Burning Calories
It might be a little over-plied in spots, but here it is, my really lovely new yarn. And, really, a little over-plying isn’t necessarily a bad thing for sock yarn–the socks will just wear longer, right? The really good part is that it’s pretty consistent in size. And I’m very, very happy with it. See the little sparkly bits? That’s nylon for strength. And the gleam? That’s the silk–all surrounded by superwash merino for soft wonderfulness. Assuming I didn’t lose count, that was 179 turns around the niddy-noddy, so . . . just under 360 yards.
Right now, in these pictures (one with a flash, one without), it’s actually still wet. I haven’t been able to fondle it as much as I’d like to. I think I might have soaked it just a little too long in its hot water bath–the red dye ran and now the yellow parts aren’t quite so yellow as they were before I washed it, but again, who cares? It’s still gorgeous.
Which means that I’m going to do a really, really good thing . . . I’m going to give it up. I told you that, if it came out well, I’d make it the prize for my Millennial contest. Because, of course, I wouldn’t give it away as a prize if I wasn’t proud of it . . . but I am, and it’s gorgeous, and well . . . it’s now officially the prize.
That includes not only the fiber from Franquemont Fiber, but the blood and sweat of yours truly. Well, okay, not really any blood, but there was definitely sweat. Of course, ladies sweat. They perspire, or they "glow." Well, I was practically dripping with "glow" last night. I treadled so hard to get this all done last night! My legs are still tired today, and I finally understand the appeal of an electric spinner. Not that I’m going to go buy one, but . . . I understand the appeal.
I’ve been seriously tired all day. So tired, I barely flipped through the new anniversary issue of Vogue Knitting which came today. It’s a huge issue, as befits a 25th anniversary issue. I don’t always love the patterns in this magazine, but I’ve always loved the articles. Although in my brief flip-through, I did see a mention of Ruth from Knitting on Impulse and also one of Modern Yarns in Montclair. How nifty is that, huh? It’s always good to see friends doing well.
I’ve subscribed for a long time, too. See? Thats the Fall/Winter 1988 issue, the oldest in my collection. I think I’m going to have to reread that interview with Elizabeth Zimmerman, you know, now that I’ve got the magazine sitting right in front of me. It’s kind of fun looking through it, actually. There’s an ad for Rowan Knitting Book Number 4–40 new designs in full color for just $9.50, and I actually made this sweater way back then.
Oh, and in the lame fortune cookie stakes? How is this second one possibly, remotely a "fortune?" It’s not even a pithy aphorism or saying like the other two. No, it’s the fortune cookie version of an advertisement or a shopping list. As you finish your meal, it’s telling you, don’t forget to bring some take-out home. Sheesh.
Booking Through Thursday (Come to the BTT site to play!)
Well, after last week’s record-breaking number of responses (92 last time I checked–an all-time BTT record), I was tempted to use this week’s question to ask what you all thought about Harry Potter 7–but since a decent proportion of you weren’t going to be reading it at all, that seemed unfair. So instead …
Who’s the worst fictional villain you can think of? As in, the one you hate the most, find the most evil, are happiest to see defeated? Not the cardboard, two-dimensional variety, but the most deliciously-written, most entertaining, best villain? Not necessarily the most “evil,” so much as the best-conceived on the part of the author…oh, you know what I mean!
I’m enjoying all the answers to this question–it’s always good to see such a variety of responses. (And I’ll just pat myself on the back for the title of the post, too, because I thought "Best Moustache Twirling" was pretty clever.) I have to put a word in for Sethos in the Amelia Peabody books. He’s not "evil," but he’s got such flair as a villain–I always have a soft-spot for characters that do evil while retaining impeccable manners and charm. (And yes, Dolores Umbridge is another–a refreshingly 3D children’s book villain.) How about Acheron Hades from Jasper Fforde’s "Thursday Next" books? That villain has a wicked sense of humor (pun intended). Jordan de Riberac and Gabriel in Dorothy Dunnett’s Niccolo and Lymond series are incredible….
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Tannenbaum.
House Calls
I think that’s my first issue of Vogue Knitting, too. And, yes, that is about the lamest fortune I’ve ever seen.
Faux fortune. Great. But lovely yarn!
Do you mean 1988? Rowan began publishing in Spring 1987.
You’ve got some great picks for favorite villians. I haven’t read the Peabody series and so haven’t encountered that villian yet. But I am familiar with Umbridge and have at least run into Hades in the one book I’ve read by Jasper Fforde. There’s something about the villians that are not quite predictable that make them more attractive as favorites, I must say.
Someday I’ll learn to read the newer posts first and work backwards…
yum! gorgeous spinning! lucky winner that will be!
My thoughts jumped immediately to Acheron Hades, but he’s also a silly villain. I think Saruman (LOTR) might be my top choice. Not much rationale is really needed on that one, is there?
That yarn is just too gorgeous! It will make a beautiful pair of socks. I hope I win!
I don’t know Sethos, but I like your reasons for choosing him!
Of course, Voldemort’s a given. But once Ralph Fiennes got the role, oh boy. He does that character so well.
It from Stephen King’s “IT”. I read it for the first time one summer when I was in middle school. And as for the movie, although I love Tim Curry, I still hate the character.
Then there’s Count Olaf. He’s just described so disgustingly in the books. I didn’t even like Jim Carrey for a few days after I saw the movie.
That yarn is so gloriously red-orange, it almost looks hot to the touch. Lovely!
The handspun is gorgeous! And overplied is definitely one of the techniques to good wearing sock yarn so no worries about that!
The yarn is beautiful! Hope I win it! I can’t think of other villians that haven’t been named so will leave it with those.
Beautiful new yarn! I really don’t know how you could part with it. It even sounds delish!
I might have to hit the bookstore on the way home for that new Vogue…
So it’s late and I’m tired and can’t think of her name, but there was a brief mention of a villain in some kids’ book, she might’ve been a Dolores too…. she was a knit assassin… deadly with her pointy sticks, she only looked like a little old and unassuming lady.
Lovely yarn! I suddenly feel a desire for hothothot colors!
The new VK made me nostalgic for all the bad old handknits that I not only may have knit, but actually may have (cringe) worn. Er, I make no confessions (said while hiding old photo albums).
The most chilling villain I can think of is Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley - he has no remorse and is largely successful, and the author offers no comforting platitudes about justifiable wrongdoing or right always winning in the end. I’d pick Delores Umbridge for most revolting in a children’s story.