Greetings dearest Unraveler’s and Happy Last Wednesday in August!
I must confess, there has been a good deal of unraveling in my knitting life this week… sigh. I am working on the first “Flock” sweater and have been struggling… mightily!! My struggles are all around the first and last sheep in the sweater yoke. I have been having a debate with my inner critic about the very obvious holes (gaps?) created when I turn the sweater and work back on the wrong side. These same gaps do not occur in the subsequent sheep in the row… grrrr! I think it is because those two separate sheep think they are “intarsia” sheep… I am going to try again doing the “intarsia twist” before and after those sheep to see if that removes the gap. If it does not, I don’t know what I am going to do… also, can I just say that doing color work with super wash yarn is absolutely NO FUN! I am thinking back to all the love I knit into those blankets… this sweater is not as fortunate. This poor little sweater has been in a bit of a time out as I mull over ways to try and make those sheep work… which is not really a bad thing because I picked up my August stitching and worked on that (I do my best thinking when I am stitching!)
On a brighter note, I finished The Homemade God and wow… just wow! It is going on my “best of” books list for 2025. I am in awe at Rachel Joyce’s writing prowess! She has crafted a book that is overflowing with unlikable characters… and despite that… I really wanted to read to find out more about this dysfunctional family. The book addresses family issues so perfectly… especially a family of an alcoholic who set each child up to be an enabler. And yet… she slices through that and helps the reader discover things they like about each character. The Homemade God has the best ending of a book I have ever read and I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished it! If you are looking for the perfect “late summer” read… look no further. I highly recommend!
I also finished the latest in the Magpie Murder series by Anthony Horowitz. I listened and it was delightful to be back with Atticus Pünd and Susan Ryeland as “they” solved a new mystery. This is also just brilliant writing… a mystery within a mystery! I loved the narrators (Leslie Manville and Tim McMullen) they are superb!
That is my weekly update on my makes and reads… what about you? What is working well for you as August draws to a close?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
I love the shade of pink for your first Flock sweater. I’m also sorry to hear of your unraveling and those naughty sheep not cooperating to make for smooth knitting! I hope your solution works. My socks were finished! And I read a wonderful book (Crown by Evanthia Bromiley).
I’m sure you’ll find your way with the tiny sweater, Kat. XO (Although I’ve gotta say . . . tiny colorwork with superwash AND uncooperative sheep sounds like No Fun at all!) And I’m glad you have your stitching to turn to when you need a break. Sending the knitting juju your way!
I’m sorry the colorwork is giving you such a hard time! Sometimes I’ve found that strategically weaving in ends helps to fix those gaps. I’m sending you some good juju for those little sheepies!
I love the shade of pink you chose for this sweater but I’m sorry the sheep aren’t behaving. I hope you figure out a suitable fix. Could you do those sheep in duplicate stitch? I know it looks different and is kind of a pain in the neck to do. I’m also sending knitting you good knitting juju and hope that your stitching and thinking time is productive.
I think you’re still knitting LOVE into that little sweater, but you’re also knitting in PERSEVERANCE & STICK-TO-ITIVENESS! That’s something.
bummer about that sweater but I know you will figure it out! I only read the first in that series and I LOVED a mystery in a mystery. my mind was blown!
I hope you can figure out a way to make those sheep in the sweater behave! It sounds very frustrating.
I think you referenced @farwellclay when you shared you’d be knitting these sweet sweaters. I recall her mentioning something magic she does when knitting the sheep to try to mind the gap. Perhaps look back at that instagram series. Best wishes. Your knitting always turns out lovely!
Well how dare those sheep misbehave on a Nana’s needles. The colors are very sweet. It would be a pain but could you duplicate stitch those sheep. I’m glad your reading was so successful and that stitching gave you a needed break.