Greetings dear Unraveler’s and happy Wednesday to you all!
This week, the weather appears to have flipped the switch from balmy warm summer days to fall here in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Sweater weather??… absolutely!
I knew this was coming at some point in time and so… I did some closet prep late last week. I mean… who am I? Ha! Anyways, in past years this time of year when you sort of straddle two seasons… my closet becomes complete and total chaos. But maybe not this year… advance ordering, moving some cooler weather clothes around and in an organized fashion might keep my closet from looking like a bomb exploded in it! I am feeling very smart and orderly and quite happy with myself!
The other thing that has been a bit of an issue in my neighborhood is the volumes of rain we continue to get! It seems we are almost constantly under a flood watch which at times peaks up to a warning and then dips back down to the watch zone… sigh. I live in the Rock Hill neighborhood housing plan… and truly, it’s a very rocky, very elevated bit of land (not at all a place where you’d imagine flooding being an issue) and it is just soggy on top of soggy on top of soggy… with an occasional stream/river flowing down our street. The Chartiers Creek has a “white water” rafting look these days… yeah. Lots. Of. Rain!
This week’s making has mostly been focused on the genius of Julie Weisenberger... oh my goodness, she has blown my mind over and over again in the knitting of the Mercedes Vest. From the very first stitch, she has thought about each step that comes after that and how best those beginning stitches need to support all that comes. I am more than a bit enamored with Julie’s Brain… but this week, I have been utterly in love with the beauty of this neckline curve. I have just cast on the brilliant underarm scythes and am working down the front apron of this vest.
The genius of Julie aka CocoKnits right here! I thought the back arm scythes were nifty, these are downright magnificent!
And take a moment to look at the brilliant cast-off that looks very I-cord cast-off-ish, but it is not. Julie, I am your newest fan girl! I will be finishing my Mercedes this week (probably) and I have plans to cast on another one immediately!
The bind off that looks like I-cord but is not at all!
The reading has been very varied this week! I finished Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars. Now, first… I want to say that his writing is not at all as poetic and beautiful as Douglas Stuart’s… sigh. The book is divided into 3 parts, the middle portion dragged a bit for me. The premise is the book takes place some time after a pandemic has struck… followed by some kind of “blood” issue… and those remaining are not all shining examples of humanity. I found the ending a bit anticlimactic… and it made me feel that there should have been a sequel or something but there was not. I gave the book 3 stars however, your mileage might vary.
But, the most fascinating book of the week (I have yet to finish it) is Roopika Risam’s Data Empire! (Bonny… I think you’d love this book!) It is a fascinating look at our propensity for data collection… going back to the beginning of time! I am smack in the middle of 300-1400 CE and loving it!
That is all I have for today… how is your September making and reading going?
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Oh man Kat! I cannot wait to see your finished vest. It looks gorgeous and the design seems to be just so clever. I finished Fletcher’s socks and cast on a pair for Iris. But, I seem to be in a funky slump for reading…
I love these closeups of your vest! You are really moving along on it, and casting on another one as soon as you finish this one really says how much of a fan you are. And as soon as I read the title Data Empire, I thought how I needed to check out that book, but your personalized recommendation really did it. I hope to find it at the library, and may even start reading it if I do (despite having three ARCs to finish). Thank you!
Those vest edges look so polished! I have a feeling you’ll be wearing this as soon as it’s done — it’s definitely vest weather right now! We thankfully have not had to deal with flooding (one benefit of living above a ravine), but there is debris everywhere and a lot of the storm drains are covered. I’m glad that it looks like we are getting a bit of a break!
That neckline is a TRUE Thing of Beauty, Kat. I’ve always wanted to knit one of Julie’s designs, and that vest is at the top of my list. I can’t wait to see it all finished and (I hope) modeled. It’s going to be lovely. AND . . . BRAVO to you for the early closet switch-over! Transition-weather always makes a shambles of my closet, too . . .
We are all sighing at that sweater construction — so satisfying. Did you take any Cocoknits classes, or are you using her book? (I’m looking at the “before purchasing. . .” on the pattern page.) I’ve always paused at the “extra” of that.
I hope you get some relief from the rain soon! We want CRISP fall days, or at least some of them.
wow I appreciate those pattern details ! Some designers think in the most creative ways, I marvel out how their brains work! have never knit anythng by her yet I always admire her designs.
That vest is looking great and the edges are really nice. I’ve picked up Hannah’s waffle sweater and am almost done with the first sleeve. Just one more to go!
The vest looks great. The designer really did a terrific job with all the details. I think vests are so wearable in the in-between weather. I hope you are staying safe in all the rain.
beautiful sweater!! We have a yard that slopes downward into the woods and down in the woods it is very very soggy but it’s far away from the house. My husband was complaining about all the mowing he’s had to do all summer long. Usually there is a break!