One of the things that I always liked the least about knitting was weaving in all the loose ends once the project was completed. What a pain-- and when you're making things like blankets and afghans, those loose ends from where you've added a new skein of yarn seem to be endless. Fortunately, I chose the right time to take a stroll through the interwebs a couple of months ago. As I was taking a look at someone's knitting blog, my eyes fell on a post about the perfect knot. I wish I'd bookmarked this post because some of you fellow knitters would probably find this miraculous as well. It's a type of knot to join two skeins of yarn together in which there are no loose ends to weave into the completed project!
Okay. I was feeling guilty, so I went on a hunt for the video and found it. It's not called the perfect knot, it's called the magic knot, and here's the video in case you're interested.
What was I using this magic knot on? Another afghan, of course, from my go-to book, Leisure Arts' Big Book of Quick Knit Afghans.
This time, the pattern is called "Twilight," which makes me think I'm going to break out in sparkly vampires, but I really like the strong diagonal stripes in this pattern.
US size 17 circular needles were used for this pattern as well as a double strand of worsted weight yarn. This time I used two strands of Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic yarn in a color called "Coral." When you take a look at the photo, if you think this looks more dark orange than coral, you're not alone. I suppose if no two people read the same book, then no two people see the same color in the same way!
Let's take a look at my completed "Twilight" afghan.
Not bad, huh? I'm tempted to use this pattern again with a different color, but if I do, it will have to wait because I've already got another afghan on my needles. (Not that any of you are surprised.)
What was I watching while I was putting the finishing touches on this afghan? It wasn't a mystery, which may shock some of you, but my mystery-watching has taken a big hit since Denis retired. (I'm going to have to sneak them in while he's taking his evening naps.) No, I watched another type of favorite: a good old Sci Fi flick, an Amazon Original called The Tomorrow War. (Two of my favorite films are Avatar and Independence Day, in case you're interested. Welcome to Earth!)
The Tomorrow War has a simple synopsis: "A family man is drafted to fight in a future war where the fate of humanity relies on his ability to confront the past."
People from the future return to this time to tell everyone that aliens have landed and if nothing is done, the human race will completely disappear. Those alien "White Spikes" are extremely scary and ferociously hungry (and vaguely reminiscent of a creature in one of the Chris Pine Star Trek movies). They arbitrarily begin drafting people to go to the future to fight the aliens, which doesn't seem to be working very well until they get a hold of Dan Forester (Chris Pratt), a man who's always been very disappointed with his life and what he's achieved. I like Chris Pratt, and he's got one of my all-time favorite movie lines, so I was happy to see that he was in this film.
There's nothing cutting edge here, and nothing really new about the characters or the plot, but I wasn't in the mood for cutting edge and new. I was in the mood for a sympathetic main character and a whole lot of KAB (Kick Alien Butt), and The Tomorrow War delivered on both. In fact, I liked it enough to watch it a second time.
Now to get back to my new afghan...
Ah, yes! Nothing like a little KAB for television-watching sometimes! It's actually nice to watch different sorts of things, anyway, at least for me. It gives me fresher eyes when I do get back to 'mystery TV.' Your 'Twilight' afghan is gorgeous! I love the deep, rich shade of the yarn, and I'm very glad you found that magic knot way to deal with loose ends. I'm sure it makes all the difference for you.
ReplyDeleteThat magic knot certainly makes putting on the finishing touches much, much easier!
DeleteThe Tomorrow War was already on my list but I had forgotten that it had come out. Now I need to see it because I, too, love KAB.
ReplyDeleteAlways nice to see a fellow KABer! ;-)
DeleteThanks for the reminder about The Tomorrow War! We'll enjoy watching it soon. I'm a little partial to Chris Pratt - ha!
ReplyDeleteYou're not the only one! ("I was with the Navy, not the Navajo!")
DeleteYour afghans are remarkable! Glad you discovered a way to remove the tediousness of loose ends. :)
ReplyDeleteSo am I!
DeleteI agree with Margot - it's nice to watch different sorts of things and often gives you a new perspective when you get back to "old reliable".
ReplyDeleteI love the color coral and it is beautiful in your afghan. I have found in the last several years that fabric colors called "coral" are actually more of a dark orange than they used to be. To me coral is more of a bright pinky peachy color. Perhaps it is the same for yarn??
Your idea of coral and mine are the same, Gretchen.
DeleteThe color coral is beautiful. And so is the pattern. And since you knit and know all of the difficulties and solutions, my hat is off to you. I tried years ago, but could not do it.
ReplyDeleteYour abode is going to be known as the "House of Afghans."
And as for the TV programs, I'd go the two TV, two remotes route.
Don't like sci-fi, but a good mystery or drama or comedy and I'm in.
I also found that the British mystery show "Unforgotten" started on PBS two weeks ago. It goes on for a few more weeks. And an avid viewer can watch the first two episodes at the PBS website. The first is up until July 25, I believe.
Unforgotten is good.
DeleteYes, it is. And I think Nicola Walker and the male actor are very good.
DeleteGorgeous afghan - and I laughed out loud reading "...which makes me think I'm going to break out in sparkly vampires..."!
ReplyDeleteI wondered if anyone would say something about that! :-)
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