Knitting on the Chaise Lounge

2010: The Retrospective: Knitting

2011-01-06T12:49:00.003+11:00

In 2010 I knit 10 items! Which is a pretty paltry effort. However of those 10 items I will probably wear/use all of them, as opposed to some years where I knitted 20 items, half of which were ludicrous and unwearable. Actually there are two extra items which weren't photographed: I knit a plain red scarf for a friend and a second Aestlight Shawl for a work colleague's mum.

I also went to Knit Camp in Scotland which was awesome!

My knitting goals for 2011:

knit more than 10 items
use up lots of stash yarn
more fair isle and colourwork
more insanely overambitious Easter Show entries
Knitters Guild achievement certificate Level 1 completion

kai-mei

2010-10-17T21:32:00.004+11:00

It's Japanese for "sock mojo". okay maybe not, but finishing this pair of socks has actually gotten me a bit excited about making some more:

Details on Ravelry here

I have another skein of Wollmeise in Fliederbusch, a vivid deep purple. I've decided to make another Japanese inspired pattern, this time from this lovely book by Judy Sumner. But which one?

- Bonsai
- Origami
- Chouwa

HALP

vincent

2010-10-11T22:00:00.004+11:00

I visited Melbourne a couple of weeks ago, and managed to get to the Tim Burton exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Amongst many highlights, probably my favourite thing was seeing the sketches and notes for one of Burton's early short films entitled "Vincent", about a regular kid who wishes he could be Vincent Price, one of Burton's own childhood heroes (and one of mine!). Price himself narrates this film. The exhibition featured a note from Price to Burton wishing him the best of luck and commenting "I wish I was this Vincent".

Edinburgh Part 2: Water of Leith

2010-10-10T21:08:00.008+11:00

The Water of Leith Walkway runs through Edinburgh from Balerno to Leith, a total of 13 miles. I joined the path at Roseburn, the closest point to my hotel, which turned out to be about the halfway point. The Water of Leith is nicknamed Edinburgh's Secret River, and it's truly amazing to wander along this glorious path knowing that literally two blocks away are bustling main streets, buses, shops, pubs and train stations.

So equipped with camera, iPod, water and a bag of delicious Cadbury chocolate eclairs (99p!) I set off. At first it was all a bit Fellowship of the Ring:

I wandered along plotting various means by which I could somehow live in one of these apartments:

Then I encountered St Bernard's mineral water well, imbibed by the 18th century gentry for medicinal purposes, replete with a statue of Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health:

Further along, I stopped off to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh, the highlight of which was the Victorian Temperate Palm House, built in 1858:

After about 4 hours and 7 or so miles of delightful walking, I ended up in the port town of Leith:

I found a pub serving delicious seafood, ate some haddock and chips and read The Scotsman. After exploring the Leith Docks some more, I hopped on a bus and headed back into town for some Edinburgh Fringe Festival mayhem.

it will all end in tears

2010-10-09T17:26:00.004+11:00

Oh no, I am running behind on Blogtober after such a good start!! Tres busy though, packing to move, going to the gym and doing ludicrous things like "Body Combat" class, and eating all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. But I have completed knitting coming up - got to get some photos though. And Part 2 of Edinburgh - The River of Leith Walkway.

But I'm about to go and try a new Polish restaurant in Newtown shortly - New in Town

So I will leave you with a music recommendation. If you took the Smiths, threw in some Shangri-Las and a dash of The Cure, you end up with The Drums. Perfect summer listening (if only the weather would cooperate). I managed to see them at Splendour in the Grass in July:

This is their songwriting philosophy (taken from their bio)

"We only write about two feelings: one is the first day of summer when you and all of your friends are standing on the edge of a cliff watching the sun set and being overcome with all of your hopes and dreams at once. The other is when you're walking alone in the rain and realize you will be alone forever."

Seaside melodrama!!! Le sigh....

more victorian mayhem

2010-10-06T19:29:00.005+11:00

So as part of my rather sudden obsession with comics/graphic novels (I blame reading Watchmen on a recent 10 hour train journey and just being OMG NEED MORE at the end of it), I am currently reading this:

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
WHY have I not read this before? It's almost as if while I was asleep Alan Moore crept into my brain, extracted everything I love, and then wrote a comic about it. It's got the lot: laudanum! Urchins! Shady dealings in Victorian London! Mina Murray and her red scarf! Mechanical squid ship! Home for Wayward Girls! The Rue Morgue!
And I'm not even halfway through volume 1 yet! Better get the smelling salts.....

audrey in unst

2010-10-05T20:31:00.005+11:00

So I finally knitted a complete garment that (a) fits perfectly and (b) I will actually wear (in fact I've worn it to work twice already)!!
I got kind of disillusioned with garment knitting about a year ago and stuck to shawls, socks, and other general accessories. Admittedly it was mostly my fault, for either choosing the wrong colour, wrong pattern or failing to do a gauge swatch and assuming that size small would just automatically fit.

Then I made Audrey in Unst!!

And it turned out PERFECT!! I'd say this was due to a number of factors all coming together like some sort of divine knitting planetary alignment:

(1) I actually did a gauge swatch and took my measurements and worked out which size to knit
(2) The pattern is EXCELLENT. Gudrun Johnston is a brilliant designer. Small touches, such as the I-cord neckline and the short-row shaped set-in sleeves really make this garment look amazing
(3) The yarn is beautiful - Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk blend. yummmmm.
(4) The buttons cost me $1 from St Vinnies!
(5) Zero seaming meant that it didn't languish in my "finished but needs seams" pile which contains items stretching back approximately 5 years

My only regret is that I didn't actually finish it in time to wear it that much, as it is now spring in Sydney, I will be spending the summer living in the Blue Mountains, and then I may be moving to Darwin for 4 months. But I will definitely be wearing this at any available chilly opportunity!!

ALSO NOTE: IT'S NOT BLACK!! Yet I still love it!! Don't worry, normal black knitting will resume shortly.

boardwalk empire

2010-10-04T16:16:00.004+11:00

To alleviate the seemingly interminable wait for True Blood Season 4, HBO has given me this:

Not since The Simpsons Beer Baron episode has there been a more appealing program about prohibition in 1920s America. So far I've only seen the first episode, but I'm hooked already! It's from the guy who wrote The Sopranos and has Martin Scorsese as executive producer and director of some of the episodes.

Anyway, check it out if you're into gangsters, corrupt politicians, the Charleston, and the ins and outs of black market boozing. Good times.

dainty undies

2010-10-03T18:00:00.007+11:00

While spring (debatable considering current weather) cleaning today I found this:

which contains patterns such as this:

Then I thought what if I knit this as my Easter Show entry for 2011? I wonder how the RAS judges would feel about dainty undies. Well, I think it's time to find out. That is if I can find some sort of 3ply gorgeous wool/silk blend to knit it with. And if I can battle my way through the *shock horror* uncharted lace pattern!

And what category do I put it in? I can imagine the RAS panel acting much like the Office of Film and Literature Classification, and smacking a "Refused Classification" on it! I'll be the Larry Clark of the knitting world!!!

Edinburgh, Part 1: Metropolis, Cramond and Bees in my Hair

2010-10-02T21:54:00.000+10:00

One of my favourite things about Fritz Lang’s Metropolis is the clash between the gothic and the modern; the idea that deep, deep down everything modern has a dark ancient heart. The mad inventor Rotwang lives in a strange old house in an uber-futurist city, and in this strange old house he manages to create the hottest she-robot of the 1920s.

Edinburgh stirred up these thoughts in me. Within a couple of kilometres' radius I discovered: Topshop…cool French bistro…insane gothic monument…cutting edge Fringe theatre…Princes Street Gardens…LOOMING CASTLE OF DOOM…trendy pub…haunted cemetery…indie art gallery…waterwell dating back to Roman times! Love it.

As well as all this gothic/modern madness, Edinburgh also has my kind of seasides...bleak! I took a day trip out to the seaside village of Cramond, a pleasant 4 mile bus trip north west of Edinburgh CBD.

Cramond was a very popular holiday resort in Victorian and Edwardian times, although the town itself goes back way further. The Romans built a fort here between AD140 and AD142. They abandoned the fort in AD170, then came back in AD208 under Emperor Septimius Severus. By 600AD a chapel had been built on the site, which has since become the current Cramond Kirk, built in 1656 using a tower from the 1400s.

