Happiness Is A Warm Neck
One finished object to show off! I'm very, very happy with this one, actually.
Finally getting my clammy hands all over a hank of Noro Cashmere Island, I managed to whip up this cowl in two evenings. I used a simple feather and fan stitch, found some perfect vintage buttons in my stash and .. it was done!
It feels divine, it's wonderfully warm and it matches my green coat (as much as the multi-coloured Noro yarn ever matches anything). Woo!
Next up: a pair of mittens.
PS. People have asked which secondhand shops I peruse here in Glasgow. "Relics" down Ruthven Lane is the Daddy-O off all secondhand shops anywhere (I scored two vintage silk scarves there yesterday, for example, but they rarely do clothing). I also like the shops along Dumbarton Road - the further out you get, the better stuff you find. As with all secondhand shops, you need to visit regularly to find good stuff.
Pattern-Lust Unveiled
Let's talk knitting.
Having just finished a quick Christmas knit for my Other Half's aunt, I am now working on the Lush and Lacy cardigan in a soft wool/alpaca blend. It is an interesting knit insofar as something is constantly happening - an interesting lace pattern, some reverse stocking stitch or some garter stitch - but I keep wondering if I will ever wear anything this overtly feminine. I am also slightly frustrated by the pattern instructions which are not as well-written or clear as they could be. I think it is a case of the author knowing exactly what she means but not having had other knitters read through it before putting the pattern up for sale. I have not had any major problems but I must admit to a tiny bit of frustration when I have to rip back ten rows because I missed that throwaway subordinate clause at the very bottom of the page.
What's next? Well, there are a lot of new patterns out there and quite a few have caught my eyes.
The new winter Knitty has just been unveiled with a fantastic selection of patterns (it is possibly my favourite issue thus far). Amelia is classy and very wearable (perfect for my Noro Cash Iroha in a heady rich purple which I scored at 75% off earlier this year). Norah Gaughan is a fecking genius and her Surface pushes all the right buttons for me. It has a vintage feel whilst being very current - and I have a thing for interesting collars, anyhow. Yarn? No idea. Finally, my three-year-old nephew would just love a fish hat, wouldn't he?
I'm dithering between liking the new Interweave Knits and .. not. I think Elaine's Blouse is frigging gorgeous. Funnily enough I just happen to have some peacock blue/teal tweed which I've been wanting to use in an unconventional way. A perfect union. I am also going to knit the Climbing Vines pullover, but I will need to a) lengthen it and b) make it more fitted. It would look beautiful in a deep claret red, wouldn't it? The rest of the patterns in this IK issue underwhelm me, however. They are slightly too nondescript or too frumpy for my taste (although it could be the styling). There's a fab article on Faroese knitting, though, which caught my attention (I'm one-quarter Faroese).
Another recent pattern which I absolutely love: the Hippocampus mittens. They look complicated, but they are really not. It'd be a good way to get myself back into colourwork and I think they are gawjuss.
And.. I have saved this pattern for last because I am head over heels in love with it to the extent I have to keep looking at it.
May I present to you: Flyte?
It's perfect. All interwar-period perfect in tweed and subtle colours that ask you in an Oxbridge-Countryhouse voice if you would like some Five O'Clock tea. The designer cites Brideshead Revisited as an obvious inspiration: Flyte is actually the surname of the two siblings, Sebastian and Cordelia, with whom the narrator gets entangled (Go read the book - its first part always makes me ache in all the right ways). I tell you: that top shall be mine once I figure out how to justify buying nine balls of Rowan Felted Tweed.
Having swooned over several patterns, now would be the time to mention that I have signed up for a "12 projects in 12 months" challenge (which should be entirely feasible), that several friends have either just given birth or will give birth within the next six months and that yesterday I was approached by a craft boutique who enquired about me possibly designing some pieces of children's knitwear(!?) for them. One thing is certain, though: Flyte and I will meet. Mark my words.
Three Lists
Ten Worst Predictions of 2008 is US-centric, but still amusing. New York Times columnist Bill Kristol did not have a great year - not only did he predict that Hillary Clinton would sweep the Democratic caucuses, Kristol was also the man who pushed for Sarah Palin's Vice-President nomination. I'm still not sure whether to thank him or not.
Fifty Things Every British Girl Should Have amuses me. Beret? Check. Breton top? Yup. A pair of gold leggings? Of co... what?!? The fifty things ranges from the sublime to the absolutely ridiculous - and so they should. I'm just not sure how a lot of these things would hold up in Scottish weather conditions.
2008: The Indie Music Alphabet takes you from A to Z in a 'ironic New Wave folk by way of Oregon and Lapland in a faux-Ossie Clark dress and checked shirts' way. I recommend Wolf Parade because I'm quite predictable.
And one final thing: Silent Star Wars. Turn up the volume and lean back to watch what Star Wars might've looked like in 1923..
