It was no surprise to me that there isn’t a One Book July Challenge this year since the planner community hadn’t heard of any news of this summer ritual leading up to July.
The month of July really isn’t summer without #OneBookJuly. So, I’m just going to do my own thing this month.
I swapped out of the Filofax personal Original, and now I’m in this red Cuban. It’s another one of my charity shop finds.
The pen loop can only hold a slimmer pen, so I’ve chosen this Parker Jotter that once belonged to my Mum.
My highlighter of the month is Faber-Castell’s Shiny Silver.
I haven’t quite decided what will go in the card slots, however, the secretarial pocket is currently being used as my inbox of notes.
Surprisingly, I’m halfway through the year and still using the same Filofax inserts, so I can only conclude that this planner system works for me.
Saturday 10th June 2023 is World Wide Knit in Public Day.
It’s the one day every year knitters celebrate the passion for knitting with fellow knitters around the world.
Since 2005, knitters world wide celebrate knitting in public and share each others company – or meet new knitters in your local area.
You can be a beginner or maybe you have been knitting for years – everybody is welcome!
This year, I’ve organised an outdoor knit social in Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens on Saturday 10 June 2023. Spend the afternoon (1pm to 4pm) knitworking with knitters, crocheters and stitchers on World Wide Knit in Public Day!
It’s a new year, along with a new creative challenge hosted by Kim Werker ( @kpwerker on Instagram).
My creative mojo needs a serious tune-up and a good kick in the a**. So, I’m joining Kim in making 2023 a Year of Making.
The concept is really quite simple: commit to spending even a couple of minutes every day making something… it doesn’t matter what and I get to decide what counts.
I am so excited to get started that I even started a new journal. I even ink stamped a new insert to go into my Voyager notebook.
It’s official, VillaMaker now has a proper online home. I’ve dot commed it. You can now find me on villa-maker.com
Now that I’ve got a proper domain home on the web, I just wanted to say a proper hello as the VillaMaker, a sounds and looks alike of my family name, Villamater. Both my parents were creative in there own way. My Mum crocheted beautiful blankets.
and my Dad created timeless pieces out of wood.
My online presence is still a work in progress as I’m very busy with Christmas surgical hats. How can Christmas be only a few weeks away already. My Christmas fabric stock arrived at the end of summer and I only started a couple of weeks ago.
Disclaimer I personally purchased a subscription to this magazine. I am not afifliated with the author, publisher or shop. This is not a sponsored post.
Aoife Long is a writer, editor of Slow Fashion and creative director at Spirt and Luxury. I came across her Instagram back in August. I take inspiration by her written word on the creative ethos of slow fashion and the Irish wool industry.
The print magazine cover is glossy and smooth, and as I flick through the 28 pages of heavy paper, the colourful images standout so amazingly. Six designers are interviewed in this issue.
The typeface and font makes it an easy read, with the exception of the Mise Tusa article which is printed on a dark green background.
I personally had visual difficulties reading it in a room with poor lighting.
Interesting read about, Bridget Geohegan and the creative collaboration with her mother , Meritta. Collectively know as Mise Tusa. However, this particular article had only one reference to knitting, the Magnifica Wrap. Not one photo in sight, and curiosity got the better of me, so I went over to the Mise Tusa website and searched for this hand knit strips of pink Italian linen. I would have liked to read the story behind this innovative article of clothing.
I’m no stranger to Liadain Aiken and her Instagram grid. I was quite interested on her thoughts of the cottage industry and at this moment it still works for her business.
The thought of getting a knitting machine in the VillaMaker Studio entered my mind as I read about the process of creating her her simple knitwear and adding that pop of colour in Donegal Yarns which gives it that whimsical edge.
I am quite acquainted with Ailbíona McLochainn and her knitting patterns. I enjoyed the insight to her artistic flare and design process. I was quite surprised to read her thoughts on social media by not playing the social game or reading reviews. Designing is her calling, she does not spend her day fiddling with tutorial videos to please content monsters.
Thank you to Ailbíona for contributing the Bachlóg Mitten pattern, specifically written for Spirit & Luxury Irish Wool, which is available on the Spirit and Luxury website. I was a little surprised to see the shipping fees within Ireland for one 100g skein of yarn needed for this project.
The pattern itself can be knit in DK yarn. There are striking elements in the construction of these mittens. So, I look forward to knitting a pair for myself and maybe a couple for Christmas presents.
My knowledge of any UK based slow fashion brands is zilch. I truly enjoyed Aoife’s written imagery of Beatrix Potter and the Lake District as an introduction to Kate Stalker and her brand, Oubas Knitwear.
Kate has a commitment to sourcing British wool and integrating it in her slow fashion designs.
