March « 2007 « Tangelled Angel

March 29, 2007

Spring is in the air

Filed under: General Ramblings, Knitters Treats — sweensie @ 6:53 am

Yes Spring is definately in the air when you see the magnolia coming out.

Pictures taken a couple of weeks ago outside the National GalleryÂ in Dublin.Â

The booties are done, waiting to be thrown into the washing machine to be felted, the socks have been worked on a little, almost near the end of foot no. 2.

Have been admired and coveted again last night by another friend.

No work done on the Trellis Scarf.

Few rows of Bridie done.

Knitting mojo taking a back seat at the moment to the Knitters Treat Exchange.Â Sign ups close on the 31st, you know.

Not that I’m particularly canvessing for more sign-ups, we have been overwhelmed (in a good way!)

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March 26, 2007

Going to my Head

Filed under: General Ramblings, Knitters Treats, Knitting — sweensie @ 9:23 am

I spent a good part of the weekend reading through some of the Knitters Treat ExchangeÂ blogs, adding them to my own database and trying to sort them according to some criteria .
Phew, I think I may have gotten half way through my lot of exchangers! Still half to go this week.
I got involved in it so much, that I found it hard to sleep last night, I was tossing and turning, and dreaming about blogs.Â My mind was hopping.
I mean hopping.Â I kept waking up and thinking that I HAVE to stop dreaming about these blogs, and then going back to sleep and right back in there.
So I have decided not to read any of the blogs tonight, take a night off from it.
Luckily, there is another 2 weeks left for me to get to know everyone and get everyone paired up.
There is however, only another 6 days for people to sign up, if you have been wondering if you will or not.Â Sign ups close on the 31st March.
We have had an over-whelming response to it, much more so than we thought we would get.
We thought we may get about 20 people, including friends who felt they had to sign up, and next thing you know, we are almost at the hundred mark!!
Phew again. 6 days to go.
So, apart from at the knitting groupÂ on Saturday, I hardly got any knitting done at all over the weekend.Â
I did do a bit on some booties I’m doing, on Saturday night, I think I did 2 rows…
NONE on Sunday, oh actually, I tell a lie, I went to my folks for lunch on Sunday and I brought my sock.Â I made a mistake the first row I knit and had to tink back again.
Concentrate Sara!
However, this evening, I will be concentrating on something else, the ironing.Â Its overwhelming itself.Â I have a huge pile in the spare bedroom, and a huge pile in the kitchen.Â And I have a friend staying with me on Wednesday, so I need to clear out the spare room.
So, I’ll be ironing tonight, while watching the soaps. How exciting!
Meanwhile, here’s a pot holderÂ I did and sent to my friend Sherri.

I used Rowan cotton, and knit it on needles just a little too small for it, so it was hard going. I was determined to finish it.
I used a recycled pillowcase for the backing, bought from a charity shop, and I love it, its so soft, and the pattern is lovely.

I made a real mess of the stitching, cos my sewing machine was playing up, so I ended up sewing it by hand. There were a few glasses of wine involved.Â Enough said.

It wasn’t TOO bad, so I sent it off, as a protegy. I haven’t heard from her yet, so maybe she’s embarressed on my behalf and not sure how to approach me about it!
I like the idea of these, so I have knit up a couple more, intending on using a real working sewing machine the next time.

Eh, yes, I’m thinking of buying one…

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March 25, 2007

stitchin in town

Filed under: Friends, Inspiration, Knitting — sweensie @ 9:40 pm

There is a new venue for the stitch and bitch knitting group in town, in Filmbase CafeÂ on Curved Street.

Its the first time I have made the knitting group here, though they have met here I think twice before now.Â Its a great venue.Â

I had a deliciously tasty ciabatta with goats cheese, cranberry relish, hazelnuts and rocket salad, which in case you haven’t realised, was totally delicious?

Â In amongst this group, are Cheryl, Isobel, Holly, DianeÂ and Ger, most of the Irish bloggers.Â We were missing AileenÂ and SharonÂ though.

There was some lovely knitting being done and on show, firstly Diane had some gorgeous Noro Kureyon and was making this throw with it, click for bigger picture.Â She also had a great cover for her phone, made out of left over sock yarn, which I examined at great length later on. Watch this space!

Isobel was working on her left over sock yarn baby booties, talk about the sweetest things I have ever seen! I’m sure you have already seen them on her blog but here they are again for you to drool over (I’ve wiped mine off don’t worry)

Â Â

Lastly, we got to see Cheryl’s scarf, which was made by Holly.Â It was a true masterpiece, and it was a challenge to even get a photo of it, it was being passed around and also oohed and aahed over so much!

What a nice way to spend a Saturday morning eh?

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March 23, 2007

To Mitre or not to Mitre?

Filed under: General Ramblings — sweensie @ 1:10 pm

Oh I know, how cheesy a title is that.

But whenÂ I got this little chocolate as an accompaniment to a cup of tea in Lemon, (crÃ©pe eatery in Dublin) Â its exactly whatÂ I thought of.Â

It tasted pretty good too!

It was one of the first things I ate on St Patricks Day, when you know you are allowed to eat that very item that you gave up for Lent!! Honest!

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March 22, 2007

Getting to know you

Filed under: Clare, Knitters Treats — sweensie @ 8:08 pm

Well IsobelÂ and I have started dividing up the sign ups for theÂ Knitters Treat Exchange, and I have started to have a good old read of my exchangers blogs.Â Its good reading so far and I’m getting to know everyone nicely. Its an exciting time for us, we are like little kids waiting for Christmas day!! Well, I am anyway.

There is still lots of time to sign up though, sign ups don’t close until the 31st of March so if you are still humming and hawing about it, you still have time!!

