Wednesday, December 11, 2019

While Miz Kittling Knits: Father Brown





I've completed several knitting projects recently, and I must admit that I had a rather tough time deciding which one to show you first. Then it all became clear to me. (In other words, the light bulb went off over my head.) It's gift-giving time, so I really should show you a pattern I found for a quick and easy cowl that you can finish in an evening while watching television.

This cowl is knitted on size 13, twenty-four-inch long circular needles using a super bulky weight yarn in an easy knit two, purl two ribbing. You can find the free pattern for the One Ball Ribbed Cowl on the Lion Brand website. It is knit in the round, which means that you don't have to seam it together when you're done-- and that saves time, too. I also think it's more comfortable because there's no seam rubbing against your neck.

Here are the cowls I finished in plenty of time to give to friends who live in colder climes. Just click on the photo if you want to see more detail.




Number One is knit with an Isaac Mizrahi craft yarn in a colorway called Park Avenue. Dark green with a black and red bouclé thread running through it. 100% acrylic. Stylish and understated for the holidays or any time you need to keep those winter drafts off your neck.

Number Two is knit with Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn in a colorway called Blackstone. The yarn is 77% acrylic and 20% wool. You can certainly wear these cowls with no jewelry attached, but a simple pin can really dress them up, can't it?

Numbers Three and Four are knit with a double strand of James C. Brett's Marble Chunky yarn, which is made in Yorkshire, England. It's 100% acrylic yet has a homespun look.

After making these, I have to admit that I want to make more. And I'm even thinking a trip up into the mountains would be nice just so I could wear one myself. Since I do NOT like the cold, this tells you how much I like these cowls. I may even knit more of them even though I have no clue whom I will give them to!

Now...what have I been watching while working on these cowls? Father Brown!




This series was inspired by the stories of G.K. Chesterton. Father Brown is a Catholic priest who has a knack for solving mysteries in a 1950s village in Gloucestershire, England. Mark Williams as Father Brown and Sorcha Cusack as Mrs. McCarthy, his parish secretary, are excellent, although I do believe the character of Father Brown himself needs to take umbrella-wielding lessons from Miss Seeton.

The cast has had a few changes over its run. Nancy Carroll as the local rich aristocrat knows how to give the perfect blood-curdling scream every time she trips over a dead body-- although you'd think the thrill would be gone after tripping over your first two dozen or so.  Perhaps she hurt a vocal chord because her character went off to Rhodesia. (Yes, my tongue is firmly in my cheek.)

If there's any character that gets right up my nose, it's Inspector Mallory. In a way, he's the Snidely Whiplash of police inspectors because Jack Deam portrays him with almost evil intent. He still hates Father Brown even though the cleric has helped him solve countless cases, and there's never a time when he doesn't lock up the most obvious suspect and think his work is done. Besides all that, the way he says "padre" puts my knickers in a twist. (Notice how I'm using British slang for a British television program? I came close to saying something else with regard to Mallory, but it's a bit rude.)

I found the first three seasons to be formulaic. Often I could deduce the murderer the first time the actor was introduced. Since then, the writing has improved, and I don't figure them out as quickly.

Whether easy to deduce or not, I've found the episodes of Father Brown to be like Lays potato chips: No one can eat just one. They've certainly been the perfect knitting companion for me in the evenings!

I'll end this post with birthday wishes for my mother. She would have been eighty-four today. She's the person who taught me that knitting while watching television was the perfect evening past time. Love you, Mom! 


10 comments:

  1. Those cowls are beautiful, Cathy! And I'll bet they keep a person warm and comfortable, too (I like the idea of not having seams!). I've watched a few episodes of Father Brown. It is a good show for watching and kitting, that's for sure. And I do like series that give you a feel for a certain time period.

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    1. They've been able to cover a lot of timely topics so far, and I have yet to get completely caught up.

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  2. I love Father Brown and agree that you can't watch just one. I also knit a cowl while I watched some episodes.

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  3. Those are lovely! My granny is the one that knit and watched tv. Lots of slippers--what I wouldn't give for a pair today!

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    1. I hate it when my feet get cold. I should try knitting myself a pair of slippers.

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  4. I love those cowls! Cold air on my neck drives me nuts, so I usually use a muffler, but those cowls are a perfect solution!

    :) The screams were an annoying element, and I couldn't figure out how any of the detectives (3 so far) wouldn't have been more appreciative of Father Brown's input. That said, I've thoroughly enjoyed the series. I adore Mrs. M.'s hats!

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    1. The inspectors are the one part of the series that I find too cliched. I wish they'd get one who would appreciate Father Brown. I also keep an eye on Mrs. M's hats. She has so many that she's certainly not short of a bob or two!

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  5. Cowls are beautiful. So good that you can knit while watching TV. Im not a knitter, but I do sewing repairs and pay bills and redo my to-do lists while I watch TV. I watched a lot of Father Brown on TV when it ran after the Phrynne Fisher series, a good evening of TV watching.

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    1. I used to do what you do while watching TV, but I've found that knitting keeps my fingers limber, which is important since some of them are showing signs of arthritis. They even start to hurt if I don't pick up my needles for a few days. Knitting's also good for my mental health-- keeps me thinking those good thoughts.

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