The Book of Deer Community Textile Banner Project - Taking Part

Scotland's oldest surviving book returned home this summer.   On loan from Cambridge University, and with lottery funding, the 10th Century Book of Deer was proudly displayed in Aberdeen Art Gallery for three months.  I'd the pleasure of seeing it for myself in August.  Thought to be designed for personal use, it's a wee book of great import.  Whilst the monks scribed in Latin, they notated the margins in Scots Gaelic making this the earliest evidence of written Gaelic in Scotland.   The monks also doodled mythical beasties around the edges of these precious pages.

Aberdeenshire Council's cultural arm, Live Life Aberdeenshire, along with partner agencies,  developed a programme of events to generate interest in the return of the Book of Deer to Scotland for the first time in 1000 years.  The community textile project, From Book to Banner, sought crafters from across the shire to join groups at their local libraries to stitch a series of panels.  Rachael Forbes, the artist commissioned to design the textile banners, drew inspiration from the illuminated illustrations in the book as well as incorporating some of the fantastical creatures doodles by the monks.  She also dyed threads and fabrics using natural dyes the monks would have had access to in the 10th century.

Red (madder root) Blue (woad) Yellow (alder buckthorn) Grey/purple (alconet) Grey/brown (dried elderberries)

Inverurie Library hosted my nearest group.  During our inaugural get-together last May, I joined the eight other aspiring banner makers to chose which section each wanted to make.  Rachael had cleverly translated each of her banner artwork prototypes into detailed sectional drawings.

As I'm not an expert at embroidery, I was happy the more experienced stitchers in the group chose the apostle figures whilst I selected a background to a figure.  Each section comprised donated fabric, aged with tea by Rachael, on which she'd drawn the design with a dissolvable pen.  We each also received an envelope of matching applique pieces, complete with Bondaweb adhesive.  I couldn't wait to get all mine ironed on to the backing fabric so I could start stitching.

To help guide our hands, Rachael recorded a short YouTube video for each section of each panel.  I'm in awe of the amount of preparation work Rachael did to ensure that no matter the level of experience, the craft group volunteers would be comfortable recreating her designs in stitch.

Tentatively, I started outlining all these wee coloured pieces in black whipstitch as required.  I didn't rush and gently stitched away over five weeks, in between other craft projects, to complete all the black lines.  By this time I'd gained confidence and managed to complete the colourful embroidery stitches in just five days!

Hilary, who I knew but hadn't met before this project, was stitching the apostle which fitted into my background.  When she had completed her section, we married up the two pieces in early June over a companionable coffee and lots of chat.

Meanwhile, the group was meeting regularly at Inverurie Library and I joined them when I could to enjoy the company of the other ladies. It was exciting seeing the design emerge as sections were completed.  Any head scratching over how the pieces should be joined together was definitely made easier as a group!

You'll see there are crochet motifs along the upper and lower edges of the banner.  Rachael incorporated repeat patterns from the Book of Deer into all her designs and left each group to make them depending on the craft skills of the group members.  I crocheted a few prototypes from a book I own called Crocheted Granny Squares (20 to make) by Val Pierce until I got the size right for the space. 

Margaret then made eight more but there was space for ten so we used my matching sample and I unravelled one that was too big and re-made it in the same undyed Shetland wool.  

Once all the sections had been attached to the backing panel, strips of coloured fabric had to be attached to frame them.  Tiny self coloured stitches secured the strips then they all needed to be outlined with black thread.  Most of the group took it in turn to complete this work over several days, taking the banner home to do so.  I was one of the last to stitch the outlining so I got to proudly hold it up - finished! 

Now you can see the four apostles made by Fran, Hilary, Collette and Janet and the surrounding sections complementing them made by Lesley, Margaret, Glynis, Jane and me.

The next step was to sew on a fabric border and quilt the top piece, work beautifully undertaken by Fran.

All banners then returned to Rachael for finishing, including the attachment of hanging loops.  

