Knit One, Watch Two Again....

Welcome to the third installment of my intermittent movie reviews for knitters.  Instead of reporting on movies about  knitting, I like to focus on how the movie accompanies knitting.  And here we go!

Not as pointy as it sounds....

The Final Cut - 2004, starring Robin Williams

The first of my review duo is The Final Cut, starring Robbin Williams as a "cutter", one who edits the memories of people to be played back after death for their loved ones.  Although seemingly innocuous at first, it becomes clear that the Zoe chip is quite controversial regarding individual privacy (the person with the chip is recording everything, including personal interactions, with or without the knowledge or consent of others involved) as well as the way human being experience life (in the moment versus for the sake of the recording).  Alan (Robin Williams) is haunted by his own past and find a path to its resolution while being hunted by an anti-Zoe group for knowledge he holds regarding a client's implant.

All in all, this movie was not bad.  It was very moody and dark and I love Williams in more serious roles.  It was suspenseful and philosophical.  There was not as much action as I thought there would be, and the storyline with the anti-Zoe group felt a little thready, but it felt very relevant for this age of living publicly through social media and our efforts to control what parts of our lives other people see.  Knitwise, it definitely fit the bill.  Most of the movie was expressed verbally, so I could absorb a lot without dropping a stitch.  A small cast made following the who's who easy, and I did find myself thinking about the philosophical questions the movie posed.  The Final Cut gets rated as a KNIT.

An intellectual escapes in this tale of intellectual escapism!

Night Train to Lisbon  - 2013, starring Jeremy Irons, Melanie Laurent and Jack Huston

An emotionally isolated professor (Jeremy Irons) is compelled to learn about the life of a Portuguese revolutionary poet and doctor when a book lands in his hands courtesy of a mysterious suicidal young woman.  On his journey, he connects with the people who most figured in the poet's life and comes to reevaluate the meaning of his own life's path. Based on the book by Pascal Mercier.

I found this movie quite lovely.  A quiet suspense unfolded as we learn more and more about the events that defined the doctor/poet's place in history.  Betrayals and intrigues abound, but melodrama is set aside for vulnerability and sincerity.  Though literate and understated, the film does it's job well in illustrating the violence and fear that surrounded the events of the revolution against the Estado Novo regime. Though visually very appealing, the story is told mostly through conversation and brief, beautifully written philosophical passages.  The atmosphere of the film is great for when you want a quite, literate ambiance for your knitting, and I was able to follow an impossible-to-memorize lace pattern and still keep up.  Night Train to Lisbon gets a well-deserved KNIT.

No Idle Hands Here!

Though I am generally a floppy person who enjoys her laziness as much as the next person, I still need to be doing something.  As I am currently out of yarn to dye, I'm returning to recycling yarn to fill up my time and my shop.  I have literally wound thousands of yards into skeins and still have a bunch to go.  I am so pleased with the summer colors and textures I was able to harvest from discarded sweaters.  They will be up in the shop soon! Here is a plate of mini-skeins as an appetizer.

I'm All Business! But It's Fun!

Years ago, I discovered Pinterest.  I had a lot of fun collecting everything from ideas for crafts and home decor to outlandish fantasy castles and costumes.  Then, as many recreational online activities tend to do, Pinterest fell by the wayside and I found other things occupying my time.  But now I have rediscovered Pinterest and I am loving it.  I switched my account over to a business one, but left my boards the same.  After all, I'd rather have people know I am a real person, not just a website.  I also added a widget to this blog so people can follow me (hint, hint) or pin things themselves. I'm finding tons of inspiration for all aspects of my life.  The recipes alone are worth creating an account. I feel like I'm a little late to the game and that everybody has been pinning blissfully along for years without me, but I'm going to catch up!

Sangria in the Deep End, Bellini Freckle, Pool Party, Mojito Freckle

Yarn News: New summer colors are here and listed at Skein Deep Yarn!  I feel so good about these that I've made little sample to show yarn shops in Colorado while we are there in June.  I would love to have my yarns in a few fabulous shops across the country.  I have had so much fun working on my business and can't wait to create the next bunch of colorways.  I know it's ridiculously early, but I have some very fun ideas for my holiday line.  I'll slip some fall colorways in, too, of course!

Summer Sky, Celery Stalk, Paper Flowers

I've barely had time to knit the past few days, but I have a tank top I'm designing and a pair of socks on the needles.  I'll probably take a bit of time out today to devote to these little projects.  I'll post pictures next time! 

