February Update

The new year is already a few weeks old, and only now am I managing to write something for my new blog. However, I do have lots of good news to tell!


Purls of Colour designs can now be found at the following shops:

• West Clare Gallery, Ennistymon, Co Clare
• Truly Irish Craft, Inistioge, Co Kilkenny
• An Culturlann, Belfast

Lighthouse Yarns at St George’s Market also exhibits some of my pieces.

I am also thrilled to say that I am now writing two regular features for the Fondelifair blog:
Purls of Wisdom on a Wednesday, and Friday Finds on a…yes, a Friday!

I have been busy knitting, and not so busy lying in bed with a rather nasty flu. I am glad to say that I am now nearly back to my energetic self, although tonight – on a rather frosty night – my sofa is calling me rather loudly. I shall definitely wrap a big blanket around me and make myself comfortable with some knitting later on.

Recently, I spent some time doing some ‘extreme’ knitting – yes, this is what it is called: knitting with BIG needles. My big 25mm wooden needles came out…and I didn’t have to go to the gym anymore, since I got a full workout on my arms. Better than the rowing machine!

Since the needles were nearly longer than my sofa, I had to move away anything that was near, since one move with the big oars, erm, needles, and something got knocked over. It was fun though, and the result – a big cowl made from blanket material remnants – is now on its merry way to Ennistymon.

Nothing like knitting with chunky yarn in this frosty weather. Hard to believe that the Celtic Spring already started on 1 February!

Them Knitting Needes!

Aren’t they big and beautiful? I bought them at last week’s Creative Craft Show here in Belfast. Although I haven’t tried them out yet, I’ve got big plans for these beauties! But there is no chance of taking these in my handbag for a spot of light knitting on the bus…

Talking about knitting needles… Recently, I was at a political conference, and spent long hours at talks, workshops and seminars – all very exciting, but of course, very exhausting, too. Knitting during the talks kept me alert and focused – and I was still working as well. Every day, I was walking into the conference area with a bag full of papers, but even more yarn! The political and the knitting overlapped everytime I was trying to pull out a paper, and a ball of yarn rolled out of my bag instead…

However, one morning my knitting needles – 4mm tiny wooden circular ones – were confiscated by security, because they were suddenly considered ‘too pointy’, and thus too dangerous to be brought into the hall. Telling them that I could do more damage with my rather pointy teeth did not help, so I had to leave my knitting at the security checkpoint. HRMPH!

To say that I was not amused is an understatement…and I had dreams of seriously yarnbagging somebody…

Not being a knitter who gives up easily (and especially when knitting is concerned), I tried to get my needles through security the next time – and no, I did not hide them in my unmentionables, just had them in my bag as usual – and to my surprise, my means of production were allowed in again. Therefore, I was able to continue my ‘radical knitting’ and managed to finish my pair of armwarmers for myself (during the English heatwave!), as well as a beautiful Halloween-themed scarf.

However, if I go next year again, I doubt my big needles would be allowed in.