accessories , Advent , book review , cables and textured knitting , family , read-alouds , shawls and shawlettes , submissions , women , yarn suggestions , Yarn-alongs
Yarn-along: shawls and sweaters and submissions …
~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny at small things
Yarn-along – November 20, 2013
Good morning! It’s a brisk 37 (high of 49 today) with clear skies and my van is in the shop … it will be a chilly walk to pick her up when she’s ready (we’re hoping it’s just a broken stabilizer and not the whole axle assembly!). But, while I wait … I will knit and teach the kids and knit some more and maybe get in a bit of reading time ….
As you can see, I’ve got some great knitting books to peruse:
- Harvesting Color: how to find plants and make natural dyes is a beautiful book with great information about finding weeds and other plants which make fabulous dyes, especially with wool yarn. I like this book since she’s got clear graphics on WHERE these plants grow, when it’s best to harvest them, and how best to dye yarns that are vibrant