We have sadly arrived at the time of the year when getting good photos is challenging at best! We are in the midst of a dreary week sans any sunshine at all, so I apologize in advance for the poor lighting! However, the third time was absolutely the charm for my slipper making scheme. My son does not read my blog, so I am safe sharing them with you all here today! I made one key change to the pattern directions – I swapped out W&T short rows with German short rows with much better results. (And by much better, I mean results with no holes!)
I have breathed a sigh of relief that I finished these and they will be shortly on their way to Michigan! They are not quite dry, but I am hoping they will be in the morning and I can then wrap them up! As a tiny reward for persevering through this challenging pattern, I cast on Renovare socks on Tuesday night! I am using Tuku Sock yarn… oh my. It is so lovely! I am also trying these socks with the “magic loop” method. This is not how I usually knit socks… but I am giving it a try. As you can see – I am still doing the ribbing, but it felt good to cast on something new!
Reading has been good, but slow going and I have 2 finishes this week:
Ann Cleeve’s Cold Earth was very good. The writing was excellent, and this series just gets better with each book. 4-stars.
Alice Hoffman’s The World That We Knew. I loved this book! Every.single.word. Magic, realism, golems, life, and death are all beautifully woven together! This story touched me deeply and there were so many parts that will stay with me for a very, very long time. 5-stars and I highly recommend! (FYI, I listened to the audio version read by Judith Light of One Life to Live fame – there were times that I struggled with listening to “Karen Wolek” read, however I changed the speed and that helped!)
I am at the point that I am looking at my reading challenge and realizing that it is unlikely that I will hit that goal. I don’t know how close I can get, but I am really not sure if that goal even matters.
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Those slippers are adorable! Oh my word! And I can’t wait to see your finished socks!
I really, really need to get to the Ann Cleeve books! Alice Hoffman is such an incredible writer. I haven’t read this one and will have to add it to my list.
You’ve read an amazing amount and variety of books – what a year! I can’t wait to follow along with you next year and see what you accomplish.
Those slippers look wonderful and warm; may the line at the post office be short! I think reading goals are somewhat arbitrarily chosen numbers that don’t mean too much. If you read enough to make you happy, and what you read is enjoyable and makes you think, then you’re winning!
you are not kidding about the dark and dreary week. Every single day I keep pulling the camera out and then deleting my attempts. Your slippers turned out GREAT! I love to cast on something new too, love your socks – I’ve done ML and do not like it probably because I like dpn knitting so much.
Those slippers are FABULOUS!!! your son will love them I’m sure. I stopped with any reading goals and I just enjoy what I’m reading (or not – which was more the case this year – lol). I haven’t really gotten into Alice Hoffman in the past, but I may need to give that latest one a try!
Great job on the slippers. I’ve never done magic loop for socks and look forward to your thoughts.
I’m at that point in my reading challenge too and starting to wonder how that is impacting my reading joy.
Aren’t those slippers just the cutest??? (And I used German short rows on mine, too. I hate the wrap-and-turn thing. . . the results are always so much better with the German short rows.) I loved The World That We Knew . . . although Judith Light’s narration was, well, Not Great. Still. Worth persevering because that story is fabulous.
PS – You know what I think about reading challenges that are all about the number of books you read? A bunch of phooey! (That’s what I think.)
The slippers look wonderful and I know your son will love them!
I have been a magic loop convert for years. It took one instance of me dropping a DPN on a moving bus to get me to switch to two circs, and not long after I switched over to magic loop because I only needed one needle. I know not everyone likes it, but I have been able to get into such a good rhythm with it that I use the method for all my small-circumference knitting.
I wouldn’t stress too much about not hitting your reading challenge number. Isn’t quality better than quantity, when all is said and done?
oh those slippers look great! (did you use a worsted weight yarn?) and I LOVE those socks. The pattern is beautiful. and that yarn does look yummy. Looking forward to your review of magic loop. I’ve taught it, but I’m dpn girl through and through…
p.s. all the love for The World That We Knew … and I just started Cold Earth (I am loving the Willow/Jimmy relationship and have all the feels for a happy ending for them!)
I love the slippers and I just started a pair Monday night – thanks for the tip on the German short rows instead of W&T. I’m still waiting for the Alice Hoffman and you have made my wait even harder by making it sound SO good!
The slippers look great – persistence pays off. I am looking forward to that Alice Hoffman book. I haven’t read her books for awhile. Sending you a little of our midwest sunshine of this week.
I love those slippers! The World We Knew is sitting on the table, awaiting me…
Great job on the slippers! No reading here except catching up on m y blog pals lives!!!