Sea shanties and beach car rock

 Hello again everybody! I've fallen down the rabbit hole of sea shanties. They became popular earlier this year, but I've only started really listening to them recently because I'm learning to play the bodhrán (Irish frame drum), and the regular rhythm of a sea shanty makes them perfect for drum practice. The family music collection already has a surprising number, and then of course there's YouTube. A few of my favorites:

Stormy Winds Do Blow (Charlie Zahm)
Sea Shanty Medley (Home Free)
Soon May the Wellerman Come (The Hound + the Fox featuring Adam Chance)

And these aren't really sea shanties, but they're also great for drumming:

Tighinn air a' mhuir tha fear a phòsas mi (Capercaillie)
Alasdair Mhic Cholla Chasda / Rory MacLeod (Capercaillie)

Basically, songs and instrumentals with a steady rhythm work well, especially those with a moderate beat - not too fast or slow. In fact, the word "shanty" comes from the French "chanter," meaning to chant. If you're thinking about learning bodhrán, some YT tutorials that have been exceptionally helpful are those by:

Ruiari Glasheen
Nicolle Fig

If you're interested in the origin of sea shanties, this article at ClickAmericana had tons of interesting facts, including the abovementioned source of the word shanty.
 
To get back to the point, I have a theory. Traditional sea songs and modern beach-rock car songs are related. The more I hear of the shanties, the stronger the evidence. Please consider:

There's the new built "Terra Nova", she's a model with no doubt
There's the "Arctic" and "Aurora", you've heard so much about
There's Jacklin's model mail-boat, the terror of the sea
Couldn't beat the old "Balena" boys, on a passage from Dundee.
- The Balena, Traditional sea shanty

Just a little deuce coupe with a flathead mill
But she'll walk a Thunderbird like she's standin' still
- Little Deuce Coupe, The Beach Boys

---

The wind is on her quarter and her engine working free
And there's not another whaler a-sailing from Dundee
Can beat the old "Balena," you need not try her on
For we challenge all both great and small from Dundee to St.John.
- The Balena, Traditional sea shanty

When I take her to the track she really shines
(giddy up giddy up 409)
She always turns in the fastest times
(giddy up giddy up 409)
Giddy up 409...
Nothing can catch her
Nothing can touch my 409
- 409, The Beach Boys

---

For twenty-five long years she ruled the Northern sea
Riding like a queen on the tide
In the Caribbean one dark and stormy day
She ran into a reef and died
Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leading in the wind
Racing ev'ry wave on the sea
- Bluenose, Traditional sea shanty

She had a classic beauty that everyone could see
I was the last to meet her, but she gave her life to me
She may be rusted iron, but to me she's solid gold
And I just can't hold the tears back
'Cause Betsy's growing old
- Ballad of Old Betsy, The Beach Boys

Not a million miles apart, am I right? Any minute I expect one ship's captain to offer to race the other ship's captain for pinks.

And what does this have to do with knitting, you ask? Nothing at all. Except that maybe the sailors wore sweaters.

Anyway, happy knitting (and drumming and shantying), and please stay safe.
~ Caroline

Twin Harps!

Guess who was lying on the sofa today watching YouTube videos when she had a pleasant yarn-related surprise? That's right, this girl!

I was watching Camille and Kennerly, the Harp Twins, give a tour of their Harp Room. In case you haven't yet seen these ladies, they are identical twins and incredibly talented harpists who perform together on matching harps. I am extremely fond of their performance of the Theme from Doctor Who: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R061gfebd7Q

In their Harp Room, the Harp Twins keep their matching sets of electro-acoustic concert harps, acoustic-only concert harps, electric lever harps (one set each in black and silver), and small (blue) and large (white) acoustic lever harps. You can watch their Harp Room tour here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRCTcNNz3y4

After showing the harps, Camille and Kennerly highlight some of the room's decor, including a beautiful screen Rosemaling designs carved by their grandpa and an art wall featuring artwork spanning their careers so far, with paintings and drawings both professional and fan-made. So here's the surprise - at 9:45, a pair of crochet harps appear on screen. What do you know, it's "Perpetual Gliss" - doubled! Kennerly mentions that they are hand-made by Gloria at Cuddle Tree Crochet. Gloria did a great job - the harps are good and sturdy, and I like the accent edging. I would never have thought one of my designs would show up in the Harp Twins' Harp Room! Squeee!! Here's a screenshot from the video:

I had to find out more, and a Google search led me to their Facebook unboxing video from December 2020 in which the harps feature heavily. The ladies mention that the harps stand on their own and have some sort of structure inside. They do - the pattern explains how to make the infrastructure (I used plastic - repurposing is even better than recycling!) and weight the harp for stability. Watch the unboxing video here: https://www.facebook.com/CamilleandKennerly/videos/unboxing-amazing-crochet-goodies/691307851542672/. Two screenshots from the video:

The adorable dolls were also made by Gloria; I don't know from what pattern she used. But they look adorable with their harps. So whether you want to learn more, purchase a crochet harp, or make one of your own, we've got you covered with these links:

Harp Twins: www.harptwins.com

Gloria at Cuddle Tree Crochet, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuddle.tree.crochet/?hl=en
Gloria at Cuddle Tree Crochet, Twitter: https://twitter.com/treecuddle

Perpetual Gliss crochet soft-sculpture harp pattern from KnitDesign by Caroline:

$5.95 buy now | add to cart | show cart View details at Ravelry | Sylvia Woods Harp Center

BTW, in case you were wondering, I absolutely do allow both giving and selling of items made from my patterns (as long as the pattern itself is not resold without permission). Those who want finished items and those who want to make them are generally two distinct groups, and there's room for everybody. See my FAQ for more details.