It was always the intention to display the banners back to back on three free-standing easels with a grand unveiling to take place on 2nd October 2022 to mark the end of the visit of the Book of Deer to the North East of Scotland at Aberdeenshire Farming Museum at Aden Country Park, Mintlaw.  The chosen venue as it's close to the site of Deer Abbey, where it's thought the Book was written, and has a permanent display about the Book.

Here are the banners on display at the opening event.  

Firstly, Inverurie Group banner -

Inverurie Group Banner

Such a lot of stitches.  

Artist Rachael Forbes with the Inverurie Banner

Such a great achievement.  Friendships forged and skills cherished.

Banchory, Inverurie and Banff Group Banners

Peterhead, Mintlaw and the Home Group Banners

Peterhead Group Banner

Mintlaw Group Banner

Home Group Banner

Banchory Group Banner

Banff Group Banner

I feel very grateful to have taken part in this wonderful community effort.

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The Banners will be on display at Aberdeenshire Farming Museum at Aden Country Park until the end of October 2022 and over the winter they will tour the libraries where the craft groups met to create them.

If you're in the area you can see the banners here:

Peterhead Library 4th to 16th November 2022

Banff Library 23rd November to 12th December 2022

Inverurie Library 11th January to 23rd January 2023

Banchory Library 28th January to 9th February 2023

Stonehaven Library 14th February to 5th March 2023

Mintlaw Library 9th to21 St March 2023

Sea Treasure

Who can resist picking up shells and pebbles during a bracing beach walk?

The Dhorlin (causeway), Davaar Island, Mull of Kintyre

Certain beaches, though, yield more than just sand and seaweed.  Tumbled and tossed in the waves, smoothed by abrasion with the rocks, bottles and jars cast into the sea as trash end up on the beach, smoothed by time and frosted by salt, as the treasure known to beachcombers worldwide as sea-glass.  

When I spotted on social media that artist Shelagh Swanson was holding a workshop to create mosaics from sea-glass and sea plastic in Fittie Community Hall recently, I couldn't wait to sign up and my pal, Carol, decided to join me.

I had taken along some sea-glass I'd collected myself from Davaar Island causeway and Stonehaven beach.  My husband thoughtfully found some sea-glass for me on Crail seashore in Fife on our most recent holiday.  I wanted to incorporate that too if I could.

After Shelagh welcomed us to the class, a large tub of sea-glass, sea pottery and pebbles was tipped out for us.  What fun to scrabble through and select our precious pieces. 

Though this tub of sea plastic looks appealingly colourful, it was sad to learn how little time it had taken Shelagh to collect it from her local beach.  That, too, was provided for us to add to our pictures.

After selecting a frame and removing the back, Shelagh suggested we sketched a design on paper and laid our sea treasure on top before gluing it directly onto the glass.  I took some clipart images I'd printed with me for inspiration as I wanted to create a tree with sea-glass leaves. 

This piece of salvaged rope untwisted cooperatively into branches and roots for my tree and I selected tiny fragments of lime plastic and wee bits of green sea-glass for my leaves.  

Gluing the pieces into place was pleasantly therapeutic.  I snipped the threads of yellow rope and used them to augment the tree roots.

I kept dipping back into the tub of sea treasure until I'd found all the bits I needed.

Shelagh was always on hand to encourage us and finesse our designs.  You can see Carol's picture in the background beside mine.  Her sea pottery vase of sea plastic flowers was taking shape as she worked beside me.  Once our compositions were all stuck down, Shelagh glued our frames into place for us and our art works were complete.

It's always a joy when the class shares its artwork and everyone admires what everyone else has made.  They all kindly allowed me to take a photo of their picture.  Some people painted on their glass.  Many had nautical themes.  All are unique and wonderful.

Carol and I, very happy at the end of the class 

Here's my finished tree in the Community Hall propped against its soothing blue walls.

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Whilst I was at the workshop, I remembered having fun during a crafty morning spent with my cousin, Stephanie, last February at her home in Fife.  