That's all the news here for now, so see you soon and have a yarny day!

Knit One, Watch Two - Scene Two

Hello, Gentle Readers (and Watchers)!  This is the second installment of Knit One, Watch Two.  I hope you find it useful!

Happy - 2011, directed by Roko Belic

This documentary travels the globe in search of the true meaning of happiness and how people define this often elusive aspect of life.  On this journey we find that, across cultures, we are more alike and interconnected than we may have thought, and these similarities could be the key to finding true happiness.

I am not usually one for documentaries, but this one was highly recommended by a friend.  And rightly so.  Just watching Happy brought a smile to my face.  The people who have found contentment and purpose in their lives sent their positive energy to me right through the screen.  Unless you are fluent in many languages, however, you will have to juggle your project and subtitles to get the full stories of some of the people featured, but not the whole time.  I loved that I was doing something that made me feel happy and fulfilled while watching a movie about achieving just such a feeling.  Initially, I thought I was going to be able to use this film as a means of justifying a lazy day of knitting, but it really became more about being in the moment and experiencing the bliss of a simple, productive activity.  I give Happy a hearty rating of KNIT.

Columbus Circle - 2012, starring Selma Blair and Amy Smart

An heiress in hiding, a mysterious death, and a detective with suspicions and questions aplenty, this movie is a nod to the film noir genre of years past.  

I had high hopes for this movie.  I love film noir.  And I love Selma Blair.  But Columbus Circle was plagued throughout with awkward writing and very disappointing acting. The latter, I suspect, is the result of the misguided efforts of a director trying too hard to stay true to the style of past decades and ignoring the sensibilities of present-day audiences.  There were also several improbable circumstances regarding identity and the assumption or erasing thereof (a main theme of the film) that completely ignores the post-9/11 world we now live in.  It was as though the script was originally written as a period piece, but was changed at the last minute to save on costume design.  The good news is, if you must watch it, the plot is mainly dialog driven, so at the very least it will not slow your knitting down too much.  Needless to say, with its overreaching direction and poor writing, I give Columbus Circle a FROG.

Knit One, Watch Two - Entry the First

This morning, I knew I needed to start thinking about my next blog entry, but all I really wanted to do was watch movies and knit Mr. Deep's socks.  Then it hit me: why not write about that?  I just need to at least minimally veil it as sharing advice and information as opposed to merely keeping my audience abreast of my slacking activities.  Ergo, "Knit one, Watch Two", in which I will share my completely uneducated and off-the-cuff well-formed and highly valid opinions of movies from a variety of genres and how these films contribute to the knitting (or crocheting) experience.  There will be two movies per entry and the reviews, which I will try to keep brief, may or may not be accompanied by details on my current project, imbibables, etc.  I would like to make this a somewhat regular feature of my blog, so I hope you enjoy it.  Therefore, without further ado......

Knit One, Watch Two - Chapter 1

The Awakening (Ooooh...A Scaaaary One....) 2011, starring Rebecca Hall and Dominic West

Despite the evident period-piecey-ness of this movie's cover (is it a cover if it's on a movie?), do not confuse it with the novel of the same name by Kate Chopin.  The Awakening is a classically Gothic ghost tale taking place in post WWI England at a boarding school for boys.  The school is plagued by the supposed phantom of a child rumored to have been murdered on the premises years ago.  Florence Cathcart, a scientist focused on disproving the supernatural, arrives on the scene (after some considerable persuasion) to shake some sense into the hysterical spirit-spiers.  If only it were that easy.... 

I found The Awakening to be wonderfully atmospheric, so much so that I had to scamper off to the kitchen to make a spot of tea. It just felt right. You will not want to miss the beautifully filmed imagery here, so I would suggest a pattern you have already memorized.  And when things get scary (and they do), you will not want to have your nose buried in a complicated chart or rows of abbreviations.  There is a lot of visual information, so let your needles pause here and there to watch the quieter moments of the film.  All in all, I really enjoyed The Awakening and found its dark, misty mood perfect for cozy knitting.  Though not the most original storyline in the world, I find I am more interested in how a tale is told than what last-minute plot twists come about in the end, and The Awakening engaged me at every turn.  I give this film a rating of KNIT.

(Speaking of last-minute plot twists, I have just now decided to rate films KNIT or FROG.  I bet you can tell which means good and which does not.)    