Joss Whedon Is Crafty
It's an age-old war. Like the werewolves and the vampires. I think Underworld was actually originally about crocheters and knitters but they thought it would be too controversial so they changed it to vampires and werewolves.
Buffy, Firefly, Dr Horrible's Sing-along Blog and Angel-creator, Joss Whedon opens up about his crafty side.
As a huge Firefly geek, it's particularly thrilling to hear Joss Whedon explaining Jayne Cobb's hat .. but the entire interview is awesome..
Like I'm saying, the sort of people who understand the DIY mentality are more about the doing than the having. So I think that ultimately, my advice is what my advice always is: Make stuff. You know. Right now, because of digital technology, you can make crafty little movies, you can make crafty little things that go up for millions of people to see. You can sort of combine the two ethos-ethoses-ethosees... And grab a video camera, tell a story. Be stupid, be something, just ... It is no longer the time of sitting around and thinking about doing something. If you're going to do that, you can, you know, crochet, and you're already doing it.
.. yes, awesome. Joss Whedon is awesome. Yes.
Find An Easier Way
Observation #1: I don't outright hate the Leona Lewis cover of "Run" (youtube link) although I still prefer the the Snow Patrol original (youtube link). I am mildly disturbed and am now going to listen to ironic hipster music.
Observation #2: I recently decided that I was spreading myself thin in social networking and blogging ventures. In real terms, this meant I took a long, hard look at my networking efforts, where I was spending my energy and creativity and what sort of return I got on my investments. My conclusions were interesting, to say the least. I shut down profiles, merged accounts and am now limiting myself to very few outlets. It feels a lot more streamlined, easy to manage and has energised me. I am also surprised/entertained to see how I think of this new structure in corporate terms: efficiency, venture, restructure, investment, and management. Hmm.
Observation #2.1: While I have been pleasantly surprised by my new networking structure, others have apparently been mildly upset by my actions. What I find "better organised", some online friends think of as "shutting out". Is it a sign of how fragile online friendships are (I don't think so) or a sign of how online friendships dependent upon a given context (I don't think so either)? Whatever it signifies, I just want to clarify that I am just as accessible as ever. I have just limited the number of places where people can interact with me. Of course people can also email me, but I warn you: I'm notoriously bad at getting back to mails. Just ask my mother ..
Observation #3: I spent some quality time with my nephew (who's almost three now!) this weekend. I was amused to note that I'm the cool, slightly wacky aunt who dares her nephew to jump into mud pools and who tells stories about gnomes and elves. Oh, and who is really good at Pooh-sticks.
PS. Blur reunion?!.
Monday Interlude
This Dane in Scotland is putting wrapped Christmas presents into postal boxes going across seas. While I'm doing this, I'm listening to my German friend, Silke, live on NZ radio. Distance is very relative these days.
A few links:
+ Drake's Door: a big selection of audiobooks and poetry recordings with an emphasis on late 19th C and early 20th C British and American literature. Some material is restricted to US audiences only, but there is still plenty of things to sink your teeth into.
+ The Popdose 100: The Popdose site compiles their favourite 100 singles of the last fifty years. As always it's a matter of personal taste, but it's still pretty interesting. Also, thumbs up for number twenty.
+ The Museum of Weird Books: "TV Vet: Horse Book: Recognition and Treatment of Common Horse and Pony Ailments with over 300 action pictures", anyone? I'm particularly intrigued by the action pictures.
+ Judge A Book By Its Cover: a blog filled with horrid cover design, mind-boggling pulp fiction and readalongs of genre fiction. Surprisingly JABBIC doesn't provide full-on snarking but prefers gentle mocking. Nice one.
Caledonia, Caledonia
The Isle of Arran as viewed by yours truly on a train journey Friday afternoon.
I love living in Scotland when I get to see the most amazing scenery. I am already plotting how to get across to Arran and maybe spend a day or two just soaking up the natural beauty. Oh, bonny Caledonia.
Folding Stars
And the new stars will go straight into a certain little box.
Danes love doing these paper stars for Christmas. You can find a tutorial on how to fold the stars here. I will doing some Danish woven Christmas hearts later this month as well.
Thank-you for your well-wishes. My left arm is not doing well and I'm thinking of getting it X-rayed if it continues being this painful. And thank you to David who helped typing the last entry (and who has hovered over me tonight).
Ouchy-boo-boo.
It's very, very cold outside. This means that the pavements are icy. By 'icy', I mean 'like an ice-skating rink' and, seeing as I'm not blessed with a fantastic sense of balance, I do not ice-skate well.
This evening, I fell whilst crossing a lawn to avoid aforementioned icy pavements. I've hurt my wrist and my back. This means I probably won't be blogging (nor knitting!) for a wee while (unless, as now, I can find someone to dictate to *Dave waves hello*).
Wish me luck in preserving my sanity.
Or send snow shoes.