Idle Hands

Knitflix: Spring Movies

Happy spring, friends.  It's Lindy from Why Not Us? and after a year in rainy Vancouver, British Columbia, I've gained a new, more ardent appreciation for sunny spring days. 

Here's a transcript of a recent conversation with my sister-in-law (a native of Vancouver):

Me: I always feel weird complaining about the rain here.  I mean, I knew what I was signing up for.

Linds: Please, complaining about the weather is our national pasttime.

However, I will say that all the dark, soggy days make the arrival of spring that much more glorious. 

When there's so much warmth and color and breeze to be found outside, it's hard to imagine staying inside with a movie and our knitting needles, but for those days when the spring showers that missed their turn in April arrive in May or June, here are a few films that will help you bring the spring indoors...

1. Tuck Everlasting

For long time fans of the Natalie Babbitt novel, this may be a bit of a controversial choice since there are some significant changes in the movie from the original story.  That said, I love this sweet little film so much.

It has a beautiful score, lovely Maryland filming locations, romance, spring flowers, a baby fawn and William Hurt in a rowboat...

Hard to go wrong.

2. Royal Wedding

Guys, for real, who doesn't feel like the world is a bit sunnier and more lovely after a Fred Astaire dance number? 

Royal Wedding is a 1951 MGM film about a brother and sister - played by Fred Astaire and Jane Powell - who take their singing-dancing Broadway act to London just in time for a royal spring wedding. 

Hilarious romantic antics abound and Fred Astaire dances on the ceiling.  You know, the usual...

Also, the outfits in this movie are AMAZING...

Jane Powell's traveling suits make me seriously reconsider my usual sweatpants-and-running-shoes airplane ensemble.

(P.S. If you need a little extra fun in your day, take a second to read the imdb summary of this movie.  It's worth it).

3. Sense and Sensibility

Despite the fact that Persuasion is actually my favorite of Jane Austen's novels (and the PBS movie with Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones is so, so good), this version of Sense and Sensibility directed by Ang Lee and penned by the great Emma Thompson is the one that always makes me think of spring...

This is one of those rare films that's basically firing on all cylinders - performances, direction, script, score, cinematography - which taken altogether make it a near perfect movie.  Not to mention, afterwards you'll find yourself saying things like, "We've been enjoying very fine weather."  WIN.

xo,

Lindy

Knitflix: Mexico Inspiration

Hey there, it's Lindy from Why Not Us?

We're almost to August (I know, I sometimes think time is secretly laughing at my inability to keep up with its passing), which is traditionally the month that I start making a list and mapping out a gameplan for the projects I want to tackle as gifts for the holidays.  Admittedly, the list is often a bit too extensive and ambitious for me to reasonably conquer (the aforementioned passing of time = my crafting enemy), however, I find that making the list early gets my creative inspiration flowing and helps me avoid some of the mad panic of last minute project-finishing come December.

Having spent the last five months in a small city in central Mexico, I can attest that there are many things that cannot be found here -- Duncan Hines boxed brownie mix, blue cheese, Diet Coke -- but most importantly, idle hands.  Seriously, I've yet to pass a single person in my neighborhood whose hands aren't busily employed in a task, whether it be embroidery, crochet, knitting, shelling peas, de-thorning catcus (no kidding, it's a thing), or pressing tortillas.  All this productivity serves both to shame me for the many, many afternoons I've spent watching re-runs of Bones, and inspire me to get my creativity on. 

For this edition of Knitflix, I thought I'd send you a little Mexico inspiration of your own to help wake the creative muse...

All the Pretty Horses.

This is one of my favorite books of all time, and while the movie has its pros and cons, there's something about its sparse dialogue, simple, lovely musical score and gorgeous watercolor landscapes that make it ideal for a quiet evening of knitting.  Director Billy Bob Thorton and Cinematographer Barry Markowitz showcased natural light in their shots -- sunrises, sunsets, moonlight, candlelight -- giving the movie a warm, intimate vibe... 

In short, perfect inspiration for soft winter blankets, scarves and sweaters.  I love the landscape tones of these baby blankets from the Purl Bee...

and these sunset yarns via pinterest...

