Wyvernfriend Knits
A blog for my knitting projects and knitting book reviews
Saturday, 31 March 2018
sometimes socks shrink
Sadly I didn't knit the knee socks and they have landed in the bin because of holes.
Tuesday, 8 August 2017
Sunday, 11 June 2017
interesting quote I found
Tuesday, 1 November 2016
Knit Real Shetland Review
This is a lovely showcase for Jamieson & Smith yarn, and ironically I just finished watching Shetland the TV series yesterday (which I enjoyed). After an introduction by the inestimable Kate Davies it launches into the patterns and sadly it features one of my pet hates, garments that aren't modeled by people. Sigh.
Hopefully some day Ravelry will provide pictures. I live in hope, at the time of writing at least two of the garment projects doesn't feature photographs. Unusually there's no preamble for the patterns talking about inspiration etc and I found that I kinda missed that.
15 patterns from clothing to tea cozy, this is an interesting inspiration and variety.
The first project is the Wave Cardigan, by Toshiyuki Shimada and Grace Williamson steeked, this features 3 basic colours and then 24 other colours, perfect for if you can't decide which of the 2 ply jumper weight you want. Round necked cardigan.
Next up are the aran-weight Feathercrest mittens by Jared flood, with a reverse stocking stitch palm. Done in the round.
Next up is probably the pattern that most tempts me, the Peat Hill Waistcoat by Hazel Tindall, steeked again, with rounded edges so I really want to see this on someone, I have never done steeking before and want to know how it will turn out first. Muted colours it really appeals to me.
Cross Tam by Daniel Goldmanto me this looks like sunset, bright orange main colour and blues, the crosses fall down the hat.
Viking Tunic by Sandra Manson, a jumper that echoes Viking dress
Osaka Tea Cosy by Msami Yokoyama features teapots as part of the design and a star tops it, this is charming.
Kergord Scarf by Mary Kay is a delicate lace scarf, worked from both ends and then Kitchenered in the middle.
Melby Jumper Dress by Gudrun Johnston would be a dress for my niece but more tunic for most adults. Features pockets and stripes.
Wool Brokers Socks by Lesley Smith white and berry tones with striped cuffs and sole. Lush and beautiful
Muckleberry Gloves and hat by Mary Jane Mucklestone complex colourwork in rich reds and blues creating wearable works of art.
Caavie Gansey by Candace Eisner Strick a complex steeked jumper that's full of colour without being overwhelming.
Madeira Lace Shawl by Joyce Ward a triangular lace with a scallop pattern and v-shaped edging.
Buttoned Hat Aka Lexie by Woolly Wormhead made in an Aran weight yarn this is a cloche with buttons that channels a Downton Abbey type of aesthetic and features interesting texture.
Olly's Allover by Jean Moss; cables in the middle with colourwork at the edges this is knit in Aran-weight.
Overall it's an interesting mixture of patterns and full of inspiration. For a knitter with some experience, worth a look at least. I borrowed it via Dublin City Public Libraries from South Dublin Libraries. I would add that some pages fell out although it didn't really have a huge circulation from what I could tell.
Thursday, 22 September 2016
Riders to the Sea
I was actually quite shocked recently when I discovered the parallels with my life and that of JM Synge. I was lucky, I got my Hodgkins Lymphoma almost 100 years later than him, the swelling in my neck went down with Chemotherapy, I didn't die of it. I found it quite strange to read his biography online and realise how lucky I was.
from Stitches in Time
From Galway Women in the 19th Century
Sunday, 8 May 2016
WTF Knits
WTF Knits by Gabrielle Grillo and Lucy Sweet, is one of the low-hanging fruit of the knitting book world, sometimes it is easy to mock patterns and to find them ridiculous. To me some of these fall into 3 categories, Art, actually clever if you think about it and lastly they're strange adventures in using yarn.
It seems to be coming from a place where yarn is only good if it's used for a utiliarian project and not in sculptural projects and as some of the profits from this are going to charity it would have been hard for many of the copyright owners to refuse use of their photos for use here.
Much of it is stuff I'd never knit but I found some of it more clever than WTF. It did annoy me to see the TitBits in here. These are pieces knit for women with Breast Cancer as soft, caring, replacement prosthesis while they're healing and need something soft and the idea that someone would do that for me appeals, also the knitted falopian tubes are being used in activism.
Much of the garments are insane and I couldn't see myself wearing or making them but Haute Couture is insane, the yearly fashion design student catwalk is full of garments that will never be worn outside of the runway, but the authors of this choose to mock rather than to ask why fashion is so out of touch with reality, why it's almost compulsary for designers to make garments with no function (though it could also be asked why companies are making fortunes from making shoes that are crippling people more comfortable!).
Overall this book just made me slighly annoyed, yes there are knits in it that I have no idea why they were even conceived but there also knits that I can see could be used for education or entertainment. Kids get fake food toys all the time we don't seem to question it as much when we get it from a shop, or see it in a gallery, but we seem to question it a lot when someone who isn't part of the artistic establishment chooses to make it themselves.
I still don't understand some of them, but I also sometimes don't understand modern art, I wouldn't choose some of it for my house or to knit it myself (unless hugely bribed, and it would have to be huge) but each to their own.
I got this one from the library a while ago. Dublin City public libraries employ me and provided this book, I get no added inducements for doing this above my salary, access and generous lending facilities
Thursday, 7 April 2016
May, Lou & Cass
Sunday, 28 February 2016
Dominitrix Review
I got this one from another Irish library via Borrowbooks