Ireland & Australia A wonderful knitted tale on the Midday Show 1988

Thank you Australia for this amazing visit in time to our knitting industry.
Relatively recent - 1988 (well depending on one's age !) The Midday show with Ray Martin captured this wee piece of Irish knitting history.
The introduction is wonderful if a little questionable .....apparently we weren't interested in silly things like fashion in Donegal ?
 Well Ray hadn't been to the hills of Donegal around this time, where Spandau ballet haircuts abounded and desperately seeking Susans were chewing up every multi coloured light enhanced disco dance floor !
They grow great fleece down under, so we'll let that one go. Besides 'jazzing up our knitwear' as Ray called it, became a mission accomplished on this island from then forward.
Ireland is buzzing now with new fashion talent (and some not so new hanging in well too).
 There's a resurgence of focus on knitwear design among the talent leaving college or moving into the industry. (check out the new Fashion Knitwear & Textile degree at LIT- Art & Design)
A debt of gratitude and respect is owed to the ladies and those like them featured in this video. They fanned the flame. A knit in Ireland phoenix has arisen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ntnciRnv4Qs
 

Our favourite part of this whole video is where Ellen (81) says "I would like to pass it on before I pass on myself ". Having knit at this stage for 71 years what a wonderful thing to say, demonstrating such a love of her craft. How much it must have fed her spirit !

During this International Knit in public week, these folks were ahead of their time sitting out doors knitting in the yard. Beautiful.
We'd love to hear from anyone connected with this video and does anyone know the talented young lady on the loom, weaving near the beginning ?

Rosaleen Hegarty from Inishowen, who features and speaks so eloquently in this news feature, recently spent the afternoon with us at our Harvey's Point knit and network Sunday. Bringing visitors from the USA with expert knitting skills, it was a Knitfield delight and honour indeed.

For info on our classes, events, yarns, patterns, kits go to www.edelmacbride.com
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For more info on the new degree go to www.lit.ie/courses/LC114

Thank you to Mary Early Doherty for first bringing this footage to our attention. Mary yes, Edel just loved it as you thought, thanks so much indeed.

June is for Summer, Knitting and get togethers, we start at Harvey's

 

 

We were greeted with beds of attentive lupinus on arrival at Harvey's Point Hotel for our 1st of June Knit and Network event in the beautiful reading-drawing room. Never certain which name is correct, it is The room with a view...Harvey's has many but this is our favourite. The lakeside aspect is perfect to chill and Knit, maybe with a Harvey's Sunday special Eske cocktail.

 

                               Inspiration greets us in a summery palette of pinks

First View, the beautiful piano humbles itself again to showcase our hand knitted wares and kits

It's an enthusiastic start for some early birds with Kathleen Carr winner of our recent competition for Harvey's event tickets bringing an eclectic collection of yarn crafts made over the years.

Kathleen describes her project making as abstract, a fantastic knitter who has now taken up crochet.

Nora alongside adds that Kathleen's mum taught her to knit. Just what we always say at Knitfield, stay friends with the knitting neighbour! They make the best teachers and problem solvers.

We took the big ideas outside when Edel's crafting friend Karen arrived a stitch late (having climbed Errigal yet again), catch up with Karen's style in her Irish House and Home magazine title or if your all loved up in her Confetti magazine. With a fast growing digital business this girl knows the therapeutic power of craft! Karen is passionate about Donegal and Donegal tweeds, even when it wasn't fashionable or appreciated she was covering her life in it, from lampshades to walls, Knitfield loves her for that.

Knitfield treat time. Edel at Knitfield gets all bleary eyed excited when seeing 'pieces from the past'. Kathleen Carr brought this little cardi knit by her mother. Nora added it was in Kilcarra Yarns 'moonlight'. A lovely double knitting blend with a little mohair, long gone. The rice stitch evident here was more popular than aran moss stitches once and we are happy to have revived the 'rice' stitch again in the last year. Such a simple and effective stitch. One row rib and reverse row knit, repeat the 2 rows...try it

Kathleen's little old lady stays closely gaurded !

Elaine at Knitfield is a birthday mad person, that means don't forget hers as she never forgets anyone's. Edel was the most surprised of all when presented with a sparkling dessert by the Harvey's staff, well it's not until the 4th after all, thank you Harvey's and Elaine.

Looks complicated girls ? Karen and Joanna trade stitches in Knit and crochet. Joanna's first time at Knit and Network having just completed Crochet by design at Knitfield, our great 4 week (8 hour) course that has you off to a real start in making real things, not just stitches.

Reconnecting with the needles is Edel's mum Eilish, in our shade of the day!

Noel takes a look in and gets caught by Elaine to model tweed Bow ties, well at least we have his shade of grey?

Always the best bit, a good laugh. But some things are better not written down and we'll leave you guessing.....when's the next Harvey's date?

 

With a busy summer season at Knitfield and travels as far as Milwaukee with our classes (yes you can book the Summer school at Milwaukee with Edel this August), we don't have a date 'til perhaps Autumn. But get on the list for updates by joining our newsletter from www.edelmacbride.com

 

For details on the Slieve League knitting/crochet competition check out our facebook page/Knitfield and edelmacbride.com