Obligatory Christmas Post

The Tree before demolition, and quite a lovely one if I do say so myself. Even better, one-fifth of all of those packages were for me, me, me! Knitting wise, my darling husband restocked my case with supplies since everyone's always stealing my shit, especially scissors. Plus, all sorts of non-knitting related stuff, including the big ticket item--yes, ladies and gentleman, I have me an I-pod!(Shown here with my actual favorite present of the haul--a vintage George Jones keychain). Plus, my Secret Santa at work gave me 4 lovely balls of Debbie Bliss Soho, turning itself into a Farrow Rib Scarf. . T'was a Merry Christmas, indeed...best to you and yours.

R.I.P. James Brown

The Hardest Working Man in Show Business is working it on another plane. He will be missed; in the meantime, do yourself a favor and order a copy of the greatest Christmas album of all time. Sample:

Santa Claus, go straight to the ghetto.

Santa Claus, go straight to the ghetto.

Tell him James Brown sent you. Ha!

Go straight to the ghetto.

Very Nearly Finished Objects

Well, I'm unduly proud of myself. I have a buttonhole bag ready to be felted (which might take awhile since my politically correct frontloader won't do the trick and felting involves a trip to the basement of my apartment building where furry feral creatures dwell), and three ballband washrags ready to be finished off and packed away with assorted goodies for my Winter Wonderland Swap buddy. Plus, I've already cast-on for the Hexed hat from the new Knitty frugally using yarn left over from the buttonhole bag.


Santa baby, slip some quivit under the tree, for me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Cool Link of the Week: The Book of Knitty

The Winter 2006 Issue of Knitty is up. Lots of nice stuff, as usual. Nice hats, nice mittens, nice lunchbag--but the project that really blew me away was The Book of Knitty, designed by Laura Brown and pictured at left. One of those "why didn't I think of that?" designs that is deceptively simple and utterly cool. Besides its obvious use as a baby book (oh, I did so love Pat the Bunny), I see in my future knitted holiday cards (next year, people), knitted swatch books (yeah, like I'd ever really swatch), and maybe for real a knitted knitting journal for 2007. Thanks, Laura Brown and Knitty, you totally rock.

Ballband Goes to the Movies

My warshrag and I went to a screening of Dreamgirls last night...wow. Fabulous fluffy stuff, the perfect antidote to the dreary film I saw earlier in the week. It's interesting, because both films are homages of sorts--Dreamgirls harkening back to the behind-the-scenes Hollywood musical potboiler. But while Bill Condon opens the story up for the screen, he remains remarkably true to the original Broadway production--his use of stage lighting on film is fantastic. The audience was incredibly energized, applauding and whooping throughout...it's that kind of movie, a real Event. I also loved that they gave us programs on the way in, kind of like going to see West Side Story on its first run, when Big Movies still had intermissions. Plus, who knew my Mason-Dixon Ballband Dishcloth would be color-coordinated? When this movie officially opens around Christmas, run (or at least sashay) to see it.

On the Needles

Some simple knitting in anticipation of the holiday onslaught: a Buttonhole Bag for me and the beginnings of a little something for my Winter Wonderland Swap buddy. I've never been much of an Exchange knitter...terribly afraid to disappoint (see current thread on Knitters Review about disgruntled exchangers), and then there's that thing about having the object packed and ready to go and Actually Getting to the Post Office. But there is something appealing about gift knitting during the holidays that doesn't really have to do with the holidays. And a couple of warshrags? Hey, that I can do.

In non-knitting news, I went to a screening of the upcoming Soderbergh film The Good German and found it disappointingly "meh." I think I know what Soderbergh was trying to do--an homage of sorts to all of those anti-hero WWII movies--and in many ways he got it right. The B&W cinematography and bombastic score are way cool. Unfortunately, I've always been desperately bored by all of those anti-hero WWII movies. Even, dare I say it, Casablanca. Bogart has never gotten to me, and while George Cooney is undeniably appealing in context (for me, the Ocean's 11 films), he's mighty clunky here. Anyway, didn't hate it, and it gave me a cool poster to mount in the Last Movie I Saw sidebar (and considering the Last Movie I Saw outside of Netflix and TCM was Snakes on a Plane, it's been awhile). EDITED TO ADD: Here's an interesting blog entry from the Hollywood Reporter about the screening I attended; guess I wasn't alone in my wishi-washiness.

