-Zags
Mocha yarn
The Art of Knitting - Issue No. 108

Nenagh Knit'N'Natter

2009-01-13T10:01:00.008Z

This Thursday.....is my daughter's birthday......and I've just realised that the two halves of my brain were not communicating with each other when I committed myself to attending the first Nenagh Knit ' N ' Natter in the Abbotts Bar @ The Abbey Court Hotel from 7p.m. until 9p.m.

Ehh......

I'm not sure she'll be all that impressed if I bring her along...... but she is due to have a sleepover on Friday night AND I can bring her for dinner before I head off to Nenagh.

Typical me that I only made the connection as I was typing that sentence.

Pfff!

The Abbott's Bar @ The Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary

Meh!

Oh the joys of merging craft and children.

So, anyhow, yes.......if any of you gentle readers would like to meet up with myself and EddieMc (Ravelry link - will only be viewable by other Ravelry members) you'll be most welcome.

Fountain on the Abbey Court grounds

Pretty isn't it?

Abbey Court Hotel grounds

The Abbey Court is on the N7 Dublin to Limerick Road. Here is a link to maps on the Abbey Court's web page.

The Abbott's is a cosy venue and I plan for us to be seated next to the fire in the area furthest from the food service area. There are two ways of getting to the Abbott's. You can enter the main hotel reception and ask the desk staff for directions or you can enter through the Abbott's front door which is viewable from the road. Either way, you'll know us as we'll be the ones with the needles and yarn.

This is an open group and we'll welcome anyone with a craft interest of any ability level.

So come all ye knitter's, crocheter's, embroider's, quilter's, felter's, cross stitcher's.

The more the merrier. :)

It should go without saying, but I'll mention it anyway, that gender, age, family status and all that jazz are irrelevant. Just bring your good selves, your current work in progress (if you have one) and join in.

Feel free to e-mail me on craftyrainbowhead @ gmail . com if you have any queries.

Any fellow Ravelers out there can find me on Ravelry here.

Happy times and happy crafting to you folks.

Finger's crossed

2009-01-06T21:01:00.006Z

Ro's top is in the wash and I truly hope and pray that it washes as well as it says it will. I figure it's best to know if it's going to be a disaster prior to giving it to her rather than after she washes it herself.

The lovely yarn that went into Ro's top

Plus, the not so fun part of kittens helping me to knit is that they have a tendency to share their hair with the FO's.

Not good.

Hence washing.

Once it's braved the washing machine and been dried I shall duly post a pic.

Moving swiftly ahead......

My hot off the circulars scarf, in 1x1 ribbing

Made from Double Knitting Pure Wool by Stylecraft, this scarf took 2 skeins of 260m/240yards of the stuff to get a decent size. It's machine washable (yay!) and can be tumble dried on a cool setting, cool ironed (um....just who exactly irons scarves????) and 4mm needles are recommended. I, however, used 5mm needles to get the result I wanted. I'm rather pleased with it. Although, I must admit that the colourway did leave something to be desired on dreary days, so I decided that I needed some more colour in my life and my knitting (sometimes the two do seem interchangeable).

So..........

I bought this.

Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value 100g
Machine Washable Tumble Dry
Quality 013 SH 978
Lot 91635

Sunny, yes?

Wait....there's more.

Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value 100g
Machine Washable Tumble Dry
Quality 013 SH 957
Lot 95319

I have some more new yarn to post pics of but my data card and and pc have just had a hissy fit with each other, so I guess they're just going to have to wait til the next post.

Til then, happy crafting folks.

Welcome to 2009 Folks :)

2009-01-05T11:11:00.001Z

I've been happily occupied with my new KnitPicks interchangeable needles and will post pics of my (myriad) works in progress shortly.

For now though.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Happy crafting folks.

Talking about cakes......

2008-12-16T11:37:00.002Z

and seeing that it's tea time.

Check these out.

These are made by Fidelma Larkin of Just Devine Fine Foods which is based in Gort, Co. Galway.

If you're feeling peckish and want to try something new she can be contacted on 087 - 6506683.

The stall was so busy that it took me a wee while to take decent photos. It didn't seem quite polite to elbow customers out of the way in order to get a better angle (the thought never crossed my mind......honest).

Funnily enough, it was after taking these shots that I felt the need to go and have lunch :)

Nappy Cakes

2008-12-16T11:00:00.010Z

How's that for an unusal title in a craft blog, hmmm?

I kid you not though. I've seen nappy cakes and not the kind made by an overly tired parent deluded into thinking they were together enough to bake while only having snatched 20 minutes of sleep over the course of the night. (I remember what sleep deprivation does, don't think it's not possible).

No, these are "bouquets" chock full of practical goodies for those in the family way.

I must admit, while I noticed them and thought them cute, I did pass the stall by after a somewhat cursory glance. However, my friend was not content to let these creations pass me by in such a manner (or maybe that should be the other way around). I got nigh on hauled back to the stall by my enthusiastic friend (he was actully bouncing by this point. He's about to be an uncle so that's why the mega bouncy enthusiasm. :) ).

I'm glad (if still rather bemused) that he did. The products on offer are dotey.

As their website notes, a lot of hospitals no longer allow flowers on the ward, so these bouquets make a lovely alternative option.

