Tuesday, March 14, 2023

While Miz Kittling Knits: D.I. Ray

 


I'm over halfway done with another afghan (this one to cover the top of our king-size bed), so I'd better let you take a look at the one I completed a couple of weeks ago.
 

 
If you're wondering about the odd lumps, this new afghan is laying on top of another one because I was too lazy to swap them out. The pattern for this afghan is another that I found on a favorite knitting blog, Mama in a Stitch. The pattern is called Billowy Quilted Knit Throw, and I love how it turned out. For this, I used three strands of worsted weight, 100% acrylic yarn (Caron's Simply Soft in "Grape") on my US size 13 circular needles. This yarn is a favorite of mine for its softness, sheen, and the intensity of its colors. Depending on your monitor, this may not look like the intense purple that it really is. I think the sun coming in through the window onto my laptop screen is affecting mine.
 
Someone Denis and I know has a birthday in March, and I'm pretty sure she'll like this!
 
One note before I move on: I didn't have circular needles in the right length for this, so I had to do some shopping. I've always used bamboo needles, but the much cheaper price made me try metal needles this time around... with some interesting results.  The metal points slid through the yarn much easier with fewer instances of splits, so that was a plus; however, I learned there is a minus or two when it comes to knitting with metal needles. One, stitches are much more apt to slide off metal needles, and that can lead to heart palpitations as the knitter rushes to avoid catastrophe. Two, the point protectors I've used for years refused to stay on the tips of the metal needles, so I had to shop for ones that would, thus avoiding more dropped stitches and heart palpitations. What works? Triangular-shaped ones. Go figure.
 
Old Point Protectors

 
New Point Protectors

 
 
What was I watching while I was adjusting to my new metal knitting needles? A six-episode season of D.I. Ray
 


 
I looked forward to watching this because it's set in Birmingham, England-- not your usual setting for a British crime drama. These six episodes have D.I. Rachita Ray investigating the suspected honor killing of a young Muslim man. She has a feeling that she was given her recent promotion simply because she filled the proper demographics-- she's Asian and she's female-- but she's determined to prove that she deserves to be a detective inspector.

The series does a good job showing the sort of racially motivated nonsense she has to deal with as well as the necessity of working around her superiors who are convinced they know why the young man was murdered-- even though the evidence Ray uncovers shows a completely different motive.

I had mixed reactions to D.I. Ray. I liked the setting, and--for the most part-- I liked the story, but I did find myself rolling my eyes a few times. The main character makes some incredibly stupid decisions, and one of the bad guys was way too easy to identify. (I call it using the Murder, She Wrote Formula.)

If there is a second season, I will watch it, but if D.I. Ray continues to make bad choices and if the bad guys continue to be easily identified, that second season will be the last. It was nice to travel through Birmingham, though. It's a city I've only seen from the motorway (interstate).

15 comments:

  1. My next-door neighbor is from Birmingham. I'll let him know. Is this on BritBox or Acorn? I don't knit those beautiful afghans (love that color), but I could out about five drawers and fix several pairs of pants. Will I or won't i? That is the question. (And I could clean out my NY Times piles)

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    1. Sounds like you're mulling over some spring cleaning.

      I watched D.I.Ray through Amazon on the PBS Masterpiece channel.

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  2. That afghan is gorgeous, Cathy! I love that rich purple, and I'm sure your friend will enjoy it. It makes me want to curl up under it with a cup of something and a good book! I'd like to know, too, where DI Ray is streaming. I have to admit, I do get tired of protagonists who keep making bad choices, but the premise sounds interesting!

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    1. The one time I forget to mention it is when several people ask. That'll teach me! I watched it on the PBS Masterpiece channel via Amazon.

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  3. This looks interesting. Adding it to our watch list. And the afghan is gorgeous! Love that brilliant color.

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  4. Your afghans are always so pretty! And I love the colors you choose. :D

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    1. With a name like that, I could be providing housing for Afghani refugees or Afghan hounds. ;-)

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  6. Could be. Either one would be kind and humanitarian.

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  7. Well, I found Amazon PBS Masterpiece and found this show, but I found so many others that were new to me. Uh oh, there goes productivity.

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    1. Yes, when I found PBS Masterpiece, I felt like I'd fallen down the rabbit hole.

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  8. That's how I felt when I looked at the many intriguing-looking movies and shows. So, a good suggestion, but it's like having chocolate cake in the house. Tempting, but how much should I have?

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