Greetings Unravelers!
This week I have the big reveal of my summer mystery knit. Let’s face it, sometimes mystery knits sound exciting but the end results…not so much. I have knit many a mystery shawl that are never, ever worn. It is a sad thing to invest time to making something that does not spark much of anything other than a lovely “basket adornment”…amirite?
Well, this is NOT any of that. This is my Bee Hive Shawl and I love every last thing about it! (FYI… it is also known as the Waggle Dance Shawl which I think is possibly the worst name ever for a shawl… lol) This is the first design I have knit of Anne’s in ages and it was a lovely reminder of the joy that knitting one of her patterns is. She is a detailed knitter and her patterns reflect that detail. She charts things *and* includes written instructions. And I loved her tips for making all the cabled stitches easier (and so much faster!) This is the first time I have knit with Anne’s yarn line (Bare Naked Wools) – I used Targhee Tango Sport and I loved it.
This shawl is sort of a scalene triangle shape with a nice, gradual stretch of decreases before binding off. Decreases only happen on one edge of the shawl and as I was knitting, I worried it would be not an easy shape to wear but it blocked out beautifully to Anne’s dimensions and I can tell you that it is infinitely wearable. (Now if only the 90’s with all.the.humidity would depart so I could wear it!) I knit the tall size and I don’t think the petite size would be as wearable for someone my size.
I love the color, the texture, and the wonderful, squishy feel of the fabric. If you are looking for a single color shawl to knit, I highly recommend this pattern. It is knit with a sport weight, woolen spun yarn… which means it is lighter than air and will be a wonderfully warm layer which hopefully I will be utilizing soon at least in the mornings for Sherman’s walk!
All this heat makes working on a woolen sweater seem not the thing to do, but my plans for today include a bit of crochet and then getting acquainted with these as I needle felt the steek on my test sweater.
My stay-cation really amped up my reading in the best possible way! First, I ran across this article about the book club I joined this summer. I am excited to continue on with them as we read and discuss Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent in the fall.
Black Diamond by Martin Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A mystery within a mystery, but are they connected?
Again, I learned about Benoît “Bruno” Courrèges and his little corner of the world… which sounds incredible (if you discount the murders, lol) with the local wines, truffles, and simple foods coupled with the lovely inhabitants of St. Denis make it the perfect place to visit through the pages of Walker’s writing.
If you are looking for a semi-cozy read (there are murders after all) in the French countryside… this is a lovely series.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book really struck out for me. To me, it seemed so trite… too religious… to preachy.
If this had just been a story that one might possibly find believable, it might have worked. Sadly, it was not and I do not recommend this story.
Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have no idea if “Moscow Rules” are a thing but this book invites you to come along on a mission inside Russia… I am loving how Allon’s team has grown into a family which is perhaps the exact family he needs. I highly recommend this series!
The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Welcome back to North Devon and book two of the Two Rivers series! Come and spend some more time with Detective Matthew Venn and his team. We get to know them all a bit more…with all their faults and foibles. However, I began to see how the team is gelling together… how each team member has strengths that might just over come their weaknesses!
Of course, there has been a murder… an incredibly well crafted Cleeve’s murder. This book had so many twists and turns as Matthew and his team begin to unravel the case. I changed who I thought “did it” numerous times during the listening and I was shocked at the ending. (But I should not have been… Cleeve’s is an incredible mystery writer!)
I loved this story and highly recommend you read it ASAP!
I was unbelievably fortunate to receive an audio ARC of this book. And I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for providing this ARC for purposes of review.
No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow!! Just wow. The first half of this book (re)introduces you to the insanity that is our life with social media. It made me laugh. It made me mad. And it made me very uncomfortable and very unsettled.
And I wondered where Lockwood was going with all this… and then came the second half. So the question forming in my mind was this… what is the life you want to live. What is important. What do I want to spend my time with.
Things that I am going to think about every time I open a social media platform.
If those are questions that have rattled around your brain, this might be the book for you.
The Defector by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a continuation of Moscow Rules and we find Allon’s team heading back to Russia to finish what they started.
The continued story is not without its toll though and the big question that lingers throughout the book seems to hang over every page… will this be Gabriel’s last mission. Is he hanging up his spy work and leaving The Office behind? I don’t think so because there are lots more books in this series, but you see the cost that this work brings to the team.
Also… Allon stories are not good for sleep, as in once you start you just cannot stop!
I very much recommend this series!
That is all I have to share for today. What about you? What are you excited about making or reading?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
Your shawl is incredible! I love the color, pattern, and texture and hope you have a chance to wear it soon. It’s simply beautiful.
I’m excited that September is just around the corner and hopefully cooler weather, too!
beautiful shawl and I agree with the name, ha ha. Can’t wait to see how the needle felting goes. During these strange times, staycations are the best.
Oh, Kat. That shawl is just lovely! It does look like a perfectly wearable piece for those (surely arriving at some point?) cooler days of fall. I’m entranced! And I think I should check out the Silva series. It sounds like something both Tom and I would enjoy — and that’s not always an easy balance to achieve when it comes to books.
Also . . . Waggle Dance????
Oh Kat! What a gorgeous shawl. It is simply beautiful and I love the color you chose. That will be wonderful wrapped around you – hopefully soon!! I cannot wait for Fall weather.
Pretty shawl! Great job!
Thanks for the books. I have added to my list of “books to get at the library”!
The shawl is spectacular! I love the subtlety of the undyed wool with the textured stitch. I think you’ll be wearing the heck out of it come fall. And boy did you ever make good use of your week off to read a lot! I also found This Tender Land to be a little preachy, but it seemed appropriate for the time to me. I enjoyed Ordinary Grace more. I’m glad to hear that Cleeves’ newer mysteries are as good as her Shetland series. I was sad when I finished the last one!
I am reading All Who Go Do Not Return, which has been on my TBR list for years, and just started The Summer Book last night. After those two, I only have two more squares to fill on my second bingo card!
Oh, what a great shawl!! Perfect color (“natural” usually is, isn’t it?), and lovely texture.
That shawl is gorgeous. I love Anne Hanson’s patterns, too!!
Sorry that This Tender Land missed the mark for you, but I can see what you mean.
Here’s to another week of knitting and books 🙂
What a great shawl.
Lots of great books this week–thanks for the recommendations.
WOW, that shawl is stunning! I’ve sworn off mystery knitting, but this is just the pattern that would make me reconsider! and yay for more fantastic summer reading 🙂
What a beautiful shawl. Bare Naked Yarn is on my list to try someday. All of her yarns look so pretty. I predict you are going to get lots of wear out of that shawl. Wearing a shawl on a walk is a fabulous idea. Before Covid, I wore shawls on errands and to church. Then I didn’t want them to get breathed on and then of course the heat went up to 90 degrees plus. Maybe I’ll schlep one around my neighborhood. I abandoned This Tender Land so I am glad I am in good reading company.