Greetings Unravelers!!
First, I’d like to thank you all for weighing in on cardboard recycling! It is a challenge to be an avid recycler living with a rather lackadaisical recycler… and while I am all for compromise on many things – this is not one of them. Now to get that certain someone on the bandwagon with me! LOL
I have made great progress on super secret sewing project that is consuming my making minutes! I think next week I will be able to share a tiny glimpse of the fiddly bits I have been working on. I will have the “ornaments” all finished this week. Then on to the calendar portion of the making… I have some ideas of I’d like to do, but having never done any “free motion quilting” I am more than a bit nervous. Perhaps the smart thing to do is to just mark a “grid pattern” on the diagonal and put the walking foot on my machine and just sew straight lines. In all honestly, I doubt my grandkids will even notice the difference… but a part of me wants this to be the best it could possibly be… and I think this would lend it self perfectly to some free motion quilting!
So… for the quilter’s out there… is there a YouTube video on free motion quilting you’d recommend?
I have been doing the tiniest bit of knitting at night… enough to realize I am not going to have enough yarn for the Socks for Big Foot. But, I found something in my stash (this might be the best reason of all to have a stash, imo) that I will use on the “straight away” knitting to the toes. It is also handspun yarn and while it is not a three-ply (nor is it plied perfectly) I think it will work because it is the same thickness as the yarn I am using. I have 4 more rounds of gusset decreases at which time I will begin knitting the the “new” yarn. I am telling myself it will be alright… they are just “house socks” after all…
But!!! I am happy to report that the Knitting Mojo has returned… have you seen the latest Making? (The knitting patterns are amazing but there is so.much.more in the latest issue!) I really want to just stop everything and cast on all the things! (but especially the Jasper Cardigan!)
Reading this week has found me with a bit of a “reading hangover” from Finding the Mother Tree. I am listening to The Rose Code but I am really struggling to get into the story so I am not sure it will be a book I finish. (BUT!! I just started reading Oh, William! and I really want to slow down and savor Strout’s incredible writing! I will try… but gosh she is hard to put down!)
Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you think this book is just about trees, you would be wrong. It is so much more than that. It is part memoir, part discovery, part aggravation at trying to be successful in a male dominated industry, part history, part recovery… or quite simply, the best book I have read all year. Perhaps the best book I have ever read!
Simard opens the door for you to step into your world and look around you and realize that those things around you are doing the exact things she talks about in her book. She ignites a spark or fans the embers of readers wanting to know more about the world around them through the simple and complex lives of trees.
I have not stopped thinking about all that Simard shares. I need a physical copy of this book to turn back to again and again… although listening to Suzanne read me her story was so powerful! I highly recommend!
The Heist by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Silva finally gives us a taste of what The Office will be under Allon’s leadership. And yet, as Allon has been all along – a quiet, very unassuming man – he is bring a dynamic new twist to the leadership. One that is not surprising and really shows the depth of Allon’s good qualities (that make him such an incredible character!)
This book starts with one thing that is, of course, curiously connected to something much larger.
Each book gets better and better! I highly recommend this series!
That is all I have for this week… what about you? What is making you excited this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below!
I knew your knitting mojo would return!!! I wish I had more hours in the day to do all the things I want to do 🙂
Those Bigfoot socks are looking good, and the “extra” yarn looks just great; it’s almost like you planned it! I don’t have any quilting video recs, but it sounds like you are making an heirloom, so I agree it should be as good as you can make it. (That doesn’t mean obsess about being perfect, just put lots of love into it!) I’m glad you’re reading Oh, William! That just might be my favorite book this year. I’m going to have to buy the Mother Tree as none of my libraries have it, but it sounds well worth it.
I’m loving the look of those “house socks” – they are beautiful! Big Foot will be sure to appreciate them, I’m sure. No quilting recommendations from me either – one more craft that I do not do (and do not need to start – LOL). Every time you read one of those Allon books, I think I need to start that series. I think I’ll go and request the first one from my library today!
Free motion quilting isn’t as tricky as you think. Drop those feed dogs and go for it!
Check out this blog she has lots of tutorials/videos and does free motion quilting on an ancient singer treadle machine.
https://susies-scraps.com/2015/04/01/free-motion-quilting-part-2-sewing-set-up/
I am no help with the quilting question, but it sure sounds like maybe you’re working on a quilted Advent calendar? Looking forward to the big reveal!
I have never bought Making, but that issue looks spectacular and I think I am going to have to get a copy! Some of the sewing projects look easy enough for me, and there are a couple knitting patterns that I really like, too.
I’m working on trying to finish up my brioche cowl (I have about 10 rounds left to knit) and am patiently waiting for my next library book on hold.
Is there any “Advent” thing that one could make that ISN’T full of fussy bits? One of my knit night friends is knitting an Advent “calendar” of the most amazing little colorwork mittens… it’s the second one she’s made! And next up on her list is the miniature sweater one by Arne & Carlos!
I agree with Carole – just drop those feed dogs and play! I’ve had a hard time finding good FMQ videos – it’s so overwhelming. So I practice by looking up “easy” patterns and start by drawing them with pen/paper. Then I use scrap fabric to practice the motion and then just jump right in. I’m not a perfectionist so it doesn’t bother me too much when things go wonky. I’m a firm believer that done is better than perfect!
Those socks look awesome! I’m glad you found yarn in your stash that will help you get down to those toes 🙂
And I hope you get the recycling thing sorted out. Matthew and I also see some trash-related things differently… namely, I think the trash should go out when the bag gets full and he thinks that you should shove the trash down tighter at least 5 times before you take it out. Sooo… I usually take the trash out to our backyard barrel because it’s something important to me and not at all important to him. I get grumpy about it but know that Matthew is NEVER going to consider a trash bag full when I do and I just don’t want the trash piling up in the house!! *deep breath*
Not a quilter . . . but I can’t WAIT to see all the fiddly-bits!!!! 🙂 I dropped my subscription to Making . . . so haven’t seen the issue yet. I can imagine everything is beautiful and enticing, though! (I dropped my subscription only because Too Many Things Not Enough Time. . . ) I love the socks, Kat. Those colors are just divine!!!!
Love those socks! And you are right that issue is pretty special! I also dropped because I just wasn’t doing anything from it but…that NG pullover looks really fun too!