Greetings dearest Unravelers!
We have reached the final Wednesday of March… and I am trying to figure out the March Lion/Lamb conundrum. March has had some very curious weather in the ‘Burgh and it seems that the Lamb/Lamb version is how my March will end… but perhaps that is not so bad.
The making this week has had some unraveling…sigh. That sock… I was worried about pooling but in the straightway down the leg I fell in love with the Wabi–Sabi striping that the yarn was brilliantly doing! And then came the heel flap and gusset where all those lovely “stripes” fell into two distinct pools of color… purple on one side, green on the other, which I thought was pretty darned ugly. But I knit on hoping I could get past the ugliness of it. In the end I could not so I ripped it back, put in a row of stitches for an afterthought heel, and continued those delight stripes down the foot. My love is back for this yarn! I had completely forgotten how perfect Helen’s Shepherd sock yarn is! It has an almost cottony feel to it and it creates a lovely fabric at my “sock gauge”!
I have one finished Valkyrie Hat… which I soaked and it is blocking on a wee ball of yarn. Up next… some Valkyrie horns for that hat!
My main love this week continues to be stitching. It is the thing I think most about every day (even though I don’t spend much time stitching, I do spend a LOT of time planning pages…) I finished another page in for my book… and I LOVE it! Those circles were just so fun to do!
I am thinking that this “design” will soon be translated to a larger version to make a pillow! It was just all so fun to do!
The current page (in the header photo) has an “oops” bit of fabric… I used this fabric to make a hat for Winston when he was a baby and this cut did not “match up” the plaids perfectly, so into the scrap bag it went. A piece showing the delight of circles… I have a few more Colonial Knots to add yet today and a new page begins tomorrow!
The reading this week though… oh my goodness. It was just perfection! I think I read the best book I will read all year over the past couple of months. I have slowly savored On Time and Water. I borrowed it from the library and have been so lucky that I could renew it not once but twice! But this is a book that needs to live in my library, so I have ordered a copy for myself. If you are at all interested in the question: “Is 100 years a long time?” and as you are contemplating the answer, dear Andri has some thinking for you! (My answer: I don’t think 100 years is very long at all but when I asked Genevieve… well, she thought it was a very, very long time.) I highly recommend Mr. Magnason’s brilliant book!
I was so lucky to get an advanced digital copy of a new mystery series, Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor. I really enjoyed it! The ending was unexpected and there are some very mysterious characters! I can’t wait to see where the next book goes (and yes, I am eagerly anticipating it!!) Agony Hill will be published August 6… so you won’t have too long to wait!
And there you have my making and reading catch up with you all… what about you? What is exciting you this week?
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The almost-striping on that sock is so lovely, and I can see why you’d want to maintain it. I’m generally not a huge fan of afterthought heels because they don’t fit me as well as a flap and gusset, but they have a place, and this is absolutely one. Your stitching continues to inspire.
I’m still working on my handspun sweater but have added a new pair of shortie socks that are keeping me good company while I read Iron Flame. I’ve got about 300 pages left, so we’ll see whether I finish the book or the socks first.
I will have to look up an ‘afterthought’ heel…(I consider myself lucky just to have a valid heel, period!)
Your stitch project is such a sweet way to incorporate memories, as well as a daily meditation — and plain old fun with stitches! I’m thinking of all the ways one could keep going, beyond the book that will be gifted. Enjoy the process. ♥
I am a big fan of that sock and am glad that you ripped back for an afterthought heel. I’m waiting with much interest to see how fiddly those Valkyrie horns will be, but I bet the hat will look great. You do a wonderful job picking fabrics for your stitching and with the stitching itself. Your pages are always a delight!
I cannot wait to see the horns on your hat!! LOL. But your stitching! The circles are just charming and the threads surrounding them and weaving around them make me think of Kym’s post about her word! Agony Hill sounds great and I’ve just requested another book by that author from my library…will let you know how that is. I’m working on shortie socks and hoping to get to my Shakerag Skirt. And, I’m reading “How to Say Babylon” which (for me) is just ok so far.
The circles are beautifully made and completely adorable!
I’ve been making quite a few quick knits and procrastinating on my big knit. Sometimes a person just has to procrastinate. Pro-has-to-nate?
I’m glad you ripped back that sock — it’ll be so much nicer with an afterthought heel! Will you be using the same yarn or do you have a solid or something else that you’ll use?
ha! another person unknitting – seems to be a theme! I also do not like when the heel flap colors go wonky like that. I had a pair of oinkpigments yarn (not a fan) and had to do an afterthought heel because of the narrow repeat of the yarn. (also the colors faded upon washing!!)
Pooling sock yarn is definitely not fun, glad you found a work around for that. And your reading sounds great!
The sock looks terrific in that yarn. I’m glad you found a workable solution for the pooling. Your stitching is so creative. I can see why you are enjoying it so. I love it when a book really speaks to a reader. You found a good one in On Time and Water.