After wandering around the grounds of the church and the attached cemetery (more on that later), I walked down to the seafront and Cramond Island, a tidal island accessible from the mainland during low tide

As you can see, it was not low tide. Appealing image though it is, I was not bent over a desk at 3am frantically consulting tide charts like a 19th century explorer. Consequently I was not able to walk out to the island itself. But apparently a lot of people get stranded there and according to a couple of local firemen with whom I chatted and ate an ice cream, it’s mildly irritating having to constantly go rescue them. The locals know what they're doing though:

After gazing out at the Firth of Forth for about 45 minutes, I took a lovely walk along the River Almond:

Then came back to eat aforementioned ice cream while looking at boats:

and swans! swanning about, no doubt:

Then after a minor altercation with a bee who decided to take up residence in my hair, I jumped on the bus back to town for a whiskey fix and some haggis flavoured crisps.

Blog-tober!

2010-10-01T20:37:00.003+10:00

OKAY

I am back. The blog shall be resurrected! I plan to post something, anything, on each and every day of October.

Over the next 30 days prepare to be regaled with anecdotes and photos from my recent trip to the UK, lots of knitting related mayhem, plans for my upcoming spookily themed knitting podcast, and much blathering on about my current obsession - comic books!!!

Tokyo Rose

2010-06-28T19:34:00.005+10:00

The last time I won something was at the Year 6 school disco - I won the door prize of a ghetto blaster with, OMG, two tape decks!! It was 1990.

Ten years later, Ailsa from Knitabulous Yarns dyed some yarn as part of her Black Japan club (which I desperately wanted to join, but had to save my pennies for impending Knit Camp), and put out a challenge for folks in Interwebs-ville to name it. It was a beautiful shade of pinkish red with a Japanese theme.

I went with Tokyo Rose:

AND I WON! Woooo. I won a skein of the beautiful yarn (50/50 merino silk) AND a Folca Box (possibly the coolest organisational tool ever!) Sadly my camera is on the blink so I can't provide any pictorial evidence of my awesome winnings.

Thanks Ailsa!

Now all I need to work out is what to knit with my Tokyo Rose. Suggestions?

Mission: Accomplished!

2010-03-25T20:50:00.005+11:00

I FINISHED THE RAVEN SHAWL!!!! I don't know how many hours went into this, or how many yarnovers and SSKs there ended up being (both things I probably should have kept track of for novelty statistical purposes), but this was certainly EPIC. Just blocking this thing took about 3 hours, and that was with the use of wires.

But overall, it was worth it. This is the largest and most complicated lace shawl I've ever made. The pattern was EXCELLENT, clear instructions, no confusion at any point. I took a risk by deciding not to use lifelines, but thankfully I didn't need them. I tried spit splicing for the first time when my yarn snapped - it worked! I tried lace grafting for the first time on the edging - it worked! The yarn (Centolovaggi) is quite lovely. With the cost of yarn (Rav destash), needles and pattern the total cost of materials comes in at around $AU40. But it looks and feels like a million bucks!

But the best thing about this shawl is that it's constructed so that it actually does resemble the wings of a raven when it's draped around one's shoulders. I remember getting a bit Antony & the Johnsons and exclaiming to my friend who was helping with the photoshoot, "I feel like a bird!"

So as of right now it's already been judged by the RAS people, and only fate and time will tell whether it's yielded me a ribbon of any description. In all honesty, despite my tendency to get a tad competitive, I actually don't think I'll be that devastated if I don't get anywhere with it. The fact that I entered it in the Show forced me to meet a deadline and knit something which one day will become a mad gothic heirloom.

Summer of Scarves

2010-01-17T11:55:00.002+11:00

The following 2 months are going to be dedicated to working on the Raven Shawl for the Easter Show. I have officially entered and paid my registration fee etc, so there is no turning back now. I am also progressing fairly well with Irtfaa; I have completed chart 1 and am halfway through chart 2, which according to my Excel spreadsheet (NERD!!) is about where I should be in order to complete by March. I will however have to purchase a longer lace needle, as my 200 or so stitches are soon to become about 400 or so. eep!

Anyway, before I began seriously applying myself to the shawl (and in some moments requiring less focused knitting), I managed to complete a couple of WIPs from 2009. First up, the Peaks Island Hood by Ysolda:

I've always liked the idea of hooded scarves, particularly in colours which make me look like a gothic nun. But I wasn't sure if it would turn out to be one of those garments which takes about half an hour of assembly and fiddling to get it to even remotely resemble the photo in the pattern. I was pleasantly surprised that, even though I haven't even bought and attached the buttons yet, I had very little trouble getting this to look decent. Anyway, check out the Rav link for more details.

I also managed to finish a project I started in June 2009, a simple garter stitch scarf in Noro Kureyon sock yarn:

This was one of those projects which travelled with me to lots of places where I needed a portable and simple project; including trips to Byron Bay, Jervis Bay and the SCG. Originally I had planned to give the scarf away to someone who appreciates bright colours a bit more than I do, but now that the scarf is woven with all my 2009 travel and leisure memories, I'm thinking about keeping it. Rav link provides specs etc.

Personal Sock Mayhem 2010

2010-01-07T10:47:00.004+11:00

Inspired by other bloggers I admire, I plan to embark on a Personal Sock Club for 2010, considering in 2009 it would appear I only knit one pair of socks. I am going to aim for 7 pairs of socks throughout the year, so one package every 6 weeks or so. Here are my chosen yarns:

From Left to Right: Shibui Sock in Seaweed, Hazel Knits Sock in Chocolatier, Numma Numma Toasty in Gooseberry Jam, Sundara Sock in Deadly Nightshade, Vesper Sock in Witchy Woman, and Yarntini Sock in Lime Twist. The caked yarn at the top is my first PSC yarn, Wollmeise 80/20 in Merlot. The pattern I have chosen for it is Cookie A's Kai-Mei (rav link).

And yes, I have started my epic Easter Show project, and am plugging along on the first set of charts for the shoulder shaping. I have calculated that if I continue at the current rate, it will be finished in time. Fingers crossed!

Third Time's the Charm

2009-12-05T10:56:00.005+11:00

My first attempt at entering the Royal Easter Show knitting competition = FAIL. Trying to convert an Alice Starmore jumper into fingering weight and getting easily distracted proved not to be a winning combination.
My second attempt at entering = FAIL. Fair isle mayhem (Ivy League Vest) including techniques I'd never tried before (steeking) meant I got scared and wimped out.

HOWEVER, my third attempt I think may be my breakthrough. Bear in mind I am not expecting to actually win anything, or even make it to the cabinet display. My goal is simply to finish the thing and deliver it to the RAS people on time, thereby not forfeiting my entry fee and feeling like a loser.
Why do I think this one will be different? (hello overlap with personal life). I present the following evidence:

- I am in love with the pattern and have owned it for a couple of years now
- The yarn is currently on its way to me from a Ravelry destash
- It's LACE
- It's BLACK
- It's.......THE RAVEN

Yep, it's Irtfa'a. I am confident enough in (a) my lace knitting skillz and (b) my tendency to get really obsessive when knitting lace and (c) my obsession with ravens and (d) my obsession with black lace shawls that I think this just might work.

I will be using Filatura Di Crosa Centolovaggi in Black and some 3.25mm Addi Lace needles.

So watch out, Arts Pavilion - the raven approaches!!!

inaugural michael haneke film festival

2009-11-17T21:11:00.004+11:00

Does it count as a film festival when it's conducted in my living room and really just involves me re-watching all of his films in preparation for the release of his new one, The White Ribbon (English language trailer here)?

The other night I watched the English-language remake of Funny Games. Newsflash: not a comedy! In fact, it's probably one of the most brutal and confronting films of the modern era. Haneke constantly challenges the viewer to switch it off, and then forces us to question why we didn't. I think this film may be even more important now than when it was originally released in 1997, and I wonder if Haneke didn't remake it for an American audience at the time that he did in response to the rise of "torture porn" horror genre films and the "pornography of violence" played out night after night on CNN since about 9am on 11 September 2001.

Next up is a re-watch of Cache (or Hidden), which I remember enjoying yet being utterly baffled by. Perhaps a re-watch will reveal the alleged "lightbulb moment" contained in the film's final scene, although it's most likely a red herring.

It must be my month of divisive and confronting film-makers, as I'm off to Popcorn Taxi in a couple of weeks for a preview screening of Lars Von Trier's highly controversial Antichrist. Although it apparently contains a talking fox, I somehow doubt there will be many light-hearted moments in this one either.

damson

2009-11-17T21:03:00.003+11:00

Yes I disappeared again, and have returned again. I'm going to stop the constant apologies for almost abandoning the blog. But I will say that due to the re-capture of some much needed free time (due to the COMPLETION OF MY LAW DEGREE), as well as the acquisition of exciting new computer technology (MacBook Pro!) I am planning to post more frequently than I have been lately.
I finished this a little while ago:

As referred to in my previous post, it's Damson by Ysolda. Ravelry details here. Sadly I did not manage to obtain the Posh Yarn, but instead used up some lovely Knittery 3ply merino from the stash, in colourway Bloody Mary.
I've also got an Aestlight finished awaiting blocking, and am midway through the Audrey in Unst Cardigan. The knitting mojo is certainly on the rise.

oh my goth

2009-08-15T11:01:00.004+10:00

I can't seem to shake the goth shawlette obsession that has overtaken me recently. Case in point:

WANT:

Posh Yarn Diana in "Cad"

TO MAKE:

Damson by Ysolda

Only problem is in order to get the Posh Yarn I have to be up at 4am on Monday morning. This bodes ill for me, considering I normally struggle to be up at 8am to go to work.

