As a common ‘ice-breaker’ at the start of management training courses, participants are asked to reveal something about themselves to the group that would not be immediately obvious. It is a while since I have had to undergo such rigours, but my most common answer was that I was a mega Star-Trek fan. This usually prompted discussion about which series was the best (Voyager, obviously, followed closely by Next Generation).
If I was feeling particularly chirpy and strong, however, I would offer up another guilty secret – I am a huge armchair snooker fan. Now, I realise that this is not everyone’s cup of tea. My step-father, for example, has been known to refer to it as ‘International Watching Paint Dry’ lol!
One of the reasons I am such a fan is because it is the perfect TV viewing to accompany any knitting or crochet activity. I can sit happily needling or hooking away, listing to the dulcet tones of the commentators, and looking up as and when something interesting appears to be happening. It is particularly pleasing, therefore, when the World Snooker Championships come round each Spring. With just over two whole weeks of intensive snooker action, it’s great for making progress with projects and this year is no exception.
In recent times, most of my crafting time has been devoted to my ‘spring blossom throw’, which I love. This is the latest position – a nice spurt of growth since the last post when this was mentioned:
So I thought it was about time I gave some crochet love to my ‘Mystical Lanterns’ project. I first introduced this to the blog a little while ago. It’s been great to really start moving forward with this one. As I said previously, I love the method of selecting colours (in essence, picking the next ball of yarn at random, regardless of the consequences). Overall, this is generating some fabulous colour combinations. But I must confess to the odd ‘fix’ every now and again. Here’s an example.
This motif just needed its final row – you can see the two colour choices I had available:
Either colour would have finished off the motif very nicely. But I felt like being a bit more jazzy. So I briefly rebelled against the colour-picking-system (oh, the naughtiness!) and…
went for the gold! Aren’t I just the little devil.
As you can see, I have nearly finished 4 sets of motifs, which I already adore. Only another 11 sets to go. I hope you agree, it’s going to be gorgeous!!
And since I am in such a jolly mood, let me finish with this – an oldie but goodie!! 🙂
Your post made me smile so much. Lovely crochet and then the discovery of a kindred Trekkie who also likes watching snooker! I hardly watch snooker any more these days but used to spend hours watching with my Dad when he was home on leave, and I would generally have some project or other to hand at the time. Courtesy of Netflix, though, I am catching up on old episodes of TNG and DS9 (having rewatched all of Voyager already). Happy crafting and watching.
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Thanks so much, Eleanor – fist bump for the snooker+star trek combo – go us!! 😀👏🏻💕
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Your throw colors are gorgeous. It’s like a welcome into spring. 😊
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Thanks so much, Carrie! Isn’t it glorious when art meets life, especially in the spring! 😀🌸🌱
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Wow this crochet project looks fantastic. I love it. You need some great Snooker Tv to finish it off. I used to watch snooker when Denis Taylor and Steve Davis were there, oh and then Ronnie Sullivan. Those were the days. I don’t watch much TV anymore and only just had mine installed back. So who knows I might crochet more again as well….. 🙂
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Thank you Ute! You never know what might help with getting that crochet hook busy again…! 🙂
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Your sense of colour is wonderful 💚❤️💛💜💙
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thanks so much Elisabeth 🙂
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Dave laughed at the reminder about IWPD! The crochet work is very pretty and I admire your patience and persistence! Xx
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Thank you Mum! These types of projects are a perfect balance of repetition and just enough challenge to maintain one’s interest 🙂
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Beautiful crochet! I had to laugh at you being hooked on snooker. Like many people, I was pretty obsessed in the 80s, but haven’t watched any since, maybe I should remedy that!
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Thanks Sarah – why not give it a try!
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Chaz and Dave, classic duo! I have been watching BBC Asia for the results and sports news in general. It’s such a relaxing watch and you can zone out and jump back in. It’s handy for reading, only looking up for a particularly enthusiastic clap.
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You have captured its essence perfectly! 🙂
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Oh my goodness, that throw is beautiful.. Such cherry colours all blended together.
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thank you so much Kim 🙂
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Your crochet project is coming along so well, Liz! Yippee!
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woo hoo indeed! 🙂
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The crochet is beautiful, Liz – the narrow line one (what’s the technical name?) is really gorgeous.
