Part Four: Orange

[@joannesmith719]

Thanks Ros. Starting the orange this afternoon as I'm trying to keep up to date with this SAL. So far, so good. I also grew up in Belfast during the "Troubles" with orange, and then red, white & blue very evident and very strong colours in the community around me. Your You Tube chat today has brought much of my childhood memories of orange back to me, which I will reminisce on whilst I stitch. Thanks for all your hard work on teaching us about colour.

[@RosClarkeCraft]

You’re welcome. I was a bit nervous talking abouut the Troubles, but it’s such a powerful example of colour and symbolism. I hope you have happy childhood memories!

[@sewmesarah]

Well, I never thought I’d do a SAL that had discussions of the Orangemen in it!! You covered it well Ros. While the violence here in NI has thankfully abated the tribalism of colour very much still exists. In the summer months fresh orange flags will go up in loyalist and unionist areas alongside the Union flag. The orange flags weren’t around when I was little, so I think they are an ‘extra’ expression of the politics in particular areas. Sadly, in Northern Ireland our political colour statements often represent more what we are against than what we are allied to, in my humble opinion. When the NI Assembly was set up in 1999, even the logos for the new devolved administrative departments had to be super wary of including the colours of orange and green. Anyway, happily yes we can choose to wear orange coats or t shirts these days. Just maybe chose your wardrobe carefully on St Patrick’s Day or 12 July in case you’re making a statement you don’t intend. 😉

[@RosClarkeCraft]

Thank you, Sarah! i was very conscious that you and Noreen would understand these things much better than I do.

[@ankaretwells7618]

Very interesting about the symbolism! A long time ago a friend was showing off a strapless black velvet dress she was planning to wear to a wedding (not a goth wedding, where I would have expected it) and I had a moment of absolute superstitious shock before I remembered that she knew her own friends better than I did and just said that she looked beautiful, which she did.

[@RosClarkeCraft]

Yes, I can imagine in some situations that would be brilliant, but in others would cause great anguish about bringing down bad luck. On Curvy Brides Boutique, which I love, brides quite often thought they wanted black (either to look thinner, or to hide, or just because they always wear black for those reasons) but ended up in whitish, having seen how amazing they looked in a traditional drss.

[@stitchyrach6252]

Thanks Ros. I have as predicted fallen behind, mainly because I decided to do a Valentines stitch at the last minute!, happens every year! I'll see if I can get caught up by next weekend.

[@RosClarkeCraft]

At least it won’t be too hard to catch up with and the mistakes will hopefully have been corrected by the time you stitch it.

[@lindaglover7548]

Hi Ros, thanks again for another very interesting and informative discussion regarding colour and colour and symbolism.

[@RosClarkeCraft]

You’re welcome. I hope your Holiday Countdown chart arrived safely.

[@lindaglover7548]

Hi Ros, thank you, it’s arrived safe and well. I’ve popped you a little thank you in the post hope it’s arrived. Hope you are feeling a little better,sending hugs. Linda

[@ankaretwells7618]

What a nice surprise, I had counted wrong and thought orange wouldn't be until next week.

[@RosClarkeCraft]

They will be every week from now on, Lord willing.

[@sarar8650]

I got that same bit wrong Ros, and I only realised when I had stitched the yellow frame. Orange is such an interesting colour. I feel very sad that brexit has given space for the difficulties in Northern Ireland to re-open. I hope they will find a way through this.

[@RosClarkeCraft]

Yes, NI really needed to have been considered much more carefully before anyone even thought about Brexit.

[@sarar8650]

@@RosClarkeCraft I could not agree more.