Lisa & Amy of The Nappy Cake Factory

For more information here are the contact details:

Lisa 087 - 6407966 Amy 087 - 9591479

E-mail: thenappycakefactory@eircom.net

http://www.thenappycakefactory.com/

Buying Handmade Gifts

2008-12-10T10:54:00.003Z

If you're like me, and less like the ever organised Marian, you may love the idea of giving handmade gifts this year, but with the best of intentions find that you can't quite handmake all of them yourself. Or you may find that the craft that you are most comfortable creating gifts with isn't quite what the recipient will be over joyed about. Some ages and stages are notoriously difficult to buy for. I am predominantly a knitter. My daughter can take or leave knitwear at this point. The dramatic layering of fabric though, accompanied by appropriate accessories including belts, bags and jewellery, now that will get her attention. Now while I can sew.....let's just say it would be more effort than the results may be worth, especially at this time of year.

So this is partly why I'm doing this string of posts. When I got to the craft fair a number of people popped into my head in terms of gifts that were just perfect for them. I would quite happily have instantaneously transported a few people there and given them free reign at the stalls knowing that they could chose something that they would be delighted with. I'm one of those folks who has no problem turning up with the cash as long as the recipient has a gift which makes them smile. I don't need the glow that comes from knowing in advance the perfect gift to get. My ego is sound enough to deal with the fact that sometimes I am just CLUELESS. Next year some folks are going to be brought with me and told to go feast their eyes and when I find that they are particularly taken with something then I'll cough up the cash. Sorted.

Now back to my daughter. My delightful Tween (not quite child and not quite teen) knows her own mind. Which is fabulous, apart from the fact that said mind is liable to change faster than a chameleon can change its colour to suit its environment. I'm a fast knitter but not even I can keep up with how her tastes change. So, it was with some relief that I was able to keep the pledge to buy handmade and side step the creating by getting her a rather nifty clutch purse from one of the vendors.

I'm also happy about the fact that I bought Irish and handmade, and in doing so am supporting an artisan who is based in the island of Ireland and who will go on to buy more materials and create more 'Made in Ireland' items. Never mind the doom and gloom about recession and the dozing Celtic Tiger. I'd much rather concentrate on the good I can do with my income. Right now I'm thinking I did good. :)

Bye for now.

Nenagh Christmas Craft Fair Part Two

2008-12-10T09:43:00.013Z

As promised in my last post we now move on to the bling!

At her stall Anita let me in on the secret that her husband is also a capable jewellery maker and contibuted to the array of pieces on offer (...but ssshhh! it's a secret ;) )

The selection of jewellery available from this crafty pair runs the gamut from pieces to adorn everywhere from your earrings to your wrists and quite possibly even your ankles.

From small and understated pieces

To larger statement pieces

Anita & her husband tending to their customers

As is well known amongst those in the know, we crafters tend to indulge in more than one craft when our time and resources allow (and if they don't we've been know make them). This lovely lady also paints.

Examples of Anita's artwork

As is always the case, the best people to ask about what they do are the artisans and crafters themselves. So here's their business card for you.

What I think is a particularly cool idea is that they can arrange jewellery parties. Just picture it. You could bring that top you know needs accessories and be sure that whatever pieces you get at the jewellery party will suit your needs without any guesswork. Sweet!

Nenagh Christmas Craft Fair Part One

2008-12-09T10:51:00.009Z

Hey there crafty folks,

What did I get up to over the weekend I hear you say?

Well, Saturday morning saw myself and one of my best mates boarding a bus for Nenagh, Co. Tipperary for a weekend getaway in the Abbey Court Hotel. As I'm known for my crafty inclinations by all who even slightly know me, my work colleagues gave me the head's up that there was a craft fair due to take place in the hotel on Sunday. Locals read about it here.

First thing on our to do list, once we got to Nenagh and after we sated our appetities, was to find the Abbey Court. Happy to wander and see what there was to be seen, we first, of course, went the wrong way. Happily enough a sign let us know that the 'to Dublin' direction of the N7 was tback he way we had come.

:Cue about face:

So on we strolled and another sign assured that we were now indeed travelling in the right direction. Happy days! Next thing I know I'm talking to thin air as my mate had made a beeline across the road to the below pictured Ye Olde Irish Shoppe.

Ye Olde Irish Shoppe

Blogger that I am I of course I took pictures of what had caught his interest.

Ancient Irish Flakes of Corn!

He craned his neck and squinted through the condensation to note that the closing date of the competition referred to on the Cornflakes box was February 1994!

(Well, maybe not ancient exactly, but close enough considering that both of us were about 15 years old at that point).

Vintage Cornflakes circa 1994

And yes, gentle readers, we are both easily amused.

Considering this is a craft blog I shall move swiftly along, once I make another digression and point your attention to the view we were treated to on Sunday morning.

A crisp frosty morning on the Abbey Court grounds

It's one of those views that's even better for the fact that the viewer is ensconced in a lovely warm room.

Now crafts.

Craft nerd that I am, this was actually the highlight of my weekend. Yes, I know, three star hotel, pretty grounds, friendly staff and good food notwithstanding, the craft fair is what had me up and bouncing on that cold and frosty morning.

Now keep in mind that there were around 60 stands at the craft fair and patient as my readers are with my meandering ways, I'm not going to reference all 60 in this post. That said, I really wish I'd budgeted to do my Christmas shopping at the fair because there really was something for everyone represented. From art prints to Fair Trade foods, aromatherapy to wood worked delights, jewellary to Nappy Cakes (yes, that's spelled right, more on those later) and everything in between. If it was Irish and handcrafted, you could find it here. There was also an Eastern European cross stitch and wood work stand but unfortunately (although happily for the fair) the volume of folks milling about made taking pictures & business details challenging at times.

