August Yarn Along: Summertime Hues

I've got two projects on my needles just now -- both are tops for me, and both are in vivid hues. I suppose I was in the mood for colorful projects?

I finally frogged back a bit of my coral Roseroot top, knit some extra rows on the yoke, and have the armholes bound off again. I think I'll still need to cast on a few extra stitches under the arm, but I'm feeling better about the fit. My yarn is a lot lighter than the yarn called for in the pattern (even though they're both fingering weight!), and it's caused a few problems already. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing now!

My second project is a teal Poolside top, in the loveliest silk/alpaca/linen yarn. Perhaps my theme for this month should have been "Unknitting," because I seem to be doing a fair bit! Short rows still trip me up a bit, but I think I've got them figured out and can't wait to see this project take shape. I was excited to realize that this pattern is by Isabell Kraemer, just like the Cowboys and Angels shawl I finished up last week -- that pattern was exceptionally well written, and I have a feeling I'll enjoy this one, too. 

Much of my reading time lately has been health-related (profitable, but not exactly riveting), but I've also been reading Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin. I've never read her books before, but I think I'll be reading more after this. It does seem a trifle ironic to be reading a book about how to read a book -- but so far, it's been well worth it. 

I'd love to hear what you're reading or creating just now!

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along.

July Yarn Along: Splashing Along

How is the year half over? I can't quite wrap my mind around it, to be honest. I'm feeling wistful these days, especially as my "baby" will be turning three this month. I'd hoped 2020 would be the "rainbow" after a long, dark valley. I feel stuck, somehow, even though the months are flying by.

So while I wait for a break in the storm clouds, I knit. And read. 

I'm currently taking a break from my Roseroot top, which is proving to be a bit of a sizing headache -- I think my yarn substitution is considerably lighter weight than the recommended yarn, even though both are fingering weight. I've finished up the lace yoke, but now have to figure out how to size the armholes properly. I suspect it will involve frogging back a few rows, including some cast-off stitches that I'd already redone once -- hence the break to work on a different project!

So I finally cast on a Cowboys and Angels shawl last week, inspired by Pleximama's lovely version (and it's not the first time I've copied her, either! *wink*). Somehow I've been knitting for six years and still hadn't made the obligatory shawl yet -- probably because I wouldn't have really worn one. But this particular design caught my eye straight away, and I decided to give it a go once I found a suitable yarn. That "suitable yarn" is KnitCrate Lofti DK in "Mittens," which is easy to work with and has such a beautiful marled look. It's going to be deliciously cozy. So far this has been a satisfying knit, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first trellis section. Also, this pattern has the best "bobble" instructions (and results) I've ever encountered. Right now I'm working through the almost-mindless garter section, and it's been the perfect project to take to the neighborhood splash pad -- after having all of our parks and common areas closed for months, the splash pad turned on at the beginning of June, right on schedule. I was so grateful! Most of this shawl has been knit in the shade while my littles careen down the water slides and make obscene amounts of noise. It's been lovely. 

I actually have several books going right now, and have been reading a bit more than usual. My primary read is The Envy of Eve by Melissa Kruger. I'm not too far through it yet, but so far it is excellent and very, very convicting. Uncomfortably so! I'm moving relatively slowly because it is a very solid, thoughtful book -- I'm trying to take the time to reflect on what I'm reading. 

I'm also still slowly working through my Beatrix Potter book. A chapter here, a few pages there -- it's a book to savor, anyway, so I'm not disappointed at my slow pace. 

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along:

May Yarn Along: Spring Magnolia

I'm so close to finishing Rosa's Magnolia mini sweater! Just a little left on the sleeve, and it will be ready for blocking. I've cobbled together two sizes to make this work (my daughter will be eight when she wears it, but even accounting for growth the 8/9 would be far too large). The sleeves are on the slim side, and Rosa has commented that the wool is scratchy every time she's worn it -- hopefully it will actually be worn! I might need to make or purchase a shirt to go underneath, or perhaps washing will help with the scratchy factor?