Jesus Henry Christ - 2011, starring Toni Collette, Michael Sheen

Henry James Herman is a freakishly intelligent 10-year-old boy (2nd highest IQ ever recorded!) and product of a sperm donation who is being raised by his understandably neurotic yet totally rockin' single mother.  As most of his family was wiped out in one form or another before he was born, the roots-hungry Henry sets out to find his biological father.  In the process, he and everybody else involved discover more about family ties than they ever expected.  Awwwww....
 
Normally, the very hint of "heartwarming" sends me running in the opposite direction, but I have to say I loved this movie.  Teetering on the edge of magical realism (my favorite kind of realism), there are some really great images and playfully bizarre (if dark) situations.  And the soundtrack is quite righteous.  For the most part, the film is dialog-driven, so you won't get lost if you have to focus your eyes on your project, but make sure you visually check in often!  Moodwise, this is the perfect film for a hip knit or some vintage-style crochet work.  I give this film a KNIT.

It's the Little Things...

There are two things that happen simultaneously when summer hits.  The most notable to me and those who know me is that my knitting productivity takes a sudden nosedive.  I mean, it's hot.  It feels like an eternity before I will be able to wear those wool socks I've been stashing away patterns for, and Mr. Deep won't even glance at his hat once the temperature goes above 65F.  The second thing that occurs to me during the warmer months is that I have a TON of tiny balls of high-quality yarn crouched at the bottom of project bags and stash drawers.  Beautiful fibers in exquisite colors languishing away after the bulk of their volume has been used in one creation or another.

So, where does one turn?  Tiny projects.  Things you don't have to wear made from (often expensive) yarn you already have.  Of course, we all know about coffee cup sleeves and key chain fobs, and I will probably do blog entries about both of those down the road.  But where else can we show off our mad yarn skills with the bits and pieces begging to be used?  I found a few tiny projects (all free!) on Ravelry that I found inspirational, fun, unique, and perfect for warm weather.  Some of these require very little yarn, so you can make several in different colors for yourself or for quirky little gifts.  I added the link to the blog or page of the oroginal contributor whenever possible.



 
I found these little ornaments so charming!  They use a ridiculously small amount of yarn, but you will have to get some craft mirrors first.  Year round, they add a touch of the exotic to handbags, ceiling light pulls, perhaps even gently swaying wind chimes.  Check out the pattern at Duo Fiberworks and take a look at their shop while you're at it!



 

Who doesn't love a finger puppet?!  I pick them up every now and then at craft fairs for myself (no kids in the Skein Deep household yet.)  And for those of you with tots out of school to manage, you really can't have too many fibery little characters to keep them busy story-building and role-playing.  The blog Inspired has an easy-peasey pattern for these little guys.  And you can let the kids help choose the hair, faces, and so on for added "what do we do now?" summertime solutions.





These are so cute it's ridiculous.  It you love to dress up your knitting tools with more knitting (and I know I do!), these quick little needle sweaters are right up your alley.  If you are giving needles as gifts, these are a great way to add a little something special.  They're also great for keeping idle needles together in your project bag.  No more hunting for mates, yes?  I have no idea where they find those amazingly adorable tiny buttons, but you can find the pattern for the needle jackets at Yarn Over, Knit 2 Together.

I love these bunting triangles.  Check out the Ravelry page  to see more color combinations.  The idea of just going hog-wild with your small colorful stashballs (I'm coining that word, by the way) is really appealing.  If they are made out of washable yarn, that's even better for years of outdoor party decor.  Swing by Crochet Again to see the pattern.



Not just for Easter, these Tumbling Bunnies posted by Simply Notable are perfect for tossing at the park, the office, and just about anywhere flying bunnies are not a public safety concern.  They are also cute just sitting around!  Imagine the colors you could bestow upon these little guys.  You could even stripe them if you are extremely limited in yardage. 


So, pull out those stashballs (there, I said it again!), sit yourself in front of a fan with a cool beverage of your choice, and whip up these short-attention-span-worthy projects for summer.  If you have another idea or two for small summery projects, please feel free to post below.  The more the merrier!

Love Means Second Chances....

This will not be the last time I say this: I can't get enough yarn.  One of the reasons I got into spinning and dyeing fiber is that I love yarn as it is, not just for what I can create from it.  I have so very many skeins of unknitted beauties, but I have no qualms with letting them stay that way for a long while.  Just the string itself is enough for me (well, at times, at least).  Lately, due to financial limits, I haven't been able to buy yarn like I used to.  And when I opened my shop, I needed to get it stocked with quality goods for my customers. Then, coming across a rather unsightly second-hand sweater made with lovely wool fiber, I remembered the fondness many of my yarnie brothers and sisters have for recycled yarn.  And their affection is well founded.

