Carole Knits

october zinnia
october zinnia
martinis with a view
martinis with a view
gettysburg fence for
gettysburg fence for
germinate shawl on rocks
germinate shawl on rocks
field of flags 2
field of flags 2
color affection with edge
color affection with edge
cedar leaf shawlette 2
cedar leaf shawlette 2
3_27_2014
3_27_2014
3_18_13
3_18_13
2_24_2014
2_24_2014
1_11_13
1_11_13
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits

Unraveling

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Today I’m joining Kat and friends with an update on knitting and reading.

On my needles:

Cat Bordhi’s Rio Calina Cowl. She released it with the news of her impending death which, sadly, has now happened. Her words about it, though, are lovely:  It looks complex but is SO simple. It teaches you to let go and allow the spatial brilliance and inherent grace of nature create a unique stream of cabled rivulets. I’m allowing myself to be free (open?) with the cable placements and I’ve truly discovered that letting go can be incredibly beautiful.

In my ears: Apeirogon by Colum McCann. Several of you have already read/listened to this and recommended it passionately. I’m only a few hours in and I love it. Interestingly enough, the structure is sort of like those cables in the Rio Calina Cowl, letting go of the rules has allowed for a unique and incredibly beautiful book.

Before my eyes: Begin Again by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. Part biography of James Baldwin and part commentary on the systemic racism that is pervasive in America, this one is making me think. A lot.

And that’s what I’m knitting and reading today. How about you?

Wednesdays Are For Knitting: Orbit

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Hold on to your hats, kids, because I have a finished knitting project to show you today.

Meet Orbit.

A very easy yet also entertaining little scarf. In the words of the designer: This charming little scarf is perfect for everyday wear. Orbit has an elongated asymmetric triangle shape that’s easy to wrap around the neck. It’s a fun and quick knit with garter stitch and eyelet stripes. All you need is just one skein of DK weight yarn.

I might take exception to the one skein bit, though, since I ran out of yarn well before I finished. Luckily, Kym came to my rescue and sent me a skein of Tosh DK in Antique Lace, the color I was using.

It’s a bit darker than what I had so I alternated rows. Can you see the change? I definitely can in person but I don’t think it’s super obvious in the photos. And honestly, I’m okay with it, because done is always better than perfect.

And overall it’s lovely. Plenty long for extra wrapping around the neck. Soft and cozy for chilly fall weather which is, sadly, headed our way. I haven’t decided yet whether to keep this for myself or give it away but I’d really like to make more of these.

Next time I’m going to use something with a bit more yardage. That’s more story . . . and I’m sticking to it.

Unraveled Wednesday

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First, with regards to Dale’s progress, the doctor’s visit yesterday went well. The x-rays showed the bones are knitting together and that’s good news. Dale still combats swelling in the leg and foot and the doctor encouraged continued elevating of the leg (that’s something Dale really doesn’t like, he’s not a guy who is content to lay around) and he also told Dale to start weaning himself off the brace and crutches. Lots more physical therapy ordered. Bottom line: progress in the right direction!

Now on to this Wednesday’s knitting and reading. I believe there is unraveling in my future.

That’s the current state of my Orbit (beware, that’s a Rav link if you have issues with their site changes) scarf. I still have one more repeat of the garter section and the eyelet border to go and that ball of yarn is very very small. I’ve been fairly certain I wouldn’t have enough yarn since I was at the half way point but did I stop? Nope. This knitter’s heart is forever optimistic. I’m considering doing the eyelet in a contrasting shade of yarn (it’s Tosh DK) and I think that would work. Mostly, though, I’m disappointed that one skein isn’t enough because I really love this pattern and could picture myself knitting this one over and over. It’s fast, it would make a great gift, it’s simple but entertaining enough to hold my interest . . . but running out of yarn just isn’t acceptable.

On the reading front, I got my Bingo cover all last week and I’ll share more on that soon. I’m currently reading The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. It’s . . . okay. I almost quit it yesterday but then I found myself thinking about it and decided I wanted to see Cussy’s story through to the end.

What are you knitting and reading this week? Don’t forget to head over to Kat’s and share with everyone, too.

Unraveled: Knitting & Reading

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Today I’m joining with Kat and friends today to talk about what I’m knitting and reading right now. If I was being completely honest I would just say that all I’m doing in my spare time (which isn’t much these days anyway) is playing Animal Crossings . . . but you’d think less of me for admitting to that so let’s go ahead and talk about knitting and reading and pretend that I’m spending more time on it than I actually am.

The knitting: still working on NightShift and loving it now that I have yarn that provides more contrast. The rows are loooooong and seem to take forever, particularly the wrong side when you purl and slip stitches, bringing the yarn from back to front between each one. It’s pretty meditative, though, and that’s not a bad thing. I’d like to say I’m close to finishing but I’m not and I’m okay with that.

Also, socks.

The reading: I am currently reading We Ride Upon Sticks bu Quan Barry. Here’s the description from GoodReads:

In this tour de female force, the 1989 Danvers Falcons are on an unaccountable winning streak. In chapters dense with ’80s iconography–from Heathers to Big Hair–Quan Barry expertly weaves together the individual and collective journeys of this enchanted team as they storm their way to the state championship. Helmed by good-girl captain Abby Putnam (a descendant of the infamous Salem accuser Ann Putnam) and her co-captain Jen Fiorenza, whose bleached blond “Claw” sees and knows all, the DHS Falcons prove to be as wily and original as their North of Boston ancestors, flaunting society’s stale notions of femininity in order to find their glorious true selves through the crucible of team sport.

It’s as fun as it sounds and I’m certainly enjoying it.

Okay, back to Animal Crossings. I mean, knitting. Yep. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Unraveling

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I’m happy to say that I am making forward progress on my NightShift shawl. And I’m loving it.

I’m enjoying the hell out of the pattern and now that I’ve got some better color choices to work with I think it’s looking good. I’m still preferring frequent color changes but I want to make sure it’s not toooooo stripe-y so I’m going to not change colors quite as frequently going forward. I’m trying to go-with-the-flow but that’s so not my mentality that it can feel like a struggle. Yes, I recognize that means it’s good for me.

I set up my Stay At Home Bingo pages in my journal. I’ve read 6 books since April 1st and I don’t anticipate a bingo any time soon but that’s okay since I’m going for my usual cover-all.

What are you knitting and reading this week? Tell me in the comments and then (if you’re a blogger) head on over to Kat’s and let everyone else know, too.