I used to watch snooker like an absolute addict at University. In 1985 I had an ancient, fuzzy, crappy old black and white television, so old it had a knob to rotate to change channel – not exactly ideal for watching a snooker final but it was the only TV in our block, and there were about 17 of us piled up on the bed watching Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor. As the tension built all the blokes would bury their faces in the duvet whenever anyone actually picked up a cue, shrieking “tell me what happens!! Don’t tell me!!” By the time it was all down to the final black we were in complete hysteria and the cheering when Dennis Taylor won could have been heard 100 miles away. I don’t think I’ve watched a game since – what could beat that?
I know you’ve read some of Lionel Shriver’s work – have you come across “The Post-Birthday World”? If you haven’t, look it up and you’ll see exactly why I’m mentioning it now! If you have, what did you think of it?
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Thank you Liz. I love your Davis v Taylor story. I had a similar experience, with friends clustered at our house. Only one of them was rooting for Davis; all the rest of us were cheering on Taylor. It was one of those incredible, unforgettable evenings. You are right that nothing much comes close, but it is all still a good watch.
And yes, I have read The Post-Birthday World (in fact, I have a signed copy, would you believe). I couldn’t get on with it at first, but put it aside and enjoyed it much more the second time. As usual with Shriver, her characters are hard to like, but I found the dual time thing to be skilful and interesting. What about you? xxx
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Thanks for this Liz. Her characters are hard to like indeed – the protaganist in So Much For That is about the only one I can think of who’s even mildly pleasant! I suspect she sees making any effort to be pleasant as a weakness, which must lead to a pretty uncomfortable life. I thought PBW ingenious but found it a bit over-plotted, with the exactness of the mirror-imaging being strained at times. But clever the way that the effects of not committing an act can be just as corrosive as committing one.
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If snooker watching helps you to keep looping that yarn, then I am all for it. Gorgeous work. And here’s something funny relating to pool ” One winning strategy pros use is called “knitting.” You might be asking yourself “What is knitting?” and “How can it help me play a better game of pool?” The term “knitting” should not be confused with the billiards term “nit,” which is a player or gambler who refuses to bet or wager on a relatively evenly matched game. “Knitting” on the other hand, is doing something simple during a complex game situation. ……….So the next time you are faced with a difficult shot remember to look for something simple. “Knitting” may be the answer!” https://www.pooldawg.com/article/pooldawg-library/knitting
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lol I love that article, thank you! it reminds me also of the Finland Olympic Team who were knitting (actual knitting this time!) to relax while competing in the recent Winter Olympics – perfect! 🙂
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Oh that’s brilliant! I just looked it up now.
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I don’t think they show snooker on TV here but I completely understand about sports being a great pastime while sewing or knitting or crocheting. I get a LOT done during college football season and any time the Olympics are on. Then, when I finish a project, I always remember what sporting event it was associated with! Both your projects are so wonderful–I keep trying to figure out which I like best! Can’t choose (can you?)!
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you are definitely right that other sports do just as well as snooker. In fact I find it hard to sit in front of any TV with idle hands. Of course, it is necessary to match one’s project to the programme in question – I have found that making anything remotely complicated while trying to watch something with subtitles is a no-no! As for my favourite project, I think I have to say that it is which ever one I am working on at the time. So glad you like them, thank you 🙂
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I remember Mum and I used to sit transfixed in front of ‘Pot Black’ when I still lived at home. I have watched snooker too but not recently as I don’t watch much TV any more. I had a laugh at Liz Wx’s comment about watching snooker on a black and white TV; the commentators were so skillful in those days describing everything they saw so carefully.
Your crochet projects are absolutely beautiful!
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it’s the classic ‘for those watching in black and white, the brown ball is behind the blue’ lol! And, ah, Pot Black – what a wonderful programme that was. Thank you so much for the compliment about the project – I’m glad you like them so much 🙂
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Glorious post! Like others of your commentators I was an avid watcher of snooker in the late 70s/early 80s. I wonder why I stopped? But when I WAS watching it, I always had a project on the go. Maybe that’s why I struggle these days to get back into yarnwork – I need the snooker accompaniment! And just last week the subject of Pot Black came up. I loved that programme! Unfortunately, B is very firmly in the IWPD camp! 😖
We both enjoyed Star Trek – though I’m not sure I could crochet through that! And for me, it has to be the original series, nothing afterwards came close!
Meanwhile – gorgeous colours and marvellous progress with these projects, Liz. Happy Hooking!
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So pleased you liked it Sandra, thank you! I can certainly see why you would root for the original Star Trek – definitely a classic! And I would encourage you to give the snooker a go as part of rekindling your habit – such a good cause, how could B object?!? 🙂
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