Gardens, Cooking & Knitting to Extremes with an Irish American flavour

 Gardens and Donegal make interesting bed fellows! The majestic but mountainous terrain doesn't always have 'grow flowers' written on it! Yet the 2014 Donegal garden trail boasts 23 gardens.
At Knitfield we already know the power of flowers goes beyond their colour or scent. Flowers are good business creating an ambience more pleasant for customers and for us. Of course we're partial to wild things from the surrounding fields.

When invited to present the 'Crafternoon Tea Event' as part of the Northwest garden show, now in it's 5th year, we at Knitfield jumped over our needles with ideas. The venue for our part in this community led event was The Irish Garden for the White House, an exact replica of the Diarmuid Gavin designed garden built in the grounds of the White House with many Irish - American references.

Our location for the Northwest garden show weekend was the beautifully designed stone built oval room, central in the White House garden

Edel MacBride would lead the Knit craft activities over the garden show weekend, May 2014

  

Knitfield made it to the White House after some vehicle difficulties by 'borrowing' the van from the business next door, MacBride Bros Joinery

Some work in the branding department and we were ready for the large crowds that annually attend the Northwest garden show from North and south of the Irish border.

Roses are made daily at Knitfield and never need watered, even if the models do !

Late the night before show opening and it's starting to look the part

#socialgardener & gardener with BBC radio foyle, Gareth Austin takes a break from the allotments to relax with some knitting! He learned at school and you never forget how to hold the needles even if the blackberry stitch here was a little ambitious ?

That's the little girl from Omagh with her mum's 1970's weekend case full of magic circle knitting yum yums for the Crafternoon tea display

 Rita extreme knits by the White House garden pools with our Knitfield blanket wool

If knitting honeycomb wasn't for you even after Edel's Aran demonstration you could follow Joseph to the real honeybees

                                                                                                                 Or make new friends?

 Or even get very daring with the falconry display from Glenveagh, if birds are your thing. We're just after their lovely feathers at Knitfield for head pieces.

 Our most fashionable family at Crafternoon tea undoubtedly and great helpers at the Sunday afternoon extreme knit demo with Edel

Jemima puddle duck finds a frog in the garden pool!

 

The Tin man in the sensory garden designed by Janice Campbell had loads of lovely plants too from Dunwiley nurseries

 We loved the green octopi growing in the natural designed garden by Tim Austen

 

Irish TV loved our big colourful wool too and we look forward to seeing Edel's interview on soon and the coverage from the garden show. Little Eilish kate's lovely hand knit by Bogbean in the picture here.

Maggy from Knitfield with baby Eilish Kate both wearing Edel MacBride, never needing bribed to wear mum/grannies clothing line. The cardigan is available as a knitting kit called RITA, in 2 sizes and a choice of colours with beautiful hand covered buttons, here in French lavender

 This exhibitor from the Juice bar booked an early morning Crafternoon Tea having witnessed how impossibly packed the room was the day before. All that China and we didn't hear a piece drop in 2 days, check out the beautiful knit flowers on the mantle behind by a fellow Knitfielder, beside our letter from the actual White House

 A close up of our letter from the White House now IN the White House garden, Thank you too Hillary!

 You can eat this! wonderful colour in vegetable land

 We loved all the hot pinks and reds of flowers we didn't know the names of

           Colourful inspiration is everywhere at the White House garden

 

Donegal's Rose for the #rose of Tralee this year is Tamara and we found her loving our floral buttons from Knitfield 

 It helps to be prepared especially where cooking live in front of an audience is concerned. Edel takes up a twitter challenge from the #nosaltchef to cook a surprise dish if he learns to knit

Brian the #nosaltchef is all set to Knit with the extreme needles

  Time for a little cooking brush up with the #nosaltchef master himself RTE's Brian McDermott in the live cooking theatre

 

Remember the weekend case....we got into it!

