Tuesday 8 October 2024

Knitted Twisted Hat

I knitted another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove. I used Caron Anniversary Cake and the colour is Rainbow Prismatic.


I found the pattern here.


I converted the pattern because the yarn is thicker than the pattern. I used 6.5 needles and 6 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles or circular needles.

Cast on 84 stitches. Place marker for beginning of round. 

Ribbing Round: 
[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round for 8 rounds..

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around.
Repeat round 2 for 30 rounds.

Shape Crown
  • Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] repeat
  • Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 2: [K1, yo, k2tog k2tog] repeat
  • Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 5: [K2tog] repeat
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 sts together
p = purl
St st = Stockinette stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
yo = yarn over

Monday 7 October 2024

Knitted hat

I knitted a man's family hat. I used Caron Anniversary Cake and the colour is Rainbow Prismatic. 


I found the pattern here and it was an easy pattern. 


I adjusted the pattern so I could knit it on circular needles and avoid having to sew the seam at the end and didn't do a pompom.

Cast on 60 stitches. 
  • 1st row: *K1. P1*. Repeat to end of row.
  • Repeat this row 7 more times.

Proceed in stocking stitch until work from beg measures 6 inches/15 cm.

Shape crown: 
  • 1st row: *K2tog. K2*. Repeat to end of row.
  • 2nd row: Knit.
  • 3rd row: Knit.
  • 4th row: Knit.
  • 5th row: *K2tog. K1*. Repeat to end of row.
  • 6th row: Knit.
  • 7th row: Knit.
  • 8th row: Knit.
  • 9th row: K2tog. Repeat to end of row.
  • 10th row: *K2tog. Repeat to end of row.

Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread end through remaining stitches. Draw up and fasten securely.

Book ~ "The More The Terrier" (2024) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is relieved to be headed back to Paterson, New Jersey, after a week-long family vacation in the Adirondacks. He's ready to put the holly jolly season way behind him and settle in at home with his three dogs. But when they finally arrive, there is an extra dog eagerly awaiting them, as well as one anxious dog sitter.

When the dog showed up on the doorstep a few days ago, the sitter knew Andy would know what to do. Indeed, Andy recognizes Murphy, who the Carpenters fostered before the dog went home with BJ Bremer and his mother. BJ wanted to learn all he could about caring for Murphy, which made Andy like him immediately.

When Andy goes to take Murphy back to the Bremers, though, instead of the happy reunion he expects, he finds BJ's mother in tears. It turns out Murphy ran off ... after BJ was arrested for murder. Andy had hoped for a quiet Christmas vacation but he likes Murphy’s family and his golden retriever, Tara, likes Murphy so he can't resist getting involved. The case isn’t as simple as Andy thought it would be, though, with BJ suspected of murdering one of his professors. With nothing to go on but Andy's own conviction in BJ's dog-loving character, proving his innocence would be a Christmas miracle.

Andy is a criminal defense lawyer who doesn't want any clients.  Because of the money his father left him and some lucrative cases, he is able to not work and spend his time with his friend, Willie, running the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue that he and Willie formed.  He is married to Laurie, they have a teenage son, Ricky, three dogs and he is enjoying his life.

When Andy and his family get back from a vacation, there are four dogs waiting for him instead of three. His dog sitter said the fourth dog arrived a couple days ago and she didn't know what else to do so took him in. They recognize the dog as Murphy, a former foster dog, and return the dog to the family who had adopted him. That's when Andy discovers that BJ, the son, had been arrested for murdering one of his professors. When Andy meets the lawyer who has stepped up to defend BJ, he senses something isn't right and takes over the case to ensure BJ gets a fair trial. As Andy and his team start investigating, it doesn't take long until potential witnesses start to disappear.

This is the 30th in the Andy Carpenter series ... I've read them all and I'm still enjoying this series.  Even though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the ones before it to know what is going on). I like the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing. The author even includes himself in this book as Laurie is reading a book by David Rosenfelt and Andy doesn't see why he is her favourite author! It was written mostly in first person perspective in Andy's voice.

I like Andy ... I think he would be a hoot to be around and he's quite generous with his time and money (he never charges for his services and he always picks up the tab for his friends at his favourite restaurant whether he is there or not). Andy admits he is a bit of a wimp so part of his team is the K-Team (Laurie, a former police officer and now an investigator, Marcus and Cory, a former police officer). Sam is his accountant who is also a computer hack who wants to be part of the action.

KC's tree, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

I visited KC's tree at Trinity Bellwoods Park ... I hadn't been since July.

The leaves at the top are starting to change colour. Her tree is usually one of the last for that to happen but surprisingly it's one of the first this year.

Sunday 6 October 2024

Knitted Twisted Hat

I knitted another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove. I used Caron Anniversary Cake and the colour is Rainbow Prismatic.


I found the pattern here.


I converted the pattern because the yarn is thicker than the pattern. I used 6.5 needles and 6 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles or circular needles.

Cast on 84 stitches. Place marker for beginning of round. 

Ribbing Round: 
[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round for 8 rounds..