First up I give you baskets.

There were an array of different designs and if I had snapped a sample of each this blog would have to be retitled to Basket Appreciation Head. There was the cutest Moses basket, along with pretty lamps and different sized hampers and sorters. A haven for the new householder looking for a change from plastic containers and mass produced generic.

Patsy Cahill Basketry

I think the smaller baskets pictured above would look lovely on a kitchen countertop or (in my craft room) to hold craft notions. Patsy is in the process of getting a web page together. Until then he can be contacted on patsycahill@eircom.net .

My next post will be about Hand Crafted Jewellery.

Today I remember.....

2008-12-01T19:33:00.008Z

That it's World AIDS Day.

I remember with love and affection the lovely man who was the first person I met through Rainbow Support Services.

I remember his smile and kind patience as I enthusiastically bounced around the project. So happy to finally be able to access a safe space.

I remember when he told me he wasn't feeling well and to ignore his crankiness and that it was nothing that I had said or done.

I found this here.
Thank you "Knit Happens"

I remember when he told me that he had AIDS and that he'd lived longer than he'd expected to.

I remember crying at a house party months after he had passed away.

I'm crying now because I still miss him.

I remember being questioned in a work interview about why I wear a red ribbon......in this day and age and whether I was able to keep my views to myself.

My oft washed Red Ribbon

I remember being asked what the red ribbon is for....and explaining.

If you don't know what the red ribbon symbolises and if you have questions relating to any aspect of sexual health, or have a friend you want to support or require support yourself then this is the place to go to.

The Red Ribbon Project

Project

Red Ribbon Project
Redwood House,
9 Cecil Street,
Limerick

Opening Hours
Monday to Friday

9.30am to 5.00pm,
Wednesday:
9.30am to 7.00pm
Limerick

They also have a Bebo page.

This is still a current issue.

Check your facts and figures and remain in the loop by checking out the official:

World AIDS Day 2008 Website.

It's not often I admit this......

2008-11-29T20:37:00.010Z

...but I GIVE UP!

I've sewn and resewn the seams on the Paris top and to no avail. I'm just not happy with my best. It's just not good enough. So.......

I give up.

Paris Stitch Yarn
This has knit up into an adorably soft fabric

So, come Monday I am going to drop by the Singer Sewing Store and (beg) ask Triona if she could pretty please sew up the garment. I'll not be surprised if she does in 5 minutes what has completely taxed my ability.

Isn't the sheer diversity of human ability just fantastic?

:)

Anyhow, today saw the first meeting of Rainbow S'n'B since the move to the attic.

My goodness but it was toasty up there! It was really lovely to be greeted by a waft of warm air after coming in from a frosty day. There were only two of us today but we had a lot to catch up on as we hadn't been in the same space together for too long. The lovely Marian is being good to her pledge to give handmade gifts this Christmas and brought a knitted eyelash scarf to work on today. I brought my no-brainer slipover vest to work on. It's one of those knits you can have an indepth conversation over and still not go astray (which is another way of saying it's about as riveting as watching paint dry on a wet day).

Of course, I also brought not only my own blond bombshell daughter but also her friend Shauna who is my honourary daughter for the weekend. They were good albeit raucous company. Let's just say it wasn't a sedate S'n'B. Topics for conversation ranged from my, by now well documented, inability to sew a seam to Miley Cyrus's career. Divergent conversations indeed. Oh the joys! Heh heh

One of the topics of conversations was Marian's photo shoot this morning (she didn't tell me it was a secret so :shrugs: ). The photographer was Press 22's lovely and talented Emma Jervis whom I have mentioned previously in my Limerick Drag Kings blog. she is responsible for this lovely photo of Evan Kennedy's piece "Red Queen" which also features my own blond bombshell.

Of course, I only know this because Marian spotted a picture of the same talented lady giving my young show off a cuddle. Small ole world heh?

Where was I?.........Oh yes....Marian's photo shoot and the reason for same.

She's gonna be in the paper!

:grins:

Watch out for an article on the recession (I know, oh such a joyful topic) which focuses on the effects it is having on how people plan for Christmas this year.

Now if only I could remember which paper it'll be in........hmmmm.

(I WAS listening......honest!).

I had said in a previous post that my current easy (in this post, referred to as riveting as watching paint dry) knit has left me with a hankering to tackle my other works in progress and to bring them to completion.

These include the following:

Alternative Baby Blanket

My only excuse is that crochet is not my main craft and sometimes it can take me a while to sit and concentrate on crochet. Marian and I are pretty much polar opposites in this regard. crochet is her baby and knitting takes effort. Methinks I shall have to bring the blanket as my S'n'B project and together Marian and I can support each other through working on our less intuitive craft. Heh heh.

Meg's top

I won't lie, it's not remotely in progress at the moment. I'll need to sit down with this and use my noodle to figure out where I went wrong. At least, I think I went wrong somewhere with it........Hmmm. At any rate, the increases confused the heck out of my Aries noodle. That's the drawback of being a public knitter becoming vexed on the bus doesn't leave one with many options. Plus, commuter knitting is best when it's straightforward. So, when I hit a snag, I tend to favour bringing a niggle free knit with me next time.....and the next time........and the next time. So the poor project, including this one, gets left in the 'I'll tend to you later pile'. Of course, as we all know only too well, in craft as in life, later can sometimes be a LONG time in coming. It's a pity too, as this is a lovely yarn and has created a gorgeous fabric. Poor Megs has had a LONG wait for her top.

