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!

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