two | pants!

Of all the Christmas crafting projects I tried this year, I think the Christmas pyjama pants were the biggest success.

I used Anna Maria Horner's Quick Change Trousers pattern from her Handmade Beginnings book. The pattern and instructions were very straightforward and they were a joy to make. I made four pairs in the 6-9 months size and one in the 18-24 months size. I used Alexander Henry's Yuletide Zoo in natural and green, and they were really perfect for the pattern - the pants are completely reversible, so I used one colorway for the outer side and the other for the reverse side (apart from the larger pair for which I used a solid, Kona cotton in grass, I believe). The turned-up leg openings allow you to see both sides, which worked really well!

Unfortunately, I think that due to the unprecedented weather conditions in Ireland, some of the pairs did not make it to their destinations before Christmas... No matter, I'm sure they will be kept for the next child or passed along.

There was at least one happy recipient though!

one

A habit, even one as ill-formed as mine, once broken even for a few days takes a long time to re-establish. Is it a cliché to say that "blogging more" is a new year's resolution? Ah well, I can only try.

So what of 2010? There are so many aspects of the year's end that I want to remember... the last-minute crafts and presents, the time spent running around Ireland to spend time with friends and family. But something I'll never forget is the weather. Ireland experienced the coldest December on record, and during the week preceding Christmas day, it seemed that the temperature never rose above 0 Celsius. There was travel chaos for many - we were lucky we had taken early holidays and made it home before the craziness began. The snow and ice made for some amazing photographs though - with everything appearing frozen solid, and a steaming-warm sea (so (relatively) warm that I even could take a dip on Christmas Day!).

The windscreen, early in the morning.

Barnesmore and Donegal Bay.

Benbulben.

A hungry robin. My mum kept the birds well-fed!

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Assaroe Lake, frozen (almost) solid.

Béal Átha Seanaidh.

A very cold Rory Gallagher.

A steamy sea, Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day Dip!

Mehhhry Christmas!

...geddit? Hope it's a great one, wherever you are!

Urgh.. what another long break from posting that was. Life and work were just really busy recently and left no time for anything else. But now I'm home in Ireland for Christmas, and hoping to have lots of time to blog! Which may be the case if the weather turns wintery again and we get more snow. I was gobsmacked when I saw the picture below - taken from a satellite on the 2nd of December... I have my fingers crossed for a white Christmas!

3:55:34

Not as fast as I had hoped, but not bad either. It's a whole week later now and my legs still aren't right!

The City Dreams Quilt

Nothing like a tight deadline to make me actually finish a project for a change! I made this quilt as a gift from our lab to the wonderful Erika, who left us to return to her homeland, Mexico, on the 31st of October.

It was inspired by this quilt. The maps (New York, Paris, London, Tokyo) are actually handkerchiefs, from Muji. The idea was to make something that would remind Erika of her time in New York... but because she's an incredible scientist who is sure to go far, I thought that including the other cities was appropriate; if she hasn't been there yet, she will go soon!

The process was really quite simple. As recommended by Abby, I trimmed the edges from the handkerchiefs before framing them with 1 inch of Kona Cotton in Coral (also used for the binding), and 1.25 inches of Kona Cotton in Coal. The sashing is Kona Cotton in Putty.

Because it was going to Mexico, I decided not to use any batting in the quilt, but backed it with flannel (from an Erin McMorris line). Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the back! Finally, I quilted it with simple straight lines, 6 inches apart.

Erika was very happy with it, which made me very happy! And doesn't Simon make a great quilt model?!

Tomorrow is the marathon!! I'm feeling pretty nervous but I'm sure it'll be great. Especially the post-marathon rehydration pub session! Must go pack my bags... and make sure all the alarm clocks are set - I have a painfully early start, even with the hour going back. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Happy Halloween!

More WIPs

Work is crazy as usual so there's not a lot going on here apart from some subway knitting and frantic last-minute sewing for a going-away gift (based on this quilt) for a friend who's leaving New York on Saturday!

WIP Wednesday

Just a few of the many many things lying around here in various stages of (in)completion...

My very first Baby Surprise Jacket

Completing a Baby Surprise Jacket seems to be somewhat of a rite of passage for knitters. The BSJ, as it is known, is the number one pattern for babies on ravelry, which is how I came across it, and its author Elizabeth Zimmerman.

Elizabeth inspires total devotion from anyone who has read her work. As her obituary in the New York Times put it, she "brought a penetrating intellect and a sculptor's sensitivity to revolutionizing the ancient art of knitting." If you are thinking of learning to knit (or just picking it back up again), I would highly recommend Knitting Without Tears - a handbook full of basic tips and information that will serve you well no matter what you're working on. The best thing about EZ's work is that not only does it evince her obvious intelligence, but also her sharp and vibrant British wit, which makes it really fun to read (dare I say, even if you're not a knitter!).

Of the Baby Suprise Jacket, which is knitted in one piece and magically turns from an amorphous blob into a neat cardigan, she says, "Funny-looking object, isn't it? Well.. [some instructions for folding] ...hey presto eureka and lo - a baby sweater. The baby will be unmoved by this offering, but the parents may well be charmed and your friends will be AMAZED." She was right! When I finished knitting the jacket, I laid it out for 3 PhDs and asked them to try and make it into a cardigan with two simple folds. They were stumped... and, as promised, suitably impressed when I demonstrated the genius of the pattern.

This BSJ went to baby Maeve. Hopefully it will keep her warm now that the nippiness of autumn has really set in!

Right, I'm off to do my last long run before the marathon - only three weeks to go now!

August

August was a big one, with trips and visitors. Make a cup of tea and settle in for a long post!

It started with some crafting...

July

July was a killer, there's just no getting around it. I know I've moaned about it a lot already but the incessant, unbearable heat is the reason I have very little to show for July! In fairness, it genuinely was the hottest summer on record. We had to renege on our green/frugal principles and buy an air-conditioner (and use it, almost every night!). It really made me question whether I want to live in New York long-term.

Of course, that state of mind didn't last long... how could it, this is New York!? So what did we get up to (when not moaning about the heat)?

We picnicked by the Hudson on the fourth of July, and had a great view of the fireworks...

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We went to visit Manny in Baltimore, for beer, oysters, guitars, and Lars' awesome jalapeño cairirinhas. Indeed.

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...And there were birthday celebrations, brews, and old-school bowling. Happy days.

er.... what was I saying?

I feel like I just popped out for a litre of milk, but disappeared off on a two-month fugue. I have a hundred (bad) excuses for my disappearance... the interminable summer heat that literally sucked the life from me, the marathon training, and of course, work. But now the autumn is here and I have lots of things to show and tell! Starting with a summer summary. Tonight, June! Be prepared, it's a long post!

June started with a brief visit home to Donegal and Dublin, where we spent a lovely afternoon in Stoneybatter...

...had some great coffee in Lilliput, thanks to Sherlyn & Joe...

...and spent a wonderful evening drinking Guinness with friends.

Then...