Komodo

Komodo.

Een Komodo varaan woont op een eiland in de Indische Oceaan dat bij Indonesië hoort. Ze hebben niet echt schubben of zien er uit als een fantasie draak. Het is echter wel een heel uniek dier. Ik vind het een prachtig dier om te zien, je kunt hem zelf bekijken in het Reptielen huis van Artis.

De vormpjes in deze shawl vond ik wel wat op 'schubben' lijken. 

 Komodo.

The Komodo 'dragon' is living on an island in the Indian Ocean, part of Indonesia. They don't really have a scaled skin or are like a fantasy dragon in real life. They are pretty unique though. I really like their 'look'. I've seen one (small) for real at the Zoo Artis in Amsterdam this Fall.

 De patronen kunnen worden geaccentueerd met kraaltjes. In het engelse garen van Posh Yarn heb ik gele kraaltjes gebruikt.

 The patterns in this design can be accentuated by small glass beads. In this case yellow to go with the Posh Yarn. (this colour is no longer available, but she has plenty to go around)..

 Het rode garen is heerlijk zachte lamswol, gewoon uit Nederland. Verkrijgbaar in vele kleuren maar in het rood toch wel erg mooi. Door de vorm van de shawl blijft hij goed zitten wanneer je hem draagt. Wel opletten, de binnen rand is een tikkie kwetsbaar.

The red yarn is wonderful soft lambswool from the Netherlands. Available in plenty of gorgeous colours, but very pretty in red. The shape of the design makes it very versatile to wear and it will stay put very easy. Please take note that the inner edging is a bit fragile.

Design:   MoniqueB for Wol Met Verve (NL)
Yarn:     Elegance Lambswool 2 balls of Red (424m/50gr) 750 - 800 yards (686 - 732 m)
            Posh Yarn Cobweb (1300y/100gr) in any colour 
Beads:   881 size 8/0  in honey Yellow
Needle:  3,25mm or US 3
Hook:     0,75 to add the beads (1 per stitch)
Pattern:  €5.00 EUR (Ravelry) (Etsy) of binnenkort op Wol met Verve en Kantwerk (ENG / NL) 


Mocht je het patroon tijdens de Breidagen hebben gekocht, dan zitten er fouten in:
Er kunnen 881 kralen toegevoegd worden (8/0 maat)
In instructie 3 staat dat je de chart 2 drie keer moet herhalen. Dat klopt. 
Maar niet rij 48-83 drie keer herhalen. Dan heb je 258 steken, en niet 262 of 274.

Het spijt me als dit tot vertraging of problemen heeft geleid.

Let's walk.

Let's face it. Shetland is more than just WoolWeek. How much I thoroughly enjoy the talks and workshops about wool, techniques and spinning, knitting etc., I was struck by the beauty of this islands the second I set foot on it, 2 years ago.

First look: Sumburg 

Because I deliver mail 4 times a week, I tend to walk a lot. I do that without any resentment and found there are amazing walks on these islands. Both times, 2012 and 2014, I went to Burra: 

And it was sunny weather and a great walk.
In 2012 there was Hermaness at our feet. Not this time, we spent time at Norwick (Unst).
A short walk on a long beach. I stood on a rock but the waves were quick and I got my feet wet. 

The day before I had chosen to talk a walk on the 'red' island. I had looked on my little map to find a place I hadn't been before. And somewhere I could walk and be back in time for the next workshop.
Muckle Roe. Just take a left at Brae and you'll have to hold on to your seat! 

Brae

Muckle Roe. 

It doesn't 'look' special but it sure was. Wikipedia told me there was a small bridge (there was) and that the island has red rocks. It does. 

 I didn't see that anywhere before. It was a bit more rugged than other parts I've walked. After I had reached the end of the road, parked the car and started walking into the fields, I noticed a sign.

 Hé, I can walk 2km and back ánd be back in time for a workshop in Lerwick.

 Little foot holds to make sure the sheep don't escape.. hahaha. No path. So, decided to walk up to the beach.

 This was amazing! Not a soul in sight. Just cute little bunnies. Nature can be cruel, though. I saw their little white tails hopping. Had I been a hunter, I could have shot them. Luckily for them, I'm not.

Now... Where is the 'path' to the lighthouse? 

 Found a path, and kept on walking. Enjoying the view. It was so quiet. Just as quiet as I had experienced on Sandness 2 years ago..

 This just looks like a nice picture but the beach is a lóng way down...

On the blog by Jan, I had noticed a pile of rocks. I had found 'my own'!! Searched for a nice stone to add to this 'memorial'. And one more hill to climb. Had to use the 'riverbed' for lack of other ways to get up the hill. 

The views kept getting better. Although I did start wondering when the darn lighthouse was going to appear.

And finally... There it was. You see that little white boxy thingy? That's it. I think the expression on my face says it all. The walk was great, but I had expected a bit more... well... like this.

