Yap & Yarn

It's time!

Get your needles at the ready for Yap & Yarn, which starts again on Monday 28th September at the Warehouse Buildings, Stromness, from 5pm - 7pm.

Pop along with your knitting or crochet and enjoy a chat and a cup of tea with fellow yarn lovers. All ages and abilities welcome and there will be help on hand for beginners to get you started.

You may remember the fantastic knitted Christmas tree that the Kirkwall group produced last year, and we thought it would be nice to have one of our own for our lovely new building.

If you would like to help us with this project then we would be delighted to receive donations of squares up to a maximum size of 21cm x 21cm (8 inches) in any shade of green and in various weights of yarn and stitch patterns. We would also love any knitted/crochet decorations for the finished tree.

Let the knitting begin!

Having a yarn

We are always delighted to welcome visitors to the Stromness Library, and even more delighted when they come back for a return visit.

In the last couple of weeks we've had visits from two former writers in residence at Stromness Library, Jan Natanson, and Nalini Paul , as well as our Ravelry friend Westendangela.

While Jan and Nalini shared news of recent writing projects - Jan has a community play in production, and Nalini has a poetry book coming out soon - when knitters get together the talk soon turns to work in progress and recent projects on the knitting needles. 

We were rather pleased to be able to show off our library cushions, and Becky even posed for a photo beside the windows which were the inspiration for the design. 

photo by Westendangela

Watch this space for news about the date of our move to the new building, but in the meantime here is a sneaky preview of the cushions in their new home.

Now doesn't that look comfy?

Just perfect for relaxing with a good book, or even a bit of knitting!

Cushions

We thought you might like to see what the Yap and Yarn group have been working on in preparation for our move to the new Library. 

We decided it would be nice to find a way to make something for the new building which reminded us of the old library, and came up with the idea of cushions for our lovely new comfy sofas. 

As you can see, the design is based on the coloured glass windows in the old library.

We decided to make 6 cushions and here we are working on the final one!

Advent Quiz - Day 21

Question 21

What is the name of the knitting group that meets in Stromness Library on alternate Monday's from 5-7pm?

Post your answer as a comment below. 
Entries close on 31st December.
Answers will be published and the winner announced on 5th January 2015.

Answer: Yap and Yarn

24 Islands/ 24 Hours

There is great excitement in Kirkwall library today as the special guests start to arrive for tomorrow's 24 Islands/24 Hours events. 

You can download the full programme of events from the Orkney Library website  and keep up to date with all the fun on the Orkney Library and Archive Facebook page.

One event that our Yap and Yarn members might be interested in is 'Flotta in Print: an evening of knitting, war, oil & art', when local knitting designer Elizabeth Lovick speaks about her new book Centenary Stitches, and Rebecca Marr, from the Gunnie Moberg Archive will read from Flotta related literature accompanied by Gunnie Moberg images of the terminal. 

image:Gunnie Moberg Flotta oil terminal dated by the artist December 1976

This event takes place in the Flotta community centre starting at 7.30pm. The ferry will leave Houton at 6.15pm and arrive back at 10pm. 

The Knitter Scientific

It's been a wonderful week of weather here in Orkney, with visitors and residents alike enjoying sunny strolls along the street in Stromness. We've enjoyed meeting those who have taken a break from the sun to visit the library, both new visitors and familiar faces. 

It was particularly nice to get chatting to a regular visitor who turns out to be a fellow knitter and Ravelry member Westendangela from Dundee. Combining her job as a biochemist with her passion for all things woolly she has been using knitting to bring her research to life. 

Her most recent project,  as part of the Women in Science Festival, involved creating a knitted display for her local yarn shop representing the human  blood stream when dealing with the sleeping sickness (her area of research) , with knitted red blood cells, white cells, Trypanosomes, the flu virus, and the DNA helix. 

knitted Trypanosome being attacked by antibodies

We are hoping Anglea might be able to join us at Yap and Yarn on a future visit to Orkney, but in the meantime she has very kindly left us a knitted Trypanosome of our very own. 

While researchers like Angela are studying the behaviour of the Trypanosome parasites, in the hope of developing more effective drug treatments, charity MSF (Doctors Without Borders) is responsible for supplying and distributing the drugs currently used to treat Sleeping Sickness, the disease caused by the Trypanosome parasite.