She and her family have turned beachcombing into an art form! 

Selecting pretty pieces from their extensive trove of sea pottery and sea-glass, we both created pictures.  I made a wee bird whilst Stephanie created a lovely vase of flowers.

I might just have been influenced by the flock of pretty birdies in Stephanie's house.

But I never framed my sea pottery bird when I got home.  When I looked at it, it always felt unfinished.  Incomplete.   

So I took it to pieces, soaked off the old glue and decided to re-make it, just as we had at Shelagh's workshop.  

I attached the pottery directly onto the glass with clear adhesive and added a wee twig for my bird to sit on.  A few sea-glass leaves completed my composition.

I'm much happier with my sea pottery bird now, seen here with my glass cooker splashback behind it.

And he can join my tree in my personal gallery of sea treasure!

The Great Grey Hat Giveaway

Following a visit to the Scottish Textiles Showcase in Edinburgh last summer, I picked up a ball of Di Gilpin Lalland Aran yarn.

After admiring the complex shades of blue, brown and grey in the Storm colourway, I decided to knit the Regular Guy Beanie by Chuck Wright.  Its simple shape allowed the yarn to shine.

As I was knitting, I decided the recipient would be Scott, my niece's boyfriend.  Scott and my niece, Siobhan, had recently moved to Vancouver on a two year work placement.  The photos I'd seen of the couple following their relocation had involved skis, canoes and walking boots.  Such outdoor pursuits in their time off would definitely require knitted head wear!  Of course, I'd have to make a hat for my niece, Siobhan, as well.

Using leftover pink fluffy wool from the Holiday Slipover I knitted for my daughter, Maddy, I was able to complete the Winter Smiles Hat for Siobhan.  I wrapped the hats in tartan tissue paper and popped them in the post.  In November 2021...

It's just as well I didn't tell Siobhan to expect a parcel.  

This happy photo, from the day the hats arrived in Canada, was taken in February 2022!  

The first grey hat had finally reached its intended recipient.

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Last October I was invited to knit a sample jumper by Janice, the owner of  my local yarn shop, Baa! in Stonehaven.  A special event entitled A Traveller's Dye-ry was being held in the town to showcase the photographic talents of the owner's daughter Jenny.  Six Scottish yarn dyers had also been invited to select one of Jenny's photos as inspiration and create yarn colours to be exhibited alongside the photos.

I was sent these sumptuous copper skeins from Shilasdair Yarns in Skye and Janice asked me to knit the Cirro sweater from Issue 6 of Making Stories magazine.  The beautiful cosy fabric is created by holding the hand dyed yarn together with a strand of mohair /silk.

After the exhibition, Janice sent me a wonderful thank you box of knitting goodies including two balls of Rowan Alpaca Classic yarn in Feather Grey and a book of beautiful hat patterns.  I chose to make myself the Josie Hat and added the huge pompom which was also in the gift box.   Most hats are too big for my wee head so I deliberately made this smaller than the pattern suggests. 

Which meant I had enough of this beautifully soft alpaca / cotton blend left to make the same hat over again.

I gifted the second hat to Janice at Baa! for her either to wear herself or use as a shop sample.

The second grey hat had reached its recipient.

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When my lovely cousins had a post-Covid break in the Western Isles, they brought me back some souvenir wool.  It's a local blend of Cheviot, Blackface and Hebridean from Wool 4 Ewe in Stornoway.  I made the Kindling Hat by Helen Stewart for my husband, Geoff.  I'm a big fan of Helen's patterns and the structure suited the rugged texture of the grey/brown natural fibres.

He wore it all the time on our break to Copenhagen in March.

You can even spot my alpaca hat being admired by the giant stone elephants guarding the Carlsberg brewery!

I'd almost enough Hebridean wool remaining to make another hat so I searched in my stash for something suitable to add.  Wool from Balnahard Farm on the (relatively) nearby island of Colonsay came to hand, leftover after I'd made these fingerless gloves in 2018.