I'm slowly reading through The Children of Hurin, my first Tolkien in ever so long. The writing is beautiful, though the main character is frustratingly obtuse! If he would stop getting in his own way, he might have a chance at a happy ending... though my husband just finished his second reading of this book (I'm reading it at his recommendation), and he's told me enough that I have little hope of a happily-ever-after. 

I'm also working on a second project -- a pair of socks for Laddie in his favorite colors, green and orange. We dyed the yarn together (more on that in a future post!), and this has been a great little project so far. I'm not using a pattern for these, and I'm experimenting with toe-up socks. That's resulted in a fair bit of frogging, and I don't even want to count how many times I've restarted these socks! But they're finally the right size, and I'm ready to start the heels. I've never done contrasting heels/toes on socks before, and have been eager to try. 

It's not knitting, but I did add leather to my knitting bag handles --
they were starting to look a bit worn and dirty, so leather seemed like a good solution! 

My other read is A Practical View of Christianity, by William Wilberforce (one of my personal heroes). I purchased this book over a decade ago -- in fact, I posted an excerpt in 2009 -- but never finished it. It's quite a challenging read! But well worth the effort so far. I've read several biographies of Wilberforce, but I'm enjoying reading his thoughts first-hand. It's part of my daily devotional reading, but I'm trying to fit in some extra readings here and there because I have quite a few books in my "devotional queue" right now.

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along.

April Yarn Along: Keep Calm and Knit On

Knitting was so befuddling and so brain-consuming when I first started that I never could have imagined how therapeutic it would be. The gentle click of the needles, the growing shape of a garment, the texture of yarn in my fingers, the calming repetition -- I love it all. I can listen to my audio Bible and allow truth to infuse my soul while I craft. I can relax with a movie while still being productive. I can work in silence and let my mind untangle jumbled, fretful thoughts while my hands are busy. 

That last one is so helpful, no matter what troubles may be churning in my mind. Just keep calm and knit on.

It's been a decent month for knitting -- I've made progress on the Thistle sweater and knit two pairs of socks (1 & 2). Now that I've discovered twin stitch short rows (through the Fish Lips Kiss Heel pattern) I'm not dreading the second sleeve cap on this sweater, and I'm anticipating finishing this project up shortly. Though I'm currently doing surgery on my almost-finished sleeve, because something happened between two stitches about 25 rows back... *sigh*  I've also managed to knit this sleeve a bit long, so I might rip back a few rows and start the cuff a bit sooner. It all depends on how much Little Man's arms will grow over the summer, and unfortunately that's a factor I can't predict!

I'm also close to finishing Word to Caesar, which has been a delightful read so far -- very much along the lines of Cue for Treason, my last read and the only other Geoffrey Trease novel I've read. I think he was a rather prolific writer, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his books. They would make perfect read-alouds for school! It's always a delight to find a "new" author, isn't it?

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along

March Yarn Along: Hiatus

It's been a while since I've joined up with Ginny's Yarn Along -- not since October, actually. It's been a challenging season of life, to say the least. I have been knitting and reading, but somehow the first Wednesday of the month was just not happening. The strange bit is that I've actually been posting to the blog more than I have been in recent memory (August through October were *just* Yarn Along posts!). But enough rambling on my inconsistencies. 

After finishing up a Lea sweater last month, I cast on a sweater for Little Man. It's been ages since I knit him anything, and I really wanted to try the Thistle sweater by Julie Partie. My one hesitation with this project is the yarn -- I used Brava sport from KnitPicks, which is an acrylic. I haven't used a synthetic yarn since I really started knitting (I did go through a phase of knitting scarves in vibrant eyelash yarns when I was a teenager, bless my heart!), and the internal struggle was intense. Far too intense for such an insignificant decision, to be honest... In the end I decided to give it a try, and 5 skeins of Camel Heather cost me $7 on sale. This sweater will be machine washable and dryable, and was definitely economical. 

But I just don't like it as much as wool or natural fibers. That's not really a surprise, I suppose! I think it will be a very serviceable sweater (and can hopefully be passed down to my younger sons, too), but I think it might be my first and last foray into the world of synthetic fibers. I've learned a bit more about synthetics recently, too, which further dissuades me from using them in future. 