As a hand knitter, I never had an interest in machine knitting, however, it was interesting to note that Siún Carden sees the two crafts as being integrally linked through the culture of making, creativity and technical know how. The Shetland Islands is a dream destination for any fibre lover.
The final interview is with Aran knitter and instructor, Ryan Koenig. He has found a creative way to spin a good yarn about the Aran knitting in Ireland to new knitters and tourists right here in Dublin. He’s also put together knitting kits to complement the Aran knitting experience through his AirBnB.
Thank you for reading my notes on on Slow Fashion Knitting.
I received the book over the weekend and here are my general impressions.
I really like the general layout of the book, which is geared for knitters who want to be Sock Knitters.
Starting off by choosing the knitting needles and yarn, then straight into the nitty gritty of top down sock basics.
I like the way the book is written and the typeface/font is easy to read.
There are 10 top down sock pattern which range from simple to interestingly challenging for Sock Knitters at any level.
There are tutorials on the variations in the cuffs and heels which appealed to my sense of adventure.
At this time, not one particular pattern is calling out to me. However, I do like that there is a hashtag for each sock. So,when I do get the inspirational urge, I can look thru these hashtags on Instagram.
Overall, Pompom published a good all in one book for Sock Knitters and any knitter who is curious about the cuff down sock knitting experience.
My own personal notes:
this was an impulse buy on pre-order, if I actually got to peruse thru the book first would I buy it? No
on a positive note, I purchased it from my LYS to support the local economy and received more loyalty tokens
*this blogpost has a couple of words from the Filipino language (Tagalog).
pambahay: clothing intended to wear around the house
Lolo: grandfather
Lola: grandmother
This cardigan once belonged to my Lolo. My earliest recollection of this classic cardigan was in 1970’s during our childhood visits to the Philippines.
He wore this same cardigan when Lola and Lolo came visit to Canada in the early 80’s. It was his cardigan of choice when going out.
The last time I recall seeing Lolo in this cardigan was in 1983, by then it became his sweater for pambahay only. He was always feeling cold due to his poor circulation.
The garment tag tells me that it’s a Jaegar, All cashmere and made in Scotland. Definitely a natural fibre to keep one warm. Lolo was a connoisseur of fine clothing and accessories.
After, Lolo passed away, my Mum brought this cardigan back from the Philippines.
I really don’t remember how I ended up with this cardigan, however, for the past 30 years or so I’ve always reached for it whenever I got a chill.
On this cool Sunday morning, I went to put on my pambahay cardigan.
I noticed the tiny hole that I’ve been ignoring for months has exponentially increased in size.
One hour later, a mending repair job and sewing on two missing buttons, it good for a couple more decades.
It was a pleasure to catch up with friends during a “stopover” in Cork City on our way to Kinsale.
My glowing smile says it all! I am so grateful for a friend like Evin. She has been my virtual and personal tour guide during my 24 hour visit.
We squeezed in a quick visit to see Carol Feller and real life shopping experience at the Stolen Stitches Studio since I’m use to shopping online from Dublin.
I brought home two skeins of Blasta Light to make a couple pairs of Coill, a new mitten pattern by Eimear Earley. Now this doesn’t count as stash because it was a planned purchase, right?
Diane & Carol
Onto Kinsale, where I discovered the LYS Vivi Trading Co., where Rowan yarns adorn the shelves of this Yarn Shop.
Kidsilk Haze is my weakness
I made some new knitting friends … friendly and knitting expert Claire
and new knitter, Aileen who was making an amazing wrap in moss stitch!
I had the pleasure of joining the local knitting group, check out my IG LIve from the shop!
The best for last photo of the trip is with fellow Dublin Knitter, Deirdre who I literally bumped into at our hotel before heading back to Dublin.
Hello! It’s Socktober, the month when when I like to splash my social media feed with my favourite item to knit, SOCKS!
Every Saturday in October, I’ll have a new blogpost about handknit socks.
Yarn: Patons Regia Shoes:Sanita Clogs
Why knit socks?
PORTABILITY: They are the perfect size for a travelling project. I can easily put it in a small project bag and carry it around from one knitting group to another. I like using a Japanese Knot Bag. It has one long hand that you slip thru a longer one which now becomes a wristlet to tote my sock project around.
I’m hosting the 52 Weeks of Socks KAL until the end of the month. Knitters who are knitting along, have chosen a pattern based on the week their birthday falls on. Then knit the pattern that corresponds with the number from the book 52 Weeks of Socks published by Laine.
My birthday falls on week 7 the year I was born, so I’m knitting Rocking Chair.
If you have or can get hold of the book, join the Dublin Knitwork KAL until the end of the month.
VillaMaker 