New tricks

Last Saturday, whilst judging at a local village show, I slipped up.  I was breezing merrily through the knitting and crochet entries and failed to recognise a particular technique.  Thankfully, the exhibitor caught me as I was leaving and we were able to spend a few minutes discussing the characteristics of tunisian crochet. 

There are several variations of yarn crafts, all related to the two most widely known: knitting and crochet.  But I’ve seldom seen anything unusual on a village show bench and in my bag of samples I take with me when teaching, there’s just one sample of hairpin crochet which usually foxes everyone enough to prompt a little research.

Well, would you recognise that as crochet?  I have clever friends! (thank you, Sally)

Anyway, back to the Tunisian Crochet.  Failing to spot it was especially annoying since, earlier in the year, I’d come across a tutorial and simple pattern which I’d shared with my crafty friends online.  I’d intended to give it a go but didn’t get round to it.

Guess what I did yesterday, though?

I found a plastic hook in my Mum’s knitting needle box.  I’m sure it was the kind of thing given away free with Woman’s Own or whatever.  Still, it was enough for me to have a go with.  In no time at all, I’d completed the foundation row and gone on a little further.

When I looked closely at the back, I could see how I’d mistaken it for knitting. 

Though the front looks very different.  Just like crochet, though, my work is so tight – I might be able to achieve an even tension but oh my goodness, it’s really dense!

Anyway, whilst shopping this morning, I bought a metal hook which has speeded the process up rather and my dishcloth (yes…) is nearly complete.

The edges are firm and neat and the technique is easy to pick up.  This afternoon, I browsed Pinterest for a few more pattern ideas and came across this.

Gorgeous!  And yes, I have some of that Malabrigo yarn in my stash…

Would you pardon the pun if I said, for now, I’m hooked?

Visitors

A lovely day here, much appreciated after the dreary and cold times we’ve had of late.  A bit of blue sky and a fine morning really lifts the spirits, not that we were in need of such things.  We expected company for Sunday lunch, and that was going to be entertainment enough.

As a result, my morning was spent in the kitchen, roasting pork, vegetables and assembling the strawberry pavlova I’d made last night.   I baked Simon Hopkinson’s Pear and Ginger Sponge which is, in my opinion, every bit as “yummo scrummo beyond belief” as is claimed.

But at one point I stepped outside to photograph these two in the garden.

How cute are they?   Made from a single six inch square of knitting, they come together in no time and were created whilst watching TV last night.  I used 28 stitches on 5.5mm needles and a ball of angora yarn, following these instructions to transform the flat square into a baby bunny.  They will grow tails at some point soon.

In the meantime, they are showing particular interest in the pear and ginger sponge!  I’ll find a home for them before Easter ;-)

Incredible

I promised to tell more of the superb exhibition I visited last week, when I was in London for the NFWI AGM in the Albert Hall. 

“hidden places hidden spaces” was an exhibition presented by a group of textile artists from all over the country.  Though I’ve wanted to see their shows in previous years, so far they’ve eluded me.  But finding out that the Private View was on the very afternoon I was going to be in London was perfect timing.  I was there like a shot!

The Mall Galleries are so well located and offered the perfect canvas for this eclectic mix of work.  I’m not sure my chum Nita would take all the credit for the superb hanging, but I’m going to give it to her anyway!  I was lucky to time my arrival perfectly to have her show me around and have the bonus of her insight and the stories behind the pieces, too!

Plenty of space to stand back and admire, because some of the work was pretty large.

That’s Paulene’s  very effective piece “Down the Drain” over on the wall.  A huge piece of felting, there was an added dimension in the form of sound effects triggered by movement in front of it.  The reaction of those passing was amusing to observe too!  I love to see textile art that isn’t “pretty” and Paulene is the master of creating such work.

Another of Paulene’s works, created collaboratively with her colleague Celia, is “Departed Soles” – a collection of “footprints” which fit perfectly into this little outdoor space within the gallery.

“blown” into the corner of the space, this was a really effective presentation of the concept!

Nita’s work often consists of exquisite knitting and her “flying jewels”, tiny hummingbirds knitted from iridescent wire twinkled beautifully in the light, their shadows adding to the effect.

