I hate not having a washer and dryer. Right at the top of my “if-I-win-the-lottery” list is an industrial washer and dryer. And a house to put them in :)
That said, if you pick your time, a laundromat can be a relatively pleasant place in which to spend a couple of hours. Yesterday I packed up the clothes and headed to the laundry. It’s about a mile from the apartment and while it’s not a new place, all the washers and dryers are new, the old ones having been replaced over the last year. Nice and efficient!
After I’d gotten the washing started, I sat down and cast on for this:
Half a mitten
It’s the two needle mitten from Lily Chin’s The Urban Knitter and was the first mitten I learned how to make. As I already have a DPN project going (the Harry Potter scarf, up to the 7th band now) I decided to go back to this pattern. The instructions are clear and mattress stitch practically makes the seam invisible. These will go with the hat and I’m hoping to have enough of the Waterspun to make a scarf as well. I’ll have a better idea when I get the mittens done.
I continued to work on it while we watched “Castle in the Sky” - one of Hayao Miyazaki’s beautiful animated films. The plot wasn’t quite up to the quality of “Spirited Away” but it wasn’t bad either and the art was gorgeous. I especially liked the convention, in this film, of using an older, cross-hatched, watercolor style of illustration to represent scenes which had occurred in the past. I’ll probably watch it again in a few weeks after the first impression has settled a little.
A side note - the DVD disc itself was a little wonky. It kept stopping and then skipping. When we had been through this two or three time, Myria got the exceedingly bright idea of removing the disc from the DVD player and putting into her PS2 game console. That worked brilliantly and we were able to watch the rest of the movie without problems.
It’s quite grey here this morning so I lit candles - lovely, warm light to have on a grey, gloomy day.
Kitty with fish
I love the fish that’s etched on the bowl. The bowl holds a tea-light sized candle which burns for about 4 hours.
I’m anxious to get back to work on the crocheted Pi shawl and today might be the day to do it as it’s cooler and the fans aren’t running at gale force. The yarn is so light that it’s difficult to keep hold of when there are strong air currents. I’ve been putting the shawl off for a few days now because the fans make working on it too difficult but I might be able to manage a couple of rounds this afternoon.
So - how is your week going?
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Aha! Someone else who doesn’t think laundromats are all that horrible! Fortunately, I now have a washer and dryer in my house, but way back when, when I had to pack up my clothes and go to the local spin ‘n’ dry, I didn’t mind it so terribly much—and my laundromat is skanky, doesn’t have new equipment like yours. I think I liked the warmth in there, and the detergent smell, and the thought of aaallll those clothes getting cleaned. However, how I wish I had known how to knit then!
And we watch all our DVDs on the PS2. You are not alone! We loved “Spirited Away” when we watched it. An amazing, whimsical, unique movie!
hot and steamy here in east texas, thank you- i’ve lived here for years and still act utterly shocked and indignant when it gets this way-
i am watching your pi shawl progress with interest- for some unknown reason i visualize myself gliding about looking very ladylike in such a shawl- in east texas no less!! oh well, i can dream-
stay well and happy-
Ryan - Yeah, laundrys are curious places but you’re right about the smell. And there’s something very satisfying about folding warm, clean clothes. Of course that would hold true at home as well.
“Spirited Away” was an absolutely enchanting film and I’ve seen it many times - will see it many MORE times! We had picked up both “Castle in the Sky” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service” a while ago when they were on sale, but didn’t get around to watching until last night. I do love Miyazaki’s artistry - I’m not sure I even require a plot (though it’s a nice thing to have) - just let me look at the beautiful pictures!
Hey barb!
Don’t you have air-conditioning in east Texas? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a lovely, light shawl to throw around your shoulders? If not mohair, how about silk or fine cotton or linen? Very elegant but not too warm :)
I know what you mean about the hot steamys. While I’m sure it gets a lot more emphatic down there than it does up here, I still get super annoyed - just as though I didn’t know it was coming :)
I loved Spirited Away, but agree that Castle in the Sky isn’t quite so good. Have you watched My Neighbour Totoro yet? That is such a sweet, charming film.
No - I never even heard of that one, Pam. Thanks for mentioning it - I’ll keep my eye open for it!
oh yes, robbyn- *everything* down here is air-conditioned and often too much so for comfort- it’s the ‘gliding around looking ladylike’ that would get me! i see a lovely shawl trailed through the soup or slammed in a greasy car door- while i would love to swan about gracefully, i fear my natural ability to be somewhat less than the image of southern ladyhood might get the best of me-
however, i think i may make a shawl anyway and use something washable!!
barb - Good for you! I, myself, am about as lady-like as a bag of hammers. In my mother’s immortal words, “Graceful as a hog on ice!” But it doesn’t stop me from trying :)
If asked who my favorite director is (and I love many directors, being such a cinephile), I would have to say that Hayao Miyazaki is my favorite. I have loved every one of his pieces. My first exposure to him was Castle of Cagliostro, which although isn’t as visually beautiful as his other pieces, is a completely fun film to watch. The dubbing is amazing. (You will never hear me say that about any other film.)
I’d have to say that my favorite work would have to be Porco Rosso (The Crimson Pig), which I hope Disney will distribute next year (it has been pushed back from a distribution this year). It’s funny, the characters are fascinating, and the artwork is breathtaking.
I’m looking forward to Howl’s Moving Castle, which I hope will hit our shores next year. Looking at the current visuals for that, along with some music bits, it looks to be pretty amazing too.
Knitting content: that Waterspun is very pretty! It makes me want to dive into my stash, but I restrain myself until the fall, which is when I’m going to be working with it.
Hi,
I’m a real fan of your blog. I like your column of ‘how do I do it’. I’m now knitting my first sweater. I have no idea how I can sew the sleeve pieces onto the body. If you can answer it, I’ll appreciate it very very much.
Cheers,
kiki
Iko - Thanks for the mention of the other films - I will definitely watch for them. Miyazaki’s sense of color and graphic style are just breath-taking to me.
I have heard a rumor that Classic Elite is discontinuing Waterspun so I’m worrying about being able to find it again. This is the yarn I have enjoyed working with the most!
Kiki - I have never set sleeves into a sweater, so I’m afraid I’m not going to be much help to you. But I can tell you where I’d go to get information when I am ready to try this:
Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book
It’s a really, really good reference to have around because it has information about just about every technique there is in knitting a garment. It’s a little expensive ($39.95) but your local library might have (or be able to obtain) a copy for you.
Good luck with your sweater! Let me know how it turns out!
Thanks, Robbyn. I’ll try it.