Sleeping Sickness is a devastating disease spread by the Tsetse fly, which  poses a risk to 60 million people in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. To find out more about Sleeping Sickness and the role of the Trypanosome parasites visit the MSF website, where you can also donate to support the work of MSF in offering treatment to those suffering from this, and other, neglected tropical diseases. 

There's a moose loose aboot this - library!

The weather on Sunday may not have been kind to St Magnus Festival goers, but it hardly mattered to those lucky enough to have tickets for the Arne and Carlos Knitting Workshop in the Stromness Academy Library. 

Becky has returned buzzing with excitement, and inspiration for even more knitting projects - members of the Yap and Yarn group beware!

Apart from providing help and encouragement to workshop participants, as they tackled their very own Magnus the mouse, Arne and Carlos shared photos of the beautiful garden they have created at their home in the Norwegian mountains. 

A wonderful afternoon of knitting passed all too quickly, but before they left  Arne and Carlos were kind enough to sign the library copy of their book Knit-and-Crochet Garden - which is now available to borrow again, as Becky has bought her own copy. 

 Becky also got a photo with the superstar knitters, along with the original Magnus.  

Arne, Carlos and Magnus with a rather over excited library assistant!

Becky assures us that her own Magnus will soon be finished and ready for a photo call, however when we demanded a progress photo this is what we got:

In the meantime if anyone else has finished their Magnus please send us a photo so we can share them here and motivate Becky to get further than some disembodied legs - looks like poor Magnus has had an unfortunate accident at the paws of the library cat.

Maybe we could tempt Arne and Carlos back to visit the Yap and Yarn group when we move to the new Stromness Library?!

Midsummer, St. Magnus, and a (knitted) mouse

Despite the low cloud, the slightly chilly air, and a lack of sun, it is in fact midsummer. Here in Orkney this means not only an excuse to celebrate what George Mackay Brown described as 'the over-brimming of the year's well of light'*, but also to enjoy this year's St Magnus International Festival. 

Today in Stromness Town Hall at 5.30pm the first performance of this year's Johnsmas Foy will take place, when Sarah Jane Gibbon will direct 'The Raven Banner, Twelve Valkyries & a Ghost Army'. This will be a commemoration of the 1000th anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf, through song, poetry, story-telling and Old Norse writings performed by Sarah, along with poet Emma Grieve, composer Aimee Leonard and storyteller Tom Muir. 

For those who would like to know more about how midsummer and Johnsmas were traditionally celebrated, then we would recommend Midsummer, Johnsmas and bonfires on the UHI Centre for Nordic Studies website and also the excellent articles on Orcadian Bonfire Traditions  and A Year of Orcadian Tradition from the Orkneyjar site. 

In a break from tradition this year's St Magnus Festival features two workshops by Norwegian knitting celebrities Arne & Carlos. These have proved so popular that both Kirkwall and Stromness workshops have sold out, but we know that at least some of our library Yap and Yarn group members have been lucky enough to get tickets - including our library assistant Becky. During the workshop Arne & Carlos will be leading participants through their pattern for Magnus Garden Mouse, from their latest book Knit-and-Crochet Garden, which is, of course, available from the library.

We hope Becky will bring her Magnus into the library for a visit when he is finished and we'll try to get a photo to show you. If anyone else has knitted Magnus do please send us a photo and we'll share them on the blog. 

 Arne and Carlos

Magnus Garden Mouse

So it's going to be a busy weekend here in Stromness, but however, and where ever, you are going to be celebrating, we hope your solstice, St Magnus Festival, and Johnsmas  are full of midsummer magic.

*  from "Solstice of Light" in Under Brinkie's Brae, 1979, p.147

It's oh so quiet ....

Where did February go? Must have been concentrating too hard on our shawl knitting! 
Yap and Yarn meets again in Stromness Library on Monday (3rd March) from 5-7pm. Come along and catch up with the progress of the shawls, socks and other projects the group have been working on and enjoy a cuppa and a chat.

Shawl knit-along

On Monday 3rd February the Yap and Yarn group meets in Stromness Library from 5-7pm, when Kaja will be starting her shawl knit-along. 

The pattern she will be using is the Ashton Shawlette by Dee O'Keefe which is available free to download from Ravelry.

