While We Were Knitting

This was Monica and Nicole's last regular episode (still friends, our schedules are just getting busier). We were both captivated by the second season of Interview with The Vampire, enjoying the turns and the twists and the drama, even to the detriment of our knitting! Nicole knit The Good, The Gilded, and The Goth by Heather Broadhurst and Monica knit Birdrock by Anne Ginger and a ribbed hat. Opening and closing music by Chris Croarkin.

This month Nicole and Monica tried to knit in theaters again (spoiler alert, Nicole still struggled) and watched the newest Dune movie, which was full of beautiful visuals and some wild events. Nicole knit Turtleneck Vest⁠ by the Red Heart Design Team and Monica knit Cozy Classic Raglan by Jessie Maed Designs. Opening and closing music by Chris Croarkin.

This month Nicole and Monica watched the 2022 AMC series, Interview with the Vampire, which offered plenty of wild rides, melodrama, toxic relationships, and deep enjoyment. Nicole knit Open Road by Amy Gunderson and swatched for Turtleneck Vest by the Red Heart Design Team. Monica knit the Pressed Flowers Cowl by Amy Cristoffers. Opening and closing music by Chris Croarkin.

This month Nicole and Monica watched the second season of Our Flag Means Death, and discussed second season pitfalls, efficiency in storytelling, new characters we loved, and had some cat interruptions. Nicole knit Pebble Arch Shawl by Karen Hoyle, and Monica knit Sockhead Slouch Hat by Kelly McClure. Opening and closing music by Chris Croarkin.

This month Nicole and Monica watched another movie in theaters, Greta Gerwig's live action Mattel movie, Barbie. We laughed, we cried, we shouted "oh my god!" We had a blast and we had notes. A movie that truly has to be experienced and that we can't recommend enough. Monica knit Sockhead Slouch Hat by Kelly McClure and Nicole knit a tube cowl. Opening and closing music by Chris Croarkin.

This month Nicole and Monica watched Centaurworld, a surprising animated series about found family, insane bits, PTSD, different animation styles, evil blobbiness, and some really great songs. Monica knit ⁠⁠Planetary Pullover⁠⁠ by ⁠⁠Skeinanigans⁠⁠ and Nicole knit ⁠⁠Wee Sherlock⁠⁠ by ⁠⁠Taiga Hilliard⁠⁠ and spun. We snuck it in just before password sharing expired, so this will be our last Netflix show. Opening and closing music by Chris Croarkin.

This month Nicole and Monica watched Magic Mike XXL, a movie with a lot of heart and very little plot. It follows a group of male entertainers (read: strippers) as they travel from Miami to Myrtle Beach for a one last ride. If you haven't seen it you should go see it, because it's a true joy and delight. Nicole knit Fantastic Fingerless Mittens by STASH Lounge and Monica knit Brioshi by Carissa Browning and Reisi Shawl by Raina K. Opening and closing music by Chris Croarkin.

Please forgive some audio issues on Nicole's side.  This month Nicole and Monica listened to Every Heart a Doorway, a novella written by Seanan McGuire and read by Cynthia Hopkins. It a murder mystery set at a school for teens who have returned to our world from portal worlds and desperately want to go back to them. We talked about fantasy novellas, content for and about teens, aesthetics and world building, and how much exposition and explanations should a story have. Nicole knit Candy Stripe Shawl by Christina Werge and Monica knit Snowflake by TinCanKnits. Opening and closing music by Chris Croarkin.

This month Nicole and Monica watched Do Revenge, a 2022 high school movie that draws from Strangers on a Train, but takes it up to eleven on plot twists, fashion, emotions, and 90s references. Nicole also attempts to explain thirst tweeting. Nicole knit X-Ray by Marjukka Vuorisalo and Monica knit Rikke Hat by Sarah Young.  New opening and closing music by Chris Croarkin. 

Nicole and Monica watched Turning Red, a Pixar movie about a Chinese-Canadian girl who's entry into teenhood is complicated by the fact that she turns into a giant red panda. We talked a lot about moms, the 90s (even though this movie is technically set in 2002), friendship, and boybands. This month Nicole knit Honeycomb Scarf by Nancy Marchant and Monica knit Honey Cowl by Antonia Shankland. Crazy (instrumental) by SilentCrafter https://soundcloud.com/silentcrafterofficial Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

This month Nicole and Monica watched Snake Eyes: GI Joe Origins. Monica educated Nicole on GI Joe lore, the history of the comics, and we discussed how Monica was really the target audience, but the movie didn't really work emotionally for either of us. We did enjoy the aesthetics though. Nicole spun, and Monica knit Mokume by Jennifer Weissman. Crazy (instrumental) by SilentCrafter https://soundcloud.com/silentcrafterofficial Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

This month Monica and Nicole watched Master and Commander: Far Side of the World. It's an age of sail movie set during the Napoleonic war, focused on a British ship's captain and doctor. It's not technically a romance, except in our hearts. Nicole spun and Monica knit Anisah by Dee O'Keefe.  Crazy (instrumental) by SilentCrafter https://soundcloud.com/silentcrafterofficial Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Nicole and Monica watched In the Heights, a live action adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's NYC musical. We discuss how Broadway loves NYC, the musical versus movie adaptation, and accidentally go on a grim little journey about climate change.  Monica knit Reversible Brioche Slouchy Hat by Kathy Ticho and Carbeth by Kate Davies Designs, Nicole knit Bubble Up Towel by Susan Luni and spun.  Crazy (instrumental) by SilentCrafter https://soundcloud.com/silentcrafterofficial Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0