Muckle Flugga...  (Picture by Andy Strangeway).

One can dream, right??
Because I didn't get to it in 2012, I thought that maybe, perhaps, somehow, with a similar name, came a similar lighthouse. Nope. Oh well.
It was a great time spent on my birthday. I did manage to phone my husband, even at that remote location. And got back in time for the workshop.

Back to my little red car and to Lerwick. Dreaming of maybe another trip to another lighthouse...

Wear your lace...

Shetland.
2014. Wool Week.

So happy to be there.

Opening Ceremony on Sunday. It was so heart warming to meet a lot of people again or for the first time. You see me (right) here with Ina Irving (left). I was VERY proud to meet her. I had seen her lace on Ravelry and was very impressed. I could see her lace work up close, the colours, the details. All very inspirational. So very much so, that I even frogged a project and started over, the shetland way. Small needles and fine lace yarn.

(I'm wearing my The 12th of Never shawl in fine silk lace).

This is Linda (left) , Ina's daughter. She's a great knitter too, her work is mainly Fair Isle. Amazing projects and love the delicate patterns.

Later, I met Linda at the Bod of Gremista, where she was with the girls from the Whalsay, knitting away during Wool Week (and during lunch time at school!).

           (Holding my shawl The One).

The girls had learned how to knit and they even made their own sweaters!

In the other room of the Bod: Fine handspun and handknitted lace. Three gorgeous white handspun shawls. One is made (not in this picture) by Anne, the lady of the Knitted Fence in Hamnavoe.

On Thursday me and Marieke went off to Unst. For me, almost the purpose of the whole trip. 

See how happy I am! Talking about and looking at very fine lace! 

              My shawls in white and light green were allowed to be on 'show' with the work of local knitters. Rhoda is presenting the new book made in Unst. She's wearing a handknitted lace skirt in 2 colours. 

At Unst was the presentation of the little booklet with all new patterns. They were very kind and helpfull. I was allowed, after I had asked, to show the lace I brought. The 12th of Never raised a few eyebrows, what kind of pattern was that?? It's a shetland mesh pattern in a semi circular shape.
I had a great time, talking lace with Hazel Laurelson. She's so skilled.

Two years ago I had purchased a book at the Museum and Archives (empty pages) with a lady on the cover holding a shawl. I bought it on purpose because I was actually knítting that shawl! (Williamson Stole) The funny thing was, the ladies at the Unst Heritage Museum didn't even know, they had it on display thís WoolWeek! I wasn't allowed to take pictures, so no comparison to prove it.

 

That Monday I was having a spinning class by Margaret Peterson. A lovely lady with a good sense of humor. She learned us a lot! (but nothing on paper for later). She showed us a shawl she was gifted and it's handspun and hand knitted. I was (again) very impressed by the delicate lace. If only I could reach this fine yarn with spinning...

On Wednesday I was having a class by Elizabeth Johnston: Understanding Shetland Lace.
To be honest, I shouldn't have. She didn't bring any examples, or had written instructions. Only a piece of paper to write your own pattern and work that. No casting on, binding off tips or things I give a lace class. She knows so much, though. Perhaps for other students it would be handy to have it all on paper for later. Wool  Week gives many opportunities and information, it could be overwhelming.

This is a knitted dress in the shop of Jamieson & Smith.
The body is worked in stockinette, very fine, and the lace capelet and veil are worked in a nice lace pattern. All in the latest addition to the 1ply fine lace range: Optical white.

Finally, a visit to the Shetland Museum and Archives. Always a happy place to be at. This year, the Hub was at the museum, so lots of WoolWeek people gathered for spinning, chatting, knitting, weaving and just to relax a bit. The most gorgeous fine lace shawls are on display. Even now, for the second time, I saw more things than 2 years ago. Even more impressed how fine it is, now that I know a tiny bit about spinning wool and knitting with it. 

But... (there is always a but....)

At the end of the week, I had a little chat with Oliver Henry, Jamieson & Smith's wool sorter extraordinair. 45 years experience in woolgrading!

I noticed that hardly anybody was WEARING lace. I did realize that it was Hazel Tindall's party this year, so it was logical that most people would bring their finest and most beautiful Fair Isle sweater, hat, cardi, dress, skirt or mittens. I get that. Every lace item I saw was 'On display'. Beyond glass windows or on a mannequin.

WHY ISN'T ANYBODY WEARING ANY LACE???

The yarn is there, the patterns are there, but in every day life, I haven't seen anybody wearing it.
Look back at the pictures in this post; not even the teacher that's giving lace classes is wearing a lace shawl or scarf.
Maybe people don't want to knit that fine yarn or use fine needles?
Could it be that people think it's only for special occasions and too delicate to wear everyday??
We don't know. It might be a good point to get started...

So...

Lace is gorgeous on display, behind glass and to look at. BUT PLEASE: WEAR IT! WEAR IT PROUD.