I'M STILL ALIVE (but I have The Clap)

2009-08-01T20:08:00.004+10:00

So it's blindingly obvious I am a terrible blogger. Perhaps now I am 99% confident that no-one bothers to check this site anymore, I feel I am able to condense 6 months worth of knitting news into one post and then start afresh.

Too often in the past I'd knit something really nice in a colour I'd NEVER buy as a completed garment. I feel I'm finally getting better at choosing the right tones to suit my personal style.

Exhibit A: The Clap

Clapotis using Sundara Aran Silky Merino in Black Cherry (ravelry link)

Exhibit B: The Emo Ishbel

Ishbel using Sundara Sock Yarn in Night Blossom (ravelry link)

Sundara Yarn certainly seemed to be the flavour of the past 6 months for me. For the upcoming spring/summer 2010 season I have two knits planned using the beautiful Habu Textiles range:

- With the New Cowl Neckline using Kuzaki Zome silk in a champagne colour
- Whisper Cardigan using black Tsumugi silk

empire of the ants?

2009-01-20T15:32:00.004+11:00

I don't know if it's just me (highly probable), but every time I go to the Courthouse Hotel in Newtown (which is most Sundays for knitting), I come back with mysterious insect type bites on my feet and ankle area.

They're not mosquito bites, and I don't think they're flea bites, so my conclusion as a scientician is that they might be ant bites. If only they resembled the ants in the film Empire of the Ants, which had awesome tin foil eyes and attacked Joan Collins.

2009?

2009-01-05T18:31:00.006+11:00

So will 2009 be the year I actually get my act together and take the blog a little bit more seriously? By which I mean continue to post facetious and outlandish material, but on a more regular basis? We shall see. I'm certainly going to try.

Anyway, here is my last Finished Object of 2008. Considering I'm apparently getting more and more neurotic as I reach the age of 30, it's quite fitting that lace knitting completely absorbs and obsesses me almost to the brink of madness. Even at 3am after a bottle of wine, I am telling myself not to stop until I have 328 stitches on my awesome Addi Lace needles. Some might say I need to get out more, but I go out all the time!

I finally made a Swallowtail Shawl (ravelry link). I used Handmaiden Yarns Mini Maiden, which is a glorious wool/silk fingering weight blend in Indian Summer colourway with 3.5mm Addi Lace needles.

delightful!

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon and "Family"

2008-12-06T20:09:00.001+11:00

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon and "Family"
Originally uploaded by undream the echoes. . .

And the award for the CREEPIEST FAMILY OF THE ENTIRE 19TH CENTURY AND POSSIBLY EVER goes to.....

astonishing tales of the sea

2008-11-30T19:59:00.005+11:00

Radio National strikes again! This afternoon I was listening to Rear Vision, and managed to learn all about a mad historical incident involving the sea, which I'd never even heard of before - The Cod Wars!!
This was a dispute in the 1970s between Britain and Iceland about territorial waters and fishing zones, which led to confrontations between British and Icelandic fishing trawlers. Go here to read all about it or here to download the audio.

midnight maniac

2008-11-28T12:46:00.007+11:00

well well well, here we have an actual unadulterated blog post with a finished knitting item!! Has the world gone topsy-turvy?!

I have a strange knitting habit, wherein I like to try and match projects to yarns in a thematic sense. For example, for Midnight Meadows I was looking for a pattern which reflected both the name and the colour of the yarn. So for ages I had Vinnland queued, due to its pagan influences (apparently inspired by the Green Man) - although it's quite possible I was just mesmerised by the Type O Negative references. I had grandiose visions of knitting these socks and becoming some sort of cavorting druid. Sadly it was not to be, as I realised that (a) I am unlikely to become a druid, not being within easy access of a henge, and (b) it was likely that the Vinnland pattern would be obscured by the dark murkiness of this yarn. So I went through my sock knitting books and chose a simple rib sock from one of my favourite designers, Nancy Bush.

Pattern: Spey Valley Socks by Nancy Bush (from Knitting on the Road)
Yarn: Sundara sock yarn in Midnight Meadows
Needles: 2.25mm

So I'm still striving for that magic thematic connection of pattern and yarn. I have another skein of Sundara yarn in a colourway called Deadly Nightshade. Perhaps I'll design my own sock pattern and call it Belladonna.

President Barack Obama

2008-11-06T12:20:00.003+11:00

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

(from "Still I Rise", Maya Angelou)

I really didn't think America could do it. I don't think I've ever been more overjoyed about being wrong.

Current Flickr Faves & Inspiration

2008-10-19T10:07:00.004+11:00

Mmmmm....pierrots, silent film stars, abandoned mental asylums....

current faves/inspiration
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

1. Aileen Pringle (1924), 2. rid, 3. Buster Keaton (1895-1966), 4. Lily Verlaine - La Vie en Rose, 5. Erte (Romain de Tirtoff), 6. London After Midnight (1927), 7. over grown, 8. Do I have lipstick on my teeth?, 9. country honk

outlandish plans of varying degrees

2008-09-28T20:54:00.004+10:00

The Southern Summer of Socks is back on again this coming 2008-09 summer. My achievements vis-a-vis last summer's version were nothing short of a failure (albeit a quite spectacular one), and for lack of a better scapegoat I'm going to blame it on the fact that I didn't set any goals for the project.

So in keeping with my approach to tasks and life in general, I feel it's time to set some mildly outlandish and completely unrealistic goals!

I plan to knit 10 pairs of socks between October 2008 and April 2009
All of the socks I knit will be with yarn from my sock stash
some patterns I plan to knit up include Garden Gate (already started!), Twisted Flower, Lissajous, Vinnland, Baroque and Ornette. (Do you think I can be bothered linking all those?? check Ravelry, but trust me they're all HOT)

Right! All that remains now is to sit back and wait for the entire plan to fall apart in my face as I get distracted by something shiny (par example - watching endless episodes of Never Mind the Buzzcocks on YouTube).

ALSO, this needs mentioning. Plans (no doubt of an outlandish nature) are afoot to make American Psycho into a Broadway musical. Has the world gone mad? (Hmmm...don't answer that). The only possible way this production could work would be if it starred Troy McClure.

RIP

2008-09-28T00:14:00.003+10:00

Paul Newman 1925-2008
Actor, humanitarian, and all-round dreamboat.

Cleopatra

2008-09-19T19:10:00.002+10:00

Cleopatra Begins
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

Is it possible that I can finish this beautiful stole in time for 9 October, which is when I'm seeing The Pearlfishers? Now that the weather has finally started to warm up, I'm envisioning wearing it with a beautiful draped Grecian-style black dress which I bought last year at the end of summer and haven't worn yet.

cincinnati kid

2008-08-20T22:56:00.005+10:00

I've just returned from my second bridge class. I'm loving it so far. I'm one of those people who always wanted to love chess, but just couldn't get into it. Too much waiting around and planning about eight moves ahead, i just got impatient. I like bridge because it's faster yet still requires strategic thinking and memory skills. It also utilises my arch-nemesis, mathematics, but even that's not too bad.

In other news, I will be moving in a week's time, to a studio apartment in my beloved Newtown. I lived in Newtown for about 3 years from the age of 15 to 18. Some things have changed, such as my favourite cafe, formerly "The 381" on King Street, with old couches, squillions of interesting notices covering every inch of the walls - I remember sitting there reading true crime books all day with friends and neighbours dropping in to chat or sing along to the great music the staff were always playing on the stereo - it's now a "trendy upmarket" cafe with a sterile interior. Some things are still the same, such as Faster Pussycat - I remember being there on their opening day and am so glad their business is still thriving. There are also new things too which weren't around when I lived there last, such as the knitting groups at the Courthouse Hotel and SSK which I enjoy so much, not to mention my favourite boutique, Elvis for Cleo. So overall, I'm really looking forward to my second stint living there.

