Greetings dearest Unravelers and Happy Wednesday!
Some days, the gratitudes come easy and others… well, I am here to tell you that the struggle is very real those days! Thankfully, today is not one of those days!
One thing I am always grateful for is my daily stitching. Now, I don’t always stitch daily (because life, right?) but this is a project that offers no recriminations about missed days. The last week of October was one of those “missed days” weeks… I knew I wanted to stitch something special to commemorate the day my Heidi had her baby… fortunately, I did not need to wait long! Ha! And after a couple of evenings, I had that last week all stitched in. (It took me a couple of ‘stitch sessions’ to stem stitch Odette… I am a much faster not following the lines stitcher! Ha!) I truly appreciated that Heidi (and Odette) were so accommodating to utilize a “long rectangle” day!
October Stitching… done and dusted!
As you can see, I did fiddle around a bit on the first day of the month with some mosaic embroidery! Oh man! It is fun but that one space took me a long, long time! I absolutely know for 2026 that one “darning” spot per day is the right amount of time… it took me about 15ish minutes to do one color with Perle cotton. I will be testing a bit more with fingering weight yarn to see how that goes.
The other thing that I am profoundly grateful for is knitting. It has saved my sanity more than once since I taught myself to knit almost 40 years ago! I have so close to another finished Welcome to the Flock cardigan! At this writing it is just neck ribbing, front button bands, and buttons away from a finish! Then all that remains will be to give it a bit of a wash and get it in the mail to Heidi and Odette!
Perhaps my deepest and most profound gratitude is the fact that I count myself a reader! (living with someone who is not a reader at all, has shown me just how fortunate I am!) I read every day and I cannot imagine a day without reading. I don’t have any finishes to share with you this week, but I have been immersed in John Boyne’s latest novel, The Elements. Boyne is an incredible writer… and the proof is in this book of four curiously interconnected stories. I am reading the “final element” and am about halfway through. One thing… these four stories have moved me profoundly and this novel will stay with me for a long time!
What about you? What are you making and reading this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
I’m absolutely enchanted by those wee sheep! You’re doing a great job, Odette will look cute as a button.
I just know Odette will be wrapped in that gorgeous sweater in no time. And your stitching!! October’s stitching is just gorgeous Kat. I love that you stitched Odette’s name. The Boyne book looks very interesting. Thanks to you, I read “The Place of Tides” (LOVED it) and am now engrossed in “The Letter Carrier” – many thanks for all your recommendations.
I love those sheep against the green! I also love how you’ve incorporated the arrival of your new granddaughter in your stitching.
I love your October stitching and especially Odette’s rectangle! Her sheep sweater is wonderful, too and it will be keeping her warm soon. I loved The Elements and how very skilled John Boyne is at writing all the perspectives around abuse. A very good week in stitching, knitting, reading, and gratitudes!
I cannot imagine not reading at all. I have a cousin who doesn’t read (!!). Lovely sweater and the stitching as always is gorgeous.
Your stitching is mesmerizing. Odette’s sweater is wonderful — I love the color! Ginny brought a book with her the other day when she rode over on her bike… and I love that SO MUCH!!
That little “Flock” sweater for Odette is adorable. (I love the color!) And, as always, your stitchiing project inspires. I can’t imagine going a day without reading . . . XO
The little sweater for the newest member of the Flock is darling. It will be finished and on its way in no time. I so enjoy seeing your stitching project and now I’ve learned about mosaic embroidery – brand new to me. It looks like fun. I can’t imagine ending my day without reading a few or more pages. It would be like a day without some kind of needlework.
What a lovely way to mark Odette’s arrival. I just love your daily stitching project and I don’t know how you come up with something new everyday??! And that sheep sweater? So cute!
Like you, I’m profoundly grateful for knitting and reading. I don’t knit everyday but I realized that a day is literally (ha! pun not intended) incomplete without reading even a few pages. I just can’t do it and my Storygraph streak is proof!
The Elements is on my list for later this year and I’m looking forward to it even more after your thoughts. I hope the rest of your week goes well!
The sweater is wonderful! And I’m so glad that reading brings you pleasure and gratitude. I can’t imagine life without books.