What's on your crafting list?

xo,
Lindy

Knitflix: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Happy Autumn, friends! It's Lindy from Why Not Us?, and it's a blustery October day in New York City.  I love this time of year so much because, as the days start getting shorter and colder, it means it's time to hole up in my apartment with a stack of my favorite movies and get started on the many projects I plan to knit as gifts for the holidays.  Having been the recipient of many beautiful handmade gifts from Dawn over the years (It's almost cold enough to wear my scarf!), I know first hand that there is something so special about receiving such a gift from someone I love.

Whenever I think of handmade gifts, the movie that comes to mind is the 1971 classic, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory...

Remember how Charlie's Grandma Josephine spends her days knitting Charlie that bright red scarf for his birthday?

There's something about that warm, cheery scarf that made you feel like Charlie's luck was about to change...

Here's to a lovely fall season full of handmade gifts that usher in lucky days!

Knitflix: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Lindy here with another Knitflix installment.  There was an apocalyptic deluge of rain outside in Manhattan today, friends.  (Okay, possibly I exaggerate.  I'm from Los Angeles, so any amount of rain seems like the start of a Biblical flood from my perspective).  Whenever it rains in New York, I can't help but remember the scene at the end of Breakfast at Tiffany's...

...and suddenly, being soaked to the skin seems oddly comforting and romantic.  If there's a more perfect movie to watch curled up on the couch with your latest project in hand, I don't know what it is.  I'm sure Holly Golightly would agree...

I love the bright pop of color the red yarn gives this scene.

It makes me want to run out and buy the brightest, softest, cherry-red yarn I can find and knit the rain away.

Knitflix: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Who's ready for a knitting movie night?  Today's knitflix recommendation from Why Not Us? guest blogger Lindy Parker: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Friends, I love this movie. 

Here's the plot in a nutshell: Seventeen year old Geneviéve is in love with a mechanic named Guy, but Geneviéve's mother forbids them to marry until Guy fulfills his duty to God and country by joining the military.  Guy promptly enlists, spends the night with Geneviéve, knocks her up, and ships out for Algeria.  Geneviéve is left to confess her condition to her mother, take a job selling umbrellas, and wander around singing mournful songs about her sorrow.  Eventually, she pulls herself together and marries a jeweler named Roland.  Meanwhile, Guy returns from war wounded and alone, only to find Geneviéve married and raising his child with another man.  Guy retaliates by marrying another woman and fulfilling his lifelong ambition of opening a gas station. One day Geneviéve wanders randomly into the gas station, and she and Guy sing a song about the life they could've had. The end.

High octane thrills, right?  Truthfully, the real genius of this movie is not necessarily the plot or dialogue delivered entirely in song, but rather the brightly colored paint, fabric and wallpaper that can only be described as fabulous...

Did I mention the swoon-worthy wardrobe?  Look at this magenta scalloped coat and matching dress buttons...

Sigh.  It's enough to make to send me to the fabric store for the brightest brocades and Crêpe De Chine I can find.

Guest Blogger Lindy Parker: Knitflix

Since my life at Why Not Us? is largely consumed with all things cinematic, it's perhaps no surprise that the majority of my knitting and sewing projects are finished while watching movies.  In fact, I would argue that there are few activities more perfectly matched than knitting and movie-viewing to keep our minds delighted and our idle hands busy. :)  Who among us doesn't love to curl up with our latest project and a much beloved DVD and wile away the hours? 

Further, there's a veritable cornucopia of movies out there that provide not only a knitting companion, but knitting inspiration as well...

Coraline

In my opinion, Coraline might be the single most mind-blowing knitting movie ever.  Miniature knitter, Althea Crome, used miniscule knitting needles (as thin as human hair!) to knit teeny tiny sweaters, hats, mittens and scarves to outfit the inquisitive, stop-motion figure of Coraline.

Check out Althea in action...

 

Crazy, no?  The details are so intricate and precise.  It kind of makes me want to chuck the whole writing dream, and dedicate my days to the craft of miniature knitting.