 McCrearys made sure Sundays live Donegal game could be viewed by visitors

 Elaine in Edel MacBride iconic Gold beret takes bookings for Knitfield courses coming up soon, check them out at the edel macbride.com site

Michael Carlin and Edel MacBride
Organiser Michael Carlin can take his hat off to the best Northwest garden show ever by Sunday afternoon and the weather behaved pretty good too!

We loved the ethically made 'Bogman' hats handknit in Donegal by Anna at Bogbean designs

 

We found our Spring intern Kathleen Craig in entrepreneurial fashion selling her wondrous fudge

From colourful cakes to big bold colourful yarns, all rich with homemade goodness. Sharing technique and conversation.

 

Edward showcased our knit Bow tie with oodles of charm

AND we are back to crochet roses after a fantastic weekend, made fantastic by the massive interest in our yarns and kits and patterns and demos and workshops and everything!

Birds of a feather us knitters, gardeners, cooks and folks

If you'd love to make roses that don't need watered contact Elaine at Knitfield, she'll have just the option for you!

Good bye from us at the White House and back to the Knitfield in Convoy and our lovely wee shop at the Derry Craft Village, see you soon!

THANK YOU to the organisers of the Northwest Garden show for the invitation, especially to Karen Murphy who connected with us on Facebook and got the ball rolling ! Karen manages the very successful Trashnfashion event at the garden show and you'll find lots of info on Facebook.

More images of Knitfield at the garden show 'Crafternoon Tea' on www.facebook/knitfield page.

To buy Edel MacBride - Knitfield kits or to book classes go to www.edelmacbride.com

For more information on the garden show go to www.northwestgardenshow.com

At Knitfield /EdelMacBride we are available on landline at 00353 74 9147508 10 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Saturday.

We LOVE washing wool, here's why and how!

 

 

  

Once upon a time, there was time, for gathering and connecting, by the river, washing ourselves and our clothing. We still have the river at Knitfield, but our busy days see little enough of it, let alone to gather there and wash our beautiful knitwear.

 

 

The Deele river, in Gaeilge 'an Daoil ' or in old local stories 'Burndale'

 

When things go wrong.....

Edward not happy and sweater most sad, Emma is in trouble!

Facing our fear, which looks like this, shrunken wool and totally unnecessary unless desired.

What went wrong? temperature and powder, TOO much of both.

 

Almost all of the beautiful 100% merino wool here at Knitfield, spun in Donegal and knit for the Edel MacBride brand is washed inhouse before sold !

Washing adds to the beautiful soft 'handle' and in the case of merinos which are still in 'oil', is necessary to finish the wool correctly, setting its loftiness and fullness.

 

We machine wash it!

Green merino hand knitted Aran hooded sweater line drying at Knitfield.

 

Good country air is good for sweaters too. Better without too much sun and particularly if your woollens are white or natural, beware of sun streaking or 'yellowing'. Yes sun is not so kind, but a dull and breezy day or even an Irish misty one and your wool will dry sweetly.

It seems in wise times a good trick was to dry things on the hedge itself. We'd love to hear any of your stories or memories of that?

 

 

 

 

 

Veronica poncho by Edel MacBride (also available as a Knitfield kit with pattern, yarn and buttons).

 

While we don't wash all of our woollen products, it is fun to compare the results. 

These high quality hand knits were machine washed in the wool cycle (30 degrees).

Loving an experiment we are open to using the following and all with positive results: Woolite, fabric softener on its own or Wool Wash from Kerry Woollen Mills (our latest experiment). One common denominator, regardless of the solvent, we use all of them sparingly. Approximately an egg cup at most and maybe a little more if using a fabric softener alone.

Cashmere hat for Eilish Kate with merino rose in crochet.

 

Some things are so precious or small, like Knitfield's new grand daughter born five weeks early and

her preemie wardrobe. Wool machine cycle for her first beret here in cashmere made by nana Edel ? Perhaps not !

 

 

Small things for small folks or those diligently, lovingly, hand knit socks are best uncycled!

 

The sink (basin) is good too and here we used Johnston's hair shampoo, the blue one.

