Fair Isle Rapids (3)

Yes, I did finish the Fair Isle Rapids scarf that I started before Christmas, though it did sit unworked in the corner for a while when the 'flu chased my concentration away.  I loved this project, even though it took me a couple of goes to get the hang of the stranding, and as soon as I got used to the pattern, it worked up very quickly.

Here's the finished scarf being blocked:

This is where you really see how clever the pattern is; it does look like a river and its rapids, and I'm still in awe of its designer, Kieran Foley.

Some quality checking:

Here's the finished scarf, all ready to go to its new home:

And then I made another one!

My mother (sitting), Shan y Lliwdy and Bontfaen maid

My mother (sitting), Shan y Lliwdy and Bontfaen maid
Originally uploaded by LlGC ~ NLW

One of my favourite photographs in the collection. Yes, it's stereotypical, but again, it's one of John Thomas' works, so it's a reflection of the people he found on his travels.

The idea of knitting in Wales intrigues me. We're known for our sheep, our wool, our weaving, but I've yet to find evidence of a knitting tradition akin to that of Scotland and Ireland. There are occasional patterns that come from Wales, but apart from that - nothing. Was our knitting tradition simply functional? I think it very strange. If you know otherwise, please let me know.

Newtown Women's Institute knitting comforts for the troops

Newtown Women's Institute knitting comforts for the troops
Originally uploaded by LlGC ~ NLW

If ever there was a craft-based photograph that would make me smile, this is it! As the note says, this is David Lewis, helping the war effort in Newtown. He's wearing a balaclava of his own creating; do you think the women are smiling at that, or the novelty of his being the only male knitter in the town? In any event, it's a joyous photograph, and I love it.

Capel Garmon natives

Capel Garmon natives
Originally uploaded by LlGC ~ NLW

I'm sure most of you know where I work from day-to-day, and although I'm not directly involved with any of our collections, I occasionally stumble across a gem that catches my eye, and makes me think about my crafting work. Here's one.

John Thomas was a photographer who travelled around Wales simply documenting what he saw. Capel Garmon isn't all that far from where I grew up in North Wales, but I associate it with an amazing burial chamber, rather than wool work. This photograph is arresting, though; there's a look of determination on each face, and you know that these women are industrious and hard-working. When I look at this photograph, I wonder whether they were producing wool and fabric for themselves and their families, or did they sell their products in the shop behind them? You can see bolts of fabric there, and a woven rug, so it's not impossible - but who knows?

There are a couple of other photographs that I want to share with you; sit back and enjoy!

Real Men Knit

You've probably all seen this, and I'm sure I'm woefully behind in hearing about it, but this is wonderful:

Real Men Knit

Useful fonts

Thank you to Claire for the heads-up on these two very useful fonts: StitchinKnit(Tm) and StitchinCrochet(Tm).  I haven't yet started writing my own patterns, but when I do, I think these will be invaluable.

Custom Order

Made for Jane, as part of a custom order: a feather-and-fan scarflette made with Colinette's Banyan yarn in Mardi Gras. This dye lot is redder and more striking than the one that I'd used previously, but I like it a lot. It's very bold.

I've said it before, but this is a really lovely yarn. It works up incredibly quickly, and the colour changes add a twist to the pattern. I hope Jane likes it!

I love Noro!

Four Noro scarves that I've knitted this year... and I've just bought another 16 balls to make more... I must be insane!

Banyan: Mardi Gras

My Colinette wools arrived just over a week ago, and they're so lovely that I just had to get going with them straight away. This is Mardi Gras, a hand-dyed, cotton-viscose mix, and I was a little bit nervous about using such a fine and slippery yarn. But it works up really nicely - and surprisingly quickly - and I'm currently making a dress scarf in feather and fan stitch that will eventually be listed on my Zakura store.

Iceland

I love Etsy. I really do. I love that you can search the site in a multitude of ways and never be quite sure where you're going to end up. This is what happened to me last night. I was mooching around and decided to visit Iceland (as one does), and that's when I found:

Ooh! Lots of lovely wool! I've been informed that Icelandic wool is soft and lovely to work, and, having looked at the colours available, I'm already formulating patterns in my head...

Colinette

I couldn't resist, and I've given in to temptation. I've ordered some Colinette Banyan yarn, in Mardi Gras and Lagoon:



I think they'll be perfect for scarves in feather and fan stich - as long as I don't mess up my counting this time!