by Kat | Jan 31, 2018 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Welcome, Unravelers!
And, just like that January is over!
It was a good month for knitting! I managed to finish three projects! And, I have cast on another sweater for Berroco’s Lopi-Along! I started Strokkur yesterday but, I am not too far along. I love how Ysolda has me counting rows rather than measuring. I did get row gauge (which is very good) but I did not get stitch gauge, so I am knitting accordingly. It was a cold and blustery day yesterday, which makes for wonderful knitting time!
But, better than knitting was my January reading! The month started out with a bit of disappointment in the book selections, but it closed out with some really wonderful reads and I somehow managed to finish 12 books this month!
I finished reading The Girl in the Ice and loved it! A well written crime mystery. I gave it 4-stars and will try another book from this series!
I also finished listening to A Trick of the Light! Ahhhh! There is just something wonderful about Armand Gamache, and this is my favorite one yet! (I know, I say that every time, but really – the character development is just amazing and so touching in this book!) 5-stars and I highly recommend this series!
I started listening to The Woman Who Smashed Codes on Monday and really did not want to stop listening! It is wonderful!
I started reading The Snow Child.
Here is to this long month being over. The days are feeling less dark and February, while still cold, is, thankfully, not long! And, there is so much fun in February! Want to Lopi-Along? You can still join in, there is plenty of time! Are you up for some Olympic Knitting? I am pretty sure Team Rules Schmules still has openings! Perhaps, you dream of Banging out a Carbeth…and, if none of those strike your fancy, tomorrow clue #1 of Kirsten Kapur’s sock MKAL starts! So much knitting, so few days!
If you are joining in today with all the Unraveler’s, please leave your link in your comment! Have an amazing Wednesday and thank you for stopping by!
by Kat | Jan 30, 2018 | General, In This Moment
Juliann began with this idea on her blog last week and it just feels like the perfect thing, so I will be joining her here.
Today, my thoughts are all about letters and handwriting as I get ready for the Month of Letters in February!
Want to be on my list? Let me know in the comments!
by Kat | Jan 29, 2018 | General, In This Moment
It was a full weekend that perhaps went just a bit too fast.
But, Stopover is done – save weaving in ends and just in time for the return of winter tonight!
I had planned on swatching for Strokkur over the weekend, but I outside of finishing Stopover, I barely knit. I know, what is up with that?
I might have entirely lost my mind, but I am going to join team rules schmules and do a little Olympic knitting, because a sweater and socks are not enough. Hahaha!
Fortunately, my list is not overwhelming today and includes finishing slipper number 2, weaving in ends, and swatching!
I hope you have a happy Monday and I am wondering what is on your list today?
by Kat | Jan 26, 2018 | General
Friday, that day of the week that puts an automatic grin on everyone’s face! And, the sun is shining brightly here with temps that are supposed to get into the 50’s! Steve doesn’t know this (Hi Sweetie!) but I am going to make him go take a walk this afternoon at Boyce Mayview!
On the knitting front, I did manage to get to the colorwork section of Stopover yesterday, but it is not finished…Maybe today, but more likely this weekend, which will give me 3 FO’s for January and my first completed project for my #makenine2018. So, this year is absolutely off to a great start!
I crocheted slipper number one together and I am not quite certain I like how it looks. I will rip it out and try an i-cord join and see if that looks better. I want to get them finished, and have cast on for slipper number two, but have not finished it yet.
My February knitting looks to be just as good as January! I have plans to start Strokkur on the first for Berroco’s Lopi-Along. I need to swatch so I am ready to go! And, I will be mystery sock knitting with Kirsten.
Now, how about some links?
There were some really fun mitten patterns this week: Want to Lopi-Along but a sweater seems daunting? Then perhaps Kate Attherly has the answer for you in her Oh, Canada Mittens and Moose Mittens (And, they are free patterns!!)
Maybe a hat? Lopi-Along with Salt Spring Toque or Saxifrage Tam (again, they are FREE!)
The sweaters were so so so knit-worty this week: Lichen, Sing Winter, Inveraray, Còinneach, Mae Cardigan, [BIG] rubble, Sunday Morning, and Timanfaya (I might be tossing the stash to see what I have that might work for [BIG] rubble!)
The Cooler Side of Warm is a knit-worthy cowl to add to your winter collection! (and free!)
There were some too cute kids knits this week: Odette Hoodie and Namya child cardigan
Valentine’s Day is coming: Palpitation
And, finally, the latest Plucky Collection is just gorgeous.
That is all I have for the week! See you back here on Monday and have a great weekend everyone!
by Kat | Jan 25, 2018 | General, Words
Sometimes the thing you wish for is the thing you get! I am sitting her wondering how on earth it is Thursday already, and then remembered I was hoping for a quick week, and quick it has been!
Thing One:
My new girl crush: Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina! Her comments at the sentencing of Nassar were powerful, brilliant, and I hope, inspiring to the victims.
Thing Two:
I am still working on shedding these last 30 lbs. I got a bit derailed over the holidays and was feeling disappointed in myself…that is until I took my measurements this morning. I have lost 3 more inches which I am entirely crediting to Pilate’s!
Thing Three:
The three tubes became one!
Now, if you’ll excuse me I am off to do a bit of a happy dance, and my Pilates! And, then knit a bit! I am wondering if I can get Stopover done by tomorrow… Happy Almost Friday, err Thursday everyone!
Oh, and if you want to see more things head on over to Carole’s!
by Kat | Jan 24, 2018 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Winter time, and the knitting is easy…
The last time I talked about my knitting, I was in the midst of determining if I had enough yarn to finish my Stopover. So, some crazy knitty math was done and it will be close, but by my calculations, I think I will have the tiniest bit of yarn left so I will have enough to kitchner the underarms! I have started my second sleeve and am inching along on it. I have not been doing much knitting (outside of that birthday knitting that is finished and will be blocking today!)
However, Death Cleaning is winning big. I don’t know what got into me, but maybe this stretch of warm weather we have had has given me a bit of Spring Fever and I have been cleaning accordingly!
However, reading has not slowed at all and it has improved dramatically from last week!
I finished The Orphan’s Tale and Lie With Me. One was awesome, the other not so much. I gave The Ophan’s Tale 5-stars. It was moving and at times heartbreaking. I fell in love with Noa and Astrid and I highly recommend it! Lie With Me got 2-stars from me. I had high hopes for this book based upon the description from the publisher but, honestly, for most of the book I felt like this… what the heck is going on??? The story unfolded so slowly, it almost didn’t. The main character is horrid. I disliked him immensely and could not muster any sympathy for him. The ending did tie up so loose ends, but I felt it the story could have been told better. The ending felt rushed after the slog of the first 2/3’s of the book and sadly, I do not recommend this one at all.
I also began and finished Behold the Dreamers. It was so wonderful, and I really loved it. It is a 5-star book and I highly recommend it. I listened, and the narration is marvelous and even better is the singing that would be lost in the written word. The melodious language is captivating. I laughed, I got angry, and I cried. It is a powerful and moving story!
I also started The Girl in The Ice, I am not far into it, but so far, so good!
I also have some very, very, very good things in my queue:
The Woman Who Smashed Codes, Never Let Me Go, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, and up next is Armand Gamache in A Trick of the Light.
I just want to do nothing but read all the things!
What about you? What is consuming you this week?
If you are joining us today, please leave your link below in the comments and thank you!
