Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee in Yarn

So all the festivities are now fully complete regarding the Queen's Diamond Jubilee festivities. Like William and Kate's wedding, I do believe we get much more news about the happenings here in Canada than south of the border. Since I am most interested in the knitting part of any celebration, I conducted a quick search to see what I could find and, of course, I was not disappointed

Speaking of William and Kate, you may remember the entire wedding party was knit last year (click here to see that project). Fiona Goble, the designer of the wedding ensemble, also designed this knitted replica of the Queen. I particularly like how well the Queen's hair is done in this version plus the sequins as shoe buckles, purse latch and dress button are very nice. Perhaps a blue matching hat would be better than the crown, but then Fiona, a real Brit, might know more about this type of thing than me.

The Queen in her Diamond Jubilee dress

Should you be moved to make your own version, go to this website to download a free pattern. I could see myself making Her Majesty for a few people I know. It would be a good idea just to have a couple on hand for the right occasion too, whatever that might be!

The photo below shows a knit Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip as a part of the continued yarn bombings in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, England. If you look closely you can see that it is stretched between the railing on the pier, where the London 2012 display is/was also located. (I wrote about that installation here). The special details of the characters is what makes this work unique. All the beading, sequins and jewels on the dress appear to have been added after the knitting was complete. And where does one go to find a crown in just the right size to suit this knitted Queen?

Found on the pier in Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Here's a tongue-in-cheek investigative reporter's video to locate the person or persons responsible for this creation in Saltburn. (Don't hold your breath on figuring out exactly who it is. Townspeople are reluctant to expose the true "culprits".)

Shelia Carter's knitted Jubilee Flotilla

Then finally there is this work. Shelia Carter spent over 4.5 months knitting this replica of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Royal Barge. According to an article written about this creation, there's approximately 4,500 feet of wool, 1.8 million stitches and approximately 500 hours spent to complete this project. I feel some satisfaction knowing there are people out there just as quirky with their knitting skills as I am. But I have to admit, when a friend I hadn't seen in some time asked me last night about what new food I had been knitting, I was a bit ashamed to admit I have been knitting relatively normal stuff lately. Perhaps that needs to change.

I know I do not share England's nor Canada's enthusiasm for all things Royal, but I do have to give these known and unknown knitters credit. The creativeness, tenacity and energy shown in the mere ambition of these projects is admirable, if not down right amazing.

Anatomy of a Sock

I've been knitting socks for a relatively short time. One of the disconcerting things for me as I started following patterns for socks is the pattern designer assumes the knitter (in this case that would be me) knows all the parts of a sock. So I thought I'd devote a post to improve my own knowledge about the anatomy of a sock and maybe some of you will learn something about the humble yet necessary sock as well. Here's the names of the parts of the foot as I know them. #49 ankle, #50 heel, #51, instep, #52 ball, #53 big toe, #54 toe, #55 little toe, #56 toenail. There are some parts more important for this discussion; first the heel of a foot is generally used to refer to the entire C-shape from the ankle to the instep. Speaking of the instep, it refers to that curve near the bottom of the foot. And what seems to be missing in the design above is the sole which generally refers to the bottom of the foot in total or plantar aspect in more technical terms...

Ode to the Cat

It has been six months since Mike, the cat's, passing. I think of him every day and miss him especially when Paul is away. Mike was a being in the house with me and we were close. Grieving his death has been muddled with my Dad's passing and sometimes I feel guilty about that happening. As time passes the ache becomes less hurtful for both and I am starting to get mostly good memories in its place. Recently I helped celebrate Pablo Neruda's birthday with Jami, my poet and overall very creative friend. Guests were asked to select one poem written by Neruda to read to the small group who gathered for the celebration. I picked this one: Ode To The Cat -- Pablo Neruda There was something wrong with the animals: their tails were too long, and they had unfortunate heads. Then they started coming together, little by little fitting together to make a landscape, developing birthmarks, grace, flight. But the cat, only the cat turned ou...

Knitting-Related Guinness World Records

I had to share some of the Guinness World Records connected with knitting. It is amazing to me the type of skill, stamina and unique characteristics these record holders have in common. How about trying to knit with these SPNs?? Ingrid Wagner and her large needles and knitted swatch The largest knitting needles measured 3.5 m (11 ft 5.8 in) long and had a diameter of 8 cm (3.15 in). Ingrid Wagner, a rug and art creation artist, from the UK used the needles to knit a tension square of ten stitches by ten rows at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, on March, 10 2008. (And I complained about getting certain SPNs stuck in my clothes.) See how this swatch was done with merely 5 people managing the needles. And what about the yarn? It is truly ex-bulky. It looks like they're knitting in a warehouse, but with a wingspan of almost 24 feet or 7 m, you'd need all that space. Or h...

Flagel Knitting Files

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