ALSO, my blog's title is now more apt than ever, as I am now the proud owner of an antique chaise lounge which I snapped up from the Salvos Store in Glebe last week. It's in good condition, could probably do with some new upholstery, but it's absolutely gorgeous. My amateur Antiques Roadshow skills are telling me it's probably Edwardian. So now, knitting on the chaise lounge becomes reality!!

ch-ch-changes

2008-07-25T17:56:00.003+10:00

In big life news, I have to move in eight weeks time!! So I'm plunging head-first into the apparently terrifying Sydney rental market, and looking for a semi-decent studio apartment somewhere in the inner city. I plan to wear elaborate headscarves and sunglasses when I put out the recycling so that the other occupants of the building think I'm a faded film star.

In knitting news, I'm at a bit of a standstill with my projects in the sense that nothing is finished, nothing new has been started, am just plugging along with the same projects. The Mystic Light Shawl is nearing completion, I now have about 350 stitches on my needle and just 6 rows to go! But I have been buying lots of vintage yarn from Ebay. Loppem in bright orange (I'm talking 1970s orange) vintage Patons Jet - insane or hot? Or both?

bezique

2008-07-08T09:13:00.006+10:00

I've become obsessed with the idea of becoming an expert Bezique player. Not least because I can then imagine I'm in an Edith Wharton novel. My scheme has now moved up (or down, depending on how you look at it) a notch in the sanity stakes, as I'm now bidding on EBay for a 1930s bezique set with original bezique markers (see opposite) and mother of pearl features.

fail

2008-06-01T11:55:00.003+10:00

poor neglected blog (and blog readers), soon I will be able to muster up enough brain power to actually post something of substance apart from random hilarity found on the Internet. But until then, I present how not to succeed at serial murder:

image taken from failblog.org

reasons why i love eurovision, episode #72

2008-05-21T19:34:00.003+10:00

This is Latvia's entry, "Wolves of the Sea":

I'm really looking forward to Sunday night's Eurovision Party, featuring foods of Europe!! I'm representing Russia (vodka), France (petit fours) and Malta (Maltesers).

I've got lots of knitting content to update with shortly, including finished items, progress on wacky Japanese pattern interpretation, and a fabulous new knitting bag. stay tuned.

Dickensian Urchin Mitts

2008-04-20T11:58:00.002+10:00

Fingerless Mitts
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

When I was growing up in England my Aunt Sue used to baby-sit me on Saturday mornings when my parents were working at the Petticoat Lane Markets in London. We used to play lots of board games, but our favourite was The Dickens Game. I used to read a lot too and she had a beautiful first edition of A Child's History of England which I always admired. Years later I finally managed to find this wonderful edition in Berkelouw Books.

It seemed a fitting match for these mitts which I whipped up over the weekend in between essay writing. They're the Garter Stitch Mitts from Ysolda Teague. I used Grignasco Tango (the poor woman's Rowan Felted Tweed) in grey for added urchin-ness, and still have about a third of the ball left. The concept of grafting 42 garter stitches quite frankly terrified me (i hate grafting) but it was surprisingly easier than stockinette grafting, and looks really neat.

So now I'm off to beg for pie. "I'd kiss you but doctor says I'm sick".

kirchner

2008-04-16T23:02:00.004+10:00

okay my new favourite website is The Proceedings of the Athanasius Kirchner Society. They collate various media items about all sorts of wacky facts about science, nature, and general esoterica. For example, did you know that a 405 year old clam is officially the world's oldest animal? Or that the face of the Rescue Annie doll they use for CPR training is based on a death mask from a woman found in the Seine in 1900?

Pass the Laudanum

2008-04-16T22:45:00.002+10:00

In my ongoing quest to become a Victorian urchin, for my next knit I'm going to whip up some of these Garter Stitch Mitts which will no doubt be useful to wear while begging for pie at people's windows on my way to the workhouse.

Also I'm making a mad dash to Kinokuniya in my lunch break tomorrow to pick up some recommended steampunk fiction. It's in the young adult section, but lately I've been enjoying young adult stuff a lot, perhaps because my poor little brain can't really take in much else after days reading High Court cases. Anyway, the books I'll be purchasing are: -

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick which is about an orphan living in a Paris train station, featuring automatons and mad scientists or something, as well as being an homage of sorts to Georges Melies (woo!)
Mortal Engines (Vol 1 of the Hungry City Chronicles) by Philip Reeve, which is set in post-apocalyptic Victorian London and features lots of zeppelins and mad explorers.

Any steampunk aficionados out there? Has anyone read these, or have any other steampunk recommendations? It has rapidly become my new favourite subgenre.

hot (literally) restaurant review

2008-04-13T09:30:00.006+10:00

Sichuan Spicy Restaurant, 1-9 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

I don't think Sichuan is reknowned for subtlety. The interior of this restaurant is quite garish and very red. The chairs are highly ornate, yet cushionless (ow). The waitstaff wear traditional Chinese dress, again all red (which makes their yellow smiley face badges seem slightly strange - sort of like David Lynch meets Studio Ghibli). Anyway, the place was jam packed, but we didn't care because we'd booked.
After wading through the full-colour encyclopaedic menu, we ordered what turned out to be a really good combination of dishes, considering we were flying by the seat of our pants a little.
Smoked duck - fantastic. One of the best duck dishes I've had in a long time. Nice juicy meat, crispy skin and a great smoky flavour (hence the title).
Kung Bao Chicken - Not as spicy and a bit sweeter than some I've had, but overall a good all rounder in the stir fry department.
Beef on Hot Rocks with Sichuan Pepper Sauce - this dish is actually served on hot coals. Apparently some people try to eat the coals. Don't eat the coals. The meat was super tender and the coating of Sichuan pepper made our mouths tingle (but in a good way). Lots of yummy herbs (mmm coriander) and onions.
Pork and Leek Dumplings (steamed) - not as good as my favourite dumplings in the whole word (to be found at "Crazy Grapes" restaurant in Chinatown) but still pretty good.
Green Beans with Mince - this was my favourite dish (and not just because I chose it). The beans were fried with some yum chilli sauce and served with pork mince. Delish!
We polished off all the plates, and I was just full enough.
Tsing Tao beer is the perfect compliment to this food, although a minor crisis eventuated when the waiter began bringing the main dishes BEFORE the beer!!!! Luckily after some pointed and desperate looks in the direction of the bar area, our beers arrived a couple of minutes later.
Valuewise, it's great! It ended up costing $25 per head (including alcohol).
Three out of five of our party were suffering hangovers, and by the end of the meal they were considerably perkier. Success!!
I think i'll definitely be back for another visit. As one of our party pointed out, you could go there about 25 times and still not have ordered everything on their massive menu. Variety is the spice of life!!

free at last?

2008-04-05T18:53:00.003+11:00

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere", Martin Luther King Jr, Letter from Birmingham Jail 1963.

I don't think I'd be in law school right now if it wasn't for the principles this man stood for and so courageously fought for. He was murdered 40 years ago today.

Selbu Mittens

2008-03-24T15:44:00.003+11:00

Selbu Mittens
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

Pattern: Selbu Mittens from Folk Mittens
Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills/Heirloom 5ply Easycare in Brown and Mushroom (1 50g ball of each).
Needles: Set of five 3.00mm bamboo DPN.
On Ravelry here.
The following disasters (of varying disastrousness) befell this knitting project since I started it in 2006(!):
1. After leaving the first mitten semi-complete for approximately 2 years, due to change in gauge/tension one of the mittens is slightly larger than the other. It's not really noticeable or aesthetically dodgy, just that one mitten fits my hand PERFECTLY and the other is a little baggy around the wrist.
2. All the stitches fell off the needles at least three times while languishing in the knitting basket for said period of 2 years
3. On the second mitten I forgot to put the waste yarn in for the peasant thumb. I realised this when I was almost up to the top of the mitten. This mistake may or may not have had anything to do with concentration issues due to extended viewing of Mighty Boosh episodes. I frogged back and valiantly re-knit pretty much the entire second mitten.

Melodrama aside, I'm actually really glad i finally finished these. For once it appears I chose the right colour scheme, and they're really warm. I left out the bit where you put codfish gall bladders inside the mittens (to cleanse and strengthen the wool) because I'm not a mad 19th century seafarer (more's the pity).

lazy

2008-03-15T18:07:00.002+11:00

elysian fields
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

I've been really lazy today. Perhaps it's the heat (Sydney is currently experiencing all the summer weather we didn't actually get all summer), but I couldn't really face doing much of anything today. Last week was really hectic, what with the return to uni, a promotion at my job(woo) which meant learning some new stuff, and lots of mad cycling. So today I just sort of pottered about, laid on the couch reading Tennessee Williams plays, did a bit of my uni readings and some knitting.

