a simple yarn

Kids at a sleepover. Nice of Iain-And-Lucy-Of-The-Lodge to have them. Big chunk of free time. The birthday-scarf-to-be is staring at me. Four hundred teeny tiny threads are waiting to be handled…twice.

And so, I am…

Catching up on my blog reading.
Writing witty and insightful comments on blogs.
Tweaking my own blog.
Oh yeah, fixing a glitch on the OlannBán site too.
Taking an extra long shower.
Giving myself a quick pedicure.
Flipping through a fashion magazine someone gave me.
Standing in front of the kitchen cabinets pondering what to eat for lunch.
Listening to BBC Radio 4…even the boring shows.
Staring into my wardrobe to figure out what to wear to Mary’s hen night party.
Writing this post.

Sigh. I guess I’m more productive when time is scarce.

I’d like to shake the hand of that unknown Johnson & Johnson employee who, during World War II, invented duct tape…

…which, by the way, was originally called ‘duck’ tape, or so say The Duct Tape Guys. Actually, they have a lot to say…more than I thought possible…about the silver sticky stuff…

Brief History of Duct Tape Diversion Ahead—
“The original use was to keep the moisture out of the ammunition cases. Because it was waterproof, people referred to the tape as ‘Duck Tape.’ Also, the tape was made using cotton duck - similar to what was used in their cloth medical tapes. Military personnel quickly discovered that the tape was very versatile and used it to fix their guns, jeeps, aircraft, etc. After the war, the tape was used in the booming housing industry to connect heating and air conditioning duct work together. Soon, the color was changed from Army green to silver to match the ductwork and people started to refer to duck tape as ‘Duct Tape’.”

I guess apologies are in order to my father-in-law, a firm believer in the virtues of duct tape, for I found it an indispensable tool at the loom today…

…or perhaps because there was no masking tape to be found.

Anyway, the rayon warp is slick…not in a glossy-sleek-smooth kind of way…more like a ‘what-shall-I-do-with-this-greased-pig’ sort of way. Once I’ve threaded it through the heddles (aka needles), I would usually tie a bit of a slip knot to secure it and prevent accidental unthreading. Trouble is, the stuff is too slippy for a slip knot. So presto, a simple solution…

I’m very thankful that the warp has cooperated so far, as I’m beginning to cast an eye to the calendar, for this birthday gift needs to be done by Thursday. That’s just seven days away…Eek!

And so, with fear and trepidation, I begin my ascent of ‘Mount Fear,’ words of encouragement echoing in my ear and strengthening my resolve. But, jagged precipes at every turn. A miscalculation leading to ultimate peril on the proverbial rocks below…

…hang on…

A bit melodramatic? Yep. Actually, it’s a photo of Ireland’s Eye off the coast of Howth in north County Dublin. Took visiting Friends-From-France there yesterday. Lovely day to be by the sea.

Truth be told, though, the rayon warp was begun today. Knew I couldn’t wind it entirely, but got a good start on it by doing a portion. Couldn’t think too much about it or the tremors would start.

What’s done is safely tucked away until the entire warp can be threaded on the loom. Slow and steady, the theme of the day. Took under advisement all the good hints given. Loaded a slipperier-than-fish skein on the swift to keep temporary order. But you can tell the threads are just itching to ‘thwoing’ in every direction, which brings back bad memories…

Need a third hand periodically, as the thread kinks up on itself in a dreadful manner, much the same way my handspun yarn does with the inevitable overspin…

But eventually they smooth out in a nice, sleek row…

…at least for now.

*Post Title Postscript
Thanks to Kristen for reminding me that it’s just string and yes, I am smarter than string, in case there was any doubt.

He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Morning tea. Favourite cup. Irish pottery. Beautiful hues of brown, copper, sage with a surprising twist of indigo and purple.
No, I am not afraid of tea.

Rosie’s birthday. Number 40. Want to do something special.
No, I am not afraid of being 40…done it.

Handwoven scarf just for Rosie. A simple one. Possible even with busy days ahead. Have a couple of weeks.
No, I am not afraid of putting on a warp under deadline (anymore).

