Tag Archives: Call the Midwife

Inspiration: Trixie

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I’ve been ramping up another work project, which means I’ve been spending even more time than usual on the couch, knitting like the wind.  Which, in turn, means I’ve had more time for catching up on TV shows I’ve neglected.

And this week, I’ve been catching up on Call the Midwives (because I apparently felt the need to cry all over my new knitting). The last time I watched the Midwives was over a year ago, when I caught a few scattered episodes of Season 5 when they were airing on PBS.  And, since Season 6 has just gone up on Netflix, I figured it was as good a time as any to get all caught up.

Of course there are insane knitted layettes for the newborns, adorable knit vests on the school-kids, and twee little cardigans on all the nurses, which are all lovely.

But, in Episode 1 of Season 5 (actually these sweaters show up throughout the season, but they make their appearance in Episode 1), Trixie is shown wearing a really cute sweater.  One that’s so classic, yet so modern, I kind of want one for myself.

Trixie is a new devotee of “Keep-Fit” a proto-Zumba organization that she’s joined during her post-rock-bottom/post-break-up self-improvement phase.  It’s really a lovely few scenes, actually.  It could have been handled very poorly- a bunch of young ladies doing silly Jazzercise routines in neck-to-toe black leotards.  But Trixie gets to give a couple of really heartfelt speeches about the importance of her new community, and its ideals of self-empowerment, and women’s rights.  (It actually reminded me a lot of the things that the women on my roller derby team used to talk about.)

But we’re not here to talk about women’s empowerment (though I could do that all day if you want).  We’re here to talk about sweaters.

Everyone in the class wears long, black leotards, except the instructor, who gets to wear a totally cute, cropped, tie-front cardigan.

Trixie’s instructor has hers in a lovely periwinkle blue.And when Trixie starts teaching, she gets hers in a fiery scarlet (naturally).(I’m now looking more closely at these sweaters, and it actually looks like they might be made of sweatshirt jersey, not knit, but we’ll just pretend, shall we?)

I love the criss-cross front, and the super flattering 3/4 length sleeves and cropped length that hit right at the natural waist.  I don’t think I want to go flouncing about in a leotard like the ladies in the Keep Fit class, but I do think I want one of the instructors’ sweaters.

I love this one, with the subtle all-over mistake ribbing and twill ties.

Penny by Debbie BlissAnd this one might be most like Trixie’s- the length is right, and the three-quarter sleeves.  I like the little picot edges on the cuffs, but I might change them to a simple ribbing, I’m not really a “ruffles” kind of gal.

Yoga Wrap Sweater WR1705 by Lisa GetryThis one is just too sweet for words.  It’s not really as practical as Trixie’s (what with the short sleeves and the deeper V-neck), but I love the style of this one.  The textured sleeves, the lovely soft color and the feminine shaping that isn’t too girly.  Man… this one’s a contender for sure.

Gardenia by Martin StoreyIf I had more time, I’d definitely get one of these bad boys on my needles as soon as possible.  As it is, I still might… Work can wait when there are cute sweaters to be made!

Have you spotted any cute sweaters on TV lately?

Inspiration: Call the Midwife, Fetus Edition

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You all know that I love me some Call the Midwife.  And you know that my eye for knitted objects on TV is absurdly over-developed.  So it should come as no surprise that while watching the second episode of this season, I just about jumped out of my chair with delight.

Look what Chummy’s holding:

Fetus 2And let’s take a closer look:

Fetus 1It’s amazing! A knitted fetus and uterus model.  How fantastic is that?  I love seeing knitting used in unique and useful ways!  I think I might have to take up midwifery, just so that I have an excuse to make my own fetus model.

Or, I suppose I could just work on one to keep myself busy while watching Call the Midwife.

Fetus Coin Purse by Sarah Hood  (This one is slightly less developed than Chummy’s.  But it’s more practical for us non-midwives.)

1233545803_230c48ccae_z[1]Womb by MK Carroll  (Sure, it’s not a fetus, but who could resist a knitting knitted uterus?)

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Chummy’s Afghan Redux

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This is a totally selfish post, with really very little value to you as a reader.  But I’m very excited about finishing my Call The Midwife-inspired afghan! (If you don’t remember what I am talking about, you can catch up here, here and here.)

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I used up almost all my leftover yarn from my many years of making socks.  It’s nothing more than a simple granny square blanket, whip stitched together.  I added a tiny single crochet edging to give the blanket a little more strength, since I plan on using it all the time as soon as the temperature drops out of the 60s (the 60s are “Summer Weather” out here in Seattle.  I was wearing shorts the other day, and my husband and I were going out to do some errands when he asked if I needed a jacket or something.  I said “No, I’m good.  It’s still plenty warm. It’s not supposed to get below 65 today.”  This is still weird to me, coming most recently from Austin, where if the temperature dropped to the 60s, you broke out the sweaters.  But I digress.)