Scarf In Progress

The above scarf will once more be progressing, rather than languishing, once I can get my yarn coveting hands on another ball of the requisite yarn. Alas, the last time I was in Lena's they still didn't have any more of it in and the young lady was rather vague about when they will actually have any more in.

:le sigh:

I've not given up on these projects. They will get done.

Sometime......

I'm doing my best

2008-11-25T22:08:00.005Z

But.....

As per a previous post I'm trying to get a handle on my yet to be finished and oh so patiently waiting projects-in-progress.

One of these is is pictured above. It's at the stage where I can now mirror how the original was shot for the magazine. Scroll on back along the posts and you can find the picture if you are so inclined. Anyhow.....my stumbling block is my perfectionism, a topic I've touched on before. It should really be plain sailing at this point. Simply sew the thing up. However, I can't get the seams to look neat. I may well bring it into the Singer Sewing Store and see if the lovely Triona could sew it up for me. Yes, I may well do that. My best, in this case, isn't good enough for my liking. Especially as it's a gift for a friend.

Close up of the side seam
(Which...erm...doesn't appear so bad in this shot)

My current project

This is made from Hayfield Bonus DK Extra Value 100g which is both machine washable and tumble dryable. Eminently practical. It's from a range of yarn I've used before, but this lot seems softer somehow and seems to have a denser quality to the fabric. And before you ask, um, no, I've not done a tension square. Yes, I know, bold crafter. It seems okay though and I'm willing to trust it to the fates (at least for this item which is something that I can measure against myself and other garments that fit me well).

Without flash

With Flash
(This shot is more representative of actual garment colour)

Have I mentioned before that I wanted to be a National Geographic photographer?

No?

Well, I did.

The photos on this blog are, for the most part, snaps.

I will endeavour to raise the forethought put into my posts but for now, twill do.

Happy crafting folks.

My knitting fans

2008-11-23T19:51:00.002Z

Binks on the left and Princess on the right.

All tuckered out after a morning of exploring, wrestling, toy playing, falling off the couch, falling into their water bowl, climbing up my pants legs and introducing themselves to my yarn.

Binks enjoying my work in progress

Binks seeing things from my perspective

Princess, rather mesmerised by what I get up to with yarn and a darning needle

Binks is my lil fella and Princess is my blonde bombshells little ball of diva fur. Don't be deceived by the apparent serenity of this moggy in the above photo. She barely let her brother chow down from the same bowl and is well able to give him what for.

She and her owner met for the first time this evening. I've had time to get used to them since yesterday. Poor Megs and Princess have already ticked each other off and Megs bears the scratches to prove it. ]

Od dear.

As I type this Binks is exploring my desk and decided that a line of 5's blon63g.
.
.
.
.
.
Ahem...let's try that again now Binks is on my shoulder and off my keyboard.

Heh heh.

Right, now that the kits have been introduced I'm off to comfort my poor deflated daughter.

My next post will have less feline and more yarn.

Honest.

Off yarny topic

2008-11-21T21:47:00.004Z

Inspired by Joe.My.God I went to Typealyzer to check out my personality via my blog.

The following is the result.

Interesting methinks.

ESTP - The Doers
[ESTP]
The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.

The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

Progress :)

2008-11-19T01:39:00.007Z

Man's Vee Neck Tank

Woohoo! I finally found a guys vest top that I like. It's the one pictured above and is one of a bunch of straight forward designs to be found in sirdar's "Simple Easy Knits" book.

Sirdar - Simple Easy Knits

I got this pattern in Lena's and figured that I'd skip the detail work and just use the sizings to cast on the appropriate amount of stitches. Then I had a look see in Singer Sewing Centre which is where Triona, the store assistant, brought my attention to the Sirdar book and the vest tank in that. I may well knit up the more detailed tank at a later date. It's got a lot of ease built in though. The size for a 38-40 inch chest gives an actual size of 44.5 inches and that could be a tad on the loose side for me.

Anyhow, I've cast on for the front and back of the Sirdar vest and hopefully it should be a nicely relaxing knit which will produce a wardrobe stable. It's all good.

Paton's PB N0000-02822

I plan to finish off my poor languishing UFO's as well whenever the straight forward simplicity of the vest pattern leaves me wanting more of a challenge.

My first piece of colourwork :squeeeee:
Issue No. 93 - Large Fair Isle Snowflake

I'm so glad I finally tackled colourwork. It worked out pretty well dontcha reckon? it just needs to be blocked. In future I'll remember to twist the two colours together if it's to be carried more than three stitches between swapping colours. I didn't do that this time and as a result the back is a tad messy. Still, from the front it looks grand and there aren't any gaps between the colours. Yay!

I've also completed the garter stitch square from Issue 96 of the Art of Knitting for the Shaker Style Throw. It's garter stitch so unlike some of it's jazzier cousins it's not getting the glory of a photo.

Another Square Down.....or three...

2008-11-16T23:09:00.005Z

Eyelet Striped Square - Issue 75

Chevron Rib Lace Pattern - Issue 92

Basketweave Square - Issue No. 89

And seemingly zillions to go.......

I've done at least one square which will ultimately be part of the second throw in the series. I'm currently keeping the most recent squares in the respective issues in binder. Obviously, over time this is going to have to be revised, but, for the moment, twill do the job.