Happy knitting, crocheting, and harping, everyone. Please stay safe, and keep each other safe too. 💖

~ Caroline

Victorian Cuffs on TV! 38% off through midnight Sunday

A couple months ago, I was very excited to learn that one of my patterns would be on TV! My Victorian Lace Cuffs pattern had been used to make part of a costume for Shailene Garnett, who plays Inspector Brackenreid's daughter Nomi Johnston on Murdoch Mysteries.

The episode is S14E9, entitled "The .38 Murdoch Special." To celebrate the cuffs' debut, the pattern is 38% off through midnight Sunday, May 23, 2021. Enter code NOMI at checkout.

When I found out, I was mostly excited but also a little disappointed - we used to get the channel the show was on, but we currently do not, so I didn't know when I'd ever get to see the episode. However, I was recently able to get some screenshots (yay!), which I've compiled below:

It's interesting to note the way styling affects the item. In most of the photos, a strip of lace is visible peeking out below the hem of Nomi's sleeve, but in screenshots from late in the episode, Nomi has her undersleeves pulled down so only the narrow zigzag at the edge shows, giving a multicolor cuff effect.

Assuming the show were not fictional, might a woman have really worn cuffs like this? It's entirely possible! Hand knitting was something many women did, and the cuffs are based around an authentic Victorian stitch pattern called "Tunisian Lace." Having separate cuffs would be a good way to add variety (and in this case, extra warmth) to a wardrobe.

The cuffs worn by Nomi were made by @emilyknitsto in a very pretty silver grey yarn. You can see her project page with close up photos on Ravelry. For pattern details, please see the pattern page on Ravelry.

Victorian Lace Cuffs - $5.95 $3.69 through midnight Sunday, May 23, 2021 Enter code NOMI at checkout buy now | add to cart | show cart View details at Ravelry

Happy knitting!
Caroline

Flash weekend sale!

According to the New York Times, sweater vests are back! Of course, for us knitters, they never really left. So I’m having a weekend sale! Take 40% off any vest pattern / ebook in my Ravelry store with coupon code INVESTIGATOR, through midnight Sunday EDT.

Included patterns: Anything in my Vests bundle. The code also works directly from my pattern page. Add pattern to cart, then click "Use a coupon code." Vest patterns are here.

Individual patterns -
The P. L. Argyle Family ebook
Xerxes
Peter Lorre, the Mysterious
Daughter of the Sea
Pete or Laurey, the Precocious
Petra Laurie, the Faithful
Kichwa Love Song

Why code INVESTIGATOR, you ask? Because 1) I like mysteries, and 2) it makes me think of one of my favorite goofy jokes: 

Q: What do you call an alligator in a vest?
A: An investigator, of course.

Happy knitting, and stay safe!
~ Caroline

 

I want that on a T-shirt (or a coffee mug, or a tote bag, or a spiral notebook ...)

Hi everyone! Just over a  month ago, I introduced my Redbubble store. How it came about is a story in itself.

When I was 9, I learned the Hukilau Hula from two nice Hawaiian ladies at a luau. Kahala and Puanani, if you're out there, mahalo nui loa - thank you! Your teaching lives on.

Fast forward a rather large number of years, and I was getting ready to teach a children's hula class on Zoom. I needed an outfit that didn't involve coconuts. Enter Redbubble, where I found  a sweet scoop-neck tee with artwork of Lilo and Stitch hula dancing. It's adorable, I wore it for the class, and now it's in my regular wardrobe rotation.

But that made me realize that hey, I've got original artwork too! It can be on a tee shirt (or a mug, or a tote bag, or a notebook...)! Thus were born (or expanded) my shops at the print-on-demand sites Redbubble, CafePress, TeePublic, and Zazzle.

CafePress: ArtDesign by Caroline
RedBubble: LadyCaro1
TeePublic: ArtDesign by Caroline
Zazzle: ArtDesign by Caroline

Does it matter which one you shop? While most of my artwork is available at each site, each one has its own printable product line. They all have T-shirts. CafePress has more children's options, wallets, lunch bags, and car accessories (license plates and magnets). RedBubble has shaped stickers, home decor, and a wide selection of phone cases. TeePublic has a large selection of shirt styles, plus shaped stickers, wall hangings, and bound blank books with colorful covers. Zazzle features upscale items such as neckties, cuff links, business card cases, and crossbody bags, as well as all-occasion notecards.

Here's a small selection of artwork available, with more being added all the time. Visit any of the sites to find your next perfect gift - for someone special, or for yourself!

In case you're wondering, the Latin text reads "I can't hear you,
I have a banana in my ear" and "This is a Latin saying." The rest is pretty
self-explanatory. Click to view full size.

BTW, the hula class went swimmingly. The trick to effortlessly managing the hip-swing is to bend your knees as you step. It's fun, and is honestly a great workout.

Aloha, until next time!
Caroline

Design: It's not just for knitting!

 Hey all, while knitting is awesome (obviously), some designs just need something ... different. Introducing my new shop at Redbubble! It features my art, custom printed for you on a wide variety of clothing and accessories. Check it out!

Stay warm, stay safe!
Caroline