Greetings Unravelers!
Happy Post Election Day and I hope to provide you with some things to distract you while all the ballots are tallied. So… turn off the news alerts and settle in!
First up… The Eleventh Gnome, she is DONE! An extra hour over the weekend (plus a good series on Netflix) provided more than enough time to get the bulk of her on Sunday. On Monday I just had the small bits to finish up and it took no time at all.
Meet Gnaomi! She is an avid spinner!
I made several “tweaks” to the pattern. I used handspun to knit the sweater. I knit the sweater a bit longer than the pattern called for which meant I also needed to knit the body a little longer to allow the color work at the bottom of her “dress” to show… so she is roughly 15 rows taller, but I think her long stocking cap balances the bit of extra height out. The other change I made to the pattern was to knit the beard as her hair… I knit the start of the beard as written but then knit the “center” curl 5 times and then finished the beard as written. This was enough to go from ear flap to ear flap… giving her the loveliest curly locks. The final change was to make her arms longer so I could knot the ends to make it look like she was holding the spindle and fiber. I think I did 8 more rows of I-cord. Anyways, I think she is wonderful and she might be my favorite Gnome yet! Her spindle? It is a toothpick and a button… around which I would a bit of spun fiber.
As you can see above, I have also picked the five colors for the December Mystery Gnome. Yes, I am excited for December knitting! And a five color gnome is intriguing!
I have a plan for future gnome knitting as wellI! There are two gnomes from Sarah’s Gnome Family that I have yet to knit so I am planning a thirteenth Gnome in January to close out my Year of Gnomes! That will give me a baker’s dozen. I contemplating which of the last two I will knit, but it will likely be her Never Not Gnoming pattern.
I also had great success with wheat bread baking this week! Vital wheat gluten might be my new favorite thing! I ended up with a loaf that had incredible crust, but the crumb was tender and airy! I am baking another loaf today!
The reading this week has been glorious. I am immersed in two books which I have divided into two categories:
- Day Time Listening: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I am about an hour in and really enjoying the listening!
- Before Bed Reading: Mouth To Mouth… a very curious tale. I am not quite sure how I feel about it, but I can’t stop reading!
But what I really want to talk about is something for you all to watch (instead of the never-ending election coverage) I discovered a limited series (there are just 4 episodes) with David Tennant and Stanley Tucci… Yes!! In.the.same.show! The series is Inside Man and oh my, it was SO GOOD! It will be the perfect thing to take your mind off vote counting… so get some knitting, queue it up, and enjoy!
There you have my making this week! What about you… what are you working on!
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you! I will be back on Friday with a Museum of Me exhibit!
Your gnomes are the best and it makes me so happy to see Gnaomi! I love her sweater, hair, and especially her drop spindle. I did check the PA Senate and Governor’s results first, but now that I’ve seen Gnaomi I feel able to face the rest of the results, with Inside man and The Crown to take my mind off any unpleasantness. Thanks for the recommendation!
I plan on knitting gnomes as gifts every year, so excited about that idea. Your gnome is super adorable!! love the spinning in their hands.
I think this is my favorite of all your gnomes! I always love your “extra” design touches . . . so fun. And we’ll definitely check out Inside Man (netflix?). It sounds like a show that would be right up our alley! XO
Yes, Netflix!!
Kat, I love how you adapt the gnomes to give them such personalities, and this one might be my favorite yet. That spindle! So perfect! Your bread looks delicious, too (I love super-grainy breads). Inside Man is definitely going on my list!
Gnaomi is adorable and perfect and I love her! Thanks for the Inside Man recommendation, we will check that out. Your bread looks divine!
Your gnomes are all sweet but this one is my favorite so far. I love all the little special touches – from the spindle to the handspun sweater and the fair-isle hat. Well done. Take good care.
Your gnoming is REALLY SOMETHING, Kat! Will we see the whole baker’s dozen in one photo at the end? I’d love to try to pick a favorite :).
Vital wheat gluten! At high altitude, VWG was the one and only way I could make a decent loaf. I hadn’t thought about that in so long…your gorgeous photo jogged my memory. (So many fails before discovering that secret power tool! Enjoy the fruits of your labor.
I shall miss these gnomes when you finish them. Will we see them altogether at some point, so cute. I am so nearly finished this darned cardigan, button shopping today!