Another thing that'll need tackling is getting the oodles of issues which I've managed to miss. I am hoping that they can still be back ordered. :fingers crossed:

I've found that the Eyelet Striped Square and the Chevron Rib Lace Pattern took more attention than I'm used to giving my knitting. This gave no small amount of amusement to onlooking friends and some folks trying to talk to me found that I was talking (mildly cursing) to my knitting! Heh heh. I've been forgiven I think.

I think people get the idea that I'm patient from the fact that most of my knitting projects involve vast swatches of repetitive pattern which I find both lulling and easy to speed through. It also doesn't diminish my ability to listen and my yarn remains innocent of certain choice adjectives. Methinks tis high time, now that I have a comfy, cosy space to knit in peace at home, that I need to have some home-based projects which require more focused attention from me to complement those more portable projects that I mainly favour.

I'm too tired at the moment to vent my full ire on the topic of not finding a pattern straightforward slipover vest for men. Believe me though, there is ire. I think it is going to be the motivator for finally utilising Debbie Abraham's "Design Your Own Knits" book. There's a slipover design lesson in it, but it requires the foundation of the predating pages in order to be doable. I think designing my simple vest top will be my focus required project and I'll find something else for my portable knitting fix.

...oh....and then there are the handful of Unfinished Projects that I've yet to get around to.

Um...I may well be focused on finishing for the next wee while it would seem.

Retail Therapy

2008-11-14T16:08:00.005Z

I had a headache and felt yucky so when feeling down.......hit the yarn store!

So.....

100g Hayfield bonus DK Extra Value €2.60
Colourway 013 SH964 Dye Lot 90181

I like the colour. Normally, as is my fiery Aries nature, I tend to go for, well, colourful colours. Shades that zing and make the viewer go, "oh cool!" Thing is, you can only wear a signature colour piece so many times before it becomes 'that' top. Plus, impactful colours limit what can be worn with them (unless you're into and have the confidence for crazy colour clashing). So, I plan on knitting up a few wardrobe stables for myself in colours that I can mix with almost anything. This particular colourway is most likely gonna become a vest top. However, as always with these things, I am open to influence and shall have to see.

The very lovely store assistant, Triona, iof the Singer Sewing Centre, kindly stashed all 9 balls of this colourway for me while I make up my mind as to how much I'll actually require. While they're strictly speaking only meant to keep stock aside for one week, she'll keep it for me for two.

Cool heh?

Singer's rocks. :)

My art of knitting shaker style throw is also progressing, as below.

The Art of Knitting Issue 70

Stocking Stitch with Vertical Cables Square

That's all for now folks. I've still got a headache and am waiting for the paracetamol to kick in.

Happy crafting.

Productive insomnia

2008-11-12T09:47:00.005Z

While I'm not quite suffering from insomnia I am still dealing the with effects wrought on my sleeping pattterns by quite a long lie-in on Sunday. I blame it on new bed. Sooo comfy in comparision to prior sleeping arrangement. Seldom have the terms Medium Orthopaedic Mattress ever cultivated such a deep state of relaxation in a person of my age. Bliss.

Well.....

Except for now being wide awake past my usual hitting the hay time......I'm putting this wide awake state to good use by watching The Mighty Boosh....well, more accurately by knitting up the squares for the Art of Knitting throw, while Boosh plays in the background. The two activities mesh quite well as it happens.

Issue No. 68

Woven Pattern Square worked in Indigo yarn which gives a basketweave effect

While I do enjoy being productive, I'd much rather that it was alertly at work, rather than alertly at home knitting.

...well until alertly knitting can be transposed to my own yarn store that is :)

Retail Therapy

2008-11-11T19:26:00.006Z

Attempt No. 1

Attempt No. 2

The vageries of indoor photography and accurate colour representation. Sheesh!

In my humble opinion the second photo down better captures the colour intensity. Which of course means I chose the wrong one to upload to Flickr and shall have to do it over again :face palm:

My blond bombshell enquired none too subtly yesterday what I might like for Christmas this year. I have an answer now.....

A Pro Flickr account!!! :)

I am truly sick of seeing my Ravelry stash photos state that they are no longer currently available. Who knew 200 free digital photos wouldn't be enough to show all my yarn adventures????

More photos

2008-11-10T20:28:00.005Z

Textured Square with Rope Cables from Issue 72 of The Art of Knitting Series

Detail of the Rainbow scarf I knit up from a Ravelry pattern.
Rainbow Pride Scarf by Debbie Spranza
Published as a free Ravelry download
Here's the link for those of you with Ravelry membership

Artistically draped on my new mirror

My variegated 2 skein scarf

Imagine me blowing dust.......

2008-10-27T16:47:00.005Z

...of my poor neglected bloggie.

A gift to you, my poor bloggie. Pictures!!

Words to follow.

Art Auction & Garden Party

2008-09-10T23:34:00.005+01:00

The ambiance was enhanceed by a pretty harpist

Megs & Conor make final adjustments to the buffet

It didn't rain!!!!

That was the absolute highlight. The artworks stayed dry and the guests didn't get soggy.

Whoot!

My day started at 10 (ish) helping Conor prepare food in the kitchen of the Hunt Museum. He nicely straightforward at delegating tasks and, apart from nigh on slicing my finger instead of the tomato, it was a pleasure to be his kitchen porter for the morning. Megs ably tended to washing lettuce, bashing biscuits and whatever else Conor could give her to do that didn't involve sharp or dangerous kitchen objects. She did plenty of fetching and carrying of platters and took some lovely photos.

