All well. I have now re-knit the ripped-out bit of
Alexander’s Fair Isle vest. Today I read through Meg’s Fair Isle Vest
instructions – the leaflet that comes with the CD – and it would scarcely be an
exaggeration to say that I didn’t understand a word of it. An incentive to knit
slowly, so that I’ll never reach the underarm point.
I’m hopeful that it will all be clearer when I watch
the video.
Other knitting news: I’m sure you all know by now that
Jared has produced a new yarn called “Peerie”, a fingering-weight merino –
American merino, of course – worsted-spun in a delicious range of colours. Loop
in London has got them all. Indeed, it was from Loop that I heard the news
first.
I’ve finished watching last week’s Fruity Knitting,
with the founders of Ravelry as the star guests. It wasn’t terribly
interesting, but I’ve spun it out so long – the wi-fi in our house in Kirkmichael
is hideously slow – that it’s now less than a week until the next episode.
Kate Davies has re-done an unpronounceable steeked
cardigan from the West Highland Way book into a yoke sweater with the much more manageable
name of Balmaha. It is very nice indeed.
Non-knit
Your comments are usually relayed to me in the “Social”
section of my googlemail. Today, no, and I was feeling rather sorry for myself
until I found them attached to the blog.
Matthew, no, alas! the cats have reverted to their
city ways. Paradox sleeps with me, Perdita by the Aga or elsewhere.
Beverly, I can’t remember how Good King Henry makes
its appearance in the spring. The flower shoots come early, “poor man’s
asparagus” they have been called. I have cut up both flower stems and leaves
for my fermentation. It is a bit livelier today, with a good necklace of little
bubbles around the top of the brine, and quite a few other bubbles pressed
against the glass. But you have to sit there patiently for quite a while before
you see one move. Scarcely effervescent.
I watched part two of the BBC series about Jeremy
Thorpe last night. It continues to be a triumph for Hugh Grant. I discovered
last night – I hope it is all right to say this – that he isn’t very tall. Certainly not as tall as James. One would never
suspect it, watching Notting Hill or Four Weddings.
It is kind of surprising when you discover that someone is a great deal shorter than you would have known from seeing them on film. I found myself standing next to Johnny Cash once and was amazed to find he was about my size (5'6"). He looked very big and dominating on stage. Then someone pointed out to me that when he performed with his wife she was usually seated. Hm.
ReplyDeleteConsidering how Ravelry has become such an essential tool for us all, it was odd how uninteresting the founders made it all sound. I'm ashamed to say that I found the inflections of Jess's speech rather wearing - is there a technical term for that interrogative lift at the end of phrases?
ReplyDeleteYes, it's "uptalk" and the common wisdom is that men don't do it, women do - especially younger women, initially from a lack of confidence and then perhaps later as a kind of tactic to elicit agreement or establish a general tone of agreement in conversation. When I had a staff of younger women I occasionally found myself doing it - now that I'm retired and my daily contact is mostly with women my own age or older, or the supremely confidence younger women in my family, it's not happening.
Delete"supremely confident" I mean. Not that they;re overbearing, just that they seem to feel well grounded.
DeleteAlice Starmore’s FI instructions are very clear and precise. Perhaps you might take a look at hers if you have one of her books. I have knit many of her FI designs and they are easy to understand and follow.
ReplyDeleteI once saw Jamie Oliver at the Borough Market and he was much bigger than on the TV!
ReplyDeleteLMcC
I was eating sauerkraut the other day from a business called "Fab Ferments" - a gift. It is locally produced in Ohio I think, and got me wondering about the process and how yours is doing.
ReplyDeleteI have made two Carbeths. One with Jared Floods Quarry. If Peerie is at all like it don't bother. The yarn is made of fibers less than 1/4 inch. It breaks much too easily and although beautiful has already pilled and is a mess. I had a hole appear in the sleeve while knitting, purely from the poor strength of the fiber. I am really disappointed. $100 for a sweater and it is almost a throw-away! Cheers, jenni from seattle
ReplyDeletePeerie is nothing like Quarry. It is a lovely, squishy, plied yarn, more like Arbor.
DeleteI agree with ML. My LYS just got it in. It's 4ply - very nice. Colors are gorgeous. I want it all.
DeleteI just Googled Johnny Cash. And it said he was 6'2". And I remember his being described as such years ago. Very puzzling. I've heard Jared's first yarns having those easy-breaking characteristics also. Maybe just buy one ball to make a swatch and see what happens. Did I miss something? Perdita now habitually sleeping by herself?? Poor Perdita. Chloe
ReplyDeleteMaybe with lifts in his shoes! And maybe he told people that was his height; men can be funny sometimes. But I am 5'6" and he was definitely not taller than me. (sorry for the sidetrack)
DeleteMuch looking forward to seeing the Jeremy Thorpe series when it crosses the pond. Btw, Wikipedia and IMDb have Hugh Grant down as 5'11" (do you still use feet and inches for human height in the UK?).
ReplyDelete