Speaking of knitting, the French Trellis Scarf is now blocked! It looks great, but I'm waiting until tomorrow when I visit a friend to get some hot action shots in. But now I'm officially in love with lace knitting. My next envisioned project is the Lily of the Valley shawl from Lace Style, but I'm also valiantly resisting the urge to order the Moroccan Days shawl kit so I can knit the shawl and then wear it to Morocco when I finally get there (hopefully early 2009).

I also cast on for the Lace Ribbon Scarf from the new Spring Knitty, which seems to be the new big ticket item on Ravelry. It's a beautiful scarf, and I'm knitting mine up in some black baby alpaca from the stash.

So tonight I'm going to take it easy, eat some chicken and salad, watch Charles Laughton in the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and read Night of the Iguana. Oh, and knit!

font

2008-03-15T11:57:00.002+11:00

i don't know about encyclopedic, but I do love a touch of Hemingway and 1920s Europe. Go American Typewriter!!!
(link from web-goddess - happy birthday!!)

Winona forever?

2008-02-22T14:55:00.004+11:00

So according to my co-workers I'm the "Office Winona". At first i thought they were trying to accuse me of being a drug-taking shoplifter, but apparently it's because I'm small, wear a lot of black and am a bit loopy.
Overall, i guess it's okay being compared to Winona, particularly Winona in her glory days a la Heathers and Beetlejuice.

Wintry

2008-02-10T10:38:00.001+11:00

Haruha Scarf in progress
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

I've been thinking a lot lately about autumn/winter knits. Summer is pretty much over already, and the majority of this summer has been crazy rain and weird weather anyway. I actually much prefer winter anyway. Winter means soups and stews. Winter means hot chocolate. Winter means reading big Russian novels. Winter means boys in beanies and girls in stockings.
So I've been ogling various berets, scarves and mittens over on Ravelry and have cast on the Haruha scarf as my first official autumn/winter accessory. I have a gorgeous black Stella McCartney coat to keep me warm, so some hot knitted accessories will really jazz it up.

BATS!

2008-02-10T10:19:00.001+11:00

BATS!
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

they're awesome. that is all.

horror crochet

2008-02-04T17:46:00.000+11:00

I'm not normally a fan of fiddly littled crocheted/knitted items, eg sushi and cupcakes etc. they're incredibly cute, but I just don't normally have much time to spend making stuff that's not really very practical. HOWEVER, an exception shall be made for the items I just discovered in the new issue of the AntiCraft: a crocheted chainsaw and axe!!

I have some photos of the Opera in the Domain knitting extravaganza which I'll put up shortly, most probably after I've had an opportunity to listen to the latest Sticks and String podcast and freak out about how my voice really sounds. That's right folks, David interviewed me while we were swanning around waiting for the opera. No doubt I've managed to cackle insanely and/or scream excitedly at some point during the broadcast. tee hee.

The Road to Homebush...

2008-01-15T16:48:00.001+11:00

Close up of centre knotwork panel
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

is littered with cable stitches......
This is the beginning of Kilronan (on Ravelry here), which is my entry in the Royal Easter Show Arts competition this year.
I was debating whether or not to knit this jumper for a while, considering
(a) I don't live in the wild heaths of the Aran Isles (yet...)
(b) I don't own a horse and fetching riding boots
But on the other hand, I think it will look nice in winter paired with some leggings and hot boots.
So in order to have this finished by the time it needs to be delivered to the Show people, which is around early March I think, I'll need to knit my little heart out. Can i do it??? Not to mention I have some top-secret gifts to knit for next month as well. Also not to mention my seemingly incurable obsession with starting new projects, particularly hot berets at the moment.
At least I haven't bought any yarn so far this year. Money in the bank kids!!!! (Well except for the $7 I spent at JB Hifi the other day buying a copy of Serial Mom, but i figure that's the best $7 I'll spend all year. That movie is HILARIOUS!)

day of mayhem

2008-01-10T17:36:00.000+11:00

So many insane news stories today!!
1. The Polish man who went to a brothel only to discover his wife amongst the employees (link)
2. The American man who cut off his and microwaved it after reading passages from the Book of Relevations (link)
3. The Russian man who killed two of his friends with an axe after walking in on them in the process of dismembering his pet dog for meat (link)
4. The guys who wheeled their deceased friend around New York "Weekend at Bernie's" style to try and cash a cheque - my personal favourite (link)
These sure are strange days on Planet Earth.

festival fever

2008-01-06T10:21:00.000+11:00

Went along to Sydney Festival First Night, a great way to kick off this year's festival.
Started out at Hyde Park, walked through snow/tickertape in Martin Place, Plump DJs, then on to the Domain for summer sounds with Brian Wilson, and back to Hyde Park for Pink Martini, fireworks and bats!! The only lowlights were the RIDICULOUS over-policing and stupid drink voucher system.
And tonight...Spank Rock at the Becks Festival Bar!!

resolutions

2008-01-02T09:55:00.000+11:00

I love a good list, particularly one filled with unrealistic goals. So without further ado, here are my Resolutions for 2008:

stick to budget. Aim to have $3K saved by the end of the year in the African Holiday Fund
continue yoga at least once a week, but without turning into a "yoghurt fancier"
get rid of some unwanted stuff on eBay or Freecycle it. It's all about minimalism folks!
knit up all the yarn I have lying around before buying any more. See above re minimalism.
get knitting articles/designs published. Work on knitting book.
visit more lighthouses
drink more cocktails and less beer
procrastinate less (hahahahhahahhahahahhah)
blog more than once a month
continue being hot
bring Vincent Price back from the dead

familiar

2007-12-18T18:51:00.000+11:00

I've become quite enamoured of the program Who Do You Think You Are, where British TV personalities trace their family history. It makes me want to embark on a mission to trace my lineage and discover I'm descended from the French aristocracy.

grand prix

2007-12-07T11:53:00.001+11:00

I'm planning my entry/ies for the Sydney Royal Easter Show which is coming up in March/April of next year. I've liked the Anne of Cleves design from Tudor Roses for a while now but have always been afraid to knit it because it's HUGE. But my devious plan involves some minor calculations to knit it with a fingering weight yarn and 3.25mm needles, thereby reducing the size considerably. I'm thinking of keeping the length though and wearing it as a sweater dress. I don't particularly care if i get a ribbon or not, it's just fun wandering around the exhibits and pointing out to random strangers things you've made. haha. Last time i had an embroidery piece on display and I literally loitered in the area (minus a raincoat) for about 3 hours waiting to hear if anyone was going to say anything negative about it, at which point i planned to spring out from the shadows and abuse them.

anyway i have yarn already, so will start plotting as soon as i've finished my tea cozy swap items and seamed together my minimalist cardigan.

Recipe for Disaster or Recipe for Success??

2007-12-07T11:45:00.000+11:00

Ingredients:

28 episodes of Twin Peaks
Hedera sock pattern
1 hank of Socks that Rock Raven yarn
Imported British chocolates
Beer

Combine!
Only time will tell if this will result in a completed pair of socks for Southern Summer of Socks, or whether it will result in me roaming the streets talking backwards and carrying a log.

Playing Catch Up

2007-12-07T11:44:00.001+11:00

Secret Pal Booty!
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

so some internet-related difficulties have prevented blog activity recently. but now i'm back online! First up, here is my final package from my lovely secret pal, who has now revealed herself to be Channon!
look at all the cool stuff i got: Vesper sock yarn (woo!), two skeins of beautiful Claudia's handpaints sportweight,, an awesome cake tape measure, halloween stitch markers, row counter, and a lighthouse!!!!
Thank you Channon for your beautiful gifts!

the screw is turning

2007-11-02T15:23:00.000+11:00

it would appear i can't seem to get enough of these faux victorian knitwear designs. this is Darcy from the new Kim Hargreaves book, the Dark House Collection. it already has me conjuring up mad scenarios involving hauntings, laudanum, shadowy religious figures.....and several hanks of black cotton.

brahms and lizst

2007-10-27T11:31:00.000+10:00

i'm cooped up inside the house for the next few days writing research papers.
lucky for me the ABC Classic FM Top 100 Concertos is being broadcast over the next five days! I'm barracking for Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto to take the top spot! GO SERGEI!!!
when the mad stress of the final few weeks of uni is behind me, there will be some hot updated knitting content and more crazy summer plans.

Merci Beaucoup Ami Secret!

2007-10-10T18:11:00.001+10:00

Thanks secret pal!!
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

this BEAUTIFUL yarn arrived in the mail yesterday from my secret pal via the Loopy Ewe (also my favourite online yarn vendor!). It's J.Knits Lace-a-licious in Massachusetts colourway. The photo doesn't do the yarn justice, it's superfine alpaca and it's so incredibly soft and squishy.
i've decided to make the Lily of the Valley Shawl from Lace Style with it.
this is perfect summer knitting!
also in the package were the awesome Kitchener Stitch markers, which i've been wanting for ages!
hooray for my secret pal! you rock!!

hare-brained schemes episode 768..