Conor's colourful spread

After the buffet was ready I was free to let my alter ego Chase loose. It really is several kinds of fun getting oneself dragged up in a ladies toilet. :snigger: I'm oh so glad that I'm oh so not shy. Anyhow, Chase had great fun as the lovely Nigel and glamour Philip made a marvellously comic duo as usual.

Philip & Richard

Madonna Lucia was gracious enough to model the shawl I knit while Nigel gave it a most wonderful description. The lovely Ms. Hills was kind enough to model it for me.

The lovely Tina Hills models her newly acquired shawl

Limerick Pride 2008 - How you can help

2008-09-06T22:43:00.008+01:00

The Rainbow Support Services Logo

Jane's comment inspired this post. Thanks Jane.

Marian is helping by crafting her gorgeous flowers.

I'm helping by being a gopher, auction spotter, kitchen prep helper, coffee dock volunteer, photographer, blogging copiously about Pride......(I don't think I've left anything out.....).

The Art Auction & Garden Party has become a reality thanks to
- Vanessa and Janet adding to their already multi-faceted workloads by tackling it's organisation
- Conor utilising his experience as chef to handle the meal
- All the artists who have donated their work
- All the interested others who have donated artworks they own
- The volunteers who have given their time in the run up and will give their time on the day

(L-R) Nigel the auctioneer & Philip the drag queen
Annual stalwarts of the RSS Art Auction & Garden Party

Limerick Pride overall has been helped by:

- The Pride Committee
- The press who have turned up to press launchs and actually printed information on Limerick Pride and Rainbow Support Services.
- The photographers who took copious pictures for the above.
- The entertainers who have come together to create the Limerick Pride Line up
- The regulars in Rainbow Coffee Dock
- The regulars at Rainbow's S'n'B
- Everyone who took a Pride info leaflet and read it
- Everyone who took posters/flyers/brochures to put up in their businesses
- Everyone who has referred to Limerick Pride in their blogs
- Everyone who links to www.ilovelimerick.com
- Beboers who link with Lime Rick's page, the Rainbow Coffee Dock page & other RSS and Pride related pages
- The Red Ribbon Project who share resources
- The MYLGB youth group members & their friends who pounded the pavement to hand out flyers, hang up posters and answer questions for interested folks
- The folks who dropped into the Rainbow office and found themselves folding invitations, stuffing envelopes and fetching and carrying
- The adorable drag queens Sheila Fits-Patrick (Mike), Madonna Lucia (Evan) and Sharon Arseburn (Shane) who are pitching in any and every way they possibly can. From brightening up the room to hosting competitions, rallying support, advertising, donating art, modelling wearable art, coming to the Rainbow Coffee Dock for tea, talking to everyone they possibly can about Pride and Rainbow.
- Richard Lynch for asking umpteen people "What are you doing for Limerick Pride?"
- There are too many people to name here but everyone's contribution is important.

Leamy House, Hartstonge Street, Limerick City

How you can still help:

- Check out www.ilovelimerick.com to see the events lined up for the next 7 days and see which ones you can make
- Forward the www.ilovelimerick.com website to everyone you know. Only the recipients of the information can decide whether it will be useful for them.
- Drop into Rainbow House and into the offices to donate your time, cash, or stash between 10a.m. and 1p.m..
- Drop into Rainbow Coffee Dock, Leamy House, Hartstonge Street during next week from 2pm - 9p.m. to have a coffee (drip/instant) (caff/decaff) or tea (regular/herbal). Come up the steps or the ramp to the main door and it's the door on your left. Just come right on in. Crafts and kids more than welcome. You don't have to identify as a crafter or as gay to come in and have a brew and a natter.
- Drop into Rainbow Coffee Dock and buy an I Love Limerick badge for €1 and/or a crocheted flower for €2
- Drop into Red Ribbon Project and buy an I Love Limerick badge for €1
- Drop some cash into the donation boxes that are set up in both Rainbow Support Services and Red Ribbon Project.
- Drop some cash into the donation box in Imasa on O'Connoll Street
- Go to the Hunt Museum and buy a ticket for the Art Auction tomorrow and enjoy a different type of Sunday - you may come home with some artwork or even with the knitted shawl I have donated.
- Buy tickets for any other events listed on the I Love Limerick website calendar.
- Volunteer your time for any of the events
- Show up to the Pride Parade on Saturday 13th. Stand on the sidewalk and clap and cheer. Join in with us and march if you can.
- Drop by Leamy House for the post-Pride Parade outdoor Stitch'n'Bitch and buy one of Marian's flowers and/or sit and knit or crochet or just chat with us - you don't have to identify as anything other than a crafter or a stitcher or a bitcher :)
- Drop by Leamy House for the post-Pride Parade street party and listen to the rock band who are playing for us for free
- Drop by Leamy House for the post-Pride Parade BBQ - yum!
- Go with your friend who's itching to attend but too nervous to go on their own
- Let all and sundry know how positive you are towards Limerick Pride not only this week but every week of the year

Rainbow Coffee Dock, Leamy House, Hartstonge Street, Limerick
(before the couches were donated)

I have heard a lot of people over the years say

'I'm just one person, I won't make a difference'

or

'I'm just.....a volunteer.....a friend......a parent'

or

'I'm not gay why would I be involved/welcome?'

Well.......

Senator David Norris is 'Just one person'.......he kept making a fuss until homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland not too long ago.

Just one person can make a LOT of difference in terms of influence, time, effort, energy, enthusiasm and stubborn willpower.

Just one person can mean the difference between isolation and company.

