Movie: Precious

Just when you think things cannot get worse for teen-age incest victim and mother of two, Precious Jones, they do.  Thanks to a caring teacher and social worker, the movie ends on a (probably unrealistic) hopeful note.  Impressive acting by all.

My rating:  ****

X-mas Cookies

           















Macaroons and Linzer Cookies - Thanks, Martha!

Completed Object: Sheep in this Meadow

Pattern:  Sheep Yoke Baby Cardigan
Yarn:  Rowan Cashsoft

I re-did the rear center sheep using satin stitch rather than duplicate stitch, and I'm reasonably happy with it.  I tried, as the designer and a Facebook friend suggested, to add eyes to that sheep with French knots in the blue yarn.  The French knots were way too big, so I removed them.   I may return to this project in the future and add eyes with embroidery floss and neaten up the other sheep.  But for now, I'm done with it.

Knitting Dilemma: Crazed Sheep

I'm almost finished with my sheep cardigan and have an aesthetic, and perhaps moral, dilemma.  The sheep heads and legs for the sideways facing sheep, although not things of beauty, are acceptable looking (especially from a distance).  However, the sheep in the back of the sweater, who faces frontward, is terrifying.  I feel a sense of moral unease in imposing such an image on an infant.

I'm considering removing all the black duplicate stitch and calling the remaining white blobs "clouds."  However they're in the "grass," rather than the sky, so how much sense does that make?  Any opinions?

I'll postpone the decision until after I put the buttons on.

Movie: " Where the Wild Things Are"

I wouldn't take a child younger than 10 to this movie because it's kind of scary, but I thought it was an outstanding movie.  It expands on the Maurice Sendak story to provide a back story explaining Max's behavior, but the wild creatures dreamed up by Max are true to Sendak's vision.  The movie is quite honest about how frightening it can be when we lose control of our emotions and express them without considering the consequences.

My rating:  ***** (out of 5)

Finished Object: Barrymore Slouch Hat

Yarn:  Classic Elite Bazic Wool
Pattern:  Barrymore Slouch Hat

I wish the hat were a little slouchier, but that's probably a function of the yarn I chose.  I'm not a fan of how hats look on me, but this should be a good cross-country ski hat.

Finished Object: Mittens for Grandson

Pattern:  My plain mitten pattern
Yarn:  Baby Ull from Dalegarn

These turned out to be a little too small, but I finished them while visiting the recipient and he wanted to keep them rather than let me take them home to adjust the size.  What an easy recipient to knit for!