Cool Link of the Week (or at least of the day)--Turkey Hat

I don't usually link to commercial sites, but this was too timely to resist. And there's a tea cozy to go with. Less ambitious but free, here's another (scroll down). A bit late to start now, but there's always next year. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Scribble Scarf

Finally F.O., the Autumn Leaves Scribble Scarf, based on the recipe found in the ever-lovin' Mason-Dixon Knitting. I used Lion Brand Incredible and a mystery stash yarn (my guess is some sort of kid mohair combined with a thin strand of nubbly silk or rayon). 40 stitches across and 40 scribbles down came out to approximately 15" wide and 54" long. The Incredible wasn't thick enough for a genuine scribble, but I like the end result--very swishy.

Blueberry Hat

Another fruit (not that there's anything wrong with that), this one destined for the baby of DS's high school advisor. It's OK, the interim semester grades are already in, so no bribery involved. The Apple Hat below came out more big toddler size than baby, so I modified the pattern a bit: cast on 64 stitches, knit 20 rows instead of 25, and started the decreases at round 32 (decreasing an extra stitch so the numbers came out right). Made in Sugar 'n Cream cotton left over from the Summer of Ballband Warshrags.

Apple Hat

Seems like I've been lurking on lists and posting about O.P.P. (Other People's Projects) a lot more than knitting my own, but I did manage to make this sweet little apple hat for a co-worker's nephew. Based on a pattern here (if you use it, note that there are corrections on rounds 26 and 30). Will post more interesting photos of the hat if I can get some with the little dude's head in it.

Cool Link of the Week--Knitter's Stamps

How cool are these? The US Postal Service will be issuing these "Holiday Knits" stamps, designed and machine-knit by Nancy Stahl. Scroll down the page to see how she did it. Thanks, Nancy!

Vote (and Knit)!

The Opinionated Knitter

There's an interesting thread running on Knitter's Review wherein folks are, in that remarkably civil manner unique to knitters and buddhists, debating the merits of Elizabeth Zimmermann as a writer, teacher, and designer. I've been following it with some fascination, since while I bow down to EZ as a genius of geniuses (I mean, right up there with whoever first figured out that a lobster was something you could break into and eat), it took me a long time to appreciate her. Some 30 years ago, as a frustrated attempting to self-teach knitter, I picked up a copy of Knitting Without Tears figuring I'd find the hand-holding granny I'd never had. I just wanted someone to tell me exactly how to untangle those two sticks and a hunk of string. However, EZ's disdain of blind followers shamed me into casting the book aside in...well, tears. I can quote the exact paragraph that stopped me cold, from page 45:

Let nobody say she can't sew up a sweater--she just doesn't want to. Reminds me of the infuriating remark, 'I've always wanted to knit, but I just can't.' Pish, my good woman, you can plan meals, can't you? You can put your hair up? You can type, write fairly legibly, shuffle cards? All of these are more difficult than knitting. You just don't want to knit, so why pretend that you do? It's not compulsory; take up something else.

Well, it happened that at the time the only skill listed above I could consider myself remotely competent at was planning meals (couldn't cook, but I could plan). So I gave up until 10 years later when I encountered a cranky buy doggedly patient instructor at an Adult Education Course who taught me the basics (thanks, Mrs. DuPre). And then I returned to Elizabeth Zimmermann, who taught me how to knit. Oh, and I have since accomplished most of the above, but I still can't shuffle cards for shit.

By the way, The University of Wisconsin--Madison is launching an exhibit called "New School Knitting: The Influence of Elizabeth Zimmermann and Schoolhouse Press". Article here; exhibition link here.

Scribble Me This

An Absorba, a kimono, and many, many ballbands have not stilled my obsession with Mason-Dixon Knitting. So, I have moved on to the Scribble Scarf, being rendered in yet another mystery yarn from my stash—it seems to be a mixture of a kid mohair and a very thin boucle, neatly double-stranded and rolled into a workable ball. I swear I have no idea where it came from (hey, if there are yarn fairies out there repleting my stash while I sleep, I could use a bunch of Lamb’s Pride Bulky in assorted colors, OK?). The thick strand is Lion Brand Incredible, a nylon ribbon I wouldn’t ordinarily touch, but it serves its purpose very well here. The colorway is called Autumn Leaves, and combined with the mystery thin it results in a shiny, happy fabric that lends itself to regular arms-length admiration during TV commercials. And shiny, happy, light and airy is a nice change from the dense cotton of Absorba. For now, the scarf is dubbed the ALDS Scribble Scarf, hopefully to morph into the World Series Scribble Scarf (Let’s Go Yankees…thump, thump, thump thump thump).

UPDATED 10/7/06: OK, Let's Go Mets (Willie Randolph will always bleed pinstripes to me). And deep in my heart I knew this was going to happen...since 1960, the Yankees have only won the World Series when the President of the U.S. is a Democrat. Yet another thing to blame on George W. Bush. Next time, I will refrain from officially naming my Scribble Scarf until the fat lady sings.