Just one person saying postive things in general about Limerick Pride, Equality and Rainbow Support Services can make the environment they are in a safer, friendlier place for queer youth and for closeted older individuals. It's the ripple effect and it doesn't matter how you identify, the postive results are the same.

We are all 'just one person' and without any one of us the world would be less, our city would be less, our Pride would be less.

Every volunteer in Rainbow from the founder members of the project onwards has been 'just one person'. If any of them hadn't been involved we wouldn't have the vibrant project that exists today.

Marian is 'just one person'. Without her, we wouldn't have her lovely crocheted flowers.

Just one person can provide shelter for teens thrown out of home for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans.

Just one person can be the parent who educates themselves around how to support their children by contacting Rainbow Support Services about the MYLGB youth group.

Just one person can be the neighbour who says a friendly hello to the new gay/lesbian neightbours who just moved in.

Just one person can realise that even though they themselves don't identify as lesbian, gay, bi or trans that they will know, work, study or be related to people who do.

Just one person can realise that just as with all invisible minority groups just because a person doesn't 'look' lesbian, gay, bi or trans or doesn't talk about it doesn't take from the reality of who they are. We all know people from invisible minorities - we just might not realise it when they don't conform to our notions of what they 'should' look like.

Just one person can realise that a person can be gay and a parent, lesbian and a carer, bi and deaf, trans and able-bodied. We come in all shapes and sizes and are more than the sum of our sexualities.

Just one person can contact Rainbow Support Services to find out how to become a Coffee Dock volunteer, Help line volunteer, art work contributor, stock GCN, distribute flyers, make their workplace a homophobia free zone, make their school a homophobia free zone, put up posters about what Rainbow Support Services is and where to find it and how to make contact.

Read through my other posts related to Rainbow & Pride and go to my other page Limerick Drag Kings for more information.

Above all....

HAVE A HAPPY LIMERICK PRIDE!!!!!!

:)

xxxxx

Marian's Crocheted Pride Cuteness

2008-08-30T23:36:00.004+01:00

Don't they look great!

Our crafty Maid Marian of www.mademarian.net has offered to crochet flowers to be sold to raise donations for Rainbow Support Services. You'll find her whipping up her yarny creations outside Leamy House on 13th September between 2pm - 5pm. We'll be taking to the street, weather permitting, (don't want to felt our yarns unintentionally y'know), so you'll find her in the midst of the RSS Stitch'n'Bitch, which will in turn in the midst of the post-parade street party. We can also whip up a few pink triangles for those interested.

If any of you have stash you want to donate for Marian's endeavour please drop same off to Rainbow if you're in the vicinity or send us a bebomail if you're not.

(Hint: Lena's on William Street has bargain yarns on sale for €2 per ball which would do the job stashwise )

Bouncing with anticipation

2008-08-22T00:39:00.005+01:00

Limerick Pride is only around the corner!

:)

I'm tickled pink that Marian posted about the upcoming shenanigans in her blog. Follow the linkity link folks. Besides being a great sport and stretching the boundaries of her blog for Pride she has lovely inspirational posts about the prettiest of cards, (the one she made me for my birthday is still on my desk. I refuse to move it except for occasional re-arranging), cute crochet and the most organised embroidery I have EVER seen.

I look forward to seeing her market stall all set up and being able to buy her cards and other crafty wares.

Aside from the lovely, crafty Marian's blog I also browse Darragh's blog. One of his posts has inspired me. He posted asking his blogging readers to add a comment saying, as you'll see on his blog, their name, where they blog and what they blog. I wanna do it too!

It's fascinating to see how many folks drop by my blog to meander through my posts. And from so many different places too.

My curiosity wants to be satisfied.

Who are you?

Where do you blog?

What do you blog about?

I'm not as technically adept as Darragh so don't have the same layout he has for his post, but you know what to do.

Go on.

Indulge me.

:)

Sorry for the lack of yarn related anything in this post. I've hit an impasse in the Perfect Top pattern. It says to reverse all shapings. So I did. Or thought I did. But it just didn't work out. This portion of the pattern requires more focus than I've had for the last few days. So my crochet has had more of my attention, which seeing as it's my lesser wrought craft, hasn't made much picture worthy progress. (Nor has my portfolio - my procrastination in that area knows no bounds).

Nite folks.

I look forward to your comments.

Truly amazing

2008-08-18T01:13:00.005+01:00

It is truly amazing how a deadline can spur me to action.

It would be truly amazing if this same action were in the field of endeavour pertaining to the deadline. Alas, however, my prodigious knitting is not going to aide my psychometrics portfolio in any way shape or form. It has, however, tremendously helped the shape and form of the Perfect Top on which my procrastination was focused.

I've managed to speed my way through the lower half of the yoke, past the arm shaping and am pretty much at the neckline now. The next row in fact starts the neckline shaping.

Not bad.

Pity my portfolio isn't in such good shape.

:sigh:

Today was a good day.

2008-08-16T21:36:00.007+01:00

A rather soggy day but a good day nonetheless.

We had more stitchers than bitchers again today at Rainbow Coffee Dock Stitch'n'Bitch and two more bitchers had a go at being stitchers. Yay!

The Perfect Top - Eifel stitch detail

I've progressed the back of the Perfect Top to the yoke. The colour of the yarn is spot on in the first picture and bleh in the second - I don't know why. (But it's Saturday night and I'm due for a bath before I head out so it can stay bleh). It's knitting up quite well. The yarn is a dream to work with, despite initial casting on and first row frustration. The yarn spread and I found it difficult to count individual stitches and indeed to knit individual stitches. From the second row onwards though, tis a dream.