Apart from my "fiber quandary," the sweater is coming along nicely (though relatively boring thus far). It's a great park/movie/audio Bible project, though I may cast on another project soon just to have some variety. The brown is a bit uninspiring after a while!

That "flap" is part of the waistband and will be stitched down with a button --
one of my favorite details about this pattern!

 I suppose I should move on to my current read. It's a charity shop find, and not something that would usually grab my attention. But the littles and I had just been (lightly) researching what happened to the Mona Lisa during WWII, because I was sure it hadn't been seized by the Germans but had no idea where it went during the war. Then I spotted Chasing Mona Lisa on the shelf, and thought I'd give it a try for a dollar. So far, it's not particularly my cup of tea (very action packed, and some "mild" romance), but I'm finding the historical aspect interesting enough to keep reading.

October Yarn Along: Hat-orama

October is here, accompanied by chilly mornings and frosty nights. The cold weather set in quite suddenly on a blustery day, and it seems it's here to stay (though highs will hit the low 80's later this week). In fact, we had an unexpected freeze last night (well, I didn't expect it because I don't pay attention...) and our garden is officially done. Oh well, it was a difficult year for gardening, and I'm almost relieved it's over.

I haven't done much reading this month, though I've been participating in the fall Bible Reading Challenge, mostly through audio Bible. I did receive Risen Motherhood in the mail, which I've been eagerly awaiting! I'm not far into it yet, but it's been such a blessing and a perfectly timed "re-calibration" on the motherhood front. It's so easy to get swept up in the immediate needs of running a household, and lose sight of the purpose of motherhood. I love how Emily and Laura point back to the Gospel in every area!

Things have been bright in the knitting realm. I finished up my "Birthday Sweater," finished up a pair of Rye Lights (intended for my oldest son, but ultimately mine because they were larger than anticipated), and started on a set of winter gear for my littles. First up were hats, all in different shades of Wool of the Andes worsted. Mittens and scarves will follow, and they're all in  my children's favorite colors -- well, Scout hasn't declared a favorite color yet, but since his older brothers have claimed red and green, I opted for blue.

Little Man has a Gingerbread Hat in colorway "Garnet Heather:"

Rosa has a January Hat in colorway "Blossom Heather:"

Laddie has a Slouchy Diamond Cap (with double "diamonds," since his hat is a bit plainer than the others) in colorway "Shire Heather:"

And Scout has an Owl Hat (in progress) in colorway "Icicle Heather:"

They've been flying off the needles (such a lovely feeling!), and I'm hoping to finish up the last hat tonight. I'll probably start mittens next, which should also be pretty quick -- I'll probably knit them two-at-a-time on DPNs.

I also have several sweaters I'd like to knit soon, so I doubt I'll be relaxing my knitting pace anytime soon! Fall is such a lovely time to be knitting, isn't it?

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along:

September Yarn Along: The Birthday Sweater

Despite my best intentions, I've not visited this little space since last month's Yarn Along! Since last month, I finished the Rye Light socks I was working on and cast on a new pair for my oldest son. I'm a bit uncertain about the KnitPicks Palette as sock yarn -- after a day's hiking in Yosemite, Rosa's socks appear to be felted in certain areas. I suppose this is why most people use superwash wool for socks! But I just can't reconcile myself to superwash wool (which typically uses harsh chemicals and removes wool's amazing natural properties). I did buy a skein of O-Wool's fingering weight yarn, which does not use harsh chemicals. I'm excited to try that, but it's not cheap (you get what you pay for!), so I'm not sure how feasible it is for children's socks. I'll definitely finish the Rye Lights I have on my needles now, and see how both pairs do over the coming winter. Rosa's were made with leftovers and Little Man's are using up stash yarn, so it will be an inexpensive experiment -- and I can't begrudge time spent practicing sock-making.

My current project is my "Birthday Sweater" from Maria Olson's August Sky pattern. This was a total birthday splurge, using Rosy Green Wool's Merino d'Arles. It's absolutely luscious! The squish factor is really quite absurd, and I'm loving every minute spent knitting with it. I picked the pattern without even paying attention to the name, but it was perfectly appropriate since my birthday is in August. It also uses less than 1,000 yards of yarn in my size, so it's a bit more economical than many patterns. I started this on August 20th, so I'm hoping I can finish it off in a month or less; I like (relatively) instant knitting gratification...