Autumnal shades. Warm browns with a surprising twist. Just like my tea cup. Ah, the perfect warp material comes to mind, bought last year in Birmingham.
Yes, I am afraid of rayon.

The iridescent colours are, without a doubt, perfect.

But the rebellious behaviour of the ultra-slick threads is a bit worrying. Why, just sitting there they have a mind of their own, refusing to stay in any semblance of order. What have I gotten myself into?

But now, because I cannot imagine any other scarf sitting on Rosie’s shoulder, I am destined to climb my mountain of fear.

“…beggars would ride. If turnips were swords, I’d wear one by my side.
If ‘ifs’ and ‘ands’ were pots and pans, there’d be no need for tinkers’ hands.”

-Scottish Proverb

I wish the cabled jumper would move along at a faster pace.
(But I realise other projects have jumped the queue.)

I wish I were a bit slimmer.
(As I think the moss-stitch pattern may add some unwanted bulk to go with the other ‘unwanted bulk’.)

I wish for world peace and a cure for cancer.
(While I’m wishing, I might as well wish big, don’t you think?)

Picture Poscript
For Four-Year-Old-Friend-Leonie-The-Brave-Who’s-Fighting-Leukemia:

Friday, 23 March, Daffodil Day in aid of Cancer Research Ireland

Perhaps the best treasures are those which are not so obvious…

You’d never know that beneath this…

Is this…

Even with the second sock trauma, the newly-finished-first-pair-of-knitted-socks were barely off the needles when they had to be worn. Now, on my trip into the city today to meet Holly for coffee, no one was the wiser what lovely stripey socks were hiding ‘neath my trousers. They fit wonderfully and I love the feel! Oh, not that they’re anything exotic. Just plain socks. But, I love that I made ‘em.

I don’t know….call it a ‘Ma Ingalls’ moment, (and perhaps all sock knitters experience this as I re-state the ever-so-obvious) but it’s a great feeling of accomplishment fragranced with self-sufficiency. Does that sound smug? Well, so be it.

Already planning the next pair…

Another hidden treasure was the coffee shop meeting place. Tucked on the upper floor of Waterstone’s book shop on Dawson Street…the UK’s answer to Borders…is a great place for coffee and chat. Another opportunity to try a variation on the cappuccino theme.

Nice yin-yang-chocolate-embellishment, though a good coffee doesn’t need it. The espresso portion of it was lovely. The foam, a bit thick for even Splenda tabs to penetrate…

And the final treasure of the day? A chat with a good friend.

First sock…not a problem.
Second sock…well, that’s another story.

1. Thou shalt not rush getting yarn out for cast on before walking out the door to dinner. The result will inevitably be a tangled mess laying at your feet.

2. Thou shalt not get smug about simple stockinette and begin knitting while chatting with friends, as this will require a rip-back at home.

3. Thou shalt read all steps of directions carefully, even though you’ve done them once before. Overlooking a line will lead to the wrong amount of stitches at the heel turn, placing the heel approximately where the ankle resides.

4. Thou shalt not try to mediate children’s argument while knitting the second sock, for the accompanying stress will lead to dropped stitches on very tiny needles requiring high intensity sunlight and super-powered magnification to replace, and even then the yarn will split.

5. Thou shalt not become absorbed in the Sunday BBC Radio 4 afternoon play and forget the k2tog on the other side of heel gusset.

6. Thou shalt not attempt to salvage forgotten k2tog by linking them up with a rug hook, for this will lead to a loose and shabby line of stitches.

7. Thou shalt pay attention to what strand of yarn you are wrapping with as choosing a loose end will bring you to its end at some point, sooner rather than later.

8. Thou shalt take the time to rip back the ‘wrapping with the wrong strand of yarn’ shambles, for by not doing so puts a quirky stripe where it has no business being.

9. Thou shalt take the time to try on the second sock for toe shaping as it just might be possible that both feet aren’t exactly the same size, risking toe strangulation.

