Greetings Dear Unravelers and Welcome!
There was some unraveling this week… remember that hat I shared last week? Well, it was just too big, which for a hat is not a good thing. I got gauge, but it was just huge. This yarn has “tried” to be a number of things so perhaps it is the yarn and not the knitter! Socks did not work (and I tried several patterns), and a hat was not it either! And so this skein is being consigned to the Gnome Bag! My goal today is to find a suitable skein to try Sarah’s hat pattern again…wish me luck! (with eleventy-zillion skeins of sock yarn in my stash this should be an easy thing to do!)
However, I did have success this week with a finished pair of socks! Pair #2 for 2024…The yarn is a “test color way” from Fibernymph Dyeworks — Grays/Pinks Test Colorway. I knit my favorite sock pattern, Carole’s Picot Socks and they just flew off the needles. A sock is the perfect nighttime knit… I can sit with Steve but not really pay too much attention to what is on television.
I also succeeded in the Italian Tubular Cast On… and I have the ribbing finished and have started the body of Steve’s vest. The color is kind of off-putting because really I want to keep knitting with pinks! But it will be the most excellent business attire color… so I knit on!
The thing that is saving my sanity these days is my daily stitching ritual… you can see page six above on my 100 Day Journey. Such fun from literal scraps of fabric… things I probably should have thrown away, but my goodness, am I glad I did not do that!
My reading has definitely slowed dramatically down. I saw my doctor earlier this month and talked to him about my insomnia… he had some suggestions, which I have implemented over the month. The main thing was “no screen time” and I read books on my iPad at night. Or at least I had been… now, when the lights go off, I do not lay there and read in the dark… and stunningly, my sleep has improved. I have only had a couple of nights this month that sleep has been elusive. Thus it took me forever to finish a kindle book but I did! I got an advance copy of Mr. Comey’s latest mystery, Westport, from Netgalley. I am happy to report that the second book in this series was much better than the first! I made a guess early on in the reading of who I thought “did it” and I was right! (Although, I prefer being wrong… lol) Anyways, if you tried Central Park West and were disappointed, you might want to try again with Westport which will be out May 21, 2024.
I also have finished listening to The Poisonwood Bible. Oh my. Kym said there’d be so much to discuss with this one… and she is so right! Anyways, I loved it (and hated so many things in it…) but really, really loving how the story is told! I have laughed, cried, laughed some more, and even had some rather animated discussions with Steve about some aspects of it. (He is not even the least bit intrigued to read it… lol)
I have begun listening to The Eyes and The Impossible by Dave Eggers. So far… so very good. And my next Kindle read is one many of you have read… an advanced copy of Real Americans. I barely cracked it open… but those few “pages” have lured me in!
And there you have my week. What about you? What are you loving right now?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
That ‘no screen time’ before bed is a real bummer. My gp said it also included tv as well no matter how far away from the screen you are. But I have to agree with you- it does help.
Shame about the hat but if the yarns not right there’s no point in carrying on. Your ?poppies look very realistic, you are talented in many ways.
Take care
Cathy
Your stitching intrigues me Kat! It is just so lovely. Your finished socks are equally lovely (I need to remember Carole’s pattern). Sorry about the hat (but I’m sure you can easily find replacement yarn to try – LOL). And yay for Steve’s vest being underway. I was happy to read that your sleep has improved. Thanks for the recommendation of “Westport” – that sounds good. I have “The Eyes and the Impossible” on my nightstand to start once I finish my current book!
Love the socks! I’m sorry the yarn is not cooperating with the hat — hate when that happens! I really enjoyed Real Americans, so I hope you do, too.
I read on a plain kindle and do not put the backlight on while in bed. It reads like a real book and I love it. I’m so glad that your sleepless nights have improved for you. Whenever I don’t get the right amount of sleep I am a grumpy bear.
It’s *definitely* the yarn!
So pleased to hear your insomnia has improved. I also read my kindle at night, no matter how often my partner says ‘I don’t think that’ll help you sleep’….
All great news on the knitting and stitching front, Kat! Love the socks (I’m a total sucker for gray+ color combinations), and Steve’s vest is going to be perfect (even if the color is Not That Exciting To Knit). And you’ll find the Just Right yarn for the hat, I have no doubts. I love your stitching! So creative and inspired! XO (I have been approved for Real Americans as well, but I have a bit of a NetGalley backlog going so haven’t opened it yet. Looking forward to it.)
Re: the screens-before-bed thing . . . I used to read books on my iPad with the Kindle app. I did find that it bothered me before sleep. I broke down and bought an actual Kindle, which has a very different type of screen. I don’t like the “look” of the books on the actual Kindle, and I find it more cumbersome to highlight and make notes on it (compared to the iPad), but . . . it doesn’t seem to bother me so much when it comes to falling asleep. I’m sure that screens-are-screens, but it does seem to make a difference for me. (It’s also better for reading outside in the sunlight; no glare.)
I’m glad your sleep has improved; when you get enough sleep everything looks better (even if it’s not)! I love your pink socks #2 and hope you can find another bright skein for your hat. That will make knitting that gray vest a bit more palatable.
I’m also glad you liked Poisonwood so much! I find it frustrating when John won’t read a book so we can talk about it, but he’s really the one missing out. Sometimes men can be stubborn. 🙂
Also, your stitching is stunning!
The poppy flowers are so pretty.
When I limit screen time at night I sleep much better too. Unfortunately, it means I’m not always able to keep up with blog reading. 🙁
Oh, those socks!! Love the pink. And your stitching — that is SO pretty, Kat!
That dratted blue light eh? You could try a Kindle Paperwhite since they are supposed to emit far less blue light than tablets and smartphones. I don’t use mine without lighting in the bedroom from a lamp though, it would be a little too glarey I think.
Shame about the yarn and failed knitting attempts, but sounds like you’ve got a very healthy stash to dive into!
Thanks for hosting the link up.
I have been reading your blog for a short time and enjoying it very much. This post really caught me as I too am having insomnia. I didn’t think I would ever have a problem with this in my life but here I am at 67 and having quite the time of it. Is it age? I don’t know. Does it go with the hot flashes? Again I don’t know. Tried everything. Some nights are good and others terrible. I do quilt and knit and that does take some of my stress away. I hope I will have this problem solved soon!!
All of your making/stitching is fabulous. Even the gray vest will be fabulous when finished. Lots of food for thought in your reading. I turn the screens off at least 45 minutes before I head to bed and have less trouble getting to sleep. Yikes, I had a busy day yesterday so I wrote my post early and then forgot to link until this evening. I appreciate you hosting this link up.
Hmmm…. there must be something in the air as I have been doing lots of ripping this week! I really enjoy seeing the books you have read; it’s great to get suggestions. Now if only I could read faster.