Here is my "annual" Twelfth Night photo, from the 1987 Royal Shakespeare Company production -- Jim Hooper as Fabian, Roger Allam as a rather svelte Sir Toby, and David Bradley as the dimwitted Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Brilliant, all -- with Harriet Walter as Viola and Antony Sher as Malvolio. I had the good fortune to see this production in Stratford, and it still glows in my memory.
I shall not hazard much of a guess as to where in the play this photo was taken, since it would seriously distract me from getting this post written, but here is as handy a quote as any, I think -- Fabian says to Sir Andrew, talking him into duelling with Cesario (Viola in disguise), "you are now sailed into the north of my lady's opinion; where you will hang like an icicle on a Dutchman's beard, unless you do redeem it by some laudable attempt either of valour or policy," (Act 3, Scene 2) which laudable attempt is unfortunately beyond Sir Andrew's, er, limited capabilities. Bradley was wonderfully dense -- not quite as poignant as Richard E. Grant in the 1996 movie, perhaps -- but very funny, nevertheless.
In knitting news -- because there is some! -- I finished my Spey Valley socks just before Christmas.
This grey wool -- Regia 4-Ply farbe 44 -- is wonderfully hairy and dour, quite Scottish, I thought.
Am delighted with the Vikkel Braid, which is basically just a twisted stitch laid on its side. After you work the twist -- a K second st tbl, K first st maneuver familiar from EZ's January Aran and other projects -- you put the last st worked back on the left needle and repeat. Instead of slanting 45° it slants 90, for a fantastically different effect.
And I started a Vintage Velvet scarf in some delicious "Touch Me" chenille -- very touchable, indeed. I frequently find myself just petting it!
Look forward to seeing your completed Vintage Velvet.
Perhaps one day you would be willing to post on your favorite film adaptations of Shakespeare?
Have you started over reading the Aubrey/Maturin series? I'm in the midst of Laurie King's Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes series. Are you familiar with them? Seems like they may be up your alley.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Katy | January 06, 2008 at 01:14 PM
I loved the Vikkel braid on the Spey Valley socks too - so clever and such a lovely finishing touch on a relatively simple pair of socks.
I am jealous about Vintage Velvet - how lovely!
Posted by: Rose Red | January 06, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Happy New Year! I really like the texture on the socks. :) I love your "annual" Twelfth Night photos. Still one of my very favorite plays...will have to watch the movie versions at some point. The color of the Touch Me is beautiful. The photo makes me want to pet it too. :)
Posted by: Marie | January 13, 2008 at 02:11 AM
I hope you are not having the problem I had when I worked with chenille. It kept twisting tighter and tighter until I had to stop and hold the ball up to unwind. Finally ended up putting it in a baggie with a small slot to pull the yarn out and letting it spin as I went along. I still have skeins of it left that I just look at and shudder. Yet it does feel so nice and the color is such a beautiful teal.
Posted by: Mom | January 14, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Loving the photos - that chenille looks just wonderful ( why has chenille fallen out of favour so much? it used to be readily available and when I was pondering a winter scarf and wanted some there was none in my usual yarn haunts, hmmmm), anyway it is gorgeous and I love that colour too (also love the socks - they look decidedly serious socks - as opposed to the light and pretties that are gorgeous but ubiquitous).
Posted by: juliet | February 01, 2008 at 03:05 AM
How are you? I am guessing Girl Scouts have you very busy. Do the Daisy's sell cookies?
Posted by: PICAdrienne | February 01, 2008 at 01:35 PM