Goblet of Fire Knitter's Review

Update: a few details added after our second viewing of the film on the super-big screen at the IMAX in NYC!

We went to the midnight showing last night, and, well, it was FANTASTIC. Mostly I think reviews for movies like this are a waste of time, because you're all going to go see it anyway, so instead of telling you about how it was funny and sad and beautiful all at once, I'll tell you about the new knitting patterns that will come from this movie! There are too many sweaters to describe, of course, as there should be in a movie set in the Scottish highlands. These are the best of the knitted items, as I see it. (Links go to Mugglenet screen shots, don't click 'em if you want to wait for the movie.)

• The New Weasley Sweater. Yes, just in time for everyone to finish their PoA-style sweater with all the intarsia, Ron has a brand-new sweater which he wears on the Hogwarts Express (and at other points during the film). It's a marled brown wool, with what looks like raglan shoulders and decorative brown buttons along the shoulder seams. The neckline has a slight rolled edge above some wide ribbing. The R on the front is the same shape as before but it appears to be either felt or leather applique! It's a good-looking sweater, still slouchy but more constructed somehow.


• Hermione's Fair Isle. This one is in the pre-released screenshot of Hermione and Harry before the first task. It's a gray turtleneck with pink fair isle and cables running up the body to the bottom of the yoke, and it's lovely. A challenge for the more advanced knitter.


• Gred and Forge's Hats. Seen here, these are off-white stocking caps with some gray patterning and a great big pom-pom on top. Looks like a quick and easy knit; I predict it'll be popular.


• Ginny's hat. In the second task scenes, Gin-gin wears an orange stocking cap with big colored stitches woven into it. This one looks like a lot of fun to knit and wear and I'd love to get a picture of it so I can start figuring out a pattern.


• Ginny's cardigan. Ginny wears this zip-front sweater at the very beginning of the movie. What you can't see in this picture is the hood, which is long and pointy and reaches all the way down her back. It has 2x2 or 4x4 ribbing along the edges, more of that multicolored embroidery spiraling up it, and another big tassel hanging off the end. So cute!


• Ron's blanket. Is this the same one we saw at the Burrow in a previous film? Another fun (though time-consuming) knit with lots of room for variations.


• Gloves - During the first task you can see Hermione and Neville both wearing nice knitted gloves. Neville's are a mix of darker colors (blue/gray/black?) with some sort of Norwegian-style pattern, and Hermione's are pale blue with little white dots on the backs.


• School Scarf - Sharp-eyed knitters discuss this scarf here. In this picture, you can see a scarf behind Karkaroff, and it appears to be a solid gray scarf with narrow stripes of each house's color (red, yellow, green, and presumably blue). The shape looks just like the usual House scarves, so this will be an easy modification.

That's all for now. The DVD is coming out in April, so we'll be able to get more details then. In the words of Fred or George, "All right everyone, go back to your knitting!"