yarn along: The Night Circus, Elegance and a baby hat

It feels like it's been a while since we caught up, so what better way to check in than with a natter about reading and knitting? Ginny's yarn along is always a joy, but especially now it's so dark and cold that all I want to do is curl up indoors and ward off the encroaching winter with yarn and books. 

What are you making at the moment? This tiny stripy baby hat is fairly fresh off my needles. It's a Simply Knitting pattern from their Hand Knits for Baby booklet. The pattern is called Hats Off and I made it for a special little lady who hasn't been born yet! It's a pretty straightforward, knitted flat pattern and I figured out my own sassy stripe sequence. The yarn is Bessie May Smile – a squishy merino DK that is SO soft. You can see more on Ravelry here. 

I've finally finished The Night Circus (sooo good - message me if you've not read it and fancy my copy. I like to pass on good books). The colours black and red have an important presence in the story and there's an amazing bit near the end where a knitter gives one of the characters a beautiful red scarf. Check it out:

"She hands him a red wool scarf, the one she has been knitting on and off. It is longer than Bailey expected from watching her knit, with intricate patterns of knotted cables at each end.

"I can't accept this," he says, part of him deeply honored and the other part wishing people would stop giving him things. 

"Nonsense," Elizabeth says. "I make them all the time, I am at no loss for yarn. I started this one with no particular reveur in mind to wear it, so clearly it is meant for you."

"Thank you," Bailey says, wrapping the scarf around his neck despite the warmth of the train."

It's just brilliant when knitting crops up in a book you've fallen in love with. So what's next? I'm about to start on Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro. I've not read anything else by her, but I friend passed it on to me so I'm giving it a go. I'll keep you posted. 

I'd also like to share something exciting that happened earlier this month - the lovely Sarah of Crafts from the Cwtch featured me in her 'In Conversation With…' series. We had a good old chinwag about Knit Happens and my Simply Crochet day job. You can read it here. 

What are you knitting and reading at the moment? 

  

yarn along: Keep Your Love On and Miette

Hello! I thought I'd pop by to share what I'm reading and what's (still) on my needles at the mo. 

I've not been a busy blogger, but I have been a busy bee. Craft-wise, I've got my hands full with a couple of secret projects that, God willing, I'll be able to share with you in a few month's time. But, that hasn't left a whole lot of time for reading and non-project making. They're good for the soul, though, aren't they? It's so important to make time for those kind of things, especially when you feel in a bit of a whirl. 

So, my current bedside book is Keep Your Love On by Danny Silk. It's about love, communication and boundaries. I'm not far in yet and it's already pretty challenging! Will keep you posted. Have you read it?

On my needles is Miette. Yep, that cardi I started at Christmas – still going! I pressed pause on it a few times, but now I'm determined to get it finished. It's my knit night project as once I'm out at the pub and everyone else is stitching, I have no choice but to get on with it! The second sleeve needs finishing, then it's just button bands and neckband to go - phew! 

Hope all's well with you. I'd love to know what you're reading and making. 

I'm joining in again with Ginny's Yarn Along. 

yarn along: guilty pleasures and Miette

Have you been having stormy weather where you are? It's been beyond blustery here. We're firmly in 'blowing a hoolie' territory. But, that's the perfect weather for curling up with your WIP/latest read/current boxset/adorable pooch (I wish!)/ nearest blanket. Delete as appropriate. 

So, I've been bingewatching Buffy and catching up on The Voice and War and Peace. Sometimes our souls just NEED some TV, don't they? 

My constant companion for said curling up has of course been my Miette cardigan. The body is now complete (hurrah!) and I'm now onto the sleeves. Must admit I'm not enjoying these fiddly bits, but I have learnt the magic loop technique, so that's something. The Selfish Sweater KAL actually ends this weekend and I know I won't be finished, but I'm really pleased it gave me the nudge I needed to get on and knit a garment. Hopefully I'll continue making good progress with it and be done by the end of the month.

My current bedtime book is Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. I just started it this week. It had been on my to-read list for ages and I was so pleased to spot it in the library. I mean, that cover. I'm really enjoying it so far. If only I could somehow read paperbacks and knit at the same time!

What's on your hook/ needles at the mo and what are you reading?

I'm joining in (for the very first time!) with Ginny's Yarn Along. I spotted this first on Elise's blog and thought I'd get involved.

when knit becomes crochet

*Sings blog post title to the tune of When 2 Become 1*

Anyway. You know I started knitting an orange jumper absolutely AGES ago? Well, it didn't last. I finished the back then lost momentum altogether. I became convinced I'd gone wrong, then I couldn't even remember which size I'd started making or which needles I'd used. It was clear the project just wasn't going anywhere. 

Oh, knitted jumper, we were never meant to be. 

When we moved (not that I've mentioned that AT ALL), I came across all the delicious orange Merino I'd bought for the jumper. Sigh. It then occurred to me that it might be a whole lot simpler to frog the back of the jumper and make a whole different garment with the yarn. Maybe a really easy crochet garment? Yay - new project excitement! So here's what I'm making instead. And it's a joy. I've learnt how to work three treble clusters and (with some help) I kind of understand the pattern. Does this make me crafty bilingual? 

I'll keep you updated with my progress. In fact, I've got a few train (or replacement bus) journeys ahead of me and I want to get my blue shawl done next month. Hopefully there'll be another FO around these parts soon! 

Have you had any frogging/ yarn reincarnation experiences of late? 

Kaffe Fassett does colour. And then some.

Prepare your retinas people, I've been to that Kaffe Fassett thang at the American Museum and it was BRIGHT. I took a whole heap of snaps on our new fancy pants camera so hold on tight.  You might wanna reach for your sunglasses. Disclaimer: I'm going to use the word colour. A lot.  

