Here is my Funchal-inspired design! Like the ‘dragons-tooth’ pavements I saw in Madeira (thanks for the info, knitlass), the Funchal Moebius uses a high-contrast OXO motif with strong diagonals. One side is dark-on-light: and the other is light-on-dark. The design begins life as a provisionally cast-on tube . . . . . . which is…
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Funchal Moebius
Madeiran inspiration
One of the many things I admire about Portuguese culture is the way that pattern and design are part of everyday life. There are beautiful tiles everywhere. Most interiors are tiled, and almost every public space is enriched by a particular experience of the decorative. Even Brutalism approaches the ornamental. Wandering around Funchal – Madeira’s…
Read Morefunshine
My apologies for my sudden disappearance, there. I had a bad few days with the fatigue, and we decided rather at the last minute to pop over to Madeira for a blast of funshine before the Scottish Winter properly sets in. I have been enjoying: pleasant surroundings . . . new friends . . .…
Read Moreduathlon
Hello, everyone! You may remember, when Tom injured his hand rather badly a couple of years ago, that we went on holiday to Madeira – the prime destination of British convalescents for at least a century and a half. Tom’s Dad has dibs on an apartment over there, which, in its lovely coastal location, always…
Read Moreall change
Today I put away my summer clothes, and removed the winter ones from storage. I always find it a bit depressing having to encounter the berloody tights again . . . but it is nice to see warm winter dresses, sweaters, and coats. Anyway, before I pack the summer stuff away, I thought I’d show…
Read Morebordado Madeira
Madeira has distinctive textile traditions. I had a vague sense of these from my grandma (who taught me to knit), who visited Portugal several times, and who owned several beautiful pieces of Madeiran table-linen. I particularly remember a very fine cloth, decorated with Richlieu-style cut work in pale brown against white. The Madeiran traditions of…
Read Moretourist
“. . .as this place differs so vastly from anything thou hast ever seen, I make no doubt thou will be agreeably entertained with the many romantic prospects, whimsical houses, pleasant cool gardens, and amazing precipices. . .” (Deborah Hill to her son Richard, Funchal, Madeira, May 1st, 1743) My only previous experience of Madeira…
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KDD & Co 