Too Busy to Knit This Weekend

but of course, I found time to start cross stitching a monkey.

pattern from andwabisabi's Etsy shop

FO: Little Lace

It got colder quickly, so I took a two-day break from knitting things that are secret and/or boring to whip up this confection for one small girl child of my acquaintance:

 

 

The pattern is a free Ravelry download: Victorian Lace Baby Shrug [Rav link] by Melanie Lok; knit with one skein of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK in colorway 18006 Wine.  Thank you to Maisy for keeping her relatively still for the photo shoot.

I consistently had a problem in the later rows of the body sequence; I’d blame the pattern, but it was probably my fault for not paying attention and possibly doing something dumb on the purl rows.  I also had to redo the bindoff after the first time through produced unusable and constricted.  The elastic bindoff did the trick.  The other problem: lots of finagling to get the finished product on her body -- the close fit of the neckband required considerable stretching to go around her shoulders without breaking her arms.  I finally had to make her raise both arms and ambush from above!

I love this yarn a whole lot.   I've had it forever, since I bought it waaay back when a] I didn't know that most things I want to make use more than one skein; and b] the cost of yarn didn't factor into my purchasing.  Anyway, it's like buttah and there's only a yard and a half left.

and it's not this color.

Cue blocking photos!

Please note the presence of blocking wires and pins borrowed from the lovely Jill Factotum -- thank you!

KATM+PR: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

I can't write about the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World without making several confessions:

* I play video games frequently

* I've wanted blue hair since I was 10

* I've wanted to be in a band since I was 7

* I was thisclose to leaving the country, just because
* I'm a sucker for distorted guitar, bass solos, and girl drummers

* I did some wildly inappropriate dating at and around the age of 22

So basically what I'm saying is: in the alternate universe of my mind, I'm some strange chimera of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers.  And it doesn't matter to me whether the movie version of the comic got a good review or a bad review (in the same publication, no less).  No surprise, I loved this movie, which allowed me to realize my charming disaffected itinerant blue-hair band-girl DDR dreams while staying an awkward married librarian mom IRL.

........On to the knitwear!!

"Do you know this one girl with hair like this?"

Scott's Wristbands

Scott Pilgrim (Age: 22; Rating: Awesome) likes to wear striped wristbands:

They come in assorted colors to go with his assorted band T-shirts and assorted moods.  And they're easy to make!
free!  Scott Pilgrim Wrist Bands [Rav link] from the brain of cyancomet

Scott's Slouchy Hat

If this hat were a person, it would have an ironic handlebar mustache and muttonchops.

...it would listen to Daytrotter sessions and vinyl; it would wear skinny jeans and drink PBR; it would own this hat. 
Scott Pilgrim Hat (The Original Costume Pattern) [Rav link] by Lulu Bee; $5.00 USD
Scott Pilgrim's Slouchy Hat [Rav link] by Joy Smith; $5.00 USD
free!  wurm [Rav link] by katushika
free!  Scott Pilgrim Stocking Hat/Snail Hat [Rav link] by Rochelle Mantanona
free!  Scott Pilgrim hat [Rav link] by Anna Steinbrink

Kim Pine's Cap

Alison Pill does such an awesome job of bringing Kim's combination of thinly veiled rage and not-at-all-veiled ennui to life.

She and Kieran Culkin are my favorites (sadly, no Wallace knitwear to be found).  No Kim hat patterns, either, but I found a couple lookalikes; add a big ol' pompon for more fun!
free! knit/crochet  134-25 "VEGA" - Crochet hat with knitted top [Rav link] by DROPS design
Squawk [Rav link] by kim mac donald; $5.00 USD

Ramona's Berry Sweater

It's striped and fuzzy!

May I also note: it'll go with whatever hair color her ninja-delivery-girl heart desires.

Ramona's Knit Hoodie

I'm a sucker for teal, what can I say.

Comfy, simple, teal.  And easy enough to duplicate with a lookalike free pattern.  Ta-da!
109-1 Jumper with hood in "Eskimo" [Rav link] by DROPS design; NOTE: the pattern is for super bulky weight yarn, but I'm sure yarn choice and other things could easily cut down on the bulk factor.

Ramona's Film Set Mitts

But seriously, what's on the back of them?

Stylized skull and crossbones? Floppy bows with rhinestones? Some sort of Galaga... thing? 

Ramona's Sweater Tee
Now this I would totally wear.

He's so sad... but still stares at her boobs.  No pattern for this, unfortunately, but you could heavily modify this free pattern:
Blossom Tee [Rav link] by Linda from clickertyclick

Ramona's Battle Mitts

Safari clothes and a Warhammer.  Pfft.  Nice look, Rammy.

I do so love the teal gloves/electric blue hair shot, though.  Lovely.  And there's a free pattern for these, so yay!
Ramona Flowers Fingerless Gloves [Rav link] by Shannon Foss

Knives's Scarf

Aww, Knives.  Poor, sweet, marginalized Knives.