Me and Mr P popped on the cheeky free shuttle bus to the American Museum in Britain on the last bank holiday (that's what they're for, right?). Knitwear and textile designer Kaffe Fassett's known for his fantastic use of colour and I was really hoping to learn something from his work. There are a lot of yarny projects that I've been unhappy with because of my rather less-than-excellent colour choices.

What greeted us at the museum was an onslaught of brain-melting colour. Some of the grounds had been yarnbombed with scorching granny squares, and the enormous tree in front of the exhibition space was hung with fabric-covered lanterns and big-as-your-fist pom-poms. 

Ponchos, paintings, vegetables, and faux tapestry floors - this exhibition had it all. His paintings, knitwear, tapestries and quilts were on show, and the whole inside space was drenched in immerse colour. We definitely needed an eye rest and a sobering cuppa when we eventually staggered out. I really loved finding out more about how Kaffe works, seeing his stitches up close and taking a peek at his beautiful line drawings, too. Mr P's favourites were the veg paintings and the huge pink and green tapestry. Plus, he can now correctly distinguish between knitting and crochet. So proud. 

Although it's not a big exhibition by any means, the all-encompassing way it's been put together and how Kaffe's taken over the museum (more of his drawings and samples are scattered throughout the main house), make The Colourful World of Kaffe Fassett well worth seeing. We both came away really inspired (and full of tea and scones, natch). If you can get to the South-West before November, make sure you catch it. All the details are here.        

Festooned, you might say. 

Mr P contemplates life, the universe and knitwear 

A brave wardrobe choice for the office

Spot the knitter! The volunteer manning the exhibition was knitting a scarf in Kaffe's Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

Icon of Knit: Pushing Daisies Emerson Cod

"Narrator: Emerson Cod did not like to knit in public, but he often left the house with the needles in his pocket, should the opportunity to rib-stitch a ski cap present itself."

Pushing Daisies, Series 1 Episode 2 

I've been watching genius 2007 - 2009 series Pushing Daisies.  Yes, I'm a little late to the party.  It's more than I dreamed it would be; the pie maker and the dead girl, bee keeping, twin synchronised swimming aunts and haute couture eye patches.  Much as I love to watch confused Lee Pace's eyebrows knit themselves, there is but one stand out knitter in the show.  As such, this month's Icon of Knit is none other than Mr Emerson Cod, everyone's favourite pop-up book writing, private investigating knitter.   

Anyone who can knit their way out of a body bag has my respect.

Do you have any favourite knitters?

Wool Week 2012

It's Wool Week from the 15th - 21st October!  

Whether you get your needles out, rock some knitwear, hide under a blanket or befriend a sheep, celebrate Wool Week! 

Wool Week's a great excuse to get your knits out if it's been a while. The Knitter blog has a great bunch of charity knit patterns if you're stuck for ideas.  My Ravelry queue is getting longer and longer so I will be taking my knitting to work again.   

You can find out more about the Campaign for Wool here.   

Icon of Knit: New Girl Jess

It's a random Tuesday.  I'm knitting, catching up with New Girl, when what should I see but Zooey D knitting before my very eyes!  So the girl who rocks a lotta polka dots rocks the yarn too.   I think she's an Icon of Knit, ladies.  The girls embark on 'crochet time', Jess grabs a pair of needles and the magical soothing powers of craft are revealed.  

Exciting indeed.  Are you loving New Girl?  Did you catch this episode? 

Icon of Knit: Holly Golightly

I'm an out and out Audrey fangirl, there's no denying it.  I don't need an excuse to harp on about her, but seeing as this year is the 50th anniversary of Breakfast At Tiffany's, I thought it approriate to recognise Ms Golightly as an Icon of Knit. 

There's a great knit scene late on in the film; Holly is well on her way to "buying some furniture and giving the cat a name" and decides to take up knitting.  Her bare little apartment is strewn with red yarn, though she's concerned she may have got her pattern mixed up with blueprints for Jose's ranch - always a concern for first time knitters.  Fabulous. 

What I want to know is, where do you hot foot it to, pastry in hand, when the mean reds strike?  There isn't a Tiffany's where I live, so I go here.  Where is your Tiffany's?

P.s. If you haven't read the novel, find it, read it.  Capote is an absolute dude. 

Icon of Knit: Ron Weasley

I missed the Harry Potter boat in a big way.  At the risk of being socially outcast/unleashing worldwide indignation I'll admit that I've only read the first book, and seen the first film.  I enjoyed them both but wasn't hooked (sorry J.K.).  Content with Austen and McAll Smith, I carried on steadily ignoring the whole franchise.  By the sixth film it was definately too late for me to catch up. 

But. The recent Potter mania has made it inescapable.  I've started taking some of it in.  Have discovered that a certain Mr Weasley often dons not only a fantasic array of gormless expressions, but monogram pullovers, tasty fairisles and cables that boggle the mind.  Not to mention Molly Weasley's enchanted knitting needles and those sleeves that beggar belief. 

Therefore, in homage to the knit-tastic Weasleys, I intend to create a delicious higgledy piggledy blanket with odds and ends from my yarn hamper.  So far knitting little 20 stitch squares has proved successful.  They are  perfect little handbag sized projects, and a satisfying break from those irksome long-term knits that you can never quite finish (snood that never was, I mean you). 

Knitting: 7% complete

Where: Train station, the kitchen at work. 

Comments/stares: 0

Any other examples of great kniterature? And, how would I go about catching up on HP?  Books first, I guess?