Aran Workshop & Designer Trunk Show with Loom Dancer Odysseys

Knitfield took knitwear designer Edel MacBride on tour to lead an Aran Workshop & Designer Trunk Show for the 2014 Loom Dancer Odysseys Irish Textile Tour at Solis Lough Eske Castle, Co Donegal, Ireland.
'The Road Less Travelled' tour organised by Cari Mavler brought together a talented textile group from the USA and Canada.
'I took the road less travelled by and that has made all the difference' is a quote used on Knitfield literature, making this tour an instant connect.
(quotation from Robert Frost 'the road not taken' 1916)

Cari Malver MacGreagor of Loom Dancer Odysseys with Edel MacBride & Rufus Malcolm McGreagor III

Trail to the Presidential Suite

Follow the hand knit boots, all roads in the Castle led to the textile tour workshop in the Presidential suite

Edel MacBride Bowtie Booties

Aran Workshop

The group met with Edel and there was an air of suspense as they gathered around the oval table in the Presidential Dining Room. Gift bags were handed out which included original patterns by Edel MacBride, Donegal Aran wool and Knitfield's exlusive Sliabh Liag Yarn. While most people on the textile tour were interested in knitting, a few went elsewhere for the excellent horse riding and golfing nearby.

Aran Workshop with Edel MacBride

It was a relaxing afternoon knitting and yet for some it was more intense as they felt really inspired with the new yarn and aran skills they were learning. Edel enjoyed hearing the stories from each of the ladies and with such a diversity of home locations being mentioned, Edel was already planning a field trip..... Texas, Colorado, Canada....let's KNIT

Beverly with Edel discussing stitches

Edel demonstrated and worked her favourite Aran stitches in Irish moss, cabling and honeycomb as each of the group tried various stitches and some enjoyed a new skill. Everyone was interested in the folklore and meaning of the stitches. Edel talked about the tradition of Aran knitting that she grew up with, here in Donegal.

Edel MacBride Aran sampler Throw with all our favourite stitches, hand knit in Donegal by Eileen .

Designer Trunk Show

With skill and talent in the room from various disciplines including spinning, knitting, weaving and tapestry work the group and friends who joined them were ready to relax and enjoy our Trunk Show.  Our first model was a familiar face, Rufus Malcolm McGreagor III and he took a fancy to our handknit wool Donegal baby boots. Thanks to our friends who modelled too, Diane, Margo, Phyl and Heather.

Rufus Malcolm McGreagor III

Backstage in the Presidential bedroom our friends are preparing for the trunk show following the Aran Workshop

Phyl wears an Edel MacBride merino wool yoga cape with silk velvet buttons
available on www.edelmacbride.com

Cari does a little modeling on the grounds of the Castle in an Edel Frontier Donegal wool Cardi. 

Cari models Edel MacBride Fronter Cardigan in Donegal Wool

Rufus & Cari were very fond of the Edel MacBride aubergine velvet snood, which has now gone to a great new home

Rufus in Edel MacBride Aubergine Velvet Snood

Phyl in a Gatsby knit Dress & Crocheted Jacket by Edel MacBride at Solis, Lough Eske Castle

Phyl models Edel MacBride Gatsby Knit Dress & Crocheted Jacket

Thanks to our friends Heather, Diane, Phyl & Margo who had fun swirling & twirling at the Trunk Show.

Diane Marshall is a Plus Size Fashion Blogger - click here dianemarshall.com

Between Knitfield and the Solis are some worth stopping off at points!

A woolly Irish view on our drive to the workshop.

Thank you

It was a pleasure to meet you all and we hope that you return to our shores again soon. Thanks to Cari for bringing the tour to Ireland and of course to Donegal. We want to go on all The Loom dancer tours especially weaving in Canyon de Chelly. For more information check the website www.loomdancerodysseys.com

Thanks to everyone at Solis, Lough Eske Castle for their hospitality

More information on workshops with Knitfield and Edel MacBride on www.edelmacbride.com

Irish yarns & Knitfield Kits may be purchased online www.edelmacbride.com

If you enjoyed this post or would like information on tours please message us here: info@edelmacbride.com

Photography by Elaine McInaw, Edel MacBride and Cari Mavler

Knitting & Stitching Show RDS as you learn to Cable without Cable Needles

Knitting & Stitching Show RDS - Knitfield Kits flying around the World

Knitfield Patterns & Kits went on tour with Knitwear Designer Edel MacBride and this time it was off to the Knitting & Stitching Show in the RDS, Dublin. 
The Knitting & Stitching client seeks beautiful yarns and contemporary exclusive patterns. The Rita Cardigan sold in a variety of shades from denim to burgandy, and as popular as ever were our Paint Wool Collar & Snood Kits. 
The Veronica Poncho Kit created a huge buzz as the season's must have fashion look & for the little ones the Rosa Cardigan Kit was in demand.
 It was Knitfield's Jack N Jill Cardigan which knits in one piece that was heading off to Massachusetts, Texas, New Zealand, Kildare, Tipperary, Galway and of course back to Donegal, most of these were going to be knitted for grandchildren, nieces, nephews and quite a few babies who are due to arrive in the New Year.

