Cheer Up Bristol

Because, why not?

Very Sweet Dreams

I've been buying less yarn lately. In fact, I think I may have gone as much as a couple of months with no new yarn - quite an achievement. Even when I did buy, it was for a specific project and was used immediately. I've not bought speculatively in some time.

But, when I was in Dublin in March, I fell completely and madly in love with Coolree: 50% Silk / 50% Merino in the most stunning shades. Subtly variegated, enough to make it interesting but not too much to clash with lace. I could have spent all my euros and then some! I restricted myself to a single, wonderful skein.

So the hunt was immediately on to find the perfect pattern. One skein. Pretty. Challenging. Different.

And this is where I, again, have to thank the fabulous This Is Knit as they had several shawls by Boo Knits made up in the shop. Once I started looking for patterns I realised pretty quickly where I was going to find something perfect!

In the end I bought the In Love collection with the specific intention of knitting Sweet Dreams but at least two others are firmly in my queue now (and some of my speculative yarn is ready and waiting!)

The pattern is great. Clear and effective with a beautiful effect. The picot edging took a while but I was prepared for that and it actually didn't take as long as I'd expected. Even if it had taken twice as long I wouldn't have cared, not when I finally lifted the finished product after blocking.

It's really hard to explain how lovely it is, partly because of how it moves! The weight of the beads is just perfect and the soft, soft, soft yarn drapes amazingly. A couple of people have tried to sneak off with it, everyone has had to have a squish and a swish of it. It's a gorgeous pattern for wonderful yarn. I couldn't love it more!

Something Completely Different

Other than a blip in March, I've not written anything for a while. Or, at least, I've not written anything here. This is mostly due to Reasons.

A couple of years ago I attended a scriptwriting class. I never intended it should come to anything but it was definitely an interesting experience, not least thanks to my radio drama obsession. But, in October, a new theatre company started up in my town, meeting on a Thursday night.

Seeing as how I was bored most Thursday nights, I went along. Since then I've had my own short play put on, stage managed a play by another writer in the group and I've made a lot of new friends. Now I'm trying something even more different: I'm acting!

So I have been writing. A little bit of drama and a little bit of blog - still very much a little bit actually. But, if you're at all interested in the doings of a small (very) amateur theatre company in a seaside town in Somerset, please take at look at our blog: http://princesstheatrecompany.blogspot.co.uk/

And, if that doesn't interest you, I shall try to post some more knitting related stuff soon as I've recently knuckled down to a couple of more complex projects including completing what is possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever knitted!

Quotes

Dublin airport knows how to do literary quotes. Each display is formed from the words of varying size to create the light and dark patches. So much nicer to look at than large phone company adverts!

Coolree

I don't know what Coolree means but it may well be Gaelic for "temptation". It wasn't hard to decide to buy a skein bit it was almost impossible to decide which one!

Knitters in Dublin, I'd highly recommend a trip to This Is Knit!

When in Ireland...

Buy wool! I wasn't even looking for it, I swear but I couldn't resist this fabulous skein from the Donegal Wool Spinning Company (via the Donegal Shop). The colours are beautiful, subtle but not bland, plus I can't stop stoking it, it's so soft.

I don't know what I'll make with it, I don't even know what weight it is but I do know it's amazing and I had to have it. Had to.