a simple yarn

As we’re in the midst of the Knitting and Stitching Show in Dublin, you most certainly would expect more than one post on the subject, right?

As we’ve been coming and going, looking and buying, oohing and aahing, learning and doing…you get the idea…I asked Isobel how her crocheting class went. Crocheting…..the next skill on her ever-growing list. Anyway, in her quiet and subtle way, she simply said, ‘I’m a knitter.’ Now frankly, I thought her first go at it was very admirable, not nearly as hideous as she thinks it to be.

And in the midst of the fibre-skills-hyper-stimulation-event-that-is-the-Show, she also had a go at spinning, another skill-to-be-learned on her list. Not sure what Isobel thought of that though. Sharon documents it on her blog, so no need for repetition.

And before you begin thinking that we all live to chronicle Isobel’s life, I will get to my ever elusive point…

So today, I was back at the Guild stand doing some demonstrations. Actually, I thought I’d sneak in some practice on the spinning wheel. Haven’t had a real opportunity since our August stay at the Lodge. Took some lovely dark teal dyed fleece. Got some last minute advice from Holly on reducing the omni-present overspin that takes up permanent residence in my yarn. Watched Holly do some spinning…how relaxed she looks…

…as she did some incredibly fancy coiling her hands looked as if they were going at the speed of light…

…making fashionably cute coils plumping down the line of yarn…

Then decided to have a go of my own doing plain ol’ vanilla flavoured basic spinning and, with a nod to Isobel’s own life commentary, I gotta say…..

I’m a weaver.

Warning, Pollyanna-Type Cheerleading Session To Follow:
I wouldn’t call myself overly-sentimental-or-pie-in-the-sky, but can I share an observation? I just think it’s way cool that something as simple and innocent as knitting (or insert your favourite fibre-related craft noun here) can bring together people who not long ago were total strangers…

Right, so as I said, today was the first day of Dublin’s Knitting and Stitching Show. An understatement to say that it was a very long day. Long but enjoyable. But, let’s start with a general lay of the land….

View from above….

A favourite project by the Connacht Weavers & Spinners Group
featuring a bogland themeDid the typical demonstrating, hawking wares, promoting the Guild stuff in the morning. Did a walkabout in the vendors hall in the afternoon. Fairly restrained, I’d say. Did Husband-Will a favour by pre-selecting-and-pre-purchasing some Christmas pressies he can surprise me with…

Saw lots of people I know and have come to know in my fibre pursuits…Ireland’s not that big you know. More like homecoming or a class reunion you’d think. Saw a previous neighbour I hadn’t seen in more than 2 years. Also chatted with Blog-Reader-Lindy (Hiya!). Hung out at This Is Knit and wasn’t content with just buying yarn, but felt compelled to continually go back and have a chat with Lisa and Jacqui. They’re very patient with such drop-ins. Also dropped in at Craftspun repeatedly. More meet ups. More chat.

And then came one of my favourite parts….got together with ‘the girls’ for tea and what else, knitting. Had 3 of the Dublin knitting groups represented in an ad hoc knitting/chat session in the café area. Compared purchases, each sharing readily to the ‘where’d you get that?’ enquiries.

You’d think that at a knitting show there’d be more knitting, but I’m thinking we were the only ones with needles flying.

Eventually, toward the end of the day, Holly was finished working at the Feltmakers Ireland stand, Sharon had come up from Wexford, Sara got off work and along with Isobel and myself, who’d had a full day of it, gathered together for a brief catch-up before each going our own way.

How relatively ordinary, this sharing of our news….
‘I got a new hair cut,’ say I, quite stupidly, as if they couldn’t see the blazing short blonde streaks for themselves.
‘I think we should go to the new Paperchase shop,’ says Sara.
‘I’m leaving for New Zealand for a year,’ Sharon casually adds.

Stunned silence. Wow! Some people will go to great lengths to acquire good knitting yarn and four others are green with envy! And so we, who were not long ago strangers, will soon bid a fond and temporary farewell to one of our dear five, which will, for the time being, have to be re-named, ‘We-Five-On-Two-Continents.’

(New Zealand…..hmmm….I’m thinking fibre field trip for my next birthday….)

If you had asked me yesterday if there was any benefit in going through the city during morning rush hour, I’d have said absolutely not, but today…..

It’s the first day of the fibre event we, in Dublin, have been waiting for….Knitting and Stitching Show. Finally. Have to get to the venue early enough to do last minute prep for the Weavers/Spinners/Dyers Guild stand. Exhibition hall is on other side of city. Have to go through heart of city during morning gridlock.

Gotta admit, getting a free morning commuter newspaper delivered to my driver’s-side-window is a small nicety in an otherwise despicable situation. Ironically, with the lack of traffic movement, I can certainly get it read in the car since I’m not moving anyway. Now, if they could only manage coffee and doughnuts….