Try new things, step out of your comfort zone, take risks, do things in ways you’ve never done them before, ask for help, surround yourself with self-actualized people, become obsessed with the fact that you have one go–round on this planet as the you that is you, and realize how precious and important it is not to squander that. — Jen Sincero
Lots has happened in the making department since last week. I have become a bit obsessed with spinning and practicing the things I learned in my spinning classes. I have taken classes before but have never really just sat down and kept doing the things I learned… it was helpful that the classes were recorded so I could go back and watch parts of them over. It was helpful to rewatch techniques to reinforce them in my head and in my hands and feet!
But, lest you think I am a slacker…I am happy to report that I almost have everything crossed off of my Monday List and I have carved out a bit of “making time” as well! I have done a wee bit of knitting on the Marled Purl Strings, not much… but some! I have 5 repeats of the body to go to bind off… and then Sleeve Island! I am contemplating shorter sleeves on this Purl Strings…we shall see. Yarn amounts might dictate that is all that can happen and I am just preparing myself for the likelihood, lol.
My big finish this week though is handspun yarn!
This is the “Chickadee Mixed BFL” from Fibernymph Dye Works. Gosh, I am so excited about this yarn! I spun the red contrast before my spinning classes and the brown yarn after, and boy… the difference is striking! The red yarn is a bit heavier than the brown… a true 3-ply light fingering weight sock yarn! My yardage is excellent as well, pre-washing I have 470-ish yards. I expect it to bloom slightly when finished, so I will loose a tiny bit of yardage, but I will have more than enough to knit a pair of socks!
I am working on spinning some new yarn from fiber from another local source, HipStrings. It is one of their special blends (Shetland, Manx Loaghton, Flax, and Silk) and the color way is “Housefinch” – I am thinking this will have some amazing drape once knit up and I am hoping to have enough for a small shawl. Stay tuned!
Also… I may have jumped on a mystery KAL Bandwagon. Okay, I did…lol. I really feel like doing some “timed” knitting! This should be the incentive I need to get my Purl Strings finished before June 9th! Ha!
There was so much good reading again this week! Yay for audiobooks as a most excellent companion for unpleasant tasks! Ha!
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another book about WWII, the Holocaust, and the French resistance. The story is engaging even if the ending is somewhat predictable. I liked the Resistance story, I don’t know how factual that portion of the story was, but I hope it was.
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The unwrapping of one very crotchety octogenarian, Veronica McReedy. What a fun, brilliant, unexpected little book! I laughed, I cried, and I hoped that Mrs. McReedy would find what she did not know she was looking for! A heart-warming story and I highly recommend!
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you think that this book just about writers and finding love… you’d be so wrong. It’s so much more. It’s about discovery. It’s about letting go. It’s about persistence. It’s about friendship. And, it’s about life… with all the messy bits. The writing is so good… so very good! I did not want it to end!
That is all I have to share today… what about you? What is your latest obsession??
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below!
Looks/sounds like quite a productive week Kat! Love your hand spun – gorgeous. I’m glad someone got their Monday chores finished, because I surely did not! LOL Oh well, there is always today.
your spinning skills amaze me! I have a revolving list over here and when I cross a thing off I’m adding more. Thank goodness for accountability!
Look at your beautiful yarn, Kat!!! Bravo!!! How wonderful that you’re making the time for honing new techniques and upping your spinning game. I love seeing what how the fiber turns into such gorgeous yarn. Nicely done!
Congratulations on your handspun accomplishments! Classes like you took (and their recording) may be one of the small silver linings of the pandemic. I’m looking forward to seeing more spinning and more of your Purl Strings. Now I’m off to look for How the penguins Saved Veronica.
I am so excited about your spinning mojo! I think your Chickadee is going to make some excellent socks.
Like you, I loved Writers & Lovers and didn’t want it to end — isn’t that just the best in a book?
Look at that sock yarn. Beautiful. It is nice there are some perks to all the Covid work arounds. A class that is recorded and can be watched again sounds very useful. Veronica and the Penguins sounds like a good summer read.
oooohhh, your spinning is looking lovely! and joining in with the Writers & Lovers love … I enjoyed that book so much! My obsession right now is two-fold – reading the Women’s Prize short list and finishing Long Love … sadly, they work at cross purposes!
Your handspun is wonderful – so cozy! I’m glad you’re enjoying it so much.
I really enjoyed The Book of Lost Names and you’re right about their predictability. But I’m a sucker for almost every WWII book, especially the ones set in France. And after I read this, I had to roast a chicken with vegetables thanks to that big meal in the book!
Writers & Lovers was amazing – so glad you loved it, too. I often joke that 1997 was the best year of my life (which is when I got my first “real” boyfriend)… but I was only in the 7th grade!! And still – this book took me back there, thanks to the Princess Diana references.
Your spinning is looking so nice! I love the idea of the meditative nature of spinning, and I have made a hat out of fiber I spun on a drop spindle, but i think I’d need a wheel to really get into it – and I’ve been able to keep that from happening until I have space for a craft room!