Fibre feast or famine

Nothing happens for months and months then it all comes together. A fantastic day on Saturday was had by all that attended the Margaret Werthiem workshop in the Science Gallery. Lots of excitement and lots of plans to be put together. We have roughly 5 months to put an Irish Crocheted Coral Reef together. A tough deadline, but we'll have to do our best. All I can say is GET CROCHETING!! The Science Gallery will be in charge of all boring logistics, we should just concentrate on doing the crochet. If you are interested in taking part, there will be workshops organised around the country, but if you can't wait. The gals from the Sydney Crocheted Coral Reef have put together a fantastic PDF of basic patterns on their blog. I'm sure they won't mind me saying... and there is also instruction's on the Institute of Figuring website.

I'm hoping the Science Gallery will start a Blog/Flickr account for the project. Be great to have it documented, with lots of links and photos. Between the fellow Ravelrs that attended the meeting, we have started a Ravelry group Irish Hyperbolic Crocheted Coral Reef.

Before I finish on the topic, I would just like to pass on a few suggestions that were made at the workshop: be colourful, be imaginative, and think vertical. The Coral doesn't have to be realistic, in size, shape or colour. Use the patterns until you feel comfortable making the coral, then go off on a tangent. Make up your own wondrous shapes. Take a look at books on coral reefs and you will see nature is far more strange than anything most of us can come up with. Think vertical: the crocheted coral reef looks good if it is different heights, reflecting the diversity you see in real life. Think about using structures. Crochet over plastic bottles, wire, stuff them to make bulbous shapes...Most of all enjoy it.

Rambling over, back to my 2nd fibre trip to Dublin. This weekend is the Knit and Stitch, and anyone interested in any kind of textiles usually attends. Yes it can be a bit samey every year, but it's the only textile event of its kind in the Republic, and if it weren't there we'd miss it...
Check out the Cork Textiles Network stand upstairs... and fellow Ravelrs, there's an unofficial meeting at 12.30pm in the cafe. Wear a badge or something with your Rav name.

Another 8 hour train journey there and back, but guess what I'll be doing!!On Saturday, I started a hyperbolic crocheted scarf on the train up, and had it finished by the time I got back to Kerry. I'm sure I can get a few bits of coral done along the way this time...

The bag is packed...

The train ticket is booked, and the bag is packed for a fun fibre-filled day in Dublin tomorrow.

Over 4 hours of crochet on the train up, an hour for coffee and chat with fellow Ravelrs, then 3 hours in a crochet workshop on Hyperbolic Crochet with Margaret Wertheim in the Science Gallery , then probably another coffee, then if there's time, an exhibition on Japanese textiles in the Douglas Hyde, then back on the train, and 4 hours of crochet home!!

Heaven!!

New Patterns

I had said my plan for this winter was to learn how to write patterns. It's hard, especially for someone who can't read them very well. I know people who are in Ravelry tend to go on and on and on about it, but for people, new designers like me, you can't get a better resource. There is a group called The Testing Pool, where you can find people who will test your pattern for free, using their own yarn. What a resource. But I'm nervous about taking the plunge, incase I get messages back saying its all gobbledigook.... so I am also going to post messages here for test crocheters.

I had planned on trying to make a series of patterns that could be used with a variety of yarns and hooks, using remnants, etc, but it would take too long. I could spend eternity trying to write just one pattern in 20 different hook sizes. It's just I never have the right hook or the right yarn to make projects and always adapt patterns. But that's me, and it's probably why I can't follow a pattern. But if I want to do this properly, I have to go along with the whole yarn brand/gauge thing.

But, (not another but!), I have decided to try act on my principles, and use only either eco/fairtrade yarn or local yarn. Local meaning, either from Irish sheep, partially from Irish sheep, or at least processed in some way in Ireland. My apologies in advance if you can't get your hands on the particular yarn. Knowing me, there won't be that many patterns, or they won't be popular enough to warrant me feeling bad about this decision.... Support Irish Sheep...(and alpaca, llama, flax, etc....)

Anyway, enough banter, here's my latest pattern that needs testing, if anyone is interested.Don't laugh, remember I'm learning and starting small, very small....

Eco/Fairtrade Cotton Dishcloth

Crocheted Coral Reef Workshop IN DUBLIN!!

Due to internet problems and general life-stuff, I have been very quiet of late. I have been making a few things, but I just haven't gotten round to talking about them. I've just been chilling out the past few weeks, catching up on reading and walking. We've had a lovely September, and October so far (touch wood), and it has been lovely to be able to go for little walks every day.

Detail of Hyperbolic Samplar I made in 2008

Anyone who has been reading this blog knows I became a bit obsessed about crocheting coral for a while in 2008. In fact bored the pants of anyone who would listen to me...but I have just heard some news that will make my family and friends groan.... The Margaret Wertheim, the mathematician who came up with the whole Hyperbolic crocheted thing, is doing a workshop in Dublin, at the Science Gallery, on 24th October, with a view to creating an Irish Coral Reef!!

Can you imagine how excited I was to hear, I immediately booked tickets, though I haven't figured out about babysitters, getting there, etc, I don't care. I am not missing this for the world!! I have to laugh at the fact that in my enthusiasm for coral in 2008 I emailed the Science Gallery about the reef, and suggested maybe we should get one together, but got no reply... Maybe Ireland wasn't ready for such a venture back then, but it is definitely ready for one now!! The proposed Irish Reef will take place alongside the International Coral Reef sometime in Spring 2010.

So anyone that can barely crochet, or crochet well, believe me, it is so much fun, and easy to make, you could come along too. Tickets are free, but places are limited, you just have to go onto the Science Gallery website, and click GET TICKETS. Already a few Ravelry heads, have signed up. www.sciencegallery.com/events

So be prepared to be bored silly for the next 8/9months with obsessive coral making, that I have only just recovered from. would you believe I was just about to throw out my big bag of coral that's been sitting there since last years Electric Picnic! I didn't know what to do with it....but now I do....