Greetings Unravelers!
I am writing this on Tuesday afternoon from a wintery white South Hills of Pittsburgh! Yes, December 1st brought winter and I truly love the first snowfall of the season! The few inches we were supposed to get were exceeded before noon and still it continued to snow.
Good thing I have plenty to occupy my time with, lol! But it’s the time of year when I can’t really share what I have “in process” so I am sharing some things that are helping me learn.
I so admire the yarn that Sarah makes, and I have had this bit of fiber for some time now (sorry, no tag and I have no clue where I got it from) but it is the most vibrant colors so I am going to spin it end to end… trying my best to not muddy the colors. I am about half way through the braid and so far, so good on not muddying the colors! Then comes the hardest part… chain plying, which has never been something that I am proficient at, but Sarah gave me a pointer and I am going to try her suggestion!
The other thing I am working on proficiency with is crochet… oh boy, the struggle is real with this craft! How it can seem harder with just one hook versus two needles, I do not know but it is not easy nor does it feel at all natural. However, I can now manage to make 3 circles (up from ONE!) each evening.
Two things to become more proficient at and it is only the second of December!
The reading was just wonderful this week. I don’t remember who first read Cher Ami and Mr. Whittlesey, but I am so glad I added this book to my reading queue!
Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey: A Novel by Kathleen Rooney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love history, but I know little about WWI and I knew even less about pigeons and WWI. Nor have I ever listened to a book told from a pigeon’s perspective, but now I am asking myself why not? This is an incredibly engaging story that was easy to get lost in and hard to put down! I did ration my listening to prolong the joy of this story.
If you like history, this might just be the book for you! I highly recommend this story!
Frosty The Snowman in the header photo is inching his way to being vintage! He is 31 years young, and he is one of my favorite Christmas things! My kids ask every year, “is Frosty out yet?” He also was thrilled with the snow today!
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I think Bonny was the first to read Cher Ami!
I’m so impressed with your crochet. I also find it more difficult than knitting! Can’t wait to see your yarn when you’re ready to share!
Frosty just makes me smile, seeing his cheery grin with real snow on him! I don’t know if I was the first to read Cher Ami, but I also loved it and still think about visiting Cher Ami in the Smithsonian. I’m glad you also enjoyed it. I think spinning and crochet may help keep your mind and fingers nimble – they both look great!
I talked to my mother-in-law (Canonsburg, PA) and she was hoping for a dusting!!! I must admit, I’m quite jealous…it seems the snow I remember from my South HIlls days was always perfect, unlike our stint in Buffalo that was always tooooo much and our lack of snow here….never enough. Sound a bit like Goldilocks this morning!!! Enjoy!!
I was in between books and knew I could count on a good recommendation here. Off to download it. Thanks.
Wasn’t that snow lovely yesterday? I wrote in my journal that it was the first time in years that I could remember watching it snow and not feeling anxious about it — because usually snow makes me nervous because I worry about having to drive in it, but with everyone at home right now, I could simply enjoy its beauty!
I’m looking forward to seeing that handspun and hope the tip I gave you helps to make chain-plying easier.
Isn’t it fun to drag out the near-vintage Christmas stuff? (That’s where all the memories live, after all!) Your crochet project looks great, Kat. I used to crochet ALL the time, and I was really good at it. I probably still could be . . . but I find it really hurts my hand now, so I really avoid it these days. (Age? Who knows. . . ) Anyway, it’s always good to learn new STUFF!
Your snow looks so pretty Kat! And what glorious colors for your spinning. Fun (says she who does NOT spin – lol). I started reading Cher Ami and could not get into it at all, but perhaps I should give it another try.
I am LOVING your vintage snowman, Kat! That would be making me happy with every coming + going. Even if only for walks. I’m curious–did you learn to knit before you learned to crochet? I think knitting is FAR easier–easier in that I find it easier to read knit stitches than crochet. (I also feel like I can flub crochet and disguise but never so with knit.) And I wonder if it’s b/c I learned crochet first. Anyway, sounds like some good project-ing for snowy days! Stay cozy.
I knew how to crochet at some point because I still have the baby blanket I made but when I have tried again, it is a muddle. Looking forward to seeing your new yarn
Wow you are starting hard on crochet! It’s beautiful though!
Thinking about Christmas decorations but have yet to actually get any out. Crocheting, though I enjoy it and love looking at it, I can’t read patterns. So I do the only two stitches I know over and over. Your crochet looks beautiful. We had a little ‘corn snow’ yesterday and a lot of wind!
I dunno, I think your crocheting is perfect! lovely yarn and lovely stitches. I finished the holiday knitting and now I’m knitting for ME.
Cher Amie sounds like a really interesting book, I’ll have to add it to my list. I think it’s awesome that you’re expanding your skills!
I learned to crochet before I learned to knit. I personally prefer to crochet, though I enjoying knitting too.
I love the vintage Christmas decorations. Frosty seems right at home with that first snowfall. The colors in that crochet project are so pretty and soft. I have a theory that if you learned knitting before crochet, knitting is the easiest with the reverse also being true. One hook or two needles are two very different skill sets. I look forward to seeing how the spinning project comes along.
Oh those circles look so good! I’d really, really like to master that craft but haven’t done so. Retirement goal? I’m learning the piano right now…oh boy…that is going to be a very long process!
That fiber is lovely! Can’t wait to see what you make of it. We got rid of our vintage Santa and Frosty some time ago-wish we’d have kept it! Happy Monday.