Borrowdale, November 2009

Borrowdale, November 2009
Originally uploaded by bykercolin

A close up of my Borrowdale piece taken in November 2009 after the floods.

Thirlmere Piece with Helvellyn

Thirlmere Piece with Helvellyn
Originally uploaded by bykercolin

This is a piece that I did in September 2009 on my Borrowdale to Newcastle walk. It is above Thirlmere on the way over to Borrowdale - a lovely quiet walk.

Borrowdale, November 2009

Borrowdale, November 2009
Originally uploaded by bykercolin

Popped over to Borrowdale from Ullswater the week after the floods. My piece is still there - even though it looks a bit bedraggled! I wonder if any little creature is going to make it its home this winter?

My source of material!

STA41736
Originally uploaded by bykercolin

Herdwicks just love having their photographs taken. This one has been freshly clipped.

Some Extreme Knitting in the lakes

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Originally uploaded by bykercolin

Here's something I did above Crummock Water.

Ennerdale piece #2

STA41672
Originally uploaded by bykercolin

Walking through the valley on a beautiful sunny morning.

Ennerdale Piece #1

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Originally uploaded by bykercolin

Did this on the slope down from Buttermere. A lovely space in Ennerdale.

Coniston Graffiti piece

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Originally uploaded by bykercolin

Finished piece in Borrowdale

Finished piece in Borrowdale
Originally uploaded by bykercolin

2nd August 2009. Did this piece of knitting grafitti in Borrowdale after the Borrowdale Fell Race.

Just playing around some organic Rare British Breeds yarn, fencing and fresh air.

Grafitti knitting

Did a bit of grafitti over in Coniston with the lads last weekend while Rob was swimming Coniston. Have a look out for the piece by the car park on the Old Man. It got wet during the night so that was a taste of things to come for the piece...

Its Borrowdale next week. Watch this space.

New Activity in the Lakes...

How about Xtreme Yarn Bombing! Low impact, creative and local materials. As I am doing the Borrowdale Fell Race on 1st August I thought I would go over to Rosthwaite for the weekend and do some ACTION!

So I have been knitting away with my organic Rare British Breeds yarns and hope to have a bit of a collection to take over with me to put up around the valley. Was also thinking of what SEASONAL Y-bombing I could do and I thought of some FROZEN YARN considering Borrowdale was so bloody cold last December. Frozen wool. Great. I am gradually becoming more and more insane ans I get older! Yipee!

After Woolfest

This was taken on my walk from Woolfest to Crummock Water. Did a bit of knitting while I was up on the tops. Then went over to Borrowdale to get some Herdwick wool from Yew Tree Farm.

Woolfest 2009

Went over to Cockermouth last weekend for my first Woolfest!

Found an Organic British Rare Breeds company - FANTASTIC! Spent loads of money, went to a lecture on genetic diversity in sheep and then walked to Crummock Water and pitched my tent for the night. Got chased by cows at one point...it's a dangerous business this rural adventuring!

On Saturday I walked over Haystacks to Borrowdale and bought some Herdwick at the Yew Tree Farm.

Ganseys from Seahouses

I went up to Seahouses on Saturday for the Seahouses Festival - lots of local culture (fish&chips, clog dancing, music and paintings in shop windows) and went to the Bee keeping talk which was fascinating. While I was in the church hall I spotted this photograph of a group of men in their ganseys. What a treasure.

Male knitters...

I went to a knitting group the other day and I was the only man out of about 100 people. I felt like a complete freak sitting there not knowing anyone and being the only man. I left. Mmm... think I will set up my own group of guerilla knittas.

Watch this space.

And here is a picture of a knitted Shackleton

Saw this in the SPRI too. This is how I will end my days!

Extreme Male Knitting...

I do think that the social aspect of being a make knitter is interesting. You know that feeling of people thinking it weird that a man uses wool and kneedles...

I was in the Scott Polar Research Institute (Cambridge) the other week and there is a great exhibition there about various explorations in Antarctica - this was one of the photographs. Men knitting and sewing. I guess with the age of 'globalisation' we can just go to Next/M&S/etc now (I wonder if they have a branch in Antarctica yet?) On the other hand we could choose to repair what we have or make it ourselves...

Yarn Bombing is for wimps - how about Yarn Ice Bombing!

I've just been reading about Yarn Bombing - the latest knitting fad...

Made me think of some things I got up to on Aspo over the winter. More 'extreme' knitting involving icebergs...

Hat for dad

Just did a bit of knitting 'off the cuff' to see how to do a hat:

Hot weekend in the Lakes

I'm just back from a quick visit to the lakes (my spiritual homeland). Did a fell run up Helvellyn and Fairfield and then some knitting with my Herdwick wool.

Found a beautiful wild camping site above Ullswater...and did some knitting.

Just back from the Lakes

I popped over to Borrowdale to pick up some herdwick wool from the Flock Inn in Rosthwaite. Great cafe and a good source of yarn. Very wiry wooly stuff...

Back from Finland!

Hej, I'm back in Newcastle. Finland was of course fantastic, especially Aspo. My friend Britt-Louise showed me how to knit Aspo heel socks - not an easy task! I think I caught the gist of it and now have to get my head together and make some on my own without her expert guidance and patience. We discovered that the Brits and the Swedes knit in opposite directions to one another...

Watch out for the photos...

No new knitting but some ideas...

I am off to Finland in a couple of weeks so hopefully will find some time there to do some knitting, I have been insprired by a great knitting blog:

http://www.katajala.net/marjut/neuleet/blog/

Skull in white

Skull in white
Originally uploaded by bykercolin

Here is a little piece I have been working on.

Nitting Haws, Borrowdale

Borrowdale
Originally uploaded by bykercolin

Quite a few people have been asking me what Nitting Haws is - so here is a lovely photo that I took in December 2008 when I was over in the Lake District. Nitting Haws is the mountain on the right.

And one on four needles

Organic wool, a bit too thin for my liking though.

Cable, cable, cable

I spent my Christmas learning how to cable. And its great! Looks impressive and its not that difficult! So now I am cabling in the round on 4 needles and looking for a pattern for a cool jumper.