A few recycled treasures from my shop!

If you are recycling the yarn yourself, you will find a wealth of stash-worthy garments if you know what tolook for.  Fiber content and care is generally on the tag at the neck or side seam.  Get educated and entertained here if you look at a sweater and it doesn't just unravel itself before your eyes.  If you don't mind the work, you will be amazed at how much yardage you will get with minimal monetary investment.

If you are more of a purchaser than a harvester, reclaimed yarn has a green aspect, too! Yarn recycled by the small business craftster uses minimal energy.  More man- or woman-power than electricity goes into the unraveling of knitted goods (unless you count Netflix or the radio playing in the background).  Thousands of yards can be steeped in just a few gallons of water with no-rinse wool soak, and many recyclers air-dry the skeins.  When you purchase recycled yarn, you are supporting a small business as well as keeping things kosher for the planet.  It's win, win, win, win, and win. 

So, here is some love to my Etsy brethren who specialize in recycled yarn and lovely objects made from it...

Beautiful cotton reclaimed by  FunYarn

The Blue Coat recycled a sweater for this beautiful pillow.
 

Soft fluffiness from Sticks 'n Twigs

Love knits but the summer is too hot?  Poison Ivy Designs has the solution.

Today's "Awwwww Factor" Award goes to Anni Threadz. :)

New Ventures....

I really wanted the first post on Skein Deep's blog to be about the excitement of starting something new and my love for yarn and knitting..  That will still happen.  However, while revisiting a project that had been hiding a drawer for two years (I had really forgotten it existed), I was taken back to the feelings I had when I first started knitting.  I think the lessons attached to those feelings are important ones to hang onto going forward both in business and in any craft.

Not my sock!

I started the sock below about two years ago, as mentioned above.  It is the ineffably elegant Belle Vitini pattern (at right) by Kristi Geraci (found on Ravelry).  I fell in love with the cathedral-like lace pattern and the fascinating challenge it promised.  I used what I can now only guess is Araucania Ranco Solid in what I assume is Teal, but it looks a bit lighter than the pictures I saw online.  Anyway, I don't remember much in the was of emotional association with this sock (and, if you've been knitting for a while, you know emotional association with socks is a very real thing), but I do recall upon finishing the first of the pair a) a feeling of success and b) a need to put it aside because I was not ready to go through that again so soon.  Two years later....

While digging through my stash I came across the finished sock in its completed glory.  (For some reason, I had made it short, but who cares.) By some freakish stroke of luck, in another area of my stash altogether, I found the remaining yarn (minus tag, of course).  I even remembered the needles I used and knew exactly where to find those, too!  It was fated!  And, Gentle Reader, two years had passed.  Not only was I already half-way to a new pair of beautiful lacy socks appropriate for springtime, but I had also been growing my talent as the farmer grows his tender crops! Oh, praise the the knitting gods!!!

My sock! (the first one)

Yesterday, I picked up my tiny size-1 needles and the still generous ball of aqua yarn.  I cast on the first row and managed to not twist (it had been a while since I have lately fallen in love with the toe-up methods).  So, good start.  Then, long story short, some other stuff happened. There were dropped stitches, overly twisted yarn, and misreadings of a pattern that began to swim before my eyes. "Balls" (my milder swear word of choice under these circumstances), said I as my work slipped off my preternaturally slippery needles.

Then knit got real.

After the first spate of cabling, I held my work at arms length and let it fall to the bed in an act of finality.

I was eight rows in and over it.

Mr. Deep witnessed this rare act of voluntary knit-pausing and said, "So, you're done, huh?"  "Yes," I replied. "For Today."

That was a long post to get to the point, but here it is: We get frustrated and we want to quit.  All of us.  But I think the difference between the beginning and the experienced knitter (or anything, for that matter) is that the experienced also have felt the success of a finished project, the pride of conquering a new challenge.  It just takes time to get there, to let the successes rack up against the frustrations.  And it's okay to throw your knitting against a wall.  Just make sure there the dog's water bowl isn't there to catch it when it falls (that's really good advice if you're paying attention).

I will finish that sock.  And soon.  I'm already eyeing it and wishing I had the rest of the day to work on it.  I thought that I had this crazy 3-way cabling thing mastered because I did it years ago, but I bet I found it even more infuriating back then.  But now I get to (re)learn a new skill.  And, besides, I'm half-way (plus 8 rows) to the end.