Wednesday 26 August 2009

The Faroes

Nop, I have not been on another holiday but for one reason or another the Faroes islands have been crossing our radar recently. Firstly there is the knitting. I have manged to acquire, after a
two month wait, a copy of http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/stahmans-shawls--scarves. This book I love! There are 40 patterns for both shawls & scarves in t The shawls are all an interpretation of Faroes shawls -ie 'fitted' with a back panel but knitted top down & the scarfs
have a ribbed neck section for cosy neck cuddling! I have, so far, finished one scarf. This is 'Irlings half diamond seamens scarf', knitted in extra fine Jaegar merino dk.
It is my first 'christmas knit'!!!! I am 3/4 of the way through 'Ginger',in some gifted Skein Queen sock yarn that I thought would be wasted if hidden in shoes & she makes a super 'travel' knit. Ginger Nut is for me!!!! Also on the needles is another scarf (more for the christmas cache!) & a shawl! The shawl is 'Gracie' & she is in Kauni Effektgarn 8/2.in shades of mid blue, dark blue & purple. I had started to knit 'Susan' but realised that the lace pattern is the same as 'Forest Canopy' & there is too much knitting in a Faeroe's shawl to repeat a pattern I only finished two months ago! It is a lovely pattern to knit & works with the yarn, although on grey days like today I keep thinking I must get a 'daylight bulb'! The darkest blue sections are like knitted braille! Fortunately I am into a purple patch.

The Faroes were also featured on last weeks 'Coast' programme & ..... wow! They have zoomed up our 'must visit' list! Awesome.... stunning..... Middle Earth! On the subject of TV, perhaps we are a little 'late to the party' but we have been following the re-run of 'Monty Halls Great Escape' as he establishes a smallholding near Applecross in the Western Highlands. The envy halted for a while when the midges moved in but other than that it is an intriguing project in a wonderful place. I have just ordered the book from Amazon!

Shopping is a common event in our household affairs at the moment. Son & heir goes off to University in just over two weeks time & so there has been a fair amount of 'Uni Shopping' - if they can't nail it down he needs to take his own seems to be the rule of thumb!

6 comments:

Heather L. said...

Now that I'm hooked on shawls, :) I'm planning to start another on a road trip this weekend. We'll see how it goes....

Katie said...

I saw that Coast episode too, I was plotting how to get a job there and then realised I didn't speak the language!

Probably Jane said...

I have that book - thank you for inspiring me to fetch it out - your work makes the shawls and scarves look much more attractive than the photos in the book.

Pom Pom said...

Hello, Sue! I found your blog today! I love the socks you made. You are an ADVANCED and brainy knitter, I can tell! I am an English teacher in Denver. I shall visit your happy blog often! I love the inspiration. A skier, too? Wow! You'd like my Colorado! ~Pom Pom
Oh! I've always been fascinated by the Faroes.

florencemary said...

Hi Sue, just trying to catch up with all your news... your Hebridean hols photos are wonderful, and you had such great weather. It seems such a shame to visit these beautiful places when it's misty and rainy and you can't appreciate the fabulous scenery. Hmm, the Faroes... might just have to check them out. I quite fancied a trip along the Norwegian coast next year - perhaps I could combine the two!

Great knits too - I particularly love the Kauni yarn.

Jo at Celtic Memory Yarns said...

I'm trying to get to the Faroes but they seem extraordinarily difficult from West Cork. Maybe easier from your neck of the woods? And those Faroese shawls are irresistible!