The Non-Trad Baby Blanket

The non-trad baby blanket is picking up steam and no longer causing images of atomic salad ingredients to dance across my mind. The group like it which is cool and reassures me that the nippers folks may also find it to their liking. I'm using a mixture of single, double and treble crochet, partly for interesting texture and partly to keep myself interested as crochet is really Marian's gig, not mine.

After hours of enjoyable crocheting and stitching I made my merry, if rather soggy way, down to my favourite and oh-so-handy eaterie The Bruschetta Bar.

It's got the essentials down pat. Good food. Smiling staff. Handy location. Smiling staff. Oh did I mention the great staff already? Well, that's cos good staff are important. I've gone in there after hours on the bus to and from Clonmel, browned off from travelling and in not such a great mood and come away relaxed and refreshed with a tummy full of lovely food served by smiling, patient, attentive and friendly staff.

I've gone there on a date with a girlfriend, for an end helpline training course dinner with course mates (where we stayed way too late but were still waited on with patience and friendly smiles), after Coffee Dock duty with fellow volunteers, with a work colleague for lunch, with my daughter in tow for lunch, and all on my ownio more times than I care to count, and never been let down by the food or the service.

Oh and a big plus, aside from gorgeous, smiling waitresses ( :dreamy sigh: ) is that I can bring my knitting there during the quieter times and no-one bats an eyelid. Bliss!!

Bruschetta Bar definitely gets my vote.

The Perfect Top commences

2008-08-10T22:47:00.004+01:00

Isn't this just a delicious shade of blue?

For some reason the colour brings the word free to my mind. Free open blue skies being the visual. Anyhow, tis appropriate, as that's probably how the person for whom this top is intended is feeling nowadays. She's certainly excited. Let's just say she's feeling like a new woman. :)

I cast on the back of the top yesterday in Rainbow Coffee Dock. Marian was bemused at how many times I cast on, frogged and began again. The top calls for the thumb (aka long tail) cast on method to be used. It's not my favourite method as I end up with either too little of a yarn tail to cast up the required amount of stitches or far too much of a left over yarn tail. Harumph.

Anyhow, I eventually got the required number of stitches cast on. Even counting them was a chore as this yarn has a tendency to spread along the needle. Double harrumph! The first row was a chore as the spreading yarn made seeing individual stitches a challenge. The second row was a far easier proposition. I got the first five rows done before I swapped WIP's.

I opted for the second time around of Beth's sweater. This one is for one of my blonde bombshell's dolls. As I've only just completed one I'm finding that I can fly through this with the minimum of concentration or consternation. Lack of consternation is always good!! I cast off the second sleeve while watching Ghost Whisperer. It's lovely to have a small project on the go to give a sense of completion while working a larger, or more fiddly, project.

I've got a few works in progress going at the moment. My bag was the one overflowing this weekend!

Froodie was busy crocheting a scarf which turned out very well and was admired by all of us.

(Psst! Froodie, if you're stuck about who to gift it to, feel free to add my name to the list! :) )

Marian was working on her bumbl........I mean baby blanket!

Heh heh.....well when I came in (dripping from my rain soaked dash from the bus) my first thought was that her project was bumble bee related in some manner. The blue is a dark blue which, thanks to the figaries of light and colour interaction, looks black when placed beside the yellow of the project. The yellow is a lovely crisp yellow and gives lovely stitch definition, at least from my perspective. It also helps that Marian makes such lovely crisp crochet stitches. :) Methinks the finished project shall be the inspiration behind many future conversations (debates even) while it keeps it's recipient snug 'n' cosy.

It's one of those projects that gonna have a story attached by the time it's given. Kinda like my non-trad baby blanket and the trials and tribulations it's been through thus far. However, that requires a fresh picture and thus shall be the subject of a post for another day.

Bye for now folks and I hope you've all had a lovely weekend.

Scarf for a Bear Cub

2008-08-10T13:56:00.004+01:00

The bear cub likes his scarf.

He really does and he's gonna wear it when the weather isn't quite so warm and muggy.

Yay!!

He likes it.

:bounce:

:ahem:

Calming down now. :)

On holiday

2008-08-07T01:05:00.005+01:00

I've slept in and stayed up late and chatted with a friend I don't get to see half often enough.

I've cuddled with my daughter with no need to be anywhere else and no desire to be anywhere else.

My current knitting WIP is for Megs. She admired Beth's sweater so much that she now desires one for her doll. Started it yesterday and I already have the back knit up and cast off and am now working on the front.

This evening Megs friend Shauna came over for a sleepover. She used to live across the road from us and moved a few weeks ago. How Meg's face lit up. It was like a bulb lit up that's been extinguished since the child moved. The two have spent their time together full of giggles, banter, squeals of delight and squeals of annoyance at Solo for bouncing on them in the car.

They're still giggling and it's 1.12am.

I'm thinking Tsk! on the one hand because I have to be somewhere for 10.30 in the morning.

However, I'm thinking Fabulous! on the other hand because it delights me to hear Megs being a giddy, giggly 10 year old (I don't refer to seeing her as her bedroom has become their base of operations with brief forays for essentials like my bathroom mirror for the accurate application of make up).

I sat knitting, while watching my favourite shows, with the sound of my daughter's merriment serving as background noise.

Bliss.

:cue contented sigh: