Yarn Along 1/18/17

Halfway through knitting my Pussyhat. I'm making one for myself even though I found out about the project too late to send any hats to DC. I am finding it very magical to be making the exact same thing as thousands of other women and very cathartic to be doing something--no matter how small and "menial"--to protest all the hate and negativity that the political sphere is throwing at us. This pattern is similar to the Kit Kat Hat that was in my Ravelry queue as well :)

I finished Written in My Own Heart's Blood last night and just started Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women. I found this book at a local thrift shop and thought about how it fits nicely into the criteria for the Goodreads book club my friend Maggie started. I hope to recommend it there after I finish it. It's one of my personal goals this year to read more books about history (yes, I am keeping that vague on purpose--history of countries, history of religions, histories of anything, really...).






Join the Yarn Along and share your current knits + reads by visiting Ginny's site.

New Year, Same Old Project (Yarn Along 1/4/17)

I'm so close!!!

5 more rows and then the final section!! I'm renaming this shawl the Never-ending Age of Brass and Steam...at least I took a photo where you can finally see the full beauty of the yarn color.

I meant to have a new project to show you today actually. I started a pair of fingerless gloves for myself as my hands are always freezing in this house, but I ended up frogging it after 12 or so rows once I realized that playing LEGOs and knitting simultaneously don't mix. Some day I hope to be able to multitask while knitting...at least I wasn't in love with the yarn I had chose :)

Currently reading:

1. Lots of info about Ebook writing...YES, I am going to be writing an Ebook. Can you guess the topic? Hint: It's not about knitting ;)

2. It's All Easy by Gwyneth Paltrow (I don't care what other people think; I adore her. Her recipe for salmon is one of my all time favorites).

3. Captain Underpants...Found two more in the series to add to our collection at the Little Free Library. Reading out loud to the boys...it's a good step up from a picture book, but keeps their attention more than a full-fledged chapter book.




I'm looking forward to seeing what you are knitting and reading to start the New Year! If you aren't already, please join the Yarn Along by visiting Ginny's page.

Yarn A Long - Will I Finish These WIPs by New Year's??

I'm 60% done with my book, but my digital library loan expired on my Kindle this morning, so I'm happy that I thought ahead and picked up a hard copy of the book at the actual library on Tuesday. It's a monster, but I am determined to finish it by year's end...the same with the two pictured knitting projects...

#1 is my third Barley hat in a row and is for the boy's two year old cousin, Vienna. I think she'll get a kick out of having the same style as them. I'll be finishing it off this morning.

#2 is my blasted Age of Brass and Steam shawlette-thing. I've learned so many things with this project...number one being, don't knit dark yarn on dark needles! The needles I'm using are super nice, but very hard to see what I am doing with the dark green yarn (which sadly didn't show up in the photo in it's beautifully variegated tones).

I am also running into the issue of knots where I had to re-tie the yarn together after Otto tangled it before I was able to wind it. Lesson #2-- don't forget to ask the yarn shop to wind my yarn for me!! I'm not looking forward to fixing all the imperfections in this piece.

See the yarn in the bottom left hand corner? That's what is keeping me going! I can't wait to cast on a new project for the new year! Trying to decide if I brave the Lace Mess Shawl or make myself a hat...the Kit Kat hat looks appealing...

If I don't update before the year's end, I wish you the best! Bring on 2017!

(You can join the yarn a long by visiting the Small Things blog)

Yarn Along 12/14/16

I finished Orion's Barley hat this morning and immediately cast on for my third and FINAL Barley! This one will be for cousin Vienna who just turned two. I'm going to make her a toddler sized hat as well. The yarn is Knit Picks from a long abandoned blanket project kit.

My reading is still going slowly, but I am 40% done with Shelter for the Spirit and got to read some in the tub last night. I am enjoying this book very much, even though some of it is dated (she explains using a debit card)! Some of the material is common sense, but a lot of it is timeless. If I was giving a housewarming gift or a gift to someone living alone for the first time, I would find a copy of this book and a copy of An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler to give them. Both contain essential, valuable information to keeping a cozy and thoughtful home and kitchen.

Rodale's Organic Life is a new read for me. I realize it is filled with ads for the Rodale's brand, but I get the magazine free and I quite like it. All of the recipes are real food recipes and quite a few are going into my recipe file to try. The pickled cranberries in the last issue in particular caught my eye...

I hope all your holiday knitting is going well! Here's a photo of Orion's hat and you can clearly see the glaring error I made, but he's given me a lot of hugs and kisses already for making it for him, so I am choosing to see all the good in it instead of my mistake (it fits his head perfectly)!

You can join the Yarn Along fun by joining the link up at Ginny's blog. 

Yarn Along 12/7/16

From left to right we have the start of Orion's red Barley hat, the wee beginnings of a Lace Mess Shawl, and my never-ending Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief that I just completed the second eyelet section on, even though I started it this past spring. I just can't get into shawls...so why did I cast on the Lace Mess last night in sock yarn nonetheless? Sometimes I question myself.

Not much reading going on at the moment since I need to buy the 8th Outlander book. I have been reading cookbooks during lunchtime (a very pleasant activity, believe it or not) and The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook never fails to inspire. I'll be making the Raspberry Rugelach on Friday.

My new planner just had to sneak in the photo too...Last year I had the large My Happy Planner and really liked it, but the size of this one is much better for me and my lifestyle. I love personalizing these types of planners and keeping a "hard copy" of my schedule and to-do's instead of using an app. I promise to write a planner post sometime soon!

As always, please feel free to join the Yarn Along! Started by Ginny of Small Things, you can go there to join the fun and share what you are reading and knitting :)

Yarn Along (A Day Late Again)

Started my first Barley hat for Otto. I have a crazy vision of making us all Barley hats by Christmas, but at the rate I'm able to knit now who knows if that will be accomplished. Orion and Otto will both get theirs for Christmas for certain, but maybe Mike can wait until his birthday...and us girls can have ours somewhere in between? Knitting for Mike is difficult because 1) He is hard on things--he wears out clothes extraordinarily fast & 2) He is sensitive to certain materials and fibers. I made the mistake of knitting him a wool scarf once...never again!! Plus it felted when he washed it :(

I'm working on using up my stash yarns for these hats. If there is a Christmas bonus in our future I hope to start buying some yummy nice yarns from my LYS. I think this yarn is Lion Brand, but most of the other Barleys will be with KnitPicks.

As far as what I am reading...I haven't really started this book yet. I should have read it awhile ago, probably, because I'm in sort of a rough spot with Orion. I need to keep my composure a little better and hopefully this book will provide some good insights and a "pep talk" from someone who has been there.

Not pictured but reading on my Kindle: Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
I'm not super into it, but I've already read many books/listened to lots of podcasts on the topics she covers. Also can't relate to being an "over achiever" or an extrovert. Her revelations seem like common sense to me mostly...although I enjoyed the ruminations on training yourself to pray in a more helpful way. I'm 44% in and while it is a quick read, I don't really have much desire to go on with it.

Until next week! Come back and see if I manage to post on time! :)

As always, feel free to join the Yarn Along fun and visit Ginny's site to see more posts!