Blog

Spin Me Round

It’s been several years since I got myself involved with the Guild and when the call out for “fiber helpers” at this year’s Dublin Maker in Richmond Barracks, I jumped right in to help Máire set up the Guild’s demo area.

Boy oh boy, we were fortunate to be outdoors, under the big tent, what must have been the hottest day in September.

There were people and people and people who tried their hand at spinning and weaving.

It was so busy ( we heard thousands of people walked through the entrance!)  I really never had time to catch up with my fellow members Ailbhe, Liz and Máire.

If you have to opportunity to volunteer for any event with the Guild, I definitely recommend Dublin Maker (that’s only because I LOVE the souvenir lanyard and t-shirt we receive as volunteers).

Two weeks following Dublin Maker was World Wide Spin in Public. Another fine opportunity to get involved with the Eastern Region of the Guild. For this world wide event, we celebrated the day at a new to us venue in Dublin 12, The Green Kitchen & Garden Shop.

We had a lovely group of spinners arrive with their spinning wheels and drop spindles.

The curious arrived wanting to give spinning a try on a drop spindle.

What a lovely way to get my spinning mojo back, while catching up with my friends from the Guild.

While a song from the 1980s kept

spinning in my head,

You spin me right ’round, baby, right ’round
Like a record, baby, right ’round, ’round, ’round ~ You Spin Me Round by Dead or Alive

Journal · Notes on · Shop

Signature Socktober Accessory – The Japanese Knot Bag

We’re halfway through Soctober and I’ve been toting my current sock wip in the first Japanese knot bag that I made at the start of the Pandemic.

Making these little project bags were a perfect stashbuster, using up cotton fabrics from sewing cloth facemasks.

Last year, I went to a party and needed an evening bag .

So, I whipped up one, out of a vintage art deco style damask fabric and lined it with gold silk satin.

I had no pockets and this Japanese knot bag was the perfect little carry all for my essentials – phone, money, lipstick, hotel keycard and my salbutamol inhaler.

Since the summer, I’ve been popping the Japanese knot bags via The Murphy Leaf MarketPlace.

The Damask Collection

I really enjoyed curating the The Damask Collection from our silk and cotton textiles.

Dress up your sock wip with these Japanese knot bags made with vintage damask drapery and interior fabrics.

Sugar Skulls in a Knot

Last week, I paid a “re-homing fee” for Sugar Skull fabric and made three funky reversible bags with jacquard textiles.

The Art Collection

My latest collection of Japanese Knot Bags will only be available by made to order soon.

Kandinsky Knot Bag

This Kandinsky inspired knot bag is a work of art . The abstract artist and colour theorist was well known with his bold and brilliantly coloured paintings.

Kandinsky saw the dot, or point, as a small circle. He argued that this was the most basic, fundamental element of painting, observing “everything starts from a dot.” From this basic dot, one could go on to create any variation of line or shape.

Circles were a recurring feature in his abstract art, and he painted them in a huge range of variations, from planet-like orbs to repetitive concentric designs. 

Made from a Kandinsky inspired tapestry textile and lined with re-homed drapery fabric.

And knot forgetting one of the famous Impressionists, Van Gogh

Impression by Colour

This knot bag is inspired by Van Gogh’s colour palette. The post-impressionist artist became well known for his techniques in passionate brush strokes in symbolic and intense color, in surface tension, and in the movement and vibration of form and line.

Blog

Socktober 2023: Becoming a Sock Knitter

**Disclaimer** I personally purchased this book this past year. I am not affliated with the author, publisher or yarnshop. This is not a sponsored post.

I love knitting and wearing handknit socks.

There is nothing like a handknit pair of socks, made with your special skein of 4 ply / sock yarn.

When I heard that my LYS were taking pre-orders for Ready Set Socks by Rachel Coopey, I jumped outta my shoes and submitted my order.

When I received the book, I quickly flicked through it. I’m 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 typeface/font is easy to read.

There are 10 top down sock patterns which range from simple to interestingly challenging for Sock Knitters at any level. However,

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 have more online time I will start looking thru the hashtags on IG to get some inspiration.

Overall, Pompom published a good reference book for Sock Knitters and any knitter who is curious about the Sock knitting experience.

*originally published on Dublin Knit Collective June 2023

Blog

Making in September

September is the beginning of a new season of making.

My planner is overflowing with amazing events that I am taking part in.

01 September

I’m launching the Autumn KAL over on the Dublin Knitwork. This season’s theme is INVESTMENTS. Knit or crochet a sleeveless body hugger as we transition to the cooler weather.

Keep an eye out on my INSTA stories for local meet ups during the KAL

02 September

I’ll be with the Irish Guild of Spinners Weavers and Dyers at this year’s Dublin Maker event at Richmond Barricks. Come by and say hello and try your hand at a drop spindle, spinning wheel or a weaving loom.

13 September

I’m excited to be hosting a Get to Know Your Sewing Machine with the the community based clothing reuse hub, Change Clothes Crumlin. Get your ticket for this up close and personal workshop here.

16 September

It’s World Wide Spin in Public Day. Watch this space, the Eastern Region of the Irish Guild of Weavers and Dyers is currently organising a venue for an afternoon of spinning and fibre.

23 September

I’ll be hosting monthly Knit & Stitch events. All will be revealed soon.

~ Feel free to Support me and the Dublin Knitwork by Buying Me a Coffee ~

Journal

Year of Making 2023

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.