This polamide yarn used in our 'Rosa' cardigan style machine washes very well but can also be hand washed. Rinse well, squeeze dry and roll in a light or similarly coloured towel to remove moisture. Then dry near heat. We never use tumble dryers for wools with the occasional exception of cotton.

 

Hanging out to dry.

 Whether hand crochet or handknit a breath of air does woollens good,

just mind that sunshine!

 

 

Even our famous wool bow ties got pegged up in a Donegal sky

Or old style on the fir tree

The shocker!

 

 We debated to tell or not to tell... once washed, rinced and excess moisture is thoroughly removed, heat is fine, even radiator heat. These beautiful hand knit scarves were wool machine washed in a small amount of woolite and dried on warm radiators with beautiful 'handle' results. The same yarn as Edwards orange merino sweater, washed in water at a lower temperature and we suspect with less detergent.

 

We have had those moments of truth, precious things boiled by accident and the debate of whether it will now make a nice bag. Unrecognisable to it's previous owner perhaps?  When something gets ruined why is it that it was always someone's 'favourite thing'. So we recommend checking that dial once, twice and three times.

It cannot be undone!

 

This is a beginning to one of our favourite subjects, we will be back with our secrets of washing wool at Knitfield

 

 

www.edelmacbride.com

 

(c) edelmacbride1987-2014

 

Thanks to Edward and Emma for the real life story and the spontaneous photography on what was a tough day for their relationship we can only surmise. Emma is Edel's daughter and Aunt to Eilish Kate who at four weeks old is already showing a preference for Donegal wool,.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beautiful day for a tour from Norway

Velcommen was The word of Our week.
We were getting ready to greet a planned Textile tour from Norway passionate about yarns, spinning, knitting and craft .

Morning is here and Corporate Touring is negotiating Knitfields tree aligned avenue

Through the arched doorway to the mystery beyond! Edel greets the touring guests of Knitfield from 'Norges Linforening', the Linen association of Norway.

www.norges-linforening.no

Denver our on site ginger girl has a word with Chef and kitchen chief of the morning, Tess.

New at Knitfield is our 'This is us!' visual screen story by Maggy, after a little ancedotal background by Edel on her road to busy Textile decades in Irelands North West.

Stitch interest time and most popular again is Aran in all it's guises. Workshop one becomes a hive of ladies loving the honeycomb and learning the blackberry - back to front and upside down!

They say WE KNIT FUNNY !!! Well done for being such genuine sports and eager weavers.

Edel was challenged to 'cast on' Scandi style and managed a little with great tuition from Hanne. Intense conversation and skill swapping set the whole Townland on fire, like a recreation of some ancient 'meet-up' in this historically textile rich locality.

Johnny Shiels prepares for a well informed invasion in workshop two. His beautiful wheel was built by himself in a family tradition going back to his grandfather. Guests were invited to spin or card wool and Johnny brought his very special hand build loom with an opportunity for everyone to weave a part of Inishowen.

Inspirational Knitfield patterns designed and written in house by Edel MacBride are on the best seller list! We remarked how many beautiful and rich textures and tones the ladies were wearing, many wearing their own soft knitwear or weaving.

Edel tells the story of the yarn designed recently by herself exclusively for Knitfield.

Read more about this on our blog Slieve League here. A hush descended and orders were placed!

The pantry was a go to for refreshments in the form of delicious scones with cream and home made jam.

Produced and co-ordinated beautifully by Tess who brought an assortment of Nicolas Mosse pottery to the party in the form of jugs. Our Knitfield Moville pottery mugs were a little unmatched, yet the home made and real made feel of everything was magical.

Under a Donegal sky !

Norway we imagine is cold and beautiful. Perfect to wear our hand knitted hats and gloves in Donegal spun merino.

