A little bit of writing, a little bit of knitting...

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Jazzy

As promised, here's the pattern for the Jazzy Coffee Cup Cozy. It's a fabulous stash-busting pattern -- and it makes a great last-minute gift for your favorite coffee addict (especially if combined with a gift card to his or her favorite coffee shop).



Materials:
Worsted weight yarn
Size 7 needles (2 circs or dpns, whichever you prefer for working in the round)

Gauge:
20 sts = 26 rows = 4” in pattern

Directions:

- CO 48 sts, join in round, placing a marker to signify the beginning of the round.
- Work 3 rounds in k1p1 rib
- Round 4 (decrease round): k2tog, continue working in rib to the last 2 sts, ssk
- Rounds 5 and 6: work in established k1p1 pattern
- Repeat rounds 4-6 three more times
- Round 16: work in established k1p1 pattern
- BO loosely
- Weave in ends

And that's it!

The December movie insanity has ended -- and now the holiday insanity has begun. We leave on our holiday road trip in the morning.

Happy holidays to all! More from me in 2007.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Hey! Remember Me?

It's been forever, so I wanted to check in and let you all know that I'm still here. The last two weeks have been absolutely insane -- I've had fifteen screenings in the last two weeks -- and that doesn't count all the screeners I've been watching at home, both for reviews and for the upcoming award voting. I'm pretty much movied out -- but I've got a few more days to go. Four more screenings. And then I'm allowed to crash.

Last week, one of the other local critics told me, "I never want to watch another movie, ever again." I know how he feels -- and it doesn't help that this year's releases just haven't been that great. We're all trying to figure out what we're going to nominate for our best picture award. I have one or two in mind, but there's nothing that *really* stands out.

Last week, after I frantically rushed out to knit with the Knitastics (and, upon getting there, realized that I'd forgotten to pack the project I was planning to work on), one of the girls told me that I have a totally easy job. And I almost strangled her. Okay, so it sounds easy enough to go and sit in a movie theater for two movies every day, but then try remembering them all -- and writing about them -- and trying to do everything else, too (like running a publication...and Christmas shopping, which was all done at Amazon this year, thank you very much). Fortunately, of all the movies I've seen in the last two weeks, I only need to write two more reviews. I'm not saying that they're all brilliantly written. But they're done. And, right now, that's what matters.

Oh, and in case you're wondering what I've been seeing lately, here are some of the reviews:

Charlotte’s Web


The Pursuit of Happyness


The Holiday


Blood Diamond


Unaccompanied Minors


Apocalypto


I've also seen Eragon, Dreamgirls, Rocky Balboa, Night at the Museum, We Are Marshall, Pan's Labyrinth, The History Boys, Venus, Volver, Notes on a Scandal, Perfume, Home of the Brave, and many others, the reviews of which will all be published in the relatively near future.

So...considering I've been pretty much working from the minute I get up in the morning until about 11 every night (I even watch screeners for review while I work out on the weekends), there hasn't been a lot of knitting time lately. I did, however, finish that scarf for my BIL (pictures to come soon). And we just found out last weekend that Paul's sister is pregnant, so I've been scrambling to knit up a baby sweater. Again.

I still have a last-minute stash-busting gift pattern to post. I'll do that soon. Really. I promise.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Fabulous Fireball Lace Shawl Pattern Now Available!


Make your very own Fabulous Fireball Lace Shawl!

The Fabulous Fireball uses a simple lace pattern that's easy to memorize. It's perfect for a beginning lace knitter.



Details:
Yarn: 880 yards of lace weight yarn (I used two hanks of KnitPicks Gossamer in Rose Garden)
Needles: Size 5 US (circs recommended)
Size (after blocking): 21" x 71"

Cost: $4.00 via PayPal for a PDF copy of the pattern
Email me to purchase a copy.



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