She doesn't even get a non-curling scarf.  But at least she doesn't (necessarily) have to date losers anymore.
free!  Knives Chau's Battle Scarf [Rav link] by Melinda Melin
free!  Easy Broken Rib Scarf [Rav link] by Knitting on the Net as styled by HexiJosh [Rav link]

Knives's Battle Gauntlets

Because sometimes you need knitted opera length finger loop gloves:

See?
free!  City Gauntlets [Rav link] by Lion Brand Yarn as styled by OmegaMoth [Rav link]; NOTE: Lion Brand patterns are free, but require registration

BONUS CRAFT HAPPY:  Renee, the Domestic Scientist and fellow geek, made an "I'm in lesbians with you." cross stitch!
EVEN MORE BONUSER: Ravelry user sefronia made a Sex Bob-Omb hat [Rav link]! Alas, no written pattern.

No Nupp for You!

...what I mean to say is, I get lots of nupps (nupp is pronounced "noop" because Estonians want to mess with you; I don't blame them), but you don't get to see my copious nupps, because the secret shawl project is still, well, secret.  Unless you Rav stalk me or click through from my last shawl post.  Then you can totally see shawl pics.  But they aren't updated all the way, so still no nupps for you!

This project is my first foray into the world of nupps generally and Estonian lace knitting specifically.  Needless to say, there was research.  Does this mean I get to call myself an "advanced" knitter?  That would be pretty sweet.  Anyway...

My point is, research led me to a couple awesome YouTube instructional videos...

• There's this one produced by Knitting Daily TV and demonstrated by guru Nancy Bush, AKA the real way to nupp it up:
• And this one, produced and demonstrated by genius Myra Wood, AKA the cheater way:

If you're curious, yes, I'm cheating.

A Word about Today

A lot of people have some high emotions regarding today.  Our daughter has already noticed that we're sadder than usual and has set about to be extra sweet to make us smile.  My birthday will be arriving very soon, which only serves to further remind me that every moment is a gift.

Let there be peace on earth.

Not a Thirsty Thursday

The constant drip-drip-drip-WOOOOSH-drip-drip-drip-rat-tat-tat-tat-drip-drip-drip of the rain has just stopped for the first time in 24 hours.  I'm sure it will start again soon.

All this water has made for a sudden chill in the air, so I'm frantically looking through my queue for some quick raglan baby cardigans to warm up the small one using random stash yarn!

I've been steadily moving on both the second wedding shrug [Rav link] and the secret shawl (but here's a [Rav link] - feel free to take a peek if you have never been my boss...).  The shawl is being used as my first "homework" practice for the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup group I've joined on Ravelry.  I haven't been sorted into a house just yet, but I've finally gotten my bearings as to the rules and timing and s.t.u.f.f.  So... yeah.  That's fun!

...and the rain's started again.  Told you.

A Little Miffed

So I was juuuuust gearing up for a visit to a LYS I've had my online eye on: mapping out the driving route, noting the hours of operation on the website to making sure it's open today, planning out Punkin's nap time accordingly, doing some last minute Ravelry queue yardage checks... when I notice there's a Ravelry group for said LYS—and they've closed the store as of July 23, 2011.

Wait, WHAT?!  You're kidding me, right?  Noooooo.

< rant rant-type="first-world-problems">
You close your store and you don't even update your website with that rather crucial information?  What, am I supposed to show up, eyes full of hope, baby in tow, to see a handwritten sign on the door?  I was supposed to go to Sit-and-Stitch on Thursday nights and make some knitting friends who could give me their opinions!  My husband, while wonderful, really super fantastically does not care about 100% merino vs. merino/silk blend decision-making; that was your job, now-only-figments-of-my-imagination fiber friends!  And hey, store owners: I was going to give you so much money in 2012!  All this stashbusting is emotionally fatiguing and I'm going to be thisclose to throwing cash at the nearest sport weight wool, regardless of price or suitability!  What am I supposed to spend money on now?  Diapers and paying off my crippling debt??!  I'M OUTIE 5000!!
< /rant>

Oh wait, the Internet says there may be another yarn shop in town.  Huh.  Looks like I'm going to do some sleuthing on Thursday.

Knitwear at the Movies: The King's Speech

The King's Speech!  So good so good so good so good!!  Also: Colin Firth!!!  (p.s. Jennifer Ehle, too!*)

So guess who wears knits in this movie.  It's not really a question, not even a rhetorical one.  The answer is: not royalty (one notable exception; you'll see).  And so I present to you: the Logue Family...

Myrtle Logue's Cardigan

Skeptical Myrtle questions your motives.

A simple cream wide-rib cardigan is elevated by the crossed collar detail.  Buttons FTW.

Valentine Logue's Scarf

Simple, but serves the dual purpose of conveying the character's bookishness and keeping him warm.
NOTE: he is wearing his dad's sweater here (see below) -- high fives to the costume designer for these details.

Lionel Logue's Cardigan

One must wear a mustardy waffle cardigan to lend gravity to any situation...  reading is good!  Also: that wallpaper's gotta go.

Lionel Logue's Vest

Cables with deep side ruts and columns of stockinette and garter stitch blocks -- pretty darn classy.

Anthony Logue's Fair Isle Vest

He is his mother's son.

The color combinations remind me of a Navajo blanket almost.

...and then: there's Guy Pearce.
King Edward VIII's Diamond Vest

Hot.
_____
* (p.p.s. Derek Jacobi as Archbishop Cosmo! You can't make these names up.)