Art & Design Student Anna Duffy with Edel MacBride @ Knitting & Stitching Show RDS

Knitfield Donegal Yarns in demand

It wasn't just Kits that were dashing off around the world, our beautiful Knitfield Donegal Yarns were sought after, with such an arrange of beautiful colours in the Donegal Tweed Yarn it was no surprise that you had to take our colour packs home.  Our Donegal spun merino yarn was popular and the Donegal wool Hanks brought great memories to those who used to have to wind the yarn for their mothers. As always our Exclusive Sliabh Liag Yarn which was designed by Edel was a great talking point. 

Aran Cabling without Cable Needles Workshop with Edel

Edel MacBride centre Cabling without Cable Needles @ the Learning Curve Workshops

Edel had a Workshop each day in Aran Cabling without Cable Needles. Many Aran Knitters in particular never use a Cable needle, even for a Cross over of four or five stitches at once. A few Edel MacBride techniques are employed to assist in the speedier method of knitting cables. In the workshop the class all used Sliabh Liag Exclusive Knitfield Yarn. Everyone succeeded !!!! Now practice makes perfect and thank you for joining the class.

Sundays busy workshop in Aran Cabling without Cable Needles with Edel

We loved the view of the Amazing stand belonging to Liz Spillane across from our workshop at the Learning Curve Workshop, you can view the beautiful felt backdrop by Liz in the above photo.

Horst Couture - The Darker Side of Felt

Meeting like minded people each day was so inspirational as the staff at Edel MacBride stand A2 had the opportunity to discuss Knitting & Crochet Patterns with talented individuals all with a love of beautiful yarns & designs. The atmosphere of creation throughout the exhibition was exhilarating not only at our own stand but as we took an opportunity to look around the exhibitors. Beside us was Horst Couture from Ohio who discovered felt making to have countless possibilities. The Darker side of felt collection was an Autumnal feast of amazing vibrant reds, greens and ochres.

The Darker Side of Felt 

Renate Keeping - Ripeness & Age Exhibition 

Renate Keeping - Ripeness and Age, an wonderful exhibition beside us caught our hearts especially the storybook written about herself and her husband Charles as the characters Knittle & Threadle for their own children. An inspiring story and to add to the magic the book on display was the only one belonging to the family hence it was under lock and key.  read more: The Keeping Gallery

Renate Keeping - Knittle & Threadle

New Beginnings @ the Design & Crafts Council Exhibition by Bernie Murphy

Bernie Murphy, a finalist in our Knitfield Sliabh Liag Textile Competition was also a selected textile artist in the Design & crafts Council of Ireland Exhibition called Entwined Memories.
"New Beginnings, threads of life....celebrating my life and career in the manufacturing industry in Donegal. Shadows of that experience ensued a creative journey to recognition of the enormous impact of cessation."

New Beginnings By Bernie Murphy

New Beginnings by Bernie Murphy

Knitting Passion @ Edel MacBride stand at the Knitting & Stitching Show RDS

Back at A2 Bronagh Connolly Knits & discusses techniques with our fashion Intern Anna Duffy who is helping out on the very busy Saturday. Bronagh is using Symphonie Wooden Needles from Knitpro, they are her personal favourite. She's knitting using Knitfield Apple Donegal Tweed Yarn available online edelmacbride.com  

Bronagh Connolly using symphonie wooden needles from knitpro having a creative break at stand A2, Knitfied @ Knitting & Stitching RDS 2014



Fran Ryan visits the stand. Fran taught Edel to machine Knit when she was a student at Limerick School of Art & Design. Frans knitting centre was a fashion students go to zone and Edel knit things to sell at the shop too. Fran moved to Dingle, Co Kerry founding Dingle Linens and is a regular at exhibitions with her beautiful work.

Emma gets to take it all apart until next year.

Edel does her share from set up to show close on Sunday night!

and it's back to the hills of Donegal

It was a pleasure to meet all the new faces as well as  Knitfield friends from previous shows. We look forward to hearing from you all with pictures of your new projects completed, you can share images on facebook and twitter

Favourite Tweets during the Show

 

DKC‏@TheDKC

Enjoyed my chat with Eden from Knit field about her new COLLECTION...

 

bernie holmes-kelly‏@firstlove17

@Knitfield @KnitStitchRDS @edelspirit Dressed up Crochet hope to visit tomorrow love love crochet

 

Faye Dinsmore‏@fayedinsmore

@edelspirit popped in to the RDS to see Edel's lovely creations!

Thanks all for visiting us and thanks to the http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/dublin/ for all their hard work - see you next year!

Thank you Discount offer

 Enjoy 15% discount valid until 30th November.  Using the code: knitfield which applies to all Knitfield Yarns, Kits & Edel MacBride Designer Knitwear.