 If you can't make it along to the meeting but would still like to take part in the knit-along then you can join in on the Yap and Yarn Facebook group, where you can post pictures of your progress and ask Kaja questions. 

And if you don't fancy tackling a shawl then just come along with whatever project you like and join us for a cuppa and a chat. 

© Dee O'Keefe

 

Swants

"Swants?" I hear you ask dear readers - "what are they?" Well let me tell you, they are about to be the next big trend on the Stromness fashion scene. 

We came across the wonderful Swants Dance video from the talented knitting designer Stephen West via his Westknits Facebook page. Stephen has kindly provided a free Swants tutorial on his blog so you too can make your very own pair of Swants. 

As the cold November days set in we predict these will be the 'must have' item in every wardrobe this winter. By the time all our Yap and Yarners have made theirs, and are strutting their stuff down the street in Stromness, there won't be a jumper to be had at the Cats Protection or Red Cross charity shops. You may even glimpse a pair in action behind the desk here at the library! 

What we can't promise is the same standard of Swant dancing as performed by the Westknits  Fun Squad - enjoy!

We would love to see your Swants (ooh errr) so do please email your photos/ dance videos to stromness.library@orkney.gov.uk and we'll share them here - we might even show you ours too ;-) 

Festive Knitting

Can you believe it is nearly the end of October already? Tonight the clocks go back, then the darkness will creep into the afternoons, and soon it will be time to think about preparing for Christmas. In fact here at the Library preparations are already under way, as the Yap & Yarn groups are busy knitting and crocheting squares to create their very own woolly Christmas tree for the Orkney Library and Archive. 

If any knitters/crocheters out there would like to help us with this project then we would be delighted to receive donations of squares up to a maximum size of 21cm x 21cm (8 inches) in any shade of green and in various weights of yarn and stitch patterns. We would also love any knitted/crochet  decorations for the finished tree. 

As you can see from the photo we will need plenty of squares to cover our improvised tree structure!

But first we have Hallowe'en to enjoy and we wonder if any of our Yap & Yarners will be bringing along Hallowe'en themed projects when we meet here in Stromness Library on Monday (28th) at 5pm-7pm? 

A quick search of the wonderful pattern resources on Ravelry revealed a multitude of spooky yarn creations, from the fun of Wanda the Witch:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wanda-the-witch

the cuteness of the Sweet Pumpkin hat:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/0-966-sweet-pumpkin---pumpkin-hat-in-karisma

the whackiness of the Scare Isle tam:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scare-isle

 

to the sheer wrongness of the Hallowe'en Horror Hand!:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/halloween-horror-hand

Whether you aspire to knit a square or a scare, come along and join us on Monday for Yap & Yarn. All abilities welcome, there will be experienced knitters and crocheters on hand to help even the newest beginners get started, and to offer advice and help, so don't be scared - unless of course you're planning to use your ball of yarn for a spot of Hallowe'en divination. 

Binary Bonsai

The 2013 Orkney International Science Festival starts tomorrow, Thursday 5th September and as usual the programme is packed with interesting events to suit all ages and interests. You can see a full list of events on the Festival website, but the library Yap and Yarn group members are getting involved in one event which takes place as part of the Family Day on Saturday 7th September in the King Street Halls in Kirkwall.

The project  Botanica Mathematica is the brainchild of Madeleine Shepherd and Julia Collins who came up with it as a celebration of the year of Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013. The project's Ravelry Group page explains the nature of the project and its aims:

Botanica Mathematica is an exploration of mathematical structures arising in botanical forms, using generative instructions and textile techniques to create a sculptural installation. Simple algorithms applied to embroidery, patchwork, knitting and crochet generate elegant structures, rich textures and fascinating patterns.The aim of the project is to create an ever-growing textile herbarium of plant like forms generated by the application of algorithmic processed to craftwork of all sorts.

Madelaine contacted knitters in Orkney to encourgage them to create their own trees to add to the knitted bonsai forest and there is a free pattern for the binary bonsai tree available on Ravelry. It's not too late to knit your own bit of nature, if you can't get along to see Madeleine and Julia on the day then you can drop off your tree(s) at either Stromness or Kirkwall library and we will pass them on. As well as a chance to see the forest on the day of the event there will be kits of pattern and yarn to take away and make later.