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around.
Repeat round 2 for 30 rounds.

Shape Crown
  • Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] repeat
  • Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 2: [K1, yo, k2tog k2tog] repeat
  • Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 5: [K2tog] repeat
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 sts together
p = purl
St st = Stockinette stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
yo = yarn over

Saturday 5 October 2024

Knitted hat

I knitted a man's family hat. I used Caron Anniversary Cake and the colour is Rainbow Prismatic. 


I found the pattern here and it was an easy pattern. 


I adjusted the pattern so I could knit it on circular needles and avoid having to sew the seam at the end and didn't do a pompom.

Cast on 60 stitches. 
  • 1st row: *K1. P1*. Repeat to end of row.
  • Repeat this row 7 more times.

Proceed in stocking stitch until work from beg measures 6 inches/15 cm.

Shape crown: 
  • 1st row: *K2tog. K2*. Repeat to end of row.
  • 2nd row: Knit.
  • 3rd row: Knit.
  • 4th row: Knit.
  • 5th row: *K2tog. K1*. Repeat to end of row.
  • 6th row: Knit.
  • 7th row: Knit.
  • 8th row: Knit.
  • 9th row: K2tog. Repeat to end of row.
  • 10th row: *K2tog. Repeat to end of row.

Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread end through remaining stitches. Draw up and fasten securely.

Friday 4 October 2024

Knitted hat

I knitted a man's family hat. I used Caron Anniversary Cake and the colour is Rainbow Prismatic. 


I found the pattern here and it was an easy pattern. 


I adjusted the pattern so I could knit it on circular needles and avoid having to sew the seam at the end and didn't do a pompom.

Cast on 60 stitches. 
  • 1st row: *K1. P1*. Repeat to end of row.
  • Repeat this row 7 more times.

Proceed in stocking stitch until work from beg measures 6 inches/15 cm.

Shape crown: 
  • 1st row: *K2tog. K2*. Repeat to end of row.
  • 2nd row: Knit.
  • 3rd row: Knit.
  • 4th row: Knit.
  • 5th row: *K2tog. K1*. Repeat to end of row.
  • 6th row: Knit.
  • 7th row: Knit.
  • 8th row: Knit.
  • 9th row: K2tog. Repeat to end of row.
  • 10th row: *K2tog. Repeat to end of row.

Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread end through remaining stitches. Draw up and fasten securely.

Mr. Souvlaki, Etobicoke, ON

I had lunch today at Mr. Souvlaki on North Queen Street in Etobicoke. 


When I was last there in April, it had recently become a corporate-run restaurant and there had been some changes. Today I ordered a skewer of chicken souvlaki, rice and potatoes and it was just okay … not as good as before the management change so I doubt I’ll be back, which is too bad.

Thursday 3 October 2024

Book ~ "The Seven Year Slip" (2023) Ashley Poston

From GoodreadsSometimes the worst day of your life happens and you have to figure out how to live after it.

So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone decent to love and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone - she isn’t sure her heart can take it.

And then she finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.

Except he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.

Her aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed.

After all, love is never a matter of time - but a matter of timing.


Clementine has worked for a publishing company for seven years ago and is poised to move into her boss' job. One day she comes home and finds a strange man named Iwan in her apartment. He is the son of her aunt's friend and apparently her aunt had let him stay there for the summer while she was away ... except her aunt passed away six month ago. Clementine realizes that Iwan's timeline is seven years in the past. She remembers her aunt had told her that the apartment is "magical" and this is what's happening. Clementine allows Iwan to stay but sometimes when Clementine comes home, Iwan is in her apartment and it's seven years ago and sometimes he's not ... she never knows when or how it will happen again. As she gradually gets to know Iwan, she starts to fall in love with him but not knowing when he'll appear makes it difficult.

I like reading time travel books and that's why this book caught my eye. I thought the writing style and story was okay (it was a bit draggy). I liked the concept but thought it could be carried out better. I found it a bit hard to believe that Clementine and Iwan would fall for each other so quickly considering they had infrequent random encounters. It's written in first person's perspective in Clementine's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Wednesday 2 October 2024

Knitted Twisted Hat

I knitted another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove. I used Caron Anniversary Cake and the colour is Rainbow Prismatic.


I found the pattern here.


I converted the pattern because the yarn is thicker than the pattern. I used 6.5 needles and 6 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles or circular needles.

Cast on 84 stitches. Place marker for beginning of round. 

Ribbing Round: 
[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round for 8 rounds..

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around.
Repeat round 2 for 30 rounds.

Shape Crown
  • Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] repeat
  • Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 2: [K1, yo, k2tog k2tog] repeat
  • Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] repeat
  • Decrease round 5: [K2tog] repeat
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 sts together
p = purl
St st = Stockinette stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
yo = yarn over

Toronto Biennial of Art, Toronto, ON

Toronto Biennial of Art is 10 weeks of free contemporary art across Toronto every two years ... this year’s is September 21 to December 1. 

I checked out the 32 Lisgar Street hub this afternoon and there’s lots of interesting things to see … exhibits, videos, VR and more. Go check it out!