 

                                                
From left :Hanne Julie Gjendem  (Leder) of Norges Linforening, Edel MacBride, founder of Knitfield and Designer, Anne Holth Larsen (Norges linforening), Elaine McInaw (tour co- ordinator)

Ireland & Norway

Knitfield and Edel MacBride workshop with Norges Linforening organisation,

April 30, 2014 at the Knitfield Centre in Convoy, Donegal, Ireland

 

 

Farewell, Edel bids a personal good bye and spies some incredible knitting aboard the bus!

The horses made new friends too as they were hand fed clover.

 

Visit again soon !

Thank you to everyone involved. To the family who appeared like night owls to help with prep especially the younger members who brought lots of enthusiasm. To the visual display team on video, sound, merchandising and buttons !!!

Full credit to photographer Mary McDermott and kitchen hospitality Tess Corry (Edel's sisters).

 

A great word of gratitude to Norges Linforening for selecting our destination and bringing such a sense of new beginnings to our year.

 

all images 1987 -2014 (c)Edel MacBride ltd

Thank you to our friends at Marley Wools Ltd and Donegal yarns. 

more information: www.spinningwheels.ie

www.norges-linforening.no

www.edelmacbride.com

www.movillepottery.com 

www.nicholasmossepottery.com

 

 

Dunboyne Castle Hotel workshop with Edel

The knitting needles and hooks of Knitfield and Edel were invited a little further afield this Spring.
The historic location of Dunboyne Castle Hotel, in the picturesque village of Dunboyne in Co Meath called for some knit with style action!
The castle team set to planning, promoting and printing ahead of the theatre style demonstration workshop planned for April 13th.

Edel wears sky eve hood and is ready to knit with a cone of slieve league grey wool exclusively designed by Edel for Knitfield

With a Dunboyne speaker and workshop line up this year to date that included Gaye Byrne and Neven Maguire, it was time to get the best yarns ready and the best dress pressed!

The keys to our Art ! We could crochet with this one on the grand front entrance door ?

After an early start it was time to check the final slides for the introduction. Edel is looking right at home here!

A guest should always be brought in by the front door, on their first visit, so an old irish etiquette goes. 

This includes all the yarn and supplies for the demo too we reckoned.

Time to work the room. What a wonderful audience. Lots of early arrival enthusiasm and great questions. Most attendees could both knit and crochet and some had interests in entrelac and broomstick crochet which is undergoing a revival. 

Indeed Edel was learning a thing or two.

It's great when friends encourage each other into handcraft as these ladies did.

Thank you for bringing your work along. Entrelac in crochet or knit has great possibilities and is fun to 'build'

The little Knitfield boots kept an eye on proceedings.

Indeed inspiration was everywhere. While the drawing room was great for the busy event we did fall a little in love with the library. This pretty ceramic chandelier held great colour chart possibilities !

It was a busy weekend with two weddings at the castle, yet that didn't stop us from swishing on the 

Downton stairwell and looking heavenwards for more inspiration.

If flora and fauna is more your inspirational kick off point, the grounds are wonderful for a dreamy dander or to sneak outside with the knitting. While we had lovely food and service in The Ivy dining room, the ivy in the garden woodlands was every bit as enchanting.

The end

For now

We hope to be back. This lovely gothic door stands lost amid trees in the garden. A nod to the textured history of Dunboyne stretching back a thousand years to the Normans. Many yarns of it's own hidden here.

Thank you if you attended the workshop. It was great to have such a like minded get together. The interest in perfecting finish and technique was heartening indeed, no rush jobs! Thank you if you purchased a 'KNITFIELD' kit or pattern on the day. We are happy to accommodate any follow up requests via the email below or at the Convoy studio number  074 9147508.

To book an inspirational workshop with Edel MacBride or for details on this years events email Knitfield1@gmail.com

Thank you to the team at Dunboyne and to the press which gave the event great mention.

Slieve League, a Knitfield exclusive

To paint one's own yarn is a dream. To paint a Donegal with multiple contrast neps or burrs is a technicolour dream.
To create Slieve League we mixed two base fleece tones of grey and green. The result being a grey flattering on skin tone and Donegal in character.
The neps represented the highlights of a Donegal landscape, the alternating skies, the heather, the rich dark autumn foliage and the strong mosses that grow on Slieve league's rocks.
The result is unique to us in all the world! A classic grey with originality in the fleck tones.