Each little jewel was different, their lace wings beautifully worked.  Her fingers must have been so sore, because wire isn’t the most comfortable or accommodating of yarn to work with.

Her work “stolen jewels” fitted the exhibition title perfectly – a statement on the theft and illegal import of exotic birds, the mere idea sent a shiver down my bird-phobic back!

Sadly, my photograph of Caroline’s bird inspired pieces doesn’t do them justice.  My apologies, Caroline!

And what of the meeting?  Well, I was in excellent company and I’d say my seat in the Albert Hall was the best ever.  I’d feared that the number 12 on my ticket meant I’d be somewhere up there in breathing apparatus territory, amongst the chandeliers perhaps.  But no, I found myself in Box 12, sitting with the National Trainers and rewarded with a perfect view of proceedings.

Notable moments from the day include Maggie Aderin Pocock  who delivered her presentation with two year old daughter, Lauren, on her hip.  What a remarkable woman!

Later in the day, the worldwide record for the greatest number of people knitting at one time was challenged.  That’s still being verified but surely, that one is in the bag?

The audience enjoyed a performance from some of the Strictly dancers, who managed quite well in such a limited space, but thankfully the meeting was brought to a close in a more traditional manner, with a final “Jerusalem” and the National Anthems.

You really have to be there to know how incredible that is.

Ta da!

Yes, it’s a bit dark because the heavens were about to open and we had to put all the lights on, even though it wasn’t yet 5 o’clock.  But, less than an hour after the last post, the socks were finished and blocking, even if they are way too big for the sock blockers I have!

The Cat Bordhi pattern I used is fun to knit and creates a weirdly shaped sock which somehow fits my hero’s feet perfectly.  Deduce what you will from that. I think we’re talking high insteps or fallen arches or some such feature.  What makes these socks particularly well fitting is the area where most of the shaping normally goes on – where the foot turns into the ankle – and this pattern opens up that area very well indeed, making them easy to get on and off, because there’s plenty of room around that corner.  I guess that’s why they look as though they’re made for someone wearing a cast on their foot.  hmm.

No sooner had I completed the socks than I was casting on 220 stitches on a large needle and starting the Big Herringbone Cowl.  This requires more tenacity than knitting skill, but is shaping up fairly well after only two l-o-n-g rows, knitting two together and only dropping one stitch off the left hand needle.  Slow going but mindless knitting – and perhaps what’s required after two complicated socks?

As I was finishing those socks, I wondered why I’d left them so very close to completion?

I don’t like the colour.

Is that enough of a reason?  Or a mere excuse?

(As I type, the electricity keeps flashing on and off.  It’s really windy and rather squally today and it looks like we might be in for some fun – if you know what I mean!)

Back to..?

Even though it’s a few years since the start of term featured on our calendars, the first Monday in September retains all of those associations.  I began the day with a list and felt motivated to work my way through it, ticking things off as I went.

Don’t you think the ticking off is the best bit?

Having ticked off a fair few items, I decided I’d earned some blog reading time.  First up was Needled, which had a link to the new online Rowan magazine.  Five minutes of glorious colour, beautiful knitting and fantastic photography later and I can feel the knitting mojo coming back.  So, what’s it going to be?

Will it be the Honey Cowl?  I bought some soft-as-soft-can-be yarn in John Lewis sale earlier in the year and it would be perfect for this project.

or

Will it be the Shadow[]box?   The picture on the pdf of the pattern shows it knitted in black, which isn’t a great colour for revealing detail and though I remember being very taken with the design when I first came across it, my memory hasn’t recorded all the small points.  Time to go and take a look at Ravelry and see what others have done with it.

but

I clicked on a link and found this, which looks right up my street and could also work well with my softest of soft yarn.

except

in the sitting room is one of my fabric bags with an incomplete crochet wrap in it.

and

my hero is quietly awaiting the socks I’ve been knitting since...ermmm…and which need only the rib finishing off.  Knitted to one of those complicated Cat Bordhi patterns, once I’d done the “fun” bit, I lost interest.  However, unlike my friend Jordi, I avoided the second sock syndrome by knitting both socks at the same time.  How clever was that?

(I guess it’ll be the socks then)