This weekend I went hunting for some packaging materials for David Sedaris' heart. I wanted simple and ultimately disposable, because the thing could end up in the bin in 5 minutes for all I know. I wouldn't take it personally - I'm sure he gets given a lot of things on tours like these. While the heart is a hella lot more transportable that the taxidermied animals he's been presented with at some shows, it's really just a little trinket and I don't want him to feel burdened with its ownership. It's ok David, when I give it to you, it's yours to do with as you wish - gift it, ditch it, use it to throw at the tv when there's nothing on, whatever.

Socks are one of my favorite projects - I love knitting in the round and I love being able to just pick up and knit. However I feel I have to start branching out from entirely plain socks.

With this in mind, these are the first socks I've knit with an overall rib effect. It's not really much more complicated that plain, but it's something. I also think the rib all the way down the ankle might help them be less prone to sagging. I'm using aran weight wool from Donegal. I thought given the chunky wool, the rib might not feel so pleasant underfoot so on the the foot portion the ribbing is only on top, with plain stockinette underneath.

For the last 2 months I've been living on the contents of one suitcase I brought over from England with me, and a few bits and pieces I've left at friends' houses. I've kind've enjoyed the minimal existence. Despite this, I'll be relieved when the rest of my gear is delivered next weekend and I'll have both a wider selection of clothes and crafting materials.

Oh my god what if David doesn't do a meet and greet?!

The idea was to make David Sedaris a knitted heart. Really I think I've made him a blob. But a blob from the heart.

Oh suspicious heart

Well now. Last week I mentioned that I am knitting an anatomical heart for the author David Sedaris. During the week I had a dream I gave it to him and he was actively and openly not impressed by it. In fact, he seemed quite disgusted by the whole idea. When I woke up and was in that brief few moments where your dreams are your reality, I was actually quite upset. 

Not naturally superstitious, I am plugging on with the heart regardless. 

Breath

I'm 'back', as they say. I was away for a while. In England, no less. Very exotic, I assure you. The blog stopped for some reason. Now I'm back, and I suppose it's starting again.

Part of the reason I want to update the blog is to make sure I take pictures of the things I make. Here are some of the things I made or completed while in Ing-Ga-Land. Some of them didn't make it to photo land, or at least not yet. Try to look disappointed.

Intarsi - mittens and jumper. The jumper was the first major garment I've knitted.

Yarn bombing with my homies at the Herts Stitch'n'Bitch.

Yarn-bombing at work.

Some made to order cross-stitch for Simon Singh.

Tiny hats for Innocent smoothies big knit.

Skirt.

Socks - just one pair shown.

A knitting needle roll.

A chunky jumper - in progress.

For sure what I'm most proud of is a quilt for my friends' wedding present. It's hard to be accurate in how long this took me. I started more than a year before the wedding and worked on it off and on for a few hours every once in a while. It's far from perfect - the bias binding around the outside is already coming off in places - but I love it and I think they did do.

So now I'm back in my home country, and I must admit I'm very happy about it. I have decided to revive my blog both for the original reasons I started it (to keep me craftly motivated amidst an ever varying schedule) but also as a means of staying in communiqué with the lovely ladies of the aforementioned Herts Stitch'n'Bitch group. Hanging out with those lovely ladies once a week really made my time in England much more enjoyable and I'll miss them. I have yet to find a knitting group in Dublin which suits my schedule, but in honesty over the last few weeks I've barely had a few hours spare. It's been wonderful being able to spend times with friends and family again but - time must always be made for craft!

At this moment the majority of my craft stuff is in Donegal. I stashed a couple of knitting projects in my hand luggage to keep me ticking over in the meantime. There is a pair of socks knit in one of my favorite yarns - 100% wool from Studio Donegal. I'm working them on some badass carbon fibre knitting needles that I received as a secret santa gift. I'm really taken with them and will be investing in some smaller pairs for socks made out of finer yarn. 

On a set of classic wooden double points, I am trying out an anatomical heart pattern I've been meaning to do for the longest time. I want to give one to David Sedaris, my favorite author these days, when I see him at the National Concert Hall next month. It's not a complete fangirl gesture, he's all into grotesque stuff, and anatomical bits and pieces........Ok, it is a complete fangirl gesture, but I'm ok with that.

So weary. Life is busy but I will aim to update weekly. It will mostly be pictures.

End.