In the beginning ..Nora's wall we call this

 The choice is infinite, so it's all about the edit and a bit like mixing perfume!

It starts with play and a focus on what you're after.

 It's lovely how Slieve League integrates with

 it's birth environment !

 and how it reflects

an Irish sky even on a sky less day! Yes there is a sky behind the yarn in the image.

our first studio ready- to -wear design is underway in Slieve League. It's called the Bricin cardi and named after a saint from the region (c. 590-650). The inspiration came from a locally written poem (below). Bricin also means a small fish in gaelige.

A small and limited edition amount of Slieve League (100% Donegal spun wool) is available to pre-order online at edelmacbride.com

A little about the inspiration........Sliabh Liag (Irish for the grey mountains)

thanks to www.focuspocus.com for this image

Slieve League has been inspiring a local population since the Celts and before with it's majestic cliffs sheltering this Donegal peninula from the wild atlantic. Now a highlight for visitors on the 'Wild Atlantic Way' route, from Donegal to Kerry 

The Donegal heather and fern frame the stark cliffs that at 601 metres (1972 ft) are the highest in europe! Locally the area is know as Bunglas.

Our exclusive yarn colour in 100% spun in Donegal wool was inspired by a visit (or many!) to this Donegal wonder…

Slieve League

Voluptuous Mountain

At the foot of God

Laid out like a Gaelic Queen

In a trousseau of whimsical mist,

Glimpses of ultramarine,

Grated on by gentle sheep.

Snapped at by the sea,

By grappling arms of little farms ensnared,

Slieve League,

Colmcille’s highway

Dropping holy wells,

That lie with doleful eyes,

Hear the footprints of another saint,

Bricín now patronized,

Today as on that ancient scene,

Tomorrow you will ever be,

A noble part of nature’s chart defined

Slieve League.

The poet was inspired by Slieve League and prefers to stay anonymous!

© 2014 Edel MacBride

We hope you join us on the journey of knitting and crocheting a little of our Slieve league wool. Maybe even take a walk on this wild side of Donegal, in your creation!

Edel @knitfield 2014

A bit of Irish crochet history comes to Knitfield

Knitfield was excited to view this lovely collection almost by chance !
Aoife signed up for our 'Crochet by Design' course enthusiastically but a tad unsure. The reason being that while she could knit, crochet had evaded her in the past and as she is left handed, she half blamed that!
Well, following a bit of visual challenge on week one (crocheting left handed means going clockwise rather than anti-clockwise with the stitches, although some left handed folks find it good to work as if right handed), there was no stopping her...hats, hats, hats and flowers and ......

On week three Aoife mentioned 'tops' made by her grandmother for her mother. She was interested in perhaps bringing out the whiteness of one in particular but didn't want to use a strong solution of any kind and was seeking advise. At the last class Aoife brought her grandmothers collection of work to our delighted eyes.
Julia McCarthy of Cappaghmore, Co. Limerick had a speciality, the pineapple stitch! as the tops were crocheted in a good quality mercerised cotton they have worn well, held their shape and the classic styling means they haven't dated. Aoife confessed to having a crochet dress as a child that she may not have been so keen on, but what lovely heirloom pieces these Chanelesque hand crochet tee shapes make.

Very spring 2014 this sherbet lemon is pineapple at it's best. we like the attention to detail at the hemline too.

This lovely little crown or shell crochet stitch is crisp and graphic enough to be Mr Kane!

We were honoured to bring crochet skills to the granddaughter of Julia McCarthy and another generation of who knows what masterpieces to come ?

Aoife sports her 'rose' completed on week four of 'Crochet by Design' by Edel MacBride and Knitfield.

for more information on this excellent crochet and design course including dates visit the website or http://facebook.com/knitfield