Knitting magazines and knitting cafes!

I am in awe of the knitting hysteria that is taking over in recent times and which is gaining in popularity at the speed of a lightening! It is no longer the pastime of only our grandmothers while our nimble fingers lay idle. The younger generations are finally encompassing the pleasure that can be derived from such a simple task as well understanding the joy felt at creating such wonderful knitted goods! It is a spectacular feat to observe! For many years I was apprehensive in telling a soul about my much-loved hobby for fear I would be ridiculed and laughed at. It is not many a woman in her teens and early 20s which wishes to be mortified and degraded by her peers! But with the spirit and determination of a young Jane Eyre in her battle to prove herself to be good and just and never a liar...I persevered with my 'uncool' activity in silence until the day arose that Julia Roberts and her knitting celebrity pals made it once again...a trendy hobby!

And what a world awaits those that seek to partake in a little needle clicking! A world of fabulous wools in every colour and fibre; simple or intricate patterns - whatever your choice - which enable the knitter to churn out beautiful clothing, toys and much more; Social groups to indulge our obsessions; a network of crafters worldwide coming together in shared love of a single hobby.

Gone are the days when knitting meant frumpy old fashioned designs, with the internet and a wealth of knitting magazines available, even a beginner knitter can create a fashionable item for others to admire. I myself am a great fan of the style presented by Vogue Knitting. Although I have never had the pleasure of creating an item from this fashionable magazine. It is unfortunate for me that I have not yet been able to source a supplier in the west of Ireland. But it is a task I have not yet given up on.

While reading something of late (the name I can't recall) I was informed of a shop-cafe in Beaumont Dublin, aptly named Stitch, which is "Dublin’s new knitting and stitching shop...a place to sit, knit and relax with a good old-fashioned cup of tea and a chat." What an amazing concept! How I have dreamed in the past of establishing a place like this! A refuge for the knitter of the world! I also discovered on their website that they stock Vogue knitting! How happy was I! I have since contacted the creative duo via there website about ordering a copy of the autumn issue. I am very much looking forward to a response!

Knitting and other needle craft groups are popping up everywhere. I myself am a member of CafeCreate in Galway, which was recently featured in the Sunday World. I would love to set up my own group as I am not living in the city and have to travel to attend the group on a Saturday in Galway. Although I say this, I have not really endeavored to go very far with this. I feel I would probably miss the gang in CafeCreate far too much.

As some of you may have noticed, My writing seems very formal today. I am currently reading Jane Eyre at a furious speed so that I can view it in the cinema. I guess the way in which it is written is rubbing off on me! So with all the old fashioned reading and writing..I also decided to knit myself a vintage style jumper from last winters issue of simply knitting. I think I am growing quite fond of pretending to live in a world void of technology, in ignorance of the fact that I am currently typing my blog on a personal computer! woops! Time to switch you off and have some classic me time enjoying the simplicity of life in times gone by!

Happy Knitting and Crafting

Helena =D

Booties, Booties, Booties

More booties have been created! A little elfin pair, a pair of Mary Janes and aran style booties (yes I only show one in pictures...there is two but I have not taken a photo yet).

All are knitted in cream worsted weight wool and to fit a newborn. However the elfin booties and the aran style booties are a little larger than newborn in my opinion. A great purchase if you ask me as the child will get great wear out of them! =D

Lots of booties!

Elf Booties

Mary Jane Booties with cute purple button

The cyclops bootie! =D

My First Pair of Booties!!

After the successful completion  of Bertie on Saturday, it was full steam ahead with my knitting! I was on a roll and nobody could stop me!

Saturday night was spent watching movies with my other half and knitting my first pair of booties which I hope to sell! The pattern was a little difficult to me as it was written differently to previous patterns I worked with and although it stated that a circular needle could be used to knit in the round...it could not!!! The boot was far too tiny..so I used double pointed needles (DPNs) instead! I have to say I am very pleased with the outcome!! I have posted some pictures of these adorable little new born baby booties below!

Knitted with worsted weight cream wool, they have a seed/moss stitch sole, garter stitch edge, stocking stitch insole and a rib stitch cuff. My favorite is the seed stitch sole as I love this stitch. It is very pretty and almost resembles the sole of shop bought booties as it has a bobbled look.

These booties can be purchased by:

1. Contacting me directly on my blog or facebook page

 or

2. My Etsy Shop -  http://www.etsy.com/shop/HelenaAgCniotail

If anybody would like these booties made to order in a specific colour or size please feel free to contact me.

Happy Knitting and Crafting

Helena =D

Bertie Bassett is complete!!!!

Oh Bertie!!! You look so yummy yum!!

The Complete Bertie 

Yesterday was a very productive day! I headed along to Cafe Create (Galway's very own Stitch'n'Bitch group) and buckled down to some serious knitting and sewing. Mostly sewing unfortunately. I may have mentioned before that sewing is the absolute bane of my existence! A real cause of misery for me...and the only part of creating wonderful knitted items I despise. But alas, after 2 hours of hard slogging...I got there! And the overall result is a Bertie Bassett good enough to eat!

Happy Knitting and Crafting,

Helena =D

I want liquorice allsorts everytime I see him!!

And here he finally is...My Bertie Bassett! Every time I see him I just want to eat liquorice allsorts!! Heehee!

Bertie's almost finished!

 His arms are finished and I am currently sewing them up!! All that is left to do with our dear Bertie after is knit him a walking cane and sew on his felt eyes!! I am finally getting there!! I think I will be sad to finish him as he was so much fun to make and see him come together with all his individual sweets!!!

Bertie's arms and the felt for his eyes!

Hoping to post again soon with yet more photos!!

Happy Knitting and Crafting

Helena =D

Broken Camera

So... I do realise I promised photographs of Bertie Bassett...but unfortunately there is an issue with this happening. Our camera is completely and utterly banjaxed. Last New Years Eve..it was dropped and the touch screen cracked. We continued to use the camera as it still took photographs. We just could not adjust the settings. A few weeks back..the SD card needed formatting and now when we turn on the camera it requires us to insert a date and time and we can't do this due to the broken screen. So it appears we will have to purchase a new camera! Unfortunately an expenditure like this does not fit in to our budget at present! When I am home tonight I will snap some photographs with my android phone...and then attempt to locate the SD chip that arrived with the phone in order to transfer the photographs to my netbook! I am not very technical minded so this may take a while...and an especially long while if I am in a lazy mood. For example...last night I decided to knit one of Bertie's arms..I managed half it and then was too lazy to do anymore, settled myself down to watch the movie HOP and fell asleep half way through. Not only did I fall into a deep slumber..but so did my hubby to be. So clearly we were both immensely exhausted...which I am happy to use as my excuse for being too sluggish to knit! In fairness...we were not home after work until 8.20pm as we had to visit the priest in our local parish to fill out our pre-nuptial enquiry form! It is official now..he's going to marry me! Heehee!

Hoping to snap out of this lethargic behaviour soon and get my arse in gear!!

Happy knitting and crafting

Helena =D

P.S. Invitations are on a go slow as well! Really must stop being so ridiculously lazy!