In case I haven’t said it before, Panda has made us a fantastic button for the exchange.Â Panda isÂ Bobbi’sÂ daughter and very talented!! Thanks Panda!

Now I have to try and work out how to put it on my blog.Â Wordpress is very different to Blogger, but I like it

So I leave you with another couple of photos from Co. Clare last weekend, until the next time mateys!

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Saving heat, or Calorimetry to you

Filed under: Knitting — sweensie @ 10:51 am

So, remember the CalorimetryÂ that I made a while back?

I wore it one time when I was out walking, and ended up at my parents house, so stopped in for a cup of tea.

Mum liked it a lot, and she goes out walking also, and it covers the ears which helps with the cold aspect of things, and she doesn’t wear hats.

I had some of the yarn left over from the ball,Â so I set about making one for her from it.

Here is a view of the first one I made and the newer reduced version, using 100 stitches cast on instead of 120, and size 4mm needles (I think- I’ve mislaid my notebook that I make these notes in)

As you can see,Â I used the same button as the first.

It fits a lot better, and as a result, I frogged the first one and reknit it over the weekend.

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March 21, 2007

The weekend that was in it

Filed under: Clare, General Ramblings, Knitting — sweensie @ 9:24 am

It was a great weekend.

I’m not sure if anyone outside of Ireland heard about it, but we are currently having a cold snap.

This follows on from a very wild and windy and stormy weekend.

What do you make of the above photo?Â That is the foam off the sea.

The first photo you see is of my brother in law Paul.

Minutes later, he was engulfed in foam from head to toe. We, including 3 people standing nearby, all fell about laughing.Â It was the best moment.

Here’s an example why:

Or a similar wave to that one. Went straight for him.

Here’s what the sea looked like a little further up the coast

Please note that Paul is being used for scale purposes.Â He likes to live life on the edge.

Can you see the wave on the left coming over the cliffs?Â Thats how high the swells were.

So apart from this, in an eeringly similar vein to Isobel, we spent a lot of time in front of the fire

both in the cottage and the pub,

I finished off a sock, and cast on immediately for the second.

Admired but didn’t knit a bit of Trellis from IK Winter 06

Did knit another Â CalorimetryÂ for myself (much needed in the gale force winds we were having) after frogging my first one as it was far too big, and knit a teacosy for my teapot from my first navajo plyed homespun.Â It wasn’t much use for anything else as was a bit knotty. My teapot is liking it though!

So from Sunday night where we had this:

We left on Monday to this:

And this was our weekend. Weather went from gales to hailstones, to sun, to sky, to dark clouds within seconds, then rain, sleet and more hailstones. Did I tell you about the gales?

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March 16, 2007

Happy St Patricks Day

Filed under: General Ramblings — sweensie @ 2:50 pm

I just want to wish you all an early St Patricks Day from me.

We’re off somewhere this evening, somewhere that looks like this

of course, its the cottage in Clare. (Excuse the extremely stretched photo, still trying to get to grips with this new-to-me programme)

So this means hopefully some nice walks here:

Anyone have any idea where I’m talking about??

I’ll let you know whenÂ I get back!

Oh, and don’t forget to keep signing up for the Knitters Treat Exchange, both IsobelÂ and I will be on holiday from computers over the weekend, but we’ll be right back with you on Monday!

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March 14, 2007

Ready for that cup of Tea yet?

Filed under: Knitters Treats, Lovely grub — sweensie @ 8:20 am

Tea and Muffin

So,Â bet you were wondering what was going on with the 2 blogs?

Â I am in business!

Huge thanks to The Gurrier, Isobel’sÂ other half, for getting me on track with the change over of blogs. Huge thanks also to Isobel for the push!

So now, here’s some tea, plus some yummyÂ walnut and maple muffins, from Rachel Allen’s favourite food at home, just for you, for joining me on my newest venture.

I may have to eat them for you though….never thought of that. Oh well, what can a girl do… Â

Luckily,Â I have some more. Help yourselves!

Kev, bring some of that choccie ice-cream with you in June when you come over eh?Â Maybe some of the sushi too….drat, neither will get through customs!

Donni, that VB and the pav with fresh mango’s suggestion made my mouth water…believe it or not, I can actually get my hands on VB here if I want….and have done…

I’ve been experiencing some difficulties with my internet connection the last couple of weeks, so apologies if I haven’t replied to emails/comments and I wil try and get back to things soon, very soon!

Its my Nana’s anniversary today,Â 20 years since she passed away, andÂ she’s still so clear in all of our memories.

Okay now, Â go and check out the Knitters Treat Exchange.Â The questionnaire is up, you know!

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March 7, 2007

Treat a Fellow Knitter

Filed under: Knitters Treats — tangelled angel @ 3:59 am

So, how are you feeling after the last swap you signed up for?

Ready to do it again?

Our plotting and scheming has led to the Knitters Treat Exchange

Its a one off exchange, where you treat your pal with lovely treaty type things.
This includes some mandatory treats and then some ideas for other loverly things.

Such as:

Treats you MUST send:
1. Enough yarn for a one skein/small project
2. Magazine
3. Pampering treat - e.g. Hand cream, bath fizzer etc
4. Delicious treat - e.g. chocolate/candy/tea/coffee
5. Your blog address, so your pal can say hello

Other treats you could include:
1. Your favourite recipe
2. A pattern to go with the yarn (please respect copyright)
3. Candles
4. Knitting notions
5. Anything else you’d like to treat your pal with

I mean, what could be nicer than curling up with a nice cup of rosy lea that your pal sent, while simultaneously sniffing new yarn, leafing through that crafty magazine that you’ve always wanted to get your hands on, and trying to cast on at the same time, chocolate melting on your lap as you juggle all the above??

All the information you need is on Knitters Treat Exchange and Tea and Cakes and I would love to have you join us!!!

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