My reading this month has not been of the most page-turning kind -- a book on dog training (finished last night!), and still reading Gavin de Becker's excellent book, The Gift of Fear. I am just starting Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. It's been years since I last read it, but after re-watching the film adaptation last month I had to pick it up again! Granted, I watched over half of the film on Amazon Prime before realizing that they had cut out a number of scenes -- including some that are essential to character development. Why?! So I got out the DVD and re-watched most of it. This particular volume is part of a set of Dickens' novels that I bought in Scotland over a decade ago. They were 1 pound apiece ($2 American at that time), and they are minute! The pages are as thin as Bible pages. 

Picture purposes only -- I really have only just started! But I do love this passage in the book:
"'I wish he was so very strange a man as to be a total stranger,' answered [Jenny Wren]."

I've also added a pin to my knitting big, despite really having no more room -- but during our trip to Yosemite last week, I found a Steller's Jay pin at the Tuolomne Meadows visitor center. I've wanted to see one in person for quite some time, and fortunately they are plentiful in Yosemite!

I have plans for complete winter ensembles for all of the littles (hats, mittens, and scarfs), so I'm eager to finish up my August sky sweater and get to work! And I really should finish those socks...



Joining up with Ginny's Yarn Along:

August Yarn Along: Rhythms

The past few weeks have been all about finding some sort of rhythm in the chaos of life just now. It's been a turbulent summer, to say the least. My husband's schedule has been "predictably" unpredictable, including weeks of crazy late-night flights followed by travel. We had our summer break from school, and my plans to keep up some semblance of order came to naught (though I suspect doing "nothing" was what we needed, and we had a shorter than usual break, anyway). Now we are in our second week of homeschooling for the year, and I'm enjoying the more predictable cadence to the day, even if it means decreased "freedom."

I'm currently reading The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker. This was a book my husband just finished and really wanted me to read. It's a bit disturbing by nature of what it discusses (violence), but it's also very enlightening. A snippet from the description sums it up nicely: "True fear is a gift. Unwarranted fear is a curse. Learn how to tell the difference." 

I'm also reading The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge, but I'm not very far into it yet. To be quite honest, I've been knitting more than reading this month! And both of my current books are on my tablet; I rather miss having a "real" book in my hands. I still have my Beatrix Potter book underway, but I don't think I've read any of it this month...  

I finished up my Ninni cardigan (which I have dubbed "Goldilocks"), and cast on a pair of Rye light socks for Rosa. I love this pattern so far (it really is excellent for teaching you how to make socks, and I rather wish I'd started my sock-making adventures with this!), and these are whipping up very quickly. The heel flaps are done -- why am I always terrible about keeping track of my heel flap rows? -- and it's time for short rows! I love that there's a bit of texture on the front of the sock, but it's still a very easy pattern to follow. I wasn't in the mood for anything too complicated.

My new stitch markers are shameless knock-offs of Pleximama's lovely markers (going back to that post, I realized she was working on a pair of broken seed stitch socks, which I'm also planning to start when these socks are done -- apparently I'm just a copycat!). I love my purple locking stitch markers from KnitPicks, but I couldn't get the thought of little toadstool markers out of my mind. I found the beads on Etsy, and turned them into markers with my limited jewelry supplies as soon as they arrived in the mail. And, of course, they needed a little coordinating pouch -- fortunately, they fit into the pouches I'd previously made for my stitch markers and point protectors, so I whipped up another in red leather:

And now I have a little set of three in my knitting bag!

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along:

July Yarn Along: Ends and Beginnings

Somehow the "new" year is already more  than half-way through, and I feel like I am in between ends and beginnings.

I finally finished my Balta top (hurray!), which I need to get photos of. But before that, I need to sew a camisole for it -- I knew I'd need a camisole, but thought my simple white tank top would do. Well, it doesn't "do." It looks quite odd, and I'm hoping that I can make something that will work -- the alternative would be to frog the armholes of my Balta and re-knit them with extra rows. Which does not sound appealing at all at this point! At any rate, it's good to have finished a project and cleared 4 skeins of yarn from my stash.

While I prefer to have two projects going at once, I'd been focusing exclusively on my Balta. Which meant that I was at a bit of a loss when I finally cast off the last stitch -- "between projects" is a limbo I do not enjoy. I decided to start my Ninni cardigan, which meant dealing with a dyeing issue I had with my KnitPicks Capra (a delicious blend of merino and cashmere!). So I started a pair of socks for Rosa, but I'm not sure if those will work out... Anyway, I think I have the dye issue worked out, but only have a few rows to show on my cardigan. I already love the feel of the wool, so I'm eager to see how it works up. Once again, I'm making my life more difficult by using the wrong yarn weight, the wrong size (partly to compensate for the former issue), and I'm altering the cardigan from crew to v-neck. Apparently I'm a glutton for anxiety?

Never fear, the pink yarn is just a provisional cast-on! 

I've also been "between books," but I've settled on to Beatrix Potter 1866-1943: The Artist and Her World, which I found last year at a local used bookstore. It's part biography, part artistic analysis, and all-around good reading. Beatrix was quite industrious, and I hadn't realized how much work she did even prior to having her books published. This book is rather thick and lavishly illustrated, much to my delight.

I'm also reading Kiss the Wave by Dave Furman -- not pictured, because I have it on Kindle and tablets don't photograph well. I've loved everything I've read by his wife, Gloria, and this book certainly does not disappoint. Dave's persistence in pointing to the Gospel as the source of hope is a very timely message, and has been such an encouragement to me. Though I suppose the cross of Christ is always a timely message!


Joining Ginny's Yarn Along:

June Yarn Along: Knit, knit, knit

I feel like I'm holding my breath with my Balta top. I'm doing everything wrong with this pattern! I'm using the wrong weight yarn (which I also don't have enough of), I'm "shortening" the pattern because I don't want it quite that long (and again, not enough yarn!), and I don't think my gauge is even correct. I'm hoping that three (or four?) wrongs make a right, and that this top surpasses my wildest expectations. Well, fine, I'll be satisfied if it fits! The fabric seems to be quite stretchy, so hopefully it will be forgiving.

I'm knitting it in the round, which means less seaming at the end and few purl rows (my least favorite part of stockinette!). It's been nice to have something so mindless; all I have to do is keep track of rows so I know when to decrease. But it's also been a bit tedious to just knit, knit, knit, and I'm very happy to have started the armholes and (at last!) the twisted rib and lace sections. I'm trying to actually read the chart this time, rather than just writing it out. 

I purchased this KnitPicks Lindy Chain years ago for a cropped cardigan, but the project was a bit ambitious for my skill level, and by the time I could have tackled it the cardigan didn't seem as appealing. I just noticed while opening a new skein of yarn that the colorway is "Sagebrush" -- a plant totally unfamiliar to me when I bought this yarn, but which is now a definitive feature of my current landscape! It was a happy little discovery, and made me feel that the timing is just right.

My current reads are Return to Gone Away and Knights in Training. The former is the sequel to Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright, written in the late 50's. It's honestly one of the most delightful children's books I've ever read, and Return to Gone Away is just as good thus far. I bought the sequel for Little Man and Rosa because they enjoyed Gone Away Lake so much, and Rosa proceeded to finish the entire book in one afternoon. It's taking me considerably longer than that, so apparently my six-year-old can already out-read me! I'm just remembering that I first found out about Gone Away Lake through Ginny's blog, so it's appropriate that it features here for Yarn Along!

Knights in Training, by Heather Haupt, is a book that's interested me for quite a while. As the younger of two daughters, any help in the "raising boys" department is much appreciated!


Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along:

April Yarn Along: Seeing Double

After finishing my labor-intensive Mirkwood socks, I wanted to try a slightly easier sock project. I've had several "Miss Marple" inspired sock patterns (from This Handmade Life) in my library for a while, and I picked the Tea & Scandal socks. I love that her sock patterns are reasonably priced (and I got them during a half-off sale!), and I couldn't resist the sweet lace patterns or the Miss Marple associations. I'm knitting these up in Palette yarn because I had some in my stash, and I'm curious to see how they hold up. Palette is quite inexpensive and has a broad... well, palette!... so I'm hoping they work out -- I'd love to make more of my children's socks, and I know they'd enjoy getting to pick their own colors.

I'm also knitting both socks at the same time, using two sets of DPN needles (the pattern calls for magic loop, but I switched to DPNs after knitting the toes). I like the idea of being done both socks at the same time, and I also like being sure that I'm knitting them identically. These socks are constructed quite differently from the Mirkwood and Leftovers Baby Socks I've made -- they're toe-up, with short row heels. It's good to get a feel for various construction methods. I might try an "afterthoughts" heel sock next; I like the idea of being able to replace worn out heels.

In honor of Miss Marple, I'm rereading a favorite Agatha Christie, The Moving Finger. Miss Marple features only briefly, but she's in there. I found a collection of five Agatha Christie novels at a thrift store years ago, and it has survived every library "cull" I've done since. 

I just finished up (yesterday!) Peace Like a River, another title I put on my reading list after reading Book Girl. It's quite unlike any novel I've read before -- possibly because this is not a genre I'm familiar with -- and I found Leif Enger's prose to be as limpid as the recommendation on the back cover suggested. It was a difficult read in some ways, because I felt so connected to the characters; but it was also beautiful and engaging. 

I finished up a few leather pouches for my knitting notions -- I love the purple stitch markers from KnitPicks! I have my purple needle point protectors (also Knit Picks) in the brown pouch. I'd been storing these in two tiny plastic containers, but after finishing up my new knitting bag (which is working beautifully, by the by) I was inspired to make something a bit smaller and more aesthetically pleasing. I have a set of pricking forks for leather work now, which makes my stitching much tidier and easier.

I finished up The Haunted Bookshop, sequel to Parnassus on Wheels, and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's quite different to the first novel in some ways -- largely, I think, because it was written just after WWI, which clearly affected the author. There are some prolonged "philosophical" bits that verge on the prosy, but it was an excellent read. I wish there really were such a bookshop in Brooklyn; I'd have to visit!

My other read right now is God's Battle Plan for the Mind: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Meditation. This is a topic I've long been curious about (without going to the trouble of studying it), and I'm finding it quite helpful.


Joining up with Ginny's Yarn Along

March Yarn Along: Bookish

March already? It seems like the year just began yesterday. 

My yarn supply was quite limited before I finally found the moving box with my stash -- so I started on another pair of Leftovers Baby Socks using a vintage yellow pima cotton yarn. I found it at a charity shop for a dime, and while the skein was partially used, a tenth of a dollar was still quite a bargain. I've heard 100% cotton is not the greatest fiber for socks, since it lacks elasticity, but I'm hoping that it will be serviceable for baby socks. I hope so, because I probably have enough to make several pairs with my partial skein.

I haven't been knitting much lately, between feathering our new nest, resuming "normal" household and cooking responsibilities, and starting up homeschooling again. And honestly, most of my free time has gone to reading. 

I've paired my knitting with my Bible study journal for two reasons -- first, I'm loving my new journal, which was quite inexpensive on Amazon (I also really like this one, which I may purchase when this journal is full). It's lovely to look at, and I like the way it's arranged. I'm trying to become more consistent with personal Bible study, and am finding this journal quite helpful with that (I'm also using a Navigator's study on the book of Isaiah -- it's very guided, which I find helpful for less "accessible" books like the prophets). 

The second reason is that while I've been reading quite a bit, most of it has been through Kindle and audiobooks! I did read a "real" copy of My Antonia by Willa Cather (my first book by that author -- somehow I'd never read any of her books before), which I found at a local charity shop for five cents. I also listened to Sense and Sensibility read by Rosamund Pike (I highly recommend it, along with her reading of Pride and Prejudice; her voice is delightful), and am currently listening to North and South read by Clare Wille. I've read the book several times and listened to the audio once before, but it's been several years. I haven't been in the habit of listening to audiobooks for some time (I used to listen voraciously as a teenager, when I would sew for hours on end!), but I'm getting back into them and really enjoying the extra "reading" while I work on other tasks. Downloading Audible to my phone has made it even easier -- my old phone didn't have the space for the app, so that's one perk to having to upgrade for our recent move.