2007-10-05T19:18:00.001+10:00

Colour Inspirations for Bedspread
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

an addendum to the mad summer plans. another project i will be working on over the summer is a massive knitted bedspread. it's going to be based on Kaffe Fassett's Turkish Carnation motif (for that added touch of exotica).
and how HOT is the colour scheme? i'm totally loving it. the pictures in the background are little postcards from some films i love which inspired the colours for the blanket (from left to right: High Plains Drifter, The Devil is a Woman, Sunset Boulevard and The Cameraman)
The plan is to eventually have these framed and in the same room as the bedspread. this is of course when i purchase "hot lawyer dream house"...location as yet undetermined...

Booklust

2007-09-23T11:23:00.001+10:00

Recently acquired books
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

per yesterday's grand summer plans post, here are some books i've acquired recently that i plan to read in the summer:
(from top)

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Kim Cooper: part of 33 1/3 series. this one is about Neutral Milk Hotel. no more needs to be said.
The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Vol 2 and 3: a really great manga about five students who assist the dead who can't move on.
The Crimson Petal and the White, Michel Faber: some sort of mad Dickensian romp featuring brothels and perfume merchants.
The Bloody Chamber, Angela Carter: dark retellings of some Grimm fairytales
Tourism, Nirpal Singh Dhaliwal and Platform, Michel Houllebecq: I plan to read these two together and try to make some sort of mad comparisons and informed statements about French and British nihilism.
Fun in a Chinese Laundry, Josef von Sternberg: autobio of the man who made Marlene Dietrich a star.

HURRY UP SUMMER HOLIDAYS!!! i'm freaking out here!!!!

the livin' is easy

2007-09-22T16:26:00.000+10:00

so it's that time of year again. the time when i start plotting madly about all the things i'm going to do and/or achieve in the summer. usually it's completely over the top and unrealistic, but i figure if i can do about 50% of the following it'll be a good summer:

take classes in Arabic and/or French. I LOVE learning languages, and want to utilise both of these in future trip to Morocco.
take a printmaking class. i have many grand schemes involving art deco woodblock and lino print action.
read all the books i've been threatening to read all year but have been too heavy to lug around with law textbooks
go somewhere hot and drink pina coladas (i'm thinking tahiti?)
knit a truckload of socks. this endeavour will no doubt be assisted by my planned participation in Southern Summer of Socks
learn to use my spinning wheel
sew myself some dresses
write my knitting book (subject top secret)
play badminton
master the art of falconry
release a Christmas album

instant gratification

2007-09-13T18:09:00.001+10:00

Biker vest - front
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

so a lot of people don't like twinkle. sure, the patterns are a tad wonkily written. sure, the sizing seems a bit bizarre (but it does work out!). but you can't deny the garments turn out pretty darn good.
anyway, next up - tangled yoke cardigan!

Retro Redux Shrug

2007-09-07T12:03:00.001+10:00

Retro Redux 2
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

aha! finally a hot piece of knitwear which I can wear this spring/summer. I chose the colour and the pattern specifically to go with this dress, which was gifted to me by Fashion Assassin for some work I did for them earlier this year. But it's such a lovely shrug I can see it being worn with a lot of things this coming spring.
Now all I need is :
(a) weather to clear up and start looking more like spring
(b) invitation to a garden party
(c) wealthy gadabout to invite me to a picnic in the botanic gardens.

more photos on flickr.

be warm, mongolian children!

2007-08-30T20:48:00.001+10:00

Charity jumper
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

dear little child of mongolia,
hope this jumper makes you warm and happy!
finished this today and delivered it just in time to the Guardian Pharmacy. They gave me a badge in return!!

Retroactive

2007-08-25T11:02:00.001+10:00

Retro Rib detail
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

here is my first completed Retro Rib sock. The second sock is underway, but has been temporarily put on hold while i finish the jumper for the little Mongolian kids.
not much other knitting going on lately, which i blame entirely on the facebook scrabble phenomenon, studying for my corporations law test, and trying to curate an art exhibition. However, my Ravelry queue has reached critical mass. At last count i had 79 projects!!!!
saw Black Sheep last night and loved it! so good to see a funny, old-school horror flick with no stupid CGI effects. although i was very disappointed that there was not one knitting reference throughout the whole film.

Somoko!

2007-08-25T10:57:00.001+10:00

Somoko
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

what should i make with this dreamy sock yarn???? it's got kid mohair and silk in it, yum! i'm thinking some sort of luxurious boudoir stocking type deal.

yellow fever

2007-08-18T18:44:00.000+10:00

I've been poring through all the things i've knit over the past few years (the original intent being to photograph them for my ravelry page), and i have realised how few of them are actually wearable. Not because they’re badly made, not because they’re unstylish, but because I must have been on some serious drugs when I chose the colour. Over 50% of the garments are yellow. Why??? I rarely, if ever, wear yellow. In fact, I rarely if ever wear many colours other than black, red, pink, and brown. So why the fuck did I keep buying yellow yarn and making nice garments with it that were completely unsuited to my complexion and taste????? Why did i knit a purple jumper???
Luckily, a cursory glance at my more recent/and or upcoming knits reveals i might have come to my senses. My Central Park Hoodie is black, and suprise, surprise, i wore it a lot this winter. My upcoming lace bolero thing is black. My planned Twinkle cardigan is brown. Now all i need to do is offload some Rowan Calmer which for some reason i bought in a peach colour. Peach??? Yikes.

Also, hot opera news. The 2008 Opera Australia subscription brochure came in today's Herald, and i've been riffling through it all afternoon. There’s some pretty good operas coming up next season, including possibly my favourite of all time, Verdi’s Otello. There are also new productions of Carmen and Don Giovanni. I'm thinking of booking myself up a Youth Subscription (under 30) to save costs. Only problem is that the only people i know who would be interested in going to opera are over 30, which would result in weird seating arrangements and administrative hassles. So I need to shanghai some hot under 30s to experience the magic of opera!!! Come on, where are you under-30 opera buffs???

Also, crack open the vodka, the Russian Film Festival is coming to town. Featuring such awesome items as an 8 hour screening of War and Peace, the film version of Hamlet with Shostakovich's fantastic score, and Day Watch (sequel to Night Watch).

it begins!

2007-08-13T16:54:00.001+10:00

my ravelry invite came today! i've already amassed a queue of about 30 projects. i have a lot of spare time on my hands at the moment as i'm incredibly ill with some sort of evil influenza virus. my trachea is inflamed, people!
anyway, my ravelry ID is reecie.

Secret Pal 11 Questionnaire

2007-08-09T17:00:00.000+10:00

yay! this is my first time doing a secret pal thingo. i love the idea of getting surprise packages in the mail. it will be a sad day indeed if the postal service becomes extinct and replaced with some weird computerised system.
anyway, the questions!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I tend to prefer soft natural fibres, such as merino or alpaca. Am also partial to a bit of cashmere and kid mohair. I prefer lighter weight yarns, usually in the fingering to DK range.
I have a very bad tolerance of novelty yarns. I've used them about twice and each time it was a hideous nightmare.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

My storage system is pretty craptacular. All my circular needles are higgeldy-piggeldy in a cloth bag, and my straights (which i very rarely use any more) are in an old vase. l

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting seriously for about 10 years now. My mum first taught me when i was about 8, and I insisted on trying the largest, most complicated project in the book. Needless to say, it was never completed. I picked knitting back up again when I was in high school, and haven't stopped since!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
My Amazon list is not very well-kept. There's some knitting books on there, I think.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I love vanilla and coconut.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I love candy! Especially gummi!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I used to do a lot of embroidery, but that has taken a back seat lately due to my sock knitting obsession. I also do a bit of crochet, and have dabbled in quilting. I have a spinning wheel but currently don't know how to use it. I keep threatening that every summer holidays i'm going to go to the Spinners Guild beginner's workshops, and i think this summer might be the one!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I love love love old jazz and blues, like Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman et al.
Lately have been listening to Josephine Baker singing in French about Haiti - so wonderful!
Also like indie stuff, especially Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, Bjork, and old school stuff like Sonic Youth. For me, the 1990s never really ended music-wise.
Computers all systems go re MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Favourite colours are probably black, red, pink, brown. Not a huge fan of cream/white/beige type stuff.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I live at home with my mum, my Cornish Rex cat, and two poodles.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves and mittens i wear a lot. Not so much hats and ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks!!!!!! Absolutely love love love knitting socks!!
Have just recently gotten into lace knitting and have been enjoying it a lot, making scarves and stoles etc.
Also, you can't really go past a good cardigan.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Currently on the needles are two pairs of socks, a lace scarf, a children's jumper for Mongolia, and a black shrug in fingering alpaca (obviously these are not all on the same needles!)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Not really.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Definitely circular. I love Addi needles and bamboo needles. Not a huge fan of plastic.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I have a winder, but not a swift.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

I dont' really have any UFOs (shock, horror!). Instead of letting things sit around, i tend to rip them out and declare i'm not making it any more!

