Every Library in Northern Ireland has a Knitting Group!

With a tear, we took one last look at the Roscommon Castle and boarded a train for Northern Ireland.

 

We had a bit of a shaky start in Belfast. As Cathy arrived at the train station, she learned that she did NOT have the AirBnB reservation she had counted on. It was 7:00 at night, but she steadfastly walked to the local hostel hoping there was a bed. Sure enough, the hospitable receptionist was soon leading us up the stairs to our room. We could only be there for one night because the hostel was booked up for the weekend. But Cathy located another AirBnB home for the following four nights and we were set. But first…

…she googled “knitting groups Belfast” and learned that ALL the libraries have weekly knit and crochet groups and she located TWO that meet on Friday—the next day! So, in the morning, we walked the couple miles (Well, Cathy did the walking.) to the Whiterock Library. As usual, we were welcomed by a fun group of women busily knitting, crocheting, and chatting. A cup of tea was offered and Cathy introduced me to the group. Everyone oooohed and ahhhed me and we were off!

 (L to R) Betty, Brenda, and Dolores happily added some rows.

When it was time to go, with help from the knitters, Cathy figured out the bus that would take us to the afternoon knitting group on the other side of Belfast’s city center at the Woodstock Library. Again, hearty welcomes, tea and cookies, and more knitters and crocheters! Now this is what I call being a “traveling scarf!” 

The Woodstock Library Knit and Natter Group

Gloria’s guide dog sat
patiently alongside us.

Joan (left above) knit some stockinette of her variegated blues and yellows while Gloria (right) crocheted a nice long piece of lacy triple crochet stitch on the other end. Margaret (not pictured) also added a lovely bit of Moss stitch in an ecru wool.

Because we had to move from the hostel to the AirBnb room, Cathy had to return to the hostel to pick up her bags that she had stored there for the day. But while re-arranging all her stuff (!) in the hostel’s lounge, another hostel guest told us that she crochets. And before you knew it, I got pulled out AGAIN and Vita added some stitches with some of Cathy’s orange handspun art yarn.  It was a busy day!

Our lodgings for the rest of the long weekend was at the sweet home of Anne Marie. She and her daughter have been welcoming visitors for over nine years. Each evening in the winter, there is a warm fire in the living room and welcoming conversation. Nella, another visitor from Finland, shared her wine with everyone while we relaxed and chatted near the coal fire. Not only did Anne Marie knit some garter-stitch rows with bright red yarn, but Nella found some lovely Finnish yarn in her stash, Novita 7 Veljestä Aurora, for her contribution. Margaret and her husband from Vancouver, B.C. were also staying with Anne Marie and she added some rows of garter stitch from her traveling stash. Unfortunately, Cathy did not have her camera that evening, but you can see their contributions here:

This includes some of the contributions from Roscommon knitters as well. 

All in all, although it was a short stay in Belfast, it was rich in knitting and crocheting companionship! So glad we went!

On a rainy day down by the Belfast docks, Cathy encountered this
sculpture honoring Irish shepherds and their sheep.