Anyhoo, the blanket is kind of hideous, but I love it.  It’s mostly wool, so it’s really cozy, despite being fairly thin.  It’s just about the right size to fit over your lap when you’re sitting on the couch watching TV.  And I think it’s pretty delightful.

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I’m turning 50!

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Actually, I’m not turning 50… not even close.  But this is my 50th post!  How exciting!

It seems like I just started this blog yesterday.  Is it too early for me to repost some of my earlier posts?  Probably, but I’ll do it anyway.

My first pattern, the Lace-Edged Shawl, is still by far my most favorited/knit pattern.  Here’s the link to Ravelry.

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People also seem to like my Call the Midwife posts (but that’s probably due more to the show being awesome, than me writing anything particularly genius).

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People also seem to like my Call the Midwife posts (but that’s probably due more to the show being awesome, than me writing anything particularly genius).

 

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Although, my most liked post so far was my critique of Clueless:

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But despite all those, I think the series of posts I’m most proud of (wether or not you guys are into them, I’m not so sure), is my Sock Week posts.

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So, thanks for reading!  And here’s to 50 more posts.

It’s too pretty out for a real post

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If the sun’s out in Seattle, you’re pretty much required by law to spend your day outside.  So, I decided to sit out in the yard with a nice iced coffee and a pile of granny squares and sew them together.  Not a bad afternoon.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

After an hour or two of work and a few chapters of my most recent audiobook…

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And I’ve whip-stitched my squares together:

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They’re nowhere near an entire blanket yet, but they’re a start.  It’s going to end up being possibly the tackiest blanket ever (since I’m using up all my sock leftovers from over the years, and I tend to knit brightly colored socks), but I’m kind of OK with that.  It’ll be a nice project to work on a little at a time, whenever my bowl of sock yarn leftovers gets too full.

Granny Squares

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Want to make your own blanket like Chummy’s?  It’s super easy (and satisfying) to make granny squares from your scrap yarn.

I made you a video!  (I even figured out how to and sound and a title!  I’m still not sure about editing and stuff yet.  Next time, I’m thinking special effects, background music and unicorns.   Some day, I will become the Steven Spielberg of knitting/crochet videos.)

Inspiration: Chummy’s Afghan

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Now, if you’ve read any of this blog, you know that I have a major thing for costume dramas.  I don’t know why, but I think they’re just great.  And “Call the Midwives” is one of my favorites.  The stories are great, the costumes and sets are beautiful, and I want to be friends with all of the characters.

Also (and possibly most importantly…just kidding) the characters are all involved in “handicrafts,” and are always making things.  Chummy sews, the nuns knit toys for charity, etc.   The makers of the show (the director?  the producer? I don’t know about these things) are really good at making sure that the actors know what they’re doing.  For example, when the character knits, the actor doesn’t just wave her needles around like someone in a cartoon.

I was very excited when the creation of an afghan was a major plot point of the Season 2 finale.  Until I saw this:

blanket 1

And this:

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Holy anachronism, Batman!  If you’ve done any fiber arts, you can probably recognize that the blanket squares the ladies are making are Granny Squares.  These are super-traditional, basic building blocks of many afghans.  And the number 1 thing about them, is that they are CROCHETED.  Not knitted.

You can’t just go to the store and buy Granny Squares.  So, the props department for the show must have gone through the trouble of crocheting all the squares, then decided that it would look better on camera if they were stuck on knitting needles in the show.  Blows my mind.  (But maybe that’s why I’m not a props director.)

Anyway.  I’ll get off my soap box now.   *Deep breath*

Despite the clear issues with the knitting vs. crochet  thing, the story that accompanied the blanket was just beautiful.  (If you missed it, Chummy ends up in the hospital, and all the women of Nonatus House band together and put together the blanket for her.)

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Jenny and Sister Juliene deliver the blanket, and through the magic of love (doesn’t that sound like something the narrator would say?), Chummy wakes up and everyone is happy and healthy again.  Awww.

blanket 3

Inspiration: Call the Midwife

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Have you watched this show?  Holy crap, it’s so good!  It’s one of these BBC costume dramas that show up on PBS sometimes.  Beautiful costumes and sets, great characters, compelling stories. Look for it. Watch it. It’ll make you cry. Every. Episode.

It really should be called “Call the Midwife: Why You Should Never Get Pregnant.”  Seriously, nothing ends well.  Actually, that’s not true.  Most things end well, but they are very scary, gross, and/or painful in the middle.

But, really, the stars of the show are the fantastic hand-knits the babies are all wrapped up in.  Look at these!

Gorgeous, right?

Feeling inspired?  Have a friend who’s expecting?  Considering a career in midwifery? Try these patterns for a similar result:

Baby Cardigan/Shrug by Julia Noskova

Saartje’s Bootees by Saartje de Bruijn

Lullaby Layette by Lion Brand Yarn