18. What is your favorite holiday?

I don't really get into the major holidays all that much. Probably my favourite would be Halloween, even though it's not celebrated that much in Australia. But it usually means some good B-grade horror flicks get screened on cable TV!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Apart from sock yarns (!), I do love anything associated with lighthouses.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I'm desperately in love with Cookie A's sock patterns, like Twisted Flower etc. Also have been trying unsuccessfully to snap up some Yarntini sock yarn.
Books - craving Knitting on the Road (Nancy Bush). can't think of any others right now, but i'm sure there are more. oh, i know, the new KnitKnit book!
I have a subscription to Vogue Knitting magazine.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Steeking! Still haven't gotten over my dreaded fear of chopping up my precious knitting with scissors! But i have some Alice Starmore projects in mind, so that might be a good starting point.
Also would like to attempt toe-up socks.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes!! Love socks!!! My feet are teeny, about 8" around, and about 8.5" from heel to toe.

23. When is your birthday?

22 April.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Not yet, but apparently there are only 324 people ahead of me on the list. so maybe i'll be on in about a week or so? fingers crossed. (like i need any more reasons to procrastinate from doing homework).

overreaction

2007-08-05T20:27:00.000+10:00

Oh, hey, remember that time I binge drank from a tube until I was sick, and that time we paraded around dressed like the ku klux klan (on more than one occasion, including while standing behind Indigenous soldiers), and that time we set the kittens on fire?
Well, no dramas, because we're just being irreverent larrikins. just letting off a bit of steam.
john howard says "let's not overreact" to the fact that certain sectors of an army which is currently illegally occupying at least two countries are engaging in behaviour which is immature, irresponsible, racist, inhumane and unlawful.
For the Australian government to fall back on the ANZAC/Gallipoli tradition as some sort of justification for behaviour of this sort is extremely ill-conceived and insulting.
wow, the blog's gone political!!!!!

old school

2007-08-04T14:27:00.001+10:00

Finished Jaywalkers!
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

finished jaywalkers!!
yarn: Yarn Pirate in Culture Club colourway - love the yarn, love the colours!
pattern: Jaywalker by Grumperina from Magknits. Great pattern, fun and quick to knit. The only modification i made was accidental. I didn't read the instructions properly and did a stockinette heel instead. but it worked out fine and they fit really well.
needles: 2.2mm (US1) bamboo set of 5.

rowan hotness

2007-08-02T15:32:00.000+10:00

rowan book 42 is out! as usual, it's full of hotness. (yes, i'm one of those people that even liked the mad boho/gypsy issue they did a couple of years ago.)
many of the outfits in this issue make me want to pack up, buy a scottish castle and a deerhound, and just swan about on the moors in hot knitwear listening to kate bush for the rest of my life. although i kind of wanted to do that anyway.

mother's little helper

2007-08-01T12:18:00.000+10:00

i've just spent the entire morning at work (and i'm still not finished) researching and compiling a comprehensive list/dictionary of terminology related to illicit drug use. this will probably be the only time in my life that I can truthfully say "I wish pete doherty worked at my office."
knitting content returning shortly, including more finished socks, more works in progress and HOT plans for upcoming spring/summer knits.

demon barber

2007-07-29T10:17:00.000+10:00

the tim burton version of sweeney todd is slated for release in Australia in January 2008. i can't wait!!! tim burton, johnny depp and helena bonham carter are quite possibly my own private holy trinity of modern filmmaking. the poster has just been released, and it looks spectacular.

revenge of the socks!

2007-07-27T17:58:00.001+10:00

i'm back! straight back into reality as i went back to uni today. am already feeling swamped with copious amounts of readings to plow through for tuesday's classes.
anyway, have put some photos up on flickr, mostly consisting of the Cape Byron lighthouse and more socks i have been making, such as these:

yes, another successful pair of monkeys. man, that pattern is addictive. have almost finished a pair of jaywalkers also. and i've only been back for five minutes and have already ordered more sock yarn, including a skein of the new fleece artist somoko yarn , which is a luscious sounding blend of wool, kid mohair, silk and nylon. yum!

being the worst morning person ever, i didn't quite make it to the knit in this morning down at the ABC studios. but there is some other stuff happening on the charity knitting front:

Guardian Pharmacy's Guardian Angel World Vision knitting project requires garments for children in Mongolia. Patterns are available here and finished items can be dropped off at any branch of Guardian Pharmacy by 31 August.
Afghans for Afghans have a current campaign request for items for newborn babies for a hospital in Kabul, as well as clothing for youth aged between 7 and 18, to be shipped out to Afghanistan in September.

holiday update

2007-07-21T13:35:00.000+10:00

quick update from byron bay - it just started to rain so i ducked into this internet cafe for a quick email check and web surf. this is the first time that it's rained since i've been here, so can't complain too much, really.
much swanning around has been done so far on this holiday, and much eating of delicious foodstuffs and buying of lovely garments. went for a 5km walk the other day around the lighthouse down to Wategos Beach. Spotted some humpback whales in the ocean which are currently migrating from Antarctica. They were a bit too far away, however, for photographic opportunities.
i've been knitting in spare moments too. the tour de france lace scarf is coming along well, i'm now about three repeats into the central bramble leaf pattern, which thankfully doesn't seem to be using nearly as much yarn as the heavily patterned first border did. so with a little bit of felix felicis i might just have enough yarn! photos will have to wait, however, until i get back, as i am nowhere near technologically savvy enough to work out how to successfully upload photos in an internet cafe.
have also finished a second pair of monkey socks, and started on some jaywalkers using yarn pirate culture club. looks good so far. again, photos upon return.
i went and saw harry potter and the order of the phoenix the other day. it was enjoyable, particularly for the abundance of knitted and crocheted items, particularly those modelled by Luna Lovegood (who is by far my favourite character) and Helena Bonham Carter HOTTING IT UP crazed goth style as Bellatrix Lestrange.
i read brideshead revisited on the train on the way up here and have decided to declare it the greatest book ever.
anyway, am off to the beach now! the rain has stopped!
have to get a start on uni readings too, as i have to go to class straight away on the day i get back. yikes! then the following monday i have to go do tests for a job i'm hoping to get. arg! stupid reality!

victoire!

2007-07-15T18:29:00.001+10:00

French Trellis Scarf Progress 2
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

ok, the panic of yesterday's posts has subsided. First border done, scarf turned and stitches picked up ready to knit centre panel. the width of the scarf is now just over 12 inches, which is fine. the bottom bit seems to flare out a lot more, and that was giving me a false representation of the width.
anyway, am off to pack my things for 10 days in byron bay as of tomorrow. i'm taking this with me, so be prepared for action shots of the scarf dangling precariously over the cliffs up at cape byron lighthouse.

"death to the aristos"!!

2007-07-14T22:58:00.000+10:00

happy bastille day!!
re previous post - crisis temporarily averted. polka dots back in fashion!!!!
managed to finish first border and realised that the bottom part tends to sweep out in some sort of bell shaped finish, thereby giving inaccurate measurement to the width of the actual scarf bit. it's all back on track. still worried about having enough yarn, but probably more due to extreme paranoia than actual threat.
photos to follow.

Stage 5: Panic Sets In

2007-07-14T17:11:00.000+10:00

tour de france knitting update:

only two more repeats to go and the first border will be done. however, am slightly worried for the following reasons:
1. it's looking like the width of my scarf will end up around 14 inches instead of the required 12. This is despite the fact i'm using needles which are smaller than those required by the pattern.
Help me, lace experts! Will it become narrower once i knit up the stitches for the main part going vertically, and once it is blocked on completion? I don't actually mind having a wider scarf, but this leads me to the next problem.
2. paranoia has set in and I have convinced myself that I will most definitely run out of yarn, despite having the amount required by the pattern. But one 400m skein of sea silk goes a long way, doesn't it? Surely my fears are completely irrational???!!!

le sigh.

French Trellis Close Up

2007-07-10T15:41:00.001+10:00

French Trellis Close Up
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

oh, and just for fun, here's a crazy up close shot. excuse my rushed and dodgy interim blocking.