I discovered Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley, which was recommended in Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson. It was only a dollar on Kindle, and I can't remember when I've enjoyed a story so much. Truly delightful and whimsical! I just discovered that Christopher Morley also wrote The Haunted Bookshop, which I've just purchased (I had free digital credit!) and hope is as lovely as Parnassus.

I recently finished Joyfully Spreading the Word, which was excellent and convicting. And right now I'm eagerly reading Rosaria Butterfield's book on hospitality, The Gospel Comes With a House Key. Both my husband and I devoured her Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, and I'm just as impressed with this book. Rosaria has a gentle, humble way of challenging "traditional" (but not Biblical) Christian propensities that I find quite refreshing. Her engaging writing is grounded by solid Biblical theology, and I find myself reading "just a bit more."

Oh, I almost forgot It's Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa Terkeurst. I rarely buy full price books on Kindle, but I've read a few of Lysa's books in the past and knew that I needed this one. I'm very glad I did buy it, because this book has been one of my greatest comforts as I've been dealing with the complicated and painful emotions that come with losing a baby. Lysa uses so much Scripture, and offers true Biblical encouragement rather than shallow, feel-good platitudes.

Well, looking back over my reading list, I'm not surprised that my knitting has gone so slowly! I've often noticed the ebb and flow of my activities, depending on need and inclination. Right now, filling my mind with wise and beautiful words is the order of the day. Knitting helps me untangle my thoughts and emotions, but sometimes the emotions are still too strong to be calmly "tidied up" with an hour of knitting.

But I do have some new projects on the horizon, most likely involving socks! I have several "Miss Marple" themed patterns, which will likely involved adding some Agatha Christie to my reading list. Perhaps for April's Yarn Along!

Linking up to Ginny's Yarn Along

November Yarn Along: Fast and Slow

Somehow, October is already over. Between a downed desktop computer, a much-anticipated visit from dear family, and as many outdoor adventures as we can fit in before winter arrives, the month has slipped away. 

But I was knitting! I cast on a Master Charles sweater early in October, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm knitting it up in a size four for Laddie (who really doesn't need another sweater this year, but I've had plans for this since last year), and it's lovely to make something in a smallish size. It knits up so quickly! The basketweave cables in the center front are such a beautiful feature, and so far the only real change I've made has been to omit the back details -- I don't think the sweater needs it. I love the tweedy yarn and the color. A perfect fall knit.

I love it when I have the perfect bookmark -- I got this one through Zazzle, and had it printed with my own design
(though obviously not my own words!)

I just have a few more rows of the second sleeve and the sleeve cap to finish, and then I can sew in the sleeves and block it! Of course, as soon as I finish I'll be casting on the same sweater in size 2 for Scout (matching sweaters!) -- but that will presumably knit up even faster, since it's smaller? I think I have enough momentum to get a second sweater done. Though this pattern requires more yarn joining (with weaving it to follow) than any pattern I've yet encountered.

I had to smile when I opened up Ginny's Yarn Along post for November -- I'm also reading The Fellowship of the Ring. It's been years since I read The Lord of the Rings, though I read it often as a teenager. I found beautiful editions of the books at Barnes and Noble for $21 (for all three!), but have never read them. While my sweater may be knitting up fast, this book is reading slow. Intentionally. I used to devour books as quickly as possible, partly because I had the time before marriage and children became part of my life! While I still go through reading spurts occasionally, I find myself savoring books more than I used to. I expect it to take quite a bit of time to get through The Lord of the Rings, and I'm quite content with that. I'm reading other books alongside, quicker reads (libraries have due dates!), but this is my comfort read. I always forget how much I love Tolkien's writing when I'm not actually reading it.

Fast and slow. Perhaps that's balance? In any case, both my knitting and Tolkien's words bring calm to my often flurried mind, and that's welcome, indeed. The close of the year is approaching, and next year will bring some significant changes for our family -- in a good way, but change always brings challenges and adjustment. Right now, I'm holding on to familiar.  

