Mystery Knitting

Mystery Knitting

It is Wednesday (although it feels like Tuesday to me!) and that means it is time for some Yarn Along with Ginny. But, really – summer officially beings for me today!

Why?

Well, the arrival of Clue 1 of Kirsten Kapur’s Mystery Shawl means the start of summer for me and that clue is here!

This will be the fourth time I have participated in her Shawl MKAL and I really like getting a bit of a pattern each week to work on. The first few clues can be completed fairly quickly, and they pique my interest for what will unfold in the remaining clues. This year will be extra special though as there are some blog friends participating (Hello Vicki, Patty, Margene, and Bev!!)

My yarn is caked, the pattern printed and as soon as I have my work for today done, I will cast on and get started!

Summer Knit-Along knitting is also making progress! I am making my way through the pattern repeats of Indigo Cones, I should have the back done today. Then it will be on to the right front. I have read ahead in the pattern and realized why I set this aside. The neckband instructions seem very unclear to me. I am hoping they will make more sense once I have the body of the sweater done. Time will tell, I will spend a bit of time today seeing if anyone has some good notes on Ravelry that can assist me. My fingers are crossed!

My summer reading has begun as well! I am working on my Book Bingo card. Book One – The Goldfinch, which covers my “with an animal on the cover or in the title” square! I am not too far into it yet, but so far I am enjoying it immensely!

What’s in your summer reading queue?

Just One Sock and One Book

Just One Sock and One Book

Today is Yarn Along, and the light has finally appeared at the end of the reading tunnel! I finished Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo and I liked it a bit more than I did his first Harry Hole novel. Harry was not drowning in the bottom of a whiskey bottle this time, and again, I did not see the ending coming at all!

And!!!

I should have Mink River done today!

I know, there may even be a bit of a dance of joy with its completion!

On the knitting front, Ann and Kay are having a little mini KAL through the end of the month – the goal to finish that “second sock” which is perfect, because I had finished the first Morwenstowe sock and had started the second one. Since the kickoff on Monday I have been knitting a bit each day and am on the heel flap! The heel should be turned today and then just cruising down the foot in the race to the toe! Perhaps, I can even get this dreaded pair of socks finished before month end.

Why dreaded you ask? Well, dark yarn on size zero needles makes for very difficult knitting. As in, I can only see clearly in bright sunlight to knit the damned things! No rainy day knitting or watching TV knitting with these socks!

Please note, that will only work if the Monsoon Season that has arrived (apparently to stay) in Western PA is replaced with some bright and sunny days.

I am not holding out much hope.

However, tomorrow I have some really fun and exciting news to share with you! I hinted at it last week, and tomorrow all shall be revealed!

Until then, Gentle Reader, what exciting things are you knitting or reading today?

Spinning and Wednesdays

Spinning and Wednesdays

It’s already Wednesday?? Does anyone else feel like this week is just flying by?! Here it is the week is almost half over, I still have lots of stuff on my “To Do” list. This is perhaps because my list this week is filled with things I really don’t like to do and I just cannot procrastinate about them any longer.

Yes, I am an expert at procrastination!

However, today is Yarn Along and I should be sharing what I am knitting and reading today, but I have been carding rolags to spin for a sweater. My basket was full of rolags and I started spinning yesterday, and have two equal bobbins that are ready for plying.

I also pulled out the November Sheepspot Fiber Club Coopworth roving and spun half of it up last night. I will ply it today and get the second half of the fiber spun up.

Beth shared a great post yesterday and her Instagram feed has been nagging me lately. I have a couple of fleeces that I need to get washed and she may have supplied me with the motivation to get it done! She certainly makes it look easy.

My reading has been in fits and spurts. I read nothing all weekend and have two books that I need to get finished so I can return them to the library. I am about halfway through both of them and it is really inexcusable that I have not finished them! I am a reading slacker!! But, we have more rain in the forecast so the outdoor gardening work is in a holding pattern so I think I will find time to get them finished this week.

The leaves of Pincha are growing slowly and I have a sock in the wings as well.

As you can see, I have plenty to keep me busy, but my list calls! What is nagging you on your list this week?

Rainy Wednesday’s

Rainy Wednesday’s

We have had more than our fair share of rain recently. Although, I believe that this is the direct result of the lack of snow over the winter months. However, this makes for a soggy, wet backyard that has become the cultivator for mushrooms of all shapes and sizes! There is a plethora of dandelions thrown in for good measure as it has been too rainy to put down any weed and feed (and maybe there just needs to be a weed option, sans feed because with this rain, the grass is growing so rapidly it needs to be cut twice a week!)

All this wet weather does not make it conducive to be out working in the garden, but it is a bonus for knitting, spinning, and reading! (Along with laundry, vacuuming, and housework!)

In the finished object category – I finally finished my TTL Mystery socks. I only had about 3 inches of each foot left to knit – so it is really sad that I put the finishing off so long, but the last clues had me concerned as I was not I was not sure how great the leaf motif would feel on my toes. So I changed them up a bit, I continued knitting the top of the foot in the seed stitch pattern to the toe decreases and then changed to plain stockinette to finish the sock off. I think they turned out nicely this way and they will get a little soak later today.

I am plugging along on my Morenstowe socks and will have some uninterrupted passenger time when we head to Maryland on Friday so I am hoping to get them finished over the weekend.

I am working my way through the Sheepspot Cormo on my drop spindle – and I have 2 turtles done. I am enjoying how portable this really is and how fun! I still have a good bit of fiber to go yet, but should end up with about 300 yds of dk weight singles from my spinning.

I am almost done with Mink River and waiting in the wings is Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo.

That’s it for me this dreary Wednesday, I am linking up with Ginny on the Yarn Along today, but I will leave you with the masterful words of Longfellow from his poem, The Rainy Day:

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

 

Reading with a side of knitting

Reading with a side of knitting

Wednesday, how I love you! You usher in the downhill ride to Friday while giving me a nice pause to review my week and refocus my priorities. And, you are also all about reading and knitting! Just ask Ginny!

I started this book yesterday and I am hoping to get some uninterrupted reading time today.

And these socks. I am enamored. The yarn is lovely, thank you Yvonne for the stellar recommendation.

How is your week progressing?

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