What I Wore Today

Today's long-due post will be fashion related, and also a representation of my skills of an artist. Instead of the usual photo of my outfit, I have composed a little sketch, for your consideration. This is also an example of the type of head covering that I wear from time to time, when I feel so inclined.

So, today I am wearing a green track jacket from college (there is white trim in real life, but I forgot to include that), in a clear kelly green with navy lettering. Underneath, a black tee shirt with a cool fingerprint design in yellow and green; a gift from my Aunt and modified from big and boxy to trim and fitted. My skirt is of the homemade variety, made out of two old pairs of jeans, along these lines. The only difference is that using a second pair of pants, I added a gore at the front as well as the back. Because the first pair were flared to begin with, I have a wonderfully swishy mermaidy skirt, with lots of room to walk. Black pointed toe flats from Target about 3 years ago on my feet.

The head covering is one I sort of made up myself, using a hat/hood/cap (illustrated above) I made out of a scrap of interlock knit. The piece was a long, shallow triangle, which I stitched and pleated in the middle to make a sort of hood that goes on like a swimming cap, and leaving long flaps at the sides to be arranged as I wish. It stays in place because it is stretchy, made to fit my head, and has the natural grip of cotton knit. I was missing my long hair today, so I wanted to approximate one long braid, like this style at The Style Underground. (One of the best head covering resources, I think.) Using a long narrow rectangular scarf, I made a long braid at the back, then pulled it over my shoulder for going out and about. While at home, vacuuming, cooking, etc., I toss it to the back and out of the way. Looks cute, and is a good morale booster while I am regrowing my hair!

Film Review: Black Beauty

It sure has been a while? Whoops. I will kick things back off with a review of the 1994 adaptation of Black Beauty. Now, maybe this sort of thing is to your taste, maybe not. I foolishly decided to rewatch this tonight, having nothing better to do, and feeling a little nostalgic. I saw this movie in the theatre when it came out, and remembered this about the experience:

1. The movie was very, very sad.

2. Merrylegs, the sassy pony at the beginning and his antics.

3. There were two old biddies sitting behind me chattering about the movie. And they sounded just like the "pepperpots" from Monty Python's Flying Circus (I lived in Britain at the time).

However, I also remembered generally liking it, and since it had the advantage of featuring my favorite eye candy, not that I will publicly admit any names, (hint: the names should rhyme, and yet, they do not! madness!) it seemed like a pleasant diversion. And so, to the movie review!

Based on the classic book by Anna Sewell, this movie depicts the life and times of Black Beauty, the eponymous horse, from birth to old age. He is born and has an idyllic first few years on an unnamed farm, and is trained up for riding, and eventually sold to a well to do family to drive their carriages. At his new home, he makes friends with the other horses, and forms a special bond with Ginger, with whom he drives as a team. Much is also made of the relationship between Black Beauty and Joe, a young stable hand. Too soon, however, the family must move, and they sell their horses. Beauty and Ginger go the the stables of a nobleman and his wife, who insist on fitting out their horses fashionably, generally mistreating them in the process. After a disfiguring injury, Beauty is sold as horse for hire, and eventually to the family of a hansom cab driver, who treats him kindly until the father becomes too ill to continue in the profession sells Beauty, or Blackjack as he is now known, to be used as a cart horse for a flour mill. Eventually, broken and emaciated, Beauty is at a dismal horse market, when who should come around but Joe the stable hand, now grown.

I have left out the most depressing plot points, in case you want to watch this and experience the trauma undiluted. Beauty's thoughts are expressed by a voiceover, which became very cheesy at parts, but I can't deny its potency as a tearjerker. It's really a beautiful film to look at, though the beginning is a little saccharine for my taste. Foxes and bunnies and hedgehogs and foals! There are plenty of hard knocks to make up for the excess cuteness after the beginning sequence.

