Is it just me, or does this week seem to be moving along at warp speed?
This week I need an extra measure of calm and I was certain that if I tried to work on Rock the Lobster, there would be some ripping back…
So, I cast on A Pussy Hat by another name… and completed it the same day.
Then I wound, by hand, a skein of Miss Babs Deep Sea Jellyfish Yowza that I had been saving for a “rainy day” – it took a good bit of time.
But finally, I cast on another Honey cowl – this time using Kay Gardiner’s recipe for an extra 40 stitches (so I cast on 260 stitches rather than 220).
I started knitting and discovered that I had twisted the cast on row, so I had this Moebius thing going on. Yep, you guessed it – RRRIIIPPPPPP!
I cast on again – this time more successfully. On the fourth time of knitting a Honey Cowl – it is like sitting down with an old friend – comfortable, calming, and soothing. Just what I need this week!
On the reading front I finished The Nix yesterday and I loved it! I know it is too early to be saying anything about favorite books read this year, but I will tell you this – it is on the top ten list for favorite books ever. Yes. It is that good. It is chock full of so many good things – so many! And, I love how Nathan Hill tied all those things together! I highly recommend this book – really. It is a must read, imo.
I am still reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt – I really love her writing; however, I am still undecided about her slate of characters in this novel because they are decidedly unlikable. Now, that does not mean I am saying I do not like the story – because I do like it very much. Are you confused? I hope not, because it is very good and I am hoping that one of the characters manages to redeem themselves before the end of the story.
That is all I have for this Wednesday, where as usual I am joining Ginny in her Yarn Along.
What are you knitting or reading this week to get through?
A tiny post script on the conundrum of smelly vs. not smelly paper whites (or narcissus). Apparently there are indeed a couple of varieties that have low-smell or no-smell. More information can be found here and here. In other words, avoid the Ziva variety.
Is there no way to avoid twisting a cast on row? A sometime knitter wants to know ;-)). Did you know it took Donna Tartt 10 years to write Goldfinch? Just a little trivia for your day;-)). Knit and read on!
Cheers~
Kay gives excellent suggestions here!
That Honey Cowl is really gorgeous and makes me want to cast on one for myself immediately! I’m going to try and resist in hopes of finishing my Peace Cowl (two twisted cast ons there before the third time was the charm!).
I’m glad to hear that you loved The Nix as much as I did! I also love novels full of great characters and multiple story lines, especially when they’re written and tied together as well as Nathan Hill did. Now we get to wait for his second book!
what great colours you are using!!! thinking spring, maybe????
I have long wanted to try the Honey Cowl in the larger dimensions, but cowls of any sort never quite make it to my needles. I loved the Nix, too, but The Underground Railroad is at the top of my list for 2016.
I cast on a cowl last night with 300 stitches and was horribly afraid I’d end up twisting it. Luckily, I’m through the first row now, so I think I’m okay!
I’ve added The Nix to my Goodreads queue with a note you recommended it. (I have to get through some of the huge pile of books I have out from the library first — both The Underground Railroad and Swing Time are overdue!)
Twisting that cast on row stinks and yet we’ve all done it. Glad you’re on track now and enjoying it. All I remember about The Secret History is that I loved it, I couldn’t tell you a thing about the story or characters.
I will check out the NIX then. I was struck by the beauty of the colors you are using! Yay Hat!
The Secret History was one of my favorite books earlier in life…I first read it in high school. Can you believe I still haven’t read The Goldfinch because I am scared I won’t enjoy it as much?
Love the yarn color for your cowl.
Isn’t winding a skein of yarn by hand one of the best forms of meditation? I don’t do it often (mainly because my time is so limited), but I did it while I was on vacation recently and it was so lovely.
I completely understand what you mean about not liking the characters but enjoying the story. That’s how I felt about Gone Girl. I hated pretty much everyone in it, but the plot was so compelling.
LOVED The Nix. I thought it was rather brilliant! And you already know what I think of Secret History… (spoiler alert: they don’t). I love the colors you’re knitting with — so bright and cheery for these dreary days. (My avoid-twisting-the-cast-on-row trick: I always knit the first 4-6 rows back and forth and THEN – when things are more clear – I join in the round and continue. Works like a charm.)
Love your new Honey Cowl. I felt the same way about The Secret History. As for reading this week, I’m all about Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay.
You’ve got a good run of books on – have you read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay? I predict you will LOVE it, too! and what a happy cowl, in spite of the false start. Those colors just make you smile, don’t they?!
I know exactly what you mean about “The Secret History” – my feelings were quite ambivalent about it too. Odd book. It I loved the Goldfinch.
I can’t wait to read “The Nix”, mainly because of all you knitters recommending it. Thank you.
I got a bit frustrated with the Peace Cowl last December and knew it wasn’t the knit for me at that time, just a mixture of temperament and timing that made me squirrelly. The pink hats are so delicious — I can’t wait to see a photo of them all on that momentous day.
Go knitters!
Go women!
Go all Americans!
I check obsessively to make sure I do not twist the cast on, and yet I still continue to do it in spite of my obsessive checking. A humbling experience 🙂