Stage Deux Update

2007-07-10T15:40:00.001+10:00

French Trellis Border Scarf Progress
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

okay, this is the scarf after three pattern repeats for the first border. i have to do five more repeats, then cast off, then turn the whole thing around and pick up for the next bit. this prospect is quite terrifying to me.
anyway, the pattern is from Victorian Lace Today, page 98, using Handmaiden Sea Silk in Midnight. I went with a 4mm (US6) needle, mainly because i'd just bought one of the Addi lace needles and wanted to try it out. the tips smell kinda funny, like when you've been holding coins in your hand for too long, but apart from that they're going well.
if i continue at this pace (that's a big if, as i'm going on holiday next monday), i may well just conquer that big polka dot mountain.

vive kent!

2007-07-08T17:30:00.000+10:00

busy weekend

saw patrick wolf friday night at the basement. he had glitter in his hair! you gotta love that.

saturday went along to newtown to maplebrown winter sale (by invitation only, yes i am a fashion tragic) and purchased warm and comfy winter clothes. also had a visit from the lovely erin in the evening, during which time cucumber sandwiches were consumed and plans were hatched to sell our wares at rozelle markets next weekend.

sunday went to arts of islam exhibition at the art gallery nsw. so many beautiful pieces, illuminated Qu'rans (a lovely lady even translated some for me), woven carpets, ruby and emerald encrusted daggers, intricately carved cenotaphs. loved it. i came away inspired to learn arabic and weaving.

amongst all this, i managed to start my tour de france knitalong project, the sea silk scarf. i managed one 16-row lace repeat with only one mistake (which i spotted quickly and fixed before i had to say ah non, je dois dechirer too many times). haven't taken a photo yet, will wait until i've done about 3 repeats of the first border pattern.

tonight i am settling in with my knitting, eating mulligatawny soup, watching the french thriller lemming on world movies, then tuning in to see the crazy bicycles cycling through various towns in kent, including the one where I was born (Gravesend). hurrah!

then i shall get around to doing all the serious things i have to do this week, such as composing my public service job application, buying a suitcase and putting things in it for trip to byron bay, and filling out my tax return.

word of the week

2007-07-08T17:15:00.000+10:00

gargoyle

the word itself is not unusual, but its origin is interesting. It derives from the Old French word gargouille, which means throat.

1. A grotesque spout, representing some animal or human figure, projecting from the gutter of a building (esp. in Gothic architecture), in order to carry the rain-water clear of the walls.

1883 STEVENSON Silverado Sq. 81 A rusty iron chute on wooden legs came flying, like a monstrous gargoyle, across the parapet.

(definition courtesy of Oxford English Dictionary online)

and of course, some of the most spectacular examples can be found at notre dame de paris, where the gargoyles are used for both drain pipes and decoration.

more occult hilarity!

2007-07-02T16:18:00.000+10:00

the world movies channel is showing the 1922 Danish documentary Haxan tomorrow night. it's some sort of avant-garde exploration of the history of witchcraft. looks superb.

also, this news story is quite mad. i feel sorry for the poor alleged "vampire peacock".

diabolique

2007-07-01T20:16:00.000+10:00

reasons why the devil of the tour de france is my new hero:

he's completely mad
he's german
he sleeps in his car
he follows the tour de france around dressed in a devil costume accompanied by an oversized bicycle

what more needs to be said, really?

words

2007-07-01T13:11:00.001+10:00

craft show haul: jitterbug sock yarn in popsicle colourway, touch yarns laceweight merino/mohair, and two pairs of addi lace needles.

annoucement!
new blog feature: word of the week. starting today. for the month of july the words will all be related in some way to things french, in honour of both bastille day and the tour de france knitalong.

this week's word:

harridan

[Generally supposed to be an alteration of F. haridelle an old jade of a horse (16th c. in Hatz.-Darm.); also, a gaunt ill-favoured woman (Littré); but connecting forms are not known.]

A haggard old woman; a vixen; ‘a decayed strumpet’ (J.): usually a term of vituperation.

a1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Harridan, one that is half Whore, half Bawd. 1706 FARQUHAR Recruit. Officer V. vi, D'ye hear, d'ye hear, you plaguy harridan, how those bullets whistle! 1727 POPE Macer 24 And in four months a batter'd harridan. a1745 SWIFT Misc. Poems (1807) 57 The nymphs with whom you first began, Are each become a harridan. 1860 EMERSON Cond. Life, Consid. Wks. (Bohn) II. 426 This identical hussy was a tutelar spirit in one house, and a haridan in the other. 1865 Public Opinion 31 Dec. 714/1 The harpy and harridan of the establishment was punished.

(definition taken from Oxford English Dictionary online)

other examples of harridanical quotes? leave a comment!

monkey magic

2007-06-26T20:19:00.000+10:00

I've returned from a quick getaway to the Southern Highlands. I spent most of my time wandering around villages, having Devonshire Tea, knitting, and wandering around the grounds of various (no doubt haunted) properties. The haul included:

six bottles of Rose wine
a stack of vintage knitting patterns from various antique and op shops
Roman Polanski's autobiography for $3.00

Big news - Monkey socks officially finished!!!

they turned out great - i love socks that rock!! I used US 1 needles and knit the pattern to the exact specifications.

next up on the knit list:

more socks - this time some Jaywalkers in Choc Cherry Claudia's Handpaints.
the vintage baby cape
Lords and Ladies cardigan from Rowan 41. I have the yarn, Kidsilk Haze in dark grey. just need to swatch.
beret of some description

Also in a fit of insanity, i have signed up for the Tour De France Knitalong. I don't like watching cycling at all, but I am obsessed with all things French, so am hoping the experience will balance itself out. I'll be knitting a scarf from Victorian Lace Today with some Handmaiden Sea Silk. It will be my first official full lace item. eep!

break

2007-06-20T21:50:00.000+10:00

my new favourite sock cast-on - twisted german

i'm heading out of town for a few days as of tomorrow. i shall return with photos aplenty. i'll be scouring various op shops for vintage knitting treasures.

success!

2007-06-17T19:39:00.000+10:00

I have finished the crochet blanket! just in time too, for the weather has taken a turn for the rather cold over the past couple of weeks. photos to follow shortly. i wanted to take it down to Sydney University and drape it dramatically over a gargoyle or some books in the library, but the grim weather has temporarily halted my photographic plans.

also another stunning achievement: one monkey sock down, one to go (well, for the first pair at least)! I am currently supposed to be putting finishing touches on a casenote for a law journal - deadline tomorrow morning. must resist temptation to start second monkey sock instead....

i wish i was going to the Alice Springs Beanie Festival again this year. last year was so much fun! but this semester break i'm going up to byron bay instead to swan around the lighthouse and eat In the Pink icecream...good times.

knitty

2007-06-12T12:06:00.000+10:00

the new knitty is up.

i quite like the sweet pea socks and the chapeau marnier cloche. i must say nothing else has really grabbed me so far.

Worldwide Knitting in Public Day

2007-06-10T10:40:00.001+10:00

Worldwide Knitting in Public Day, Sydney
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

So yesterday myself and Erin braved the insane weather to go to knitting in public day down at the Sidewalk Cafe near the Opera House. It was good to meet other knitters and see lots of exciting projects on the needles. tragedy struck, however, when two of my lantern moon ebony sock needles snapped in half during transit from Petersham to Circular Quay. luckily i had a spare set of knit picks with me, which i have now decided i like better anyway. we probably would have stayed longer if the weather wasn't so awful, but we bailed and went and ate some sushi.
then i had a quick trip to kinokuniya, and snapped up a copy of Knitting Lingerie Style. it's a gorgeous book. i think i'll make the trumpet flared skirt first. i've always wanted to knit a skirt.

vintage babies!

2007-06-09T10:33:00.000+10:00

my new plan - covering the babies of the world in vintage-inspired clothing! perhaps a bit ambitious, so i'll start with one baby. have been commissioned by a fashion-industry friend to make her lovely little baby some one-off pieces from my enormous collection of vintage knitting patterns.

so it would appear that currently all i seem to be knitting is baby clothes. have managed to keep plugging along on the monkey socks, have almost finished the crochet blanket, and probably would have finished it if i didn't get so distracted this afternoon watching cillian murphy resisting the british army in The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

Now with Pictures!

2007-05-28T04:47:00.000+10:00

ok. i need to actually start using this thing. starting things is hard. finishing things is hard. i want to be permanently in the middle.
BUT i did finish something! a baby's matinee jacket. calm down. it's a commissioned piece.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in antique pink (i used approx 3.5 balls for the smallest size)
Pattern: Matinee Jacket from Baby Cashmerino 2 book
i knit it exactly to the pattern specifications as requested. the picot edge is cute.

am desperately trying to finish the other commissioned pieces so i can knit more socks!!!

test post - attempted blogging

2007-05-19T12:19:00.001+10:00

my adventures in blogging are off to a good start. I already have a prententious french title.