Monday, November 02, 2020

Fete des Morts

 

Well, here we are. Here we may well still be, in 48 hours. At least we’ll know a bit more by then. Who would have thought it possible, a year ago on All Souls day, that the British press would have something else to talk about, so compelling as to push the American election well into second place? Short of the death of the Queen – that, mercifully, we are so far spared. The news is all about the new lockdown: everybody is gloomier now; and we suspect, with reason, that those supposedly in charge don’t know nothin’ from nothin’.

 

And as for the election, Peggy, I absolutely agree with you (comment, Friday), about never trusting polls again after 2016. At least the Democrats haven’t planned (in my hearing) an absurd party.

 

I got on fine with the Evandoon today. I’m now ready to leave the sleeve stitches behind. The measurement from beginning to where-I-am is exactly what the pattern suggests, so I will proceed without the tedium of trying it on. And, hell, it’ll fit somebody. I’m only here for the crisp spirit-lifting colours:




 

And I also got on fine with Maestro-Don Gesualdo: all three versions of Chapter 3.

 

The club pattern last week was a hat – a tempting possibility, if I have yarn left over. And Kate Davies’ weekend essay was about kaleidoscopes, and their relation to hat design. Interesting indeed.

 

Thank you for your help with choosing colours for Joe and Becca’s baby’s hap. Scotland rugby blue it shall probably be. Will that be too dark for solstice knitting? But I won’t have to start until January. I gave some thought to the matter today, on my own, and looked at Kate Davies’ hap book, and even toyed briefly with the idea of knitting that dear old Paton’s pattern by “Mrs Hunter of Unst” again. That’s the one I knit for Rachel, before she was born, in all six parts as specified in the pattern (centre, four borders, edging, then you sew them all together); and at least once since, in one piece. But I don’t feel up to it, and there’s nothing more comforting than a good old jumper-weight hap. Sharon Miller has published a slim vol on the subject of haps, with lots of colour-ways illustrated. I’ll have a look at that.

11 comments:

  1. =Tamar7:35 PM

    Jumper-weight is a win. You could make it a pretty medium or light blue, like a spring sky. Navy isn't the only shade. Blue was the original traditional color for girls and women. Red was for boys; when they decided to make everything pastel, it became pink, and was still for boys until sometime in the first half of the 20th century.

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    1. Exactly what I came in here to say, Tamar. Lots of blues and all lovely, no reason to ruin your eyes with navy!

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  2. I love your sweater colors.

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  3. Anonymous8:53 PM

    Hi Jean, have you spotted Franklin Habits new vlogtime on his YouTube channel, might make for some fun knitting time viewing. Eileen K.

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    1. Hopefully his vlog is more interesting than his patreon workshop. I wasn't very interested in watching a hairy man in a tank top weaving to weird French music.

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  4. Sharon Miller's hap book suggests that any colour combination which pleases the knitter is acceptable. I like the idea of a Shetland weight hap. It is much more practical long term. My adult niece and nephews still use the haps I knitted them when they were small.

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  5. I also love the sweater colors. It looks like such a cheerful knit.

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  6. As the first girl among four brothers, I was “pinked” to death! The election has me stressed and worried. Normally I am election judge, but I didn’t want to be stuck in a church basement for 12 hours. I’ll have to find other ways to avoid the news. By the way, the sweater is lovely!

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  7. I really like the colours of your new sweater, Jean. And I have never seen a baby that didn't look good in red.

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  8. Anonymous12:02 PM

    Those colors are just perfect. It's beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen that combination of colors together before. Very cheerful knitting! Chloe

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  9. You are making excellent progress with the Evandoon. How reassuring to have all the colour choices mapped out for you. And a Christmas present sorted too.

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