Another Friday RoundUp

I had fun with my Friday RoundUp last week, so I'm doing it again. . .

On the Needles

Not much knitting news this week.  I'm plugging away on my Psychic Heart Mittens.  One is done.  One is not.  Blocking is sorely needed.

 

I really don't like the yellow.  It looks like it will play so nicely with the other colors. . . just sitting there in the skein.  Once it gets out in the open, though.  Yikes!  So bright!  It screams at the other colors!  I also discovered that I'm not really liking the "Latvian" shape of the the top of the mitten (which you can't see in this photo) -- but it comes to a point.  I much prefer a rounded shape on my mittens.  These mittens will be. . . fine. . . when they're finished.  They need a good blocking, and they do look better on my hand than just laying there.  All in all, it's been good to get back into color work -- and I've learned some important color lessons.

Because these mittens are futzy (although the pattern is easy to memorize), I have a simple project going for tv-watching and phone-talking. 

 

Yet another Noro-stripe-scarf (without the Noro).  Apparently, I will never tire of watching the colors change and blend together.  

I also took some time to sit back with a cup of tea and some new knitting magazines yesterday.  Knitting magazines seem to be totally hit or miss with me.  Either I hate every design, or I like a bunch of them.  I don't know why that is. . . but I rarely just like one design!  Yesterday, I was completely charmed by these---

The top sweater is in knitsimple (Winter 09/10), and the bottom one is in Verena Knitting (Winter 2010).  This one, though, (also from Verena) is the one that's really calling to me ---

 

The collar, though???  What is it doing?  I really can't tell from the photo or the schematic in the directions.  I would need to see the collar before ever committing to making this!

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In the Ears

Here's what I'm listening to right now.

 

I love Louise Erdrich's work.  I'm not sure how I missed reading this one when it first came out, but I did.  I'm listening now, though.  I'm listening while I do my household chores. . . while I walk the dog. . .  while I knit. . .while Brian tries to talk to me.  How did I manage before my favorite-of-all-combinations -- iPod and Audible -- came to be?

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My Favorite Things

When I was a little girl, I loved The Sound of Music.  I knew every song by heart.  Although it wasn't my favorite song from the movie, I always liked the concept behind "My Favorite Things."  Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. . . bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. . . brown paper packages tied up with string. . .  What I always liked about the song was that the "favorite things" were such minor, little things.  I think, as an 8-year-old, I was totally taken with the notion that things didn't need to be "fancy" or "big" to be "favorite."  I've always found that comforting.

And, I'm always discovering my own "favorite things."  Simple little things that make me smile.  Things like . . .my new teapot!

 

It's just the most perfect little teapot!  It's bright and cheerful, AND it brews two cups of tea -- with a little infuser insert (so it's really simple to use loose leaf tea).

 

Definitely one of my new "favorite things!"

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Make it Work!

I used to be a big Project Runway fan.  It was a perfect show for me --- I like fashion; I like to sew.  I was always impressed by the things the designers could produce from odd and limited materials over such a short, pressure-filled time period.  I thought it was completely fun.  Until last season, that is, which was a total snooze-fest.

Well.  So glad I decided to give it one more try and watch the new season.  Last night, the designers had to make their models "look good in a potato sack!"  They went from this. . .

 

To this. . .

So far, WAY more entertaining!

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  And, Some Mind Candy

Have a great weekend -- full of ice cream or any other treats you may desire!

 

Comments

[Nancy]

I need to make some tea! I was looking at Aurora, too, on Ravelry and noticed the neckline. Can't zoom in on it to figure it out. Is the pattern in the magazine? You could always design your own neckline...Have a great weekend.

[Sue]

Do you have 'Sing Along a Sound of Music' events? I went to an outdoors event at a local stately home a couple of years ago and, not knowing what to expect was amazed to see the marjority of people in themed dress. There were a lot of nuns and nazis but also complete Von Trapp families dressed in clothes made from curtains and even someone wearing a huge box - yes, a brown paper parcel ....

You were given a paper bag as you went in with amont other things a piece of plastic eidelweiss to hold aloft whilst singing the song. Everyone boo'd the Barnoess and sang with great gusto. I don't think anyone needed the onscreen captions for the songs.

C and I also go to Rocky Horror (the play/musical) when it tours but this was, if anything, far more raucous possibly because everyone was drunk - having picnic'd lavishly before and during.

I'm off to Audible now to check out Louis Erdich. I love my Audible downloads - particularly when travelling on the train to London whilst knitting a sock, so thanks for the recommendation. I go mainly for Dorothy L Sayers and the Terry Pratchett Witch novels (I swear I am becoming Nanny Weatherwax) - all unabridged all books I will listen to over and over again.

[Sue]

Me again - just looked at audible, for Louise Erdrich which would you recommend as a good one to start with?

[margene]

Ravelry is very helpful and I usually won't make a pattern until I see how others look wearing it. You could call me chicken. ;-)
Louise Erdrich is such a great author. Her newest book (Plague of Doves) is wonderful. Your teapot is so bright and cheery, perfect for a dreary winters day.
Stressed is dessert backwards. Whether I'm stressed or not I use that for my excuse.

[Cookie]

I always wonder about the styling done in knitting magazine photo shoots. It's like they don't realize that we're there for the knitwear and don't care what the model is doing or where she's standing. feh

xo

[Marilyn]

Oh! I read Louise Erdrich too. I haven't ever done Audible though. I have an iPod so I should check it out....

On the picture of the Aurora don't you just feel like saying: Get your hair out of the way! :)

[Diana Troldahl]

Love your teapot! Will you be making it a tea cozy?
I have a little two-cups-of-tea double-stacker, all covered with violets. (a tea pot stacked on the cup)
My tea doesn't stay warm long enough for that second cup though, so I've been playing around with an idea for a mini-cozy.

I just finished a new pattern, maybe now would be a good time to make myself (or Oscar) mittens.

[Bruny]

Hi Kym, my old time favorite movie is the Sound of Music also! I always loved to see the children jump on the bed and sing,ride their bikes and sing"Doe a deer...",enjoying the simple things in life! Love your bright teapot! Have a beautiful weekend!

[Vicki]

Thanks to you, I'm caught up on Project Runway now -- and LOVE Tom & Lorenzo (new to me!).

[Kay]

OH ME TOO, me too!!! I knew every song on the Sound of Music album as well! I too, loved the images My Favorite Things brought to mind, even to this day. My favorite as a child, was definitely I Am Sixteen. Oh my goodness, did I get all dreamy when I heard that song or saw that scene with them jumping from bench to bench in the gazebo in the pouring rain! I would recreate that outside, often, on the top of my huge tire sandbox!! lol

[Kathy]

I admire your stick-to-in-ness on the mittens. I think I would have abandoned them by now!

[Sharon]

I think I was just in a hurricane!! Safe at the hotel on my way home from work--details later!

[Karen]

Lots and lots of fun things to read in this entry. As for your knitting--I love the mittens and love the yellow! And I know just what you mean about the Noro-striped scarf. Endlessly entertaining, those color changes. Have many wonderful cups of tea in your new teapot. Special!! Like you!!

[Carol]

Love the Aurora pattern. Love the teapot. Love the new PR. Guess we're on the same wavelength!