At the Book Fair May 26, 2008

It turned out to be mostly a knitting day at the bi-monthly Dublin City Book Fair yesterday.  There were a lot of browsers/customers – in fact, quite a steady flow of people up until about 3 p.m.  Then a feeling of hush descended.  One of the other sellers predicted that the the mid-afternoon hush would be followed by a late afternoon hush.  Such was not the case however as there were a number of late-comers and the flow of people picked up at the day drew to a close.  It wasn’t the best of days sales-wise but it wasn’t total disaster.  The chat was good and I did make progress on a square for another blanket.  Blanket no. 7 is now in the making.  I’ve sewn the ends for blanket no. 6 so that is finished.     Blanket 6

Here I am obsessively making my way through my stash of knitting yarn and what should happen but someone came along at the Market on Saturday and offered me a big bag of even more yarn.  A firm thankyou but no – even that lovely bright blue luring me to say yes.  My own stash seems to breed by itself in forgotten corners so I don’t want any extraneous additions at the moment, thank you.

 

As a departure from the knitted squares, I have now started another project using left-over yarn.  Recently I read somewhere of a man who had worked his way through his left-over yarn by knitting 33 scarves lengthwise in garter stitch.  I thought that was quite a feat.  I’m happy to start experimenting with just one and see how it goes.

 

The other project I should complete soon is the “ubiquitous” second sock – better do that before I forget how I knit the first sock.  After all, I do want a pair. 

Weekly Market May 19, 2008

At last, we are transitioning into Spring and the knitted items that I have been taking to my weekly market, namely scarves and socks, no longer seem so appropriate for the season.  So I decided to take one of my rugs.

And – my rug now has a new home.  I was so pleased.  Rug sales at the Market are rare – smaller items are more popular.   I just might set up my loom again – my loom is currently taking a rest – and I am taking a rest from the “tyranny of the loom”.  If the loom is set up, I feel I should have a warp on it – and if there is a warp on it then I should be weaving.  Knitting needles don’t exert quite the same dominance.

Nevertheless, the knitting needles have been clicking and here is the latest project, nearing completion.  Hodge Podge blanket no. 6.

 

I am determinedly working away at reducing my stash of left-over knitting yarn, and actually I am getting a lot of satisfaction out of this simple straight-forward knitting and then joining the squares.

My other stash reduction assault is on my weaving yarn.  That yarn is all right for incorporating in crochet blankets, but I also use some of the knitting yarn as well.

I enjoy working on a granny square type project while watching tv or a dvd.  Recently we viewed another Gerard Depardieu film, Germinal, based on the novel by Emile Zola.  Well, I knew it would be grim – back in the days when I read Zola I found him an excellent writer but his novels were grim to say the least.  The film was excellent – I had been putting off watching it because I wanted something more cheerful but really the acting was so good and the scenes were epic.

 

 

 

Nostalgia May 13, 2008

My reading of late has lead to feelings of nostalgia.  The Life of Noel Coward by Cole Lesley, published in 1976; and Self-Portrait with Friends, The Selected Diaries of Cecil Beaton 1926-1974, published in 1979.  Noel Coward, b.1899 d. 1973.  Cecil Beaton, b. 1904 d. 1980.

These were creative men of my mother’s generation, spilling over into my generation in their later years.  I enjoyed these 2 books very much but found myself feeling quite melancholy as these men slipped into old age – old age in their 60’s and 70’s.  Their lives were so full, so creative, so glamorous, so artistic – what more to say.  And yet in their later years their former prowess gradually slipped away.  They experienced ill-health and inevitably many of their friends were also becoming ill and there were many funerals.  This was social history.  But sad in a way – these 2 books did not glorify the ageing process – in fact, I finished the books in a rather negative frame of mind.  Lives well lived, but melancholy and sad in their later years.  

 

 

 

 

 

While still on the topic of that generation, I was happy to receive my copy of Interweave Knits and to read the article about Elizabeth Zimmermann and the Schoolhouse Press, written by Franklin Habit .  Elizabeth Zimmermann, b. 1910 d. 1999.  Her knitting books make for inspiring reading, not just for her knitting skills but for her life experiences.  In a google search I also found a very interesting blog entry from Grumperina, another Elizabeth Zimmermann fan.

 

Mostly Music May 12, 2008

Activity of late has mostly been concentrated on practising for the Europe Day Concert by the massed bands of the Rathfarnham Concert Band Society.  This included the Rathfarnham Adult Band (we try to leave out the word “beginner”).  It was a big night and fortunately the weather co-operated.  The Concert was held out of doors and there were almost 150 of us performing.  It was a stirring performance for me to be a part of, even though a number of the pieces were beyond my capabilities.

 

 

 I’m there – in the third row of the clarinet section.

Baby Blanket May 7, 2008

 to welcome a new member of the family I have this baby blanket – hope the baby likes purple.  The baby is the first great grandchild for one of my sisters. 

I’m not sure about this revised edition of wordpress.  I can’t seem to get my pictures to the size I want, and in this case the colours are all blotchy.  The blanket looks better in reality.

 

 

 

On the subject of books May 6, 2008

Just an addendum to my previous post telling about my latest reading.  Again, browsing in the Oxfam Charity Shop the cover of this book caught my eye.

This book was a bit flip but rather an interesting topic.  It was really the cover that attracted my attention.  A good piece of graphic art.  Nevertheless, I liked the contents of the book well enough.

 

 

Neglected Knitting May 6, 2008

Perhaps the title of this blog entry is a bit of an exaggeration.  I have been doing some knitting of late but now the lawn bowling season has started and also May is verging on turning into “music month”.

Above is Hodge Podge 6, almost ready for its border.  That pile of stash yarns is getting smaller!

 

 my other current knitting project is another pair of socks

Apart from knitting, time spent lawn bowling is increasing – and that’s a real pleasure with the weather we had yesterday.  Weather almost like summer.  Not so pleasant a couple days previously when it was “winter”.

After the big concert on April 25th, we are now practising for another concert – this one to be even bigger with all the bands of the Rathfarnham Band Society.  Almost 150 players.  This is to be an outdoor concert, weather permitting, to celebrate Europe Day this coming Friday May 9th.   We have had 2 and 3 hour rehearsals one day after another – my right hand is starting to cramp!

Knitting, music making, and reading.  I really like biography and social history.  A few months ago I found a book – a very big book – almost 500 pages – about the Life of Noel Coward.

This book turned out to be quite fascinating, long as it was with lists and lists of parties and party guests over the years.  Having finished that book, I am now turning to a book about Cecil Beaton – another biography and social history.  I purchased it along with the Noel Coward book and I suspect that these 2 books were donated to Oxfam by the same person – I wonder who it was.