By March, the worst of the winter would be over. The snow would thaw, the rivers begin to run and the world would wake into itself again.
Not that year.
Winter hung in there, like an invalid refusing to die. Day after grey day the ice stayed hard; the world remained unfriendly and cold. ― Odd and the Frost Giants
It has been an unsettled week… the weather, the attempts at sleeping, and, yes, even the making. A week of one failure after another.
I was so excited to knit Steve some Pi Socks… and I had a rousing good start using a pattern I have knit many times before. Now, don’t get me wrong… I love the Pi Yarn, but it is a bit finer than other sock yarns. My start was less than stellar… way too loose. So I ripped back and went down a needle size and cast on again. Much better… a nice sturdy sock fabric. Except, I did not heed the voice telling me these were gonna be way to freaking small… nope, I just knit on to the heel flap and the gussets. By now the voice was loud telling me to stop and at least have Big Foot try them on.
As you can see, I ripped again… sigh. Same smaller needles but this time with more stitches on them… and I am very much paying attention to my inner knitter voice, although it has been quiet now…of course! Ha!
As you can see above, I did finish my Base12 Hitchhiker… 40 teeth and it is perfect! Soft, warm, utterly wearable! I wore it to Trader Joe’s on Sunday and the delightful check out clerk asked a million questions about it! He is a new knitter and it was so fun to talk knitting!
Kym’s darling daughter is calling this “whimsy-noir” and I think that is absolutely perfect!
The painting this week though… I was so stressed over trying… scared… silly, I know! All kinds of new techniques… and an encouragement to “mix our own colors” (which I think is the part that stymies me) instead, I used the color palette the teacher used, and once I got my “initial wash” on, I turned off the lesson and just painted. I had so much fun…I mean SO MUCH FUN! It was exactly what I needed in a week of miserable weather, miserable sleeping, and miserable knitting!
The reading this week though… oh my. It was a week that I have been profoundly grateful for the escape that books can give.
I have started another Netgalley book (Bonny read it a couple of weeks ago) and I am LOVING it! It is an interesting story format…but one I am really enjoying. I have finished the “first two stories” and am well into the third. This is the excerpt from the publisher:
One book. Nine readers. Ten changed lives. New York Times bestselling author Erica Bauermeister’s No Two Persons is “a gloriously original celebration of fiction, and the ways it deepens our lives.”
I am loving every bit of it and good thing because sleep this week has been… elusive… sigh.
In my ears during the day I have just begun Ross Gay’s Inciting Joy… the start is good and I can’t wait to see where it goes!
What about you all? How is your making this week?
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Oh Kat, sorry your week has been the way it has been! Your Hitchhiker is gorgeous though – well done you! And the Pi Yarn…yes it is thinner in spots which is annoying. I’m just knitting along and…if they end up not fitting Fletch, well then they might fit moi! LOL But, really, I think they will git Fletch…I just hope they hold up! No Two Persons sounds interesting. And…I love your painting. good to hear that you had such fun with it (after your initial concerns). Wishing you a wonderful sleep tonight.
You put a week like that down to experience, my mother would say….and hopefully never experience another one like it for a long long time!
Your new shawl looks very ‘country’ in those tweedy colours – comfy and warm…just as it should be. And such a moody cityscape in your latest painting, has a bit of a 1930s feel about it. And let’s hope next week gives you more than it takes from you.
Take care
Cathy
ever since my dad went into ICU I have no desire to create art…I am hoping that it will change this week. Your painting is wonderful! No matter what your inner voice says you have talent and art is a journey of self expression!! My knitting is what’s keeping me sane during the the ICU experience. every day we get closer to a regular room!!
Sleep has been an issue at my house as well. I wonder if it’s tied to this weird return of winter weather! I’m excited to see your finished Hitchhiker, and I certainly hope you’ll show us a full picture so we can properly ooh and ahh over it. Loving the watercolor, too!
In a week of mixed results, your Hitchhiker and painting are stellar successes! I love both of them and feel confident that you’ll win the sock war in the end. I really hope you win at sleep, soon, too, It’s been hit or miss here and I’m blaming the stupid time change.
Interesting, sleep has been very elusive here in the west, time change? This week is dragging for me though and all day I dream of a deep sleep only to be frustrated all night with eyes and mind wide awake. Im too tired to even knit!
Some weeks . . . are just Like That. Press on, Kat! May the socks work out, may you continue to inspire other knitters, may you wield tape and X-acto knife with grace . . . and may you adjust to the time change get the rest you need. XO
That’s a definite drag about the socks but you’re back on track now. (And we all have a tendency to avoid that inner voice, go figure?) I think your painting is fabulous!
So sorry you’ve had a tough week, but your painting and shawl is gorgeous.
The whimsy-noir is SO cool! What a fun shift. So brave. And you really hit it. Nice to have some balance to an otherwise wacky week…
What the heck is up with the sleep? Troy has slept TERRIBLY. (Which means I wake up, too…. GRR.) Something’s going on, I think. (And I really don’t think it’s just the time change.)
I love your painting – it is such an interesting mix of colors! And your hitchhiker looks so gorgeous. Yay for a good week of reading – your current read sounds fabulous!
I hope your sleep gets sorted out soon. It really affects everything, doesn’t it? ❤️
Oh what a week you’ve had. I hope this next one is better. The hitchhiker looks wonderful, just the ticket for this blustery cold March weather. Hooray for being back on track with the socks. I can’t tell you how many times I wished I’d listened to the voice in my head flashing a warning. The painting is fabulous. My sleep has been erratic this week. I blame the time change and the goofy weather, as in 66 degrees one day and a snowstorm the next.