Greetings, Unravelers!
Summer has arrived in Pittsburgh in full force. We are on, what feels like, day eleventy billion of 90+ degree weather. My yard is entirely burned out, as is every yard in my neighborhood. Yard burnout brings a bonus though…it is not growing so Steve does not have to mow! But boy does it look bad! We had some brief rain showers late yesterday, but I don’t think it was enough to revive the grass! And all this heat is making knitting not much fun either!
I *finally* completed Clue 4 and have begun Clue 5…but I am still on the first chart of Clue 5. Yes, it is slow going. But my love for this shawl grows with each clue! I am so happy with my low-contrast yarn choice! This will be done and ready for fall weather, once it arrives… oh, maybe in November! lol
I am also working slowly on Purl Strings… I love the dark, inky yarn but boy… not after sundown!
I also have been looking at baby boy sweaters! I usually knit up a BSJ with fingering weight yarn…but this is not sweater weather! So, I am thinking that something for the fall will be just perfect. I welcome all your little boy sweater suggestions!
The reading this week has had highs and lows. One book I loved, and one that really missed for me. AND!! I am one square away from a Cover All on my first bingo card!
So brave, So young, and Handsome by Leif Enger
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I did not like this book. I could not connect with Monte at all. A failed writer, who then flees his family… taking off with a criminal. Seems likely…not. I so enjoyed Peace Like a River and was eager to read Virgil Wander… but I think I am taking a break from Enger’s works.
An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Loved! Entirely!
If you grew up in Pittsburgh, you should read this book.
If you live in Pittsburgh, you should read this book!
If you want to know about Pittsburgh you should read this book!
We said “tele pole,” pronounced “telly pole,” for that splintery sidewalk post I loved to climb. We said “slippy”—the sidewalks are “slippy.” We said, “That’s all the farther I could go.” And we said, as Pittsburghers do say, “This glass needs washed,” or “The dog needs walked”—a usage our father eschewed…
It is the epitome of Pittsburgh! I highly recommend!
And that is all I have for this week! What’s good in your world this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share, please leave your link below and thank you!
Your knitting projects are so lovely. I can’t wait to see more!
I made a newborn vertebrae for my third baby (born in May) and it was perfect for skin to skin time and lots of nursing! She practically lived in just that sweater and a diaper for several months.
Enjoy your newborn knitting!
I love your shawl and I was recently thinking what a great choice you made with your low-contrast yarns. My college roommate was from Pittsburgh and she was my introduction to Pittsburgh-speak. I loved hearing her say “her laundry needs washed” or “let’s ret up the room.”
You were very wise to disregard Kirsten’s advice and go with low-contrast colors, that’s for sure! I think it will be beautiful in the colors you’ve chosen, and I can’t wait to see it! (I haven’t liked ANY of the high-contrast versions I’ve seen. And you know what happened to mine. . . ) 😉
As far as a nice and practical baby sweater for either boys or girls (and with lots of room to play with color – or not), I might suggest Langoz (here is Ravelry link: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/langoz). It’s even fun to knit! (I’ve knit it a couple of times — once for a little girl and once for a little boy.)
I am looking for baby boy sweaters too. Hope you will share ideas
Your mystery shawl is gorgeous!
Another practical baby sweater is https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/norwegian-fir-top-down-cardigan, Norwegian Fir. And it looks really quick, too. 🙂
Also, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-coffee-bean-cardigan Little Coffee Bean Cardigan, and FREE!!
I finished my mystery shawl last night, so now I need to tackle all those ends before I can block. I’m happy with it, but I think yours is going to be so snuggly!
Have you seen Lisa Chemery’s Boy Sweater? It’s really a unisex design but it’s really cute. I’ve made it for a couple of gifts and it’s been very well received.
Love your shawl. Sorry – no ideas for little tiny sweaters, but looks like you’ve gotten some good links already!
I love your shawl colors too. (I like my colors I just don’t like the dramatic look of the high contrast with this design…someone will get a nice present!)
I can’t wait to see your whole TTL shawl — even if it’s in November!! 🙂
What about a vest for a baby boy? I’ve had this one in my faves for a while but haven’t knit it yet: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hazelbrook-vest—p122
Your project photos are lovely. I think low contrast in that mystery shawl makes for a much better look, good for you.
Congrats Granma! Good luck with the baby sweater and Congrats on covering your BINGO card!
Look forward to the fall when we can see you model the mystery shawl!
CheersW~
Ok I have a funny story about the whole “the [noun] needs [verb]ed” thing.
I’m from CT, but went to college in PA, about 1/2 an hour outside Harrisburg. A ton of people used that phrase, but it always annoyed me like the bratty teenager that I was lol. So one time I was at rehearsal for a play I was stage managing and the director was just listing all the things that had to be done – “oh the set needs painted, the brownies need baked, the pants need hemmed.” And I was under a lot of stress, so I just yelled “TO BE! TO BE! Just add those two little syllables.” (Yeah, I’m kind of a jerk in this story). Anyway, the professor who was there was like “Kath, you are in PA, you can’t criticize PA Dutch speak” and I shot back “I’m from New England, I’m rude!” And everyone was just like …yeah fair point. Lol ????
you are my hero…that book has been sitting on my bookshelf overlooked for yeasr and years….and i’m sort of between books. So an American Childhood it is….and yes, I’m a Pittsburgher (how did I get to Kentucky?!?)
I love the colors/yarn in that shawl. I think I’ve written this before – a broken record. What’s good in my life? The garden is growing and it rained last night. I also made a meal for a friend recovering from back surgery. I keep my kitchen scrupulously sanitized and bought new containers for delivery. Yes they were plastic – I caved. I put on a mask and dropped it all at the door. It’s nice to do a few more normal-like things. I didn’t know about Pittsburgh speak but now I do.
Your shawl is continuing to look lovely, sometimes slow projects are the best, don’t you think? I will have some of your heat if that is ok with you, our ‘summer’ temperatures have plummeted done to the 50s, sweaters and socks are back out. I even wore a wooly hat when out walking the other day.
Knitting for small boys is hard, I think I went for Milo vests each time I have made something for a wee boy.
isn’t this weather ridiculous? I have been hiding inside my house – enjoying my knitting. I miss my walks but I refuse to go out and sweat! Lovely knitting as always.
I’m updating an older pattern Avery Vest, which was an odd gauge because I designed it for Frogtree Pediboo. So smaller is 26 over 4″ larger gauge will be DK wt. Want to test knit? (I also have some other cute boy sweaters…)
what lovely WIPs! I’ve knit a lot of little boy sweaters … here are a few of my favorites (Ravelry links) https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/anders, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/young-einstein, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rr-hoodie, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elwood (have fun knitting!!)