Greetings Dear Unravelers and Happy Wednesday!
I have finishes this week! A completed pair of socks and one finished Gnome!
First, the socks! Pattern is Hermoine’s Everyday Socks with an afterthought heel and toes done in a contrasting yarn. They fit well and I think these will go into the sock drawer for me!
Now, a bit of mood music for the next finish…
Valkyrie Gnova, ready to ride!
Up next, that Gnome Valkyrie! Meet Gnova who is eagerly entering Valhalla to ride with the other Valkyries as she guides Gnomes (and perhaps, Knitters of Gnomes!!) to Odin’s Hall! I love her “leather” Hauberk! It took a bit of figuring on how best to accomplish the vision in my mind’s eye… a few tries later and voilá… one well fitting Hauberk! I was a bit less creative than this for her sword and shield, but I am happy with my rudimentary weapons! The best part… if you are very quiet, you might hear her singing out from Valhalla!
I saw this on IG and thought… hmm, Feather and Fan socks might be a fun knit! And, as luck would have it (or better yet, just a very good library!) my library had a copy of the Socks, Socks, Socks book. I cast on and knit a few inches, but my gauge is so tight! I need to rip it out and go up a needle size. Stay tuned!
Yay for well-stocked libraries!!
I also cast on a Honey Cowl that I am hoping to finish before we leave for Erie later this month! This is that crazy skein of yarn I spun from Wound Up Fiber Arts Scrappy Sock Bundle.
From this…
To this!!!
On the super secret knitting front… I have been miraculously selected to “pre-knit” Ailbíona McLochlainn’s soon-to-be-released cardigan sweater. I just got the pattern yesterday, so swatching is on my list today.
I have stitching as well, but that will have to wait until next week!
The reading this week… ahhh! So, so delightful! I finished The Seed Keeper… and LOVED it! I also finished a book of Michael Ondaatje’s poetry: A Year of Last Things. I have been reading, re-reading, and re-reading some more since January. It is good… so good! It is out now and might be just the thing you need for your Poetry Bookshelf for National Poetry Month… just saying!
The current listen in my ears is Raynor Winn’s The Salt Path (narrated by the divine Anne Reid!!) I am about a quarter of the way in and enjoying the journey with Raynor and her husband Moth, as they walk the South West Coast Path.
At night I am meandering though Forgotten on Sunday… Valérie Perrin’s soon-to-be-published book! I am enjoying it very much.
Now for the brief, but so very spectacular, appointment with my audiologist… Can I just say that technology rocks? The hearing aids of today are NOT your grandmother’s hearing aid! It has been a process to get here, but imagine my wonder and surprise when the audiologist took the results from my hearing test and input them into the “test” hearing aids and put them in my ears! I could not contain the tears… it was as if my ears had been packed with cotton wool and someone removed it… as in instant hearing of things I had long forgotten. Anyways, hearing aids have been ordered… now I am really eagerly awaiting their arrival! I go May 14 to get them! Really… after the brief soundstravaganza I had this afternoon, I can barely wait! I will share more about them, the costs, the process, and the fittings for a later post. But, this is a life changing thing… for the freaking better!
There is my week… what about you? What are you working on this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
There is so very much GOOD STUFF in your post today, Kat, but I’ve just gotta start with the hearing aids. Because . . . as you already know . . . my own hearing aid experience has been life changing. I’m so glad you took this (big) plunge, and are stepping toward better hearing! I am HERE FOR YOU!!! XO But I also need to say . . . Gnova is my favorite of all your gnomes (and that is saying a lot!), I love your new socks (that is my favorite sock pattern, although you’d never know it these days), and I could never get the feather-and-fan socks to fit me right (which was a constant frustration for a while because they are so charming). I also keep hearing about Ondaatje’s new poetry collection, and I’m really eager to check it out for myself. So. Much. Good. Stuff.
feather and fan stitch reminds me of my mom 🙂 Love the socks and that gnome is super cute!! Now about that secret knitting, how will you be able to keep it a secret? I would burst!
I am so thrilled to hear that the appointment with the audiologist went well! In recent years, a bunch of people I know have gotten hearing aids, and all of them have raved about how much of a difference they make. Gnova is absolutely adorable — as usual, your personal touches greatly improve upon the base pattern! And I love how your handspun is knitting up. There is truly nothing better than knitting with yarn you made yourself!
You have written a post packed full of good things! I love all of your knitting, especially Gnova. This may be my favorite so far (but I always say that). That sock book was the first knitting book I bought, and I’ve always admired those f&f socks. Maybe I’ll even knit them someday!
I was inspired by you making an audiologist appt. so I made one yesterday. It’s not until May 14th but I hope it goes as well as yours. I look forward to hearing more details later! I’m sorry you have to wait that long for your hearing aids, but better hearing is coming. It sounds like a superpower!
Oh Kat that YARN! I’m besotted!
And wee Valkyrie, what an absolute delight x
Here’s another agreeing how much better conversations are when there are no more strange looks over replies to misheard words ????
Knowing how light and airy garments are knit in feather and fan I reckon you’ll be walking on air in socks with that pattern stitch.
And how about your latest gnome, isn’t she the best. Looks like she’s ready to right the wrongs every other woman faces
What a wonderful post Kat. I love that some of your gnomes are female. This little one is delightful. The handspun yarn is shouts Spring but will be lovely in that cowl pattern. I’m so glad your audiology appointment went well. I look forward to reading more about your hearing aids.
So much great stuff!! How has Ailbíona McLochlainn flown under my radar for so long?? I wish my audiologist had had “test” hearing aids for me to try. I have to decide in the next week or so whether I want to keep the ones I have or try something else…
You are one of four people I know working with their audiologist right now–and your positivity is intoxicating! I’m going to share this post with two in particular who are apprehensive. I always appreciate the space for ALL conversations in Blogland.
And what a week! Gnova! Poetry! Socks! And I am completely smitten with Ailbíona McLochlainn…wow. Thanks for that rabbit hole. And lucky you!! Can’t wait to see what’s in store!