“A half finished shawl left on the coffee table isn’t a mess; it’s an object of art.”
―
There was a similar discussion in my house recently, this quote works for spinning as well… because that wheel in the living room? Why yes, it is an object of art! lol
But the making this week! I am 35 teeth in to my Handspun Hitchhiker and it remains my “evening with television” knit. But the rows are getting longer and so not as many teeth are completed each night. I am inching into the next color though, and I am still so in love with this knit!
My Heart Warmer Cowl is almost done…just the ribbing to go! And just in the nick of time – it should be done today – the weather people are warning us that Pittsburgh will have bitterly cold weather next week!
Finally, my *pseudo* glamor shots of my blocked Autumn Forest. I love everything about this, but most especially the yarn! It is Baa Ram Ewe’s Titus (a blend of Wensleydale, Alpaca, and BFL) there is a hint of a halo, it is soft and so drape-y, and it is so warm! A part of me wishes it was just a tiny bit longer… I probably should have stretched it out a bit in my blocking.
The reading this week, though! Two very different stories that I wanted so badly to love, but 3-star reads are not a bad thing, right?
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I wanted to love this book. There is so much going on in this story – coming of age, class, folklore, first love, and a mystery within a mystery. I listened to the story – read by the author – which helped, I think. But really, I think this story just had too much going on – it was a distraction.
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book left me feeling this: wait, what?
It gripped me from the beginning, kept me not wanting to put it down… but then, out of no where, it ended. Throughout the book there are such great hints as to what might have happened, but the ending left so many loose ends. I look forward to discussing this book… it really left me feeling very uncomfortable.
That is all for me today, if you wrote a post to share – please leave your link below and thank you!
So much beautiful knitting Kat!! I’m loving your Hitchhiker. The blues are so soothing to me. And congratulations making it through Bobble Island! You’ve knit up Heart Warmer quickly and it really looks nice. Finally, Autumn Forest just looks so cozy and soft – love it! Sorry your reading wasn’t up to your usual, but they can’t all be winners! Stay warm.
Your Hitchhiker! Oh my goodness – those colors are just perfect. And I love your new scarf – especially those “dropped” stitches (?) — it reminds me of that shawl pattern that was so popular about 15 years ago and I can’t even remember what it was called – dang it. Your yarn combination is so perfect.
I think the ending of Leave the World Behind was one of the major reasons that I loved it so much. There was just so much ambiguity through the whole book and that ending was just the icing on the cake for me! It also left me feeling uncomfortable, but that feeling was a good fit for the mood I was in when I was reading it… This is one of those books that really depends on the reader’s current state of mind!!
I think your Hitchhiker is one of my favorites so far – so gorgeous! The longer rows do start to slow down progress, but the yarn looks so lovely and soft that I bet it’s a pleasure to knit. (Oh, and your other knits aren’t too bad either!)
That Hitchhiker! So stunning in your handspun! I think the colors are going to keep you going, even as the rows get longer and longer. And Autumn Forest looks warm and elegant.
I had the same unsettled feeling about Leave the World Behind, but I think that ambiguous ending is kind of the point. We purposefully don’t know what’s going on, so we have to imagine it. It should make for a really good discussion!
so much pretty knitting!! I have three projects: a sweater a cowl and a hat. The hat is at the bottom of my knitting list and I should get that back on the top of the pile.
gorgeous knits…as always!!!!
Beautiful knitting this week, as always. As for the ending of Leave the World Behind . . . I think that’s what will make for a really spectacular discussion!
Lovely knitting, Kat. I’ve wanted to knit a Heartwarmer cowl for a long time. . . maybe someday. 😉 And I love your Autumn Forest. (I’m a total sucker for anything with dropped stitches…)
Leave the World Behind is definitely discussable, that’s for sure! And I think most books just ARE 3-star books. Which for me means . . . readable and enjoyable, but it doesn’t have that special something that gives it a 4. (5-star books, to me, are really, really rare. . . )
I think I would LIVE in your Autumn Forest! And I can certainly see how the yarn would totally make it. Gulp. That color. I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about Leave the World Behind, so I’m looking forward to the book convo. (I haven’t started it yet, b/c I learned with Brewster Place that if I read it too early, I forget too much to have a meaningful conversation!)
Your Hitchhicker is beautiful and even made more wonderful with that hand spun yarn!!!!
I am so excited to spin enough usable yarn to actually knit with!!!
Lovely knits and great colors! I always leave here wishing I knew how to knit!
The books I am reading are “meh” right now (freebies from a friend) or maybe it is just me who is “meh”!
Stay safe and cozy!
Leave the World Behind is slated for next week for me! That hitchhiker is going to be SUCH a beautiful piece. The other projects are lovely too Kat…but that is no surprise! xo
That Hitchhiker is coming along swimmingly and that Autumn Forest scarf is very chic! And yes, spinning wheels belong in the living room right along with books. LOL!
New to Unraveled Wednesday! All of these knitting projects are lovely from the those beautiful color changes on your Hitchhiker, to the simplicity of the intentional dropped stitch of your Autumn Forest, then to all of that texture in the Heartwarmer. You have such gorgeous knits to make up for your “blah” reads.
These knits are spectacular – all three of them. I bet Autumn Forest was fun to knit. I think those are dropped stitches and they are a little bit of magic for me. Interesting book reviews too.
I too love Hitchhiker for ease of TV viewing while creating a unique handknitted gift. I have 19 completed (for a while I was obsessed with this pattern!) and all but one have gone to family and friends.