10. Thou shalt be thankful this sock is not a gift, but for personal use and hidden in your shoes.

Babies are babies for such a short time…

As I was finishing Baby Norah’s booties (for every little girl needs shoes to match her hat!), my own Baby-Who-Is-Now-A-Very-Grown-Seven-Year-Old, came in toting Waa-Waa. Waa-Waa began as a nameless blanket. Soft baby flannel. Calm soothing colours. A loving gift to our adopted first child. Daughter-Kate enjoyed it, outgrew it, and we packed it away against the occasion when we might need it again.

Enter Son-Alex. Out came the baby flannel blanket and thus it was so much loved by our littlest one, it grew a personality of its own….Waa-Waa. Such is the experience of most families with babies.

Waa-Waa is still very much loved, its frayed edges showing the wear of constant fidelity. Quietly kept on the bed now, until the need for washing….for much loving does not always carry with it a pleasant odour! Soon, Waa-Waa will be packed away until the day when it is retrieved as a pleasantly nostalgic childhood memory.

Perhaps Baby Norah will likewise love her little raspberry rippled booties….

Project Details
For specifics on knitting the hat/bootie ‘ensemble,’ you can refer to hat info here and bootie info here.

In reality, Ireland is not the land of leprechauns and pots o’ gold and ‘The Quiet Man’, but you know, it is still a land of enchantment and rainbows and shamrocks and endless shades of green.

Warning, Linguistic Experimentation Ahead: (bearing in mind we are not Irish speakers…)

‘Pádraig shonaduit’ from Son-Alex.

‘Beannachta­ na Fáile Pádraig ort’ from Daughter-Kate.

‘Happy St. Patrick’s Day’ from me.

And what are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice.

Baby drought, then babies aplenty!

Weaver-Guild-Friend-Fionnuala had a baby girl a little while ago and so, with variation on the candy cane hat theme, I wanted to try marshmallow pink and Malteser brown…

Warning, Multi-Cultural Sweets Diversion Ahead:
In moving to Europe, I don’t miss too many foods from the US. Oh, of course there are epicurean differences and when we travel to North America on holiday, I enjoy eating the local fare. But still, there aren’t too many things I pack in my suitcase or request from visiting guests…..except……marshmallows and chocolate chips.

I’m not a marshmallow snob, but there are differences between the white, fluffy Kraft marshmallow and the French-made-Haribo-pink-and-white-sweet-of-the-same-name. Well, perhaps there is some snobbery afoot. But it surely changes the taste of Rice Krispie bars, which is a favourite in our household, no matter what continent we live on. As for chocolate chips? Well, they have ‘em here, but I’d prefer not to take out a mortgage to buy a bag….

However, I confess that Maltesers…chocolate-covered-malted-milk-balls…are lighter and tastier than their US counterpart. So, in the end, all’s fair.

Diversion Over…

But looking at Baby Norah’s hat somehow puts me in mind of Russian orthodox onion-domed cathedrals, don’t you think?

Well….without the candy sweet colour scheme….

…Daddy’s gone a-hunting, to get a little rabbit skin to wrap the baby bunting in.’

Okay, so it’s not a rabbit skin, but I think there’s a good portion of alpaca…

I’m not sure if Baby Tabb has a name yet, but I was thinking that he needs booties to go with his little hat. We began with this…

Stubby. Shapeless.

And with a little warm water and wool wash, we got this…

Felted baby booties still in need of ribbon in the eyelets, which you can’t see but are there, trust me. Booties which are the cutest kind of bunting to wrap baby’s feet in.

Project: Baby Booties
Book: Felted Knits by Beverly Galeskas
Yarn: Stash yarn wool/alpaca blend in heathered green and deep wine
Needles: 6mm straights
Time: Knit one in an evening while watching a DVD. Knit second in a morning while listening to BBC Radio 4.

I’ve never been a secret pal nor done a swap, but the excitement is building for the little treat I’m gonna get in the post for the Knitters Treat Exchange!

My ‘get-to-know-me’ questionnaire now resides in the ‘pages’ section of the sidebar, for that special someone who will receive my name and post an interesting little treat, for which I will be very thankful! Oh, you can read it too, if you’re so inclined….

And signups are still open, by the way, until 31 March. In case you’d like to be a treat recipient as well!