Linking up to Ginny's Yarn Along

October Yarn Along: Finishing

It's time to join in Ginny's Yarn Along for October!

I can't actually show you what I'm currently knitting, because I've just finished both of my WIPs! I'm itching to get something new on my needles (which, of course, means buying new patterns...), and hope to cast on a project or two soon.

One of my recently finished projects was my "Bubble net cowl," made with Knit Picks Alpaca cloud lace in colorway "Emma" (purchased on clearance -- it's out of stock now). I do love the names of the Alpaca cloud colorways! They're all heroes and heroines from beloved stories. I kind of wanted to do a Jane Austen themed knit (how perfect would that be!), but Bubble net was calling to me, and the blue seemed a perfect fit for a "whale" cowl -- if you've never seen whales make a bubble net, look it up on YouTube! It's fascinating. 

My current read is A Passion for the Impossible: the Life of Lilias Trotter, by Miriam Huffman Rockness. It is a remarkable and inspiring read, detailing the life of a woman who ministered as a missionary to Algeria in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. If you've never heard of Lilias Trotter, I highly recommend looking her up! Her devotion to Christ, compassion for unreached peoples, and tenacity in the face of opposition is truly remarkable. She gave up so much -- including the promise of fame as a brilliant artist, studying under the famous John Ruskin. Her drawings and paintings are truly beautiful! My interlibrary loan due date is looming, but with a few other books complete, I'm now devouring this volume. 

And, a few more obligatory shots of my new cowl! I'd been working on it since March, as a "mindless" project to pull out during movies and such. Of course, now I'll need a new easy project to replace it with! But this is probably the perfect time of year to wear this cowl, so I'm pleased with the timing.

This was my first time knitting with lace yarn, and it was a bit tricky! It's like knitting with thread. But I love the delicate, cobwebby result.

Now that it's October, I'm in quite the mood to knit, and I'm hoping to make a dent in my yarn stash and project queue while that mood lasts! Happy yarning to you all, and I hope you're having a lovely Fall season so far!

Raveled here.

August Yarn Along: Cleaning Up, Cleaning Out

I'm a little late to Ginny's Yarn Along, but better late than never, right? In fact, it's probably not escaped your notice that I've been absent lately. But don't worry, between a hasty visit to Florida, starting up school again with the littles, and working on some sewing, I've been "gainfully employed."

And my latest escapade has been to dabble with crochet. I started mostly because I'd like to teach Little Man and Rosa as a handicraft, and it seemed simpler than knitting. We haven't got past a simple chain yet, so I'm not sure how that will work out! But I've been enjoying it, which surprises me more than a little. Here's my current project -- a much-needed washcloth for Rosa in KnitPicks Shine sport:

It's just a swatch of arcade stitch, which I'm now edging with a simple double crochet. Crochet is quite satisfying in how quickly it works up, and the interesting stitch possibilities. I think, like knitting, I had long dismissed it because most of the projects I saw just didn't appeal to me, and were often done up in acrylic yarns. My love for knitting really blossomed when I started seeing projects in natural fibers; it's just taken longer for me to find that with crochet.

Here are two other projects, also washcloths, for Laddie and Scout. I love how quickly crochet washcloths whip up! Video tutorials on Youtube have been invaluable, as I'm still inexperienced with written crochet patterns. These are definitely beginner attempts, but perfectly suitable washcloths. The green "starfish" is made in a cotton dishcloth yarn, and the waffle patterned cloth behind it is made in KnitPicks Cotlin that I've had in my stash for ages.

My reading is Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman, which I'm resuming after a "leave of absence." It's excellent! I'm not done yet, but I highly recommend this book to any woman, not just mothers -- Gloria makes the point that being a woman is about being a nurturer, whether she ever bears children or not. I love Gloria Furman's writing, and this book is really a challenge for me. A cleaning out, if you will, of many wrong and selfish perceptions I've unknowingly held about motherhood. Cleaning, it would seem, is the theme of this yarn along for me, since my fiber project also has a cleansing purpose!

I encourage you to go and join in the fun on Ginny's blog, or browse some of the other lovely creations in the link-up!