Friday, January 24, 2020

RiP Christopher Tolkien and Others, New Project, Robert Burns, and A New Look

Well, I've done it again. I was trying to figure out how to get Blogger to show more than three posts per page, and in the midst of all that, have chosen a new template.

It's a bit easier on the eyes, but I'd like to tweak some of the colours, the next time I have time.

It does sort of put paid to my continuous use of drop caps though. I've been using Daily Drop Cap for years, but this new theme doesn't showcase the letters as well as the former ones did.

Some sad news: in the past couple of weeks, actor Derek Fowlds, Neil Peart of Rush, and Christopher Tolkien have passed away.

I first found out through Dr Dimitra Fimi
The statement from the Tolkien Society came later

The first news was from his local Var Marin newspaper
John D Rateliff shared his first thoughts
John Garth shared a clip of Christopher Tolkien reading from The Lord of the Rings and later wrote the obituary for The Guardian
I tweeted about the History of Middle-Earth books...

...and Neil Gaiman

The German Tolkien Society had a lovely tribute
The next day, I read The Saga of King Heidrik the Wise...

...and blogged about riddles and Alvin Schwartz...

...then cried at this memory...

...that Christopher Tolkien shared about his father



Finally, Marcel Aubron-Bülles has been collecting as many of the Twitter tributes as can. Do visit his page!


Burns night!


Here are two poems by Robert Burns:


A Red, Red Rose, which I had to memorise and recite back in grade school

Tam O'Shanter, which features as the intro to Ghost House by Whisky Trench Riders
Read the rest of the poem here


Finally, my new project: another knitting project!

I was asked to knit a red superhero scarf...

I used the pattern for which my knitting blog is named!

Recommended needle size is 5mm, but any size will work; use any wool you like!
Cast on 34 stitches
Knit 2, *Purl 1, wrap yarn over, Purl 2 together, Knit 1*
Repeat ** to end; all rows are the same, repeat to desired scarf length; cast off

Superhero!

Have you finished any quick projects recently?
What do you think of this layout?
Do you have any Blogger layout tips?

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Year-End Knitting Review

Year-end knitting review!

Throughout the year, I didn't have time to knit much, or focus on other hobbies, but I did manage a few projects, including some baking...

There was the week I baked bread from scratch and made Oreo cheesecake!

I signed up for both Bold Beginner Knits and Knitting Season by Kate Davies -- someday I hope to have time to knit some of these beautiful patterns!

Knitting Season also includes the collected essays Wheesht, which are very thought-provoking and insightful.

My year-end knitting review for 2018 featured the quilt made for me by a special group of friends. The first four months of baby-on-a-quilt photos are in that post.

Here are the next five months:


5 months

6 months


7 months



8 months


9 months


Near the end of the year, I knit some cute mittens and an unsuccessful hat.

Since then, I've been experimenting with a pair of leggings for a friend. Trying to get the right combination of pattern, needle size, and her chosen yarn!


For this year my goal remains the same, to simply knit something sometime.

My other ongoing goals are to:

1. Think about buying expensive wool to make, slowly, methodically, and properly, a gorgeous design by Kate Davies
This is ongoing, and mostly on the backburner

2. Pick up crochet again, but I'm still stumped by the double crochet stitch.
I need to watch more YouTube videos...

3. Organise all our photos and print a few in photobooks
I'm managing to stay on top of this!

4. Bake more!
I have been more successful at this lately. Now to start trying more complicated recipes...


Do you have a few favourite patterns or recipes?
Please share!