Greetings dear Unraveler’s and Happy Mid-July to you all!
Fifty-two days of stitching and I ended up with this beauty! I am so happy with it… and it is in the rotation of wearing! It works well with a simple shirt and linen pants and (as you can see by the fuzz) it works almost perfectly with the Airy Anne of Green Gables Ranunculus! It has been to TJ’s and the library thus far.
I have begun my next stitching project…. the Ollie Top from Tauko magazine. I have the sleeves attached and the side seams completed. Today I figure out the neck facings…wish me luck.
Another Ranunculus and the beginnings of an Ollie Top
I have begun the cousin of the Airy Ranunculus and it’s flying. I am about to divide the sleeves off. Gauge was achieved with a US 11 needle and I think the rosy pink was the perfect addition to this second iteration. It is not as light as the first one, but it is not in any way a heavy sweater. I was smarter with this version… I began the skein altering rounds earlier and did them over the course of the raglan sleeve shaping sections.
The reading… oh boy. I finished Land… and though I found the writing lovely, the story was the furthest thing from lovely one could imagine. Frequently, in the listening, I found myself wondering how one family could have so many tragedies. The saying, “if it weren’t for bad luck, they’d have no luck at all” was definitely a theme. I confess, I skipped one particularly horrid bit with a puppy and Rose… I just could not. The story conveyed the misery of life for the Irish but I think it could have been conveyed with a bit less tragedy. It is not my favorite O’Farrell story and there were times I contemplated quitting it but I persevered… perhaps a good way to describe my feelings for this story and maybe what O’Farrell wanted for the readers: to minutely understand what it was like for the Irish… to persevere in ungodly conditions. It won’t be a book I recommend to others.
What about you all? What are you focusing on as July reaches the midpoint?
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Ooh your stitching is glorious and I love your fluffy yarn. Yes the Irish did have it tough. I can imagine it was a hard read. I had such a unforeseen start to the year , that for the rest of Summer I am prioritising time at home , crafting and the odd excursion. No more home improvements or please no more family upheavals, although I am dog sitting an old hound very soon, we will be old and lazy together.
your creative juices are bubbling up! I love the stitching and the cousin sweater. So airy and such a lovely color. I’m finishing up a shawl and on another simple pair of socks to keep me company when I watch tv.
Look at your glorious stitching! The new sweater is looking amazing, too — I love that combination of yarns! I felt similarly about Land; it really felt like everything bad that could happen to that family did happen. But then again that is probably close to reality for a lot of Irish families of the time. And I think in the end the children did find themselves in a better place eventually.
Your scarf is beautiful and I’m glad you’re showing it off at the library and TJs. A scarf that lovely needs to be shown off! And the start of your next Ranunculus is nice and rosy. I didn’t finish Land but I think you described the book quite well. Beautiful writing, but … I hope your next book isn’t filled with horrors!
Such lovely stitching, Kat! I’m so glad you’re showing it off as you “travel” through your days. And I can’t wait to see your new top. It looks great in your “teaser” photo, as does your new “airy” Ranunculus. You’ve been busy and productive with your needles! XO
I am currently reading Land along with my sister and the story is very similar to what my family experienced. Our great grandparents were just a few years older than Liam and as we read we are reminded of the tragedies that our great-grandparents and grandparents had to face and somehow live through and survive. My sister and I both wish our father was still alive to read this book. I’m about about 2/3 through the book and each page makes me feel so very grateful for my family, their struggles helped make a good life for my generation and beyond.
Your scarf is beautiful! Congratulations. I love the glimpses of your next projects.
You (and others) may have convinced me NOT to read Land, but Debbie’s comment adds another layer. I remember asking my grandfather’s sister why my grandpa had left (the Netherlands, not Ireland) in 1919. “Times were hard here then. [a long pause] but things were hard for them, too”
Your stitching is magnificent! I loved Land but there was a point where I literally yelled out loud at Maggie O’Farrell for all of the tragedy she dumped on that poor family. It’s truly heartbreaking when you consider that it wasn’t even an exaggeration of what some Irish families faced.
The stitched scarf is beautiful. I bet you have mixed feelings about finishing that project but now you can wear it, in all of its glory. Best of luck with the facing and hand sewing of the top. I am inspired by your Ranunculus.
I love all of this–the stitching is fabulous,I’d wear it as often as possible! Thanks formentioning Tauko, it is new to me!
oops comment above is from me NOt my PO box 🙂
That heathery pink is gorgeous and the texture looks soft as a dream.