The second hat has a Colonsay Wool Growers brim of brown and green as I eeked out the grey Wool 4 Ewe to complete Kindling Hat number two.  It was only fitting that I should give this hat to the cousin who gave me the wool in the first place - but I couldn't do so without also knitting a hat for his wife (who I suspect was instrumental in this special purchase!)

Here are my cousins, Stephanie and Ian, with Ian wearing the third gifted grey hat.

Steph is wearing the Gentle Wave Hat by Knit Cosmic Strings in yarn by Crafternoontreats

Recently I needed a gift for a crafty friend and knew I'd get just the thing at Baa!.  

No surprises - I chose grey - albeit a heathered charcoal this time - for my pal to knit her own hat.

And so, as I prepare to send this yarn package to my chum, the Great Grey Hat Giveaway continues...

København Garncrawl

Thanks to Google Translate, I've learned that yarn crawl in Danish is Garncrawl.  

On a mini-break to Copenhagen (København) in early March, I undertook my very own mini garncrawl.  Look how happy being surrounded by yarn makes me!

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I've got a bit of history with Danish yarn shops.  

Here I am, on the left, standing in front of Sommerfuglen during our first trip to this beautiful city back in 2018.  I got my husband, Geoff, to take my picture but decided to go shopping later in the holiday when I could return by myself to peruse the yarn at leisure.  Then my Mum fell ill and we returned home early.  I never did venture inside of the shop.  

Thankfully, that situation was rectified during our recent trip.  See the picture on the right!

Having concentrated on city centre sights during our first visit to Copenhagen, we took a short train trip to Roskilde, the historic former capital, to see the Cathedral and the Viking Ship Museum.

These ancient socks on display at The Viking Museum date from the 10th century and are made using the technique of Nålebinding, the one-needled forerunner of knitting.  Geoff's hat, knitted just before this holiday, made a perfect Viking helmet as we dressed up in the museum's immersive long-ship experience!

Roskilde also afforded some yarn related window shopping as Strik & Design was sadly closed on the day of our visit.  I contented myself admiring the wool from afar and enjoyed the pretty display of knitting inspired ceramics by Else Rasmussen, realising I might need to have some of these in my life in future. 

Back in the city, continuing my garncrawl, we walked to Rosenborg Castle via another of  Copenhagen's gems, Uldstedet.

After asking Geoff to take this photo, we continued sightseeing together.  

I didn't want our inner holiday personas to become like this....

Lewis Chess Pieces on sale at the Viking Ship Museum!

So I returned to Uldstedet a little later, by myself.  

Whilst the window display is enticing, the inside of the shop is a yarn lover's paradise.

It wasn't long 'til I was trying on the shop samples and availing myself of their mirror for a selfie!  

Isn't the Sparkling Cardigan lovely?

I decided the cardigan would be a perfect Copenhagen garncrawl souvenir.

The pattern is a shop exclusive, designed by Danish brand Gepardgarn.  It's only sold in conjunction with the yarn, sumptuous wool/silk in a solid shade combined with a contrasting fluffy cloud of mohair.  All I had to do was pick my colours.  What a choice!

With help from the knitting fairies, as the in-store assistants are known, I settled on Light Sea Green and Rain Storm.

This cute project bag was a lovely freebie!

I started knitting my cardigan on March 12th, almost as soon as I got home from holiday. 

 

Progress was steady then I sabotaged my own knitting by not reading the notes I'd carefully made about the length of the first sleeve.  Consequently, I finished the second sleeve only to find it was much too short and I had to undo the whole piece from the armhole shaping and re-knit it to match the first!

And today I was able to wear this special cardigan for the first time.  

It's light and airy but cosy as pie.

Perfect for the climate here in North East Scotland where it can be cloudy, rainy, cool and warm within the same five minutes!  That describes most of our summer so I expect to get a lot of wear out of it.

And as for that armful of yarn in the first picture, well that also came home with me from my garncrawl and I have a plan in mind for it in my knitting future too!