Trees have  started to spring up in the libraries already. Kirkwall library has this very lovely specamin:

While the Stromness tree has a distincly Orcadian character with its lean away from the prevailing wind!

It's Show Time!

With Orkney's agricultural show season under way our thoughts turn to next Thursday's Dounby Show.

While those entering livestock are busy washing, grooming, and going through their paces in preparation for the big day, there is still time to prepare your entries for the 115th West Mainland Flower, Produce & Industrial Show.

Pick up a schedule from one of the West Mainland country shops and you will find eight sections with classes for everything from pot plants to photographs -including  a junior section for children, divided into four age groups.

The schedule includes recipes for the items in the baking and confectionery classes - or you can use your own tried and tested ones. For those seeking last minute inspiration or tips then we have lots of baking and craft books in the library which could help you create the winning entry. We suspect that the knitting section may well feature work from some of our Yap and Yarn group.

The competition is open to all who permanently reside in the West Mainland, and exhibits can be entered at The Dounby Centre between 10am and 12.30pm on Wednesday 7th August or between 8pm-9pm on Tuesday 6th. Membership tickets, which include the entry fee and admission, cost £2 for adults and 50p for juniors.

The exhibits can be viewed by the public between 7pm -9pm on Wednesday 7th, and from 10am -5pm on Thursday 8th August. So if you're at the Dounby Show don't forget to take a trip along the road to The Dounby Centre as well. If you can't make it to Dounby you can get a taste of the even from the show's facebook page.

Good luck to all competitors next Thursday,  and remember both Kirkwall and Stromness libraries will be closed that day so the staff can enjoy the show too. We're already looking forward to catching up with friends and enjoying  our usual show-day treats of lunch in the pavilion and a 99 ice cream :-)

Photo of vegetable section from the Show's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=242677019092453&set=pb.242518355774986.-2207520000.1375528606.&type=3&theater

Knitty Knit - for now!

Monday saw the last Yap and Yarn session of the season in Stromness Library -  the final session in Kirkwall library will take place next Monday (25th March). We marked the event with home baked biscuits, and we finally remembered to to take some photos of some of the projects members of the group have been working on over the weeks.

Yap and Yarn will start again in October, but in the meantime there is no need for woolly withdrawal symptoms, as you can still join our Facebook Group and pop in for a virtual yap and yarn (biscuits unfortunately will be virtual too - think of them as diet versions).

We would love to see your photos and hear how your projects are progressing, there will always be someone who can offer advice, tips or encouragement; who will understand your dilemmas over yarn or pattern choices;  and who will share your sense of triumph when you finally master that tricky new technique or complete that seemingly-never-ending project.

And for all the non-yarn-obsessed, you can enjoy a break from wool related posts - at least until the autumn ;-)

No Knitting Tonight...

...At least not at Stromness Library.

Unfortunately due to the pretty dreadful forecast for storm force winds coming our way later today we've decided to cancel tonight's Yap and Yarn meeting.


A night at home in front of the fire with the knitting needles sounds like a good way to stay safe and warm in this weather.

 from Orkney Beachcombing https://www.facebook.com/OrkneyBeachcombing

But you can still share your knitting triumphs and disasters on our Yap and Yarn Facebook page. Share your photos, tips and advice, and we'll keep an eye out for anyone needing help.

The Kirkwall Yap and Yarn group meets next Monday 11th February and we'll meet again in Stromness on 18th February - weather permitting. You'll find a full list of dates on the Yap and Yarn page of the Orkney Library website.

Advent - 2nd December

Whether making a conscious decision to resist consumerism, or reacting to the economic climate, many folk may this year be considering the joys of giving and receiving homemade gifts. If you're in search of inspiration for what to make, then never fear, we have a wide selection of craft and cookery books full of gift ideas. 

For the knitters amongst you we can personally recommend Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Knitted Gifts which is full of patterns for projects to suit most ages and tastes, and usefully arranges them according to the estimated time they should take to complete - handy if you want to avoid that last minute Christmas Eve knitting panic! 

We also have plenty of festive craft books on offer, our favourite being The Twelve Knits of Christmas by Fiona Goble - you may not manage the full set for this year but you can always just start with the partridge.