Reading - On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith - On Beauty

I enjoyed this book. The Belsey family brought you in to their life and allowed you to see them in intimate detail. Each of the characters were thoroughly thought through and the plot had structure and depth.
I felt the ending was a bit of a "cop-out", providing the reader with a way to end the story as they wished. On the other hand, it gives the reader the opportunity to daydream; to carry the story on, postponing the end of the book.


Well, that's what I thought anyway.

Now, dear readers (all, what, 1 of you?), suggest me something to read next.

Oh look, a pattern of my own design...

I mean, it is only a hat, but I did make it up as a I went along.





Materials: Debbie Bliss Maya in a pink/red/orange colour way.
Needles: Addi Turbo Circular 4.5mm 100cm
Techniques: MAGIC loop.


CO 72 Stitchs

Edge: Work in K1 P1 rib for 6 rows.

Main Body:
Row 1: *yo P2tog* repeat from * to * until end.
Row 2: K all sts
Row 3: *yo K2tog tbl* repeat from * to * until end.
Row 4: K all sts

Repeat rows 1 to 4 till hat measures 7" from begining.

Next row: K2tog tbl to end [36 sts]
Next row: K2tog tbl to end [18 sts]
Next row: K2tog tbl to end [9 sts]

Cut yarn, pull yarn through sts left on needle and draw through middle to inside of hat

Finishing: weave in ends, put on head.

Note: I imagine someone else has come up with this before, so please don't shoot me if you've seen the pattern elsewhere. Totally looks like a stole it now, huh?

This picture is a little better for the colours

Decisions, Decisions.

I've decided to make the Fairly Easy Fair Isle cardigan from Stitch and Bitch Nation. I wanted something relatively quick (it's knitted in bulky), but not too boring (hence the fair isle). It's also cute.
I've chosen to make it in Rowan Polar. The main colour will be "Combat" a dark grey, the thicker lines in "Zuchinni" a green, the thinner lines in "Silver Lining" a light blue, and the crosses in "Winterwhite" a white. I'm not sure how true the colours are, when I bought some Rowanspun Aran from there it was different, and I've heard Cucumberpatch's colours aren't the best.
The guage is slightly too big, but I'm hoping this won't matter too much.

What to knit next?

So Rogue is finished (no pictures as yet, I've been at the boys for the weekend and now it is dark and I really need a friend to help me). I really want to knit another jumper. I like knitting hats and smaller things like that but jumpers, cardigans, other big projects are my favorite. I love things I can really get my teeth into, so to speak. But I really can't decide what to knit next!
I can think of four things that I would love to knit right now:
an adapted Sherwood,
BPT,
Serrano,
or the Fairly Easy Fair Isle cardigan from Stitch and Bitch Nation.

While I think that Serrano is lovely, I'm not sure it's something I can be bothered with right now, nor something that will be weather-suitable by the time is it finisehd. I'm tempted to knit BPT while theoretically adapting Sherwood to my size. Thoughts?

I'm still on the hunt for a job, and probably going to go on the "dole" fairly soon. I don't think I'm suited to working, I'm more academically minded. I'm tempted to find a masters course to do, although I wouldn't want to do something in music. I'm tempted to apply to a diploma in stage management, or a degree in costuming, but I know it's hugely competative and I don't think I have anything to offer that everyone else doesn't in that arena (except, in the case of stage management, possibly my gender). I'm interested in etymology. I'm interested in mythology, and folklore. But I don't know anything about either of these subjects.
I guess its good to not know what I want to do as it means I could have a crack at anything. On the other hand, it means I have far too many options open to me. I can't even chose which jumper to knit next!

It's not knitting, but it is an FO

I made this dress for my friend/housemate for her 20th birthday, which was yesterday. We had a big 50s inspired "cocktail" party.
My hemming abilities don't seem to be getting any better. You can't see it in this picture, but the skirt stops just below knee-level and the dress has a black lining, which is slightly longer than the actual dress.

I am pleased with it, and she seems to be too. It's the first time I've sewn anything for someone else, particularly someone with such a different shape to me.

Cables!

I've so nearly finished Rogue. I've been nearly finished with it for days, but it just doesn't seem to be moving on very quickly. I have adored making this sweater.

For my next trick, I am going to make Knitty's BPT, out of Wool-Ease in cranberry (because its cheap!). I'm being to develop a deep love affair with cables. They spice up any piece of knitting.

I'm unsure wether to knit pomatomus socks or the boyfriend socks for my mother. These would be my first socks and, as usual, I can't just chose something boring in stocking stitch.