Overall, I will give this movie a B+: It was kind of cheesy, but it's ostensibly a kids movie, so I'm willing to let that slide in light of the fact that it was so very effective at making me weep like a fool for an hour.

"Don't be nervous, don't be flustered, don't be scared"

Since it's been a very long time since I've posted, and I don't have anything new and awesome to share, I am going to share something old and awesome. I made this little delight years ago, and it's one of my very favorite possessions. I have received many gifts of jewelry over the years, and thus have accumulated a large number of bitsy jewelry boxes--I don't keep my things in the boxes they came in, but they are so nice that I can't bear to toss them. I found a delightful vintage Boy Scout patch in my mother's box of iron on clothing patches, and immediately this project popped into my head. Thus, combined with a festive red velvet box and a little glue, my vision was completed:

Now, you may ask, as well you should, just why would I carry such an item in my purse? It's full enough already. It should be carried at all times, for inside, there is just enough space for:

Huzzah! Be Prepared! Be safe, everyone!

Andromeda NeckLace

Andromeda Beaded NeckLace

Original pattern by Liisa Ahnell

As always, you may use my patterns for personal projects, but no selling items made from them, and please respect my property and hard work by giving proper credit. (In other words, do not claim this as your own. It makes me unhappy.)

Inspired by the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, this highly adaptable neck piece is designed in a subtle combination of Slytherin colors that looks fancy and expensive, but is really simple to make out of cheap materials. Show some house pride, subtly, whether at the Yule Ball, a fancy date, or simply lounging in your own house common room.

Materials:

1 skein DMC pearl cotton in silver grey

33 (or appropriate number, see instructions) assorted glass beads, green

steel crochet hook, size 7 (exact match not crucial)

1 yard (or more) of ribbon (I used 1.5" wide ribbon)

Size: Crochet part is 13.5" long, but the long ribbon ties make it adjustable. Gauge is not crucial for this project for this reason. See instructions at the end for making this any size you want.

This pattern can be easily adapted for any length. I made the prototype as a choker, but it would be absolutely gorgeous as an anklet, belly chain, garland, what have you. I'll include instructions for changing length

1. Chain 102 stitches, plus 1 (103) for base chain. Chain 1 (104 total) turn.
2. 1 sc in second chain from hook, chain 4, skip 2 ch, sc in next ch, repeat until end.
3. 6 ch (counts as 1 dc and 3 chain of first half loop) 1 sc in next 4 ch loop, chain 5, sc in next 4 ch loop until last loop, then chain 3, 1 dc in sc.
4. chain 6, sc in 5 chain loop, continue to end, finishing with sc in 4^th chain of last 6 chain loop, turn
5. chain 7, sc in 6 chain loop, continue to last 6 chain loop, then chain 4, dc in last chain st.
6. chain 1, slide first bead to work, continue work on opposite side of bead, 4 sc in loop, 4 sc in next loop, slide bead, 4 sc in same loop, in last half-loop, work 4 sc, bead, 1 sc.
7. Break yarn, weave in ends securely.
8. Cut ribbon in half, and sew one piece to each end of necklace.
9. Wear, and enjoy. My favorite ways to wear it are as a necklace, encircling a bun, and as a circlet (not that I have many occasions appropriate for such head wear, but perhaps someday).

Custom sizing:

The foundation chain can be any length, as long as the number of stitches is a multiple of 3 plus 1 at the end. When you have made a chain that meets these requirements, be sure to add an extra chain stitch for turning, so you don't end up short a chain st.

The flared shape is the result of making each row of loops one stitch longer than the last. This makes the piece ideal for draping over feminine curves at the neck, waist, ankles, hips, etc. If you want it to be wider or narrower, simply work more rows in the same way as the others, but keep the proportions of the last row—one more single crochet than chain stitches per loop. When you have finished crocheting the chain loops, count them up and string your beads on the free end of the pearl cotton, and include them as per the normal instructions.