Absorba, The Great Bathmat--F.O.

Thanks to the aforementioned Law & Order: SVU marathon, it's a wrap. I mean, a mat. Presented outside of its natural habitat because 14 year old DD refuses to give up the bathroom for a photo op (she's still in there, even as I blog). The stats: 20"x28", 11 hard-earned logs including the center. I used some truly ancient Patons Chunky Cotton (I think it's been discontinued) in a grimy footprint-forgiving army green. Since some balls were partial, it's hard to tell exactly how much was eaten, but I'd guess 8 100 gram skeins, triple-stranded, on size 15 needles. The toe-squishing result was worth the pain, but when DH suggested another for the kitchen, I laughed until he backed away, slowly.

Absorba The Great Bathmat--Still in Progress

I like my Absorba. I really do (and, clearly, Judy does too). But I must admit I liked it a lot more when I thought I was three ridges away from being done.

You know those rhetorical questions you realize you shouldn't have asked the second they leave your big mouth? Like when you run into your crotchety neighbor and you say "How are you?" expecting the requisite "Fine, and you?" but instead you get a litany of aches and pains and accusations of neglect?

Well, there I was doing a final sizing and toe-squish test run when DH walks in the room. What I should have said: "Nice bathmat, huh?" What I said (rhetorically): "Do you think it's big enough?" What he said: "Could you add a little more?"

So, with heavy heart, blistering fingers, running out of yarn and lesson learned, I need to go on to the rectangular version. Must. Haul. One. More. Log. Praise the TV gods there's a Law & Order: SVU marathon tomorrow.

Tasty Link of the Week--Law & Order Placemats

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups—the Police who investigate crime, and the District Attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories. (doink-doink).

Not sure how I missed this one the first time around...found on Craftster, a thread on these absolutely awesome knitted Law & Order placemats. I bow to the creator, who claims it's her first time doing intarsia. If you scroll through the thread, you'll find the charts, along with a link to the Law & Order Coloring Book that inspired them. But wait, there's more. Ah, craftsters...is there nothing they can't do? Bonus link for SVU fans: Sesame Street's Law & Order: Special Letters Unit. Check out the most excellent Munch muppet.

Bingo!

I told you going back to work bites. Someday I'll start a blog about how ludicrous the NYC nursery and ongoing school admissions process is (those of you who've read 100 Things About Me might recall that my job is judging two year olds for their suitability to enter nursery school and then usher them on to ongoing schools that will ensure their entry into Harvard, Yale and Princeton), but for now, in the weeks after Labor Day that kick off the official Admissions Season, I haven't had time to blog my knitting and have barely had time to knit it (of course, a couple of washrags have been on and off the needles, but with Fall I am craving a big wooly project). But enough whining--there's good news: 35 days and counting to the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival, a.k.a Rhinebeck, sort of the Woodstock of knitting. Rhinebeck has become a birthday tradition for me (October 18th if you keep track of these things), since we have wonderful friends with a wonderful house near Rhinebeck who host us for the weekend. I've always admired knitters who return from Rhinebeck with fiber-laden satchels and an organized list of several winters-worth of projects...as much as I love it, I tend to wander the barns aimlessly in a yarn-induced stupor, paralyzed by choice and slinking back to the city with a skein or two with no designated purpose, tossed into my motley (but much beloved) stash. Also, I've always wanted to make connections with all those kindred spirits tramping through the sheep muck with variegated stars in their eyes, but it seems so...geeky (if not downright stalkerish) to go up to somebody and say "Hey, I love your Clapotis, can I touch it?" This year, however, things will be different. The intrepid Stitchy McYarnpants has come up with a brilliant scheme to link us all: Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo (check out the link to see how it works, one of the many results of my not having attended church enough is that I don't understand Bingo). Thanks, Stitchy; I'll be there and I'll be square!

Summer's Last Ballband

An ode to the ballband warshrags of summer (with apologies to Danny and Sandy):

Summer ballbands, had me a blast
Summer ballbands, knit up so fast
Dishcloth cotton cheap as can be
Mason-Dixon, the book for me
Summer days, knitting away
But oh...back to work and it bites

Well-a, well-a, well-a , uh!...OK, I'll stop now. Thanks, Ann and Kay, for a summer of carefree knits.

Tasty Link of the Week--Handknit on the Red Carpet

And the winner is...The Knitting Heretic! Annie Modesitt, one of my knitcrushes, created this stunning dress that worked the red carpet at the Emmy Awards. Worn by the stunning Ami Brabson, wife of the stunning Andre Braugher, who won for Best Actor in a Miniseries for Thief (we forgive you for that Poseidon remake mistep). More details on the dress on Annie's blog. How cool is that?