I recommend glass beads, since their weight contributes much to the drape and elegance of the finished piece.

If anyone tries this, I'd love to hear any feedback on ways to make pattern and instructions better--I'm still really new at pattern writing and such.

Cheers!

Banana Chocolate Bread Pudding

People, I thought I'd take a moment to share some deliciousness. This evening, I found myself in possession of stale bread, ripe bananas, and a powerful craving for some sweet, sweet, desserty goodness. As I am disinclined to follow a recipe, I came up with the following

Preheat oven to 350-ish. Lightly grease a bread pan. Cut approximately 10 or 12 slices of bread into 1 inch squares and place in a bowl. Toss with 1 tsp. cinnamon. Separately, combine 2 cups milk, 1/2 c. sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 sliced bananas with whisk. Pour wet ingredients over bread, mix together with 1/2 cup of chocolate morsels. Allow mixture to sit for about 10 minutes, then bake for 30-35 minutes.

Obviously, this was made up on the fly, using my knowledge of the general principles of bread pudding, but it turned out very well. I'd show a picture, but I can't say that bread pudding is the most photogenic of dishes. Very decadent with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I would serve this to other people, even!

Presidential Oaths

The purpose of this blog is not political, so I won't editorialize, but simply encourage everyone to enjoy the momentous occasion unfolding.  Happy Inauguration Day, everyone, and here's wishing the US a peaceful, positive, and purposeful term!

Nostalgia Arm or Legwarmers

It's pattern time!  I thought I'd begin with something simple.  My house is old and drafty, and my extremities suffer the most.  I also like instant gratification.  These knit up quickly, and serve a practical purpose.  I apologize for the terrible quality of the photo, I wasn't feeling particularly ambitious this evening.  The yarn is a lovely deep pink I had left over, and the stitch pattern was found in a tiny booklet from 1972, which came into my possession at an unknown time through unknown means.  It's handy, and small, but the best thing about it is the list of "Other Dell Purse Books You'll Enjoy."  There are the sort of titles one might expect, such as "Count Your Calories," "The Wonderful World of Daytime T.V. Dramas," and "Lucky Day Horoscope," but then things get weirder. For example, what kind of life must one lead, I wonder, to necessitate a pocket guide to "Mixing and Serving Drinks?"  Also included is the dubious prospect of "Self Hypnosis," and the confusing, "Test Your Emotions."  While you're at it, perhaps try some "Face-O-Metrics,"  and then try one of the "Instant Hairdos, #3," which makes me wonder why I'll enjoy #3, and not #2.  Not limited to personal improvement, there were Dell Purse Books on relationships as well--"The Man of Your Choice," "3500 Names for Baby," "Wives' Legal Rights," and finally, "Alimony and Support."  And if all that is too depressing, health topics are covered, primarily weight loss, but also "Vitamin C For a Cold," and "The Drug Crisis."  And only $0.25 a copy!  

"Nostalgia Arm or Leg Warmers"

I owned a few pairs of leg warmers as a child and they followed this basic schematic.  

Yarn:  Cascade 220, 1 skein

Needles:  one set size 8 dpns

Gauge:  one 5 stitch repeat is about 1.25", and the row count isn't really important.

Size:  Adult.  I find them cozy as leg warmers when wearing a skirt, and comfy as arm warmers as well.  They come up well over my elbows when worn as such.  The size may be adjusted by changing the needle or yarn size.  

Directions:

Cast on 40 sts, divide over 4 needles, join.

Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 3 inches.

Begin eyelet ribbing as follows:

Row 1: *k2, yp, p2tog, k1* repeat to end

Rows 2 & 4: k all sts

Row 3: *k2, p2tog, yo, k1* repeat to end

Repeat these four rows until work measures the length of the limb you intend to cover minus 3 inches from the beginning of the ribbing.  

Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 3 inches. 

Cast off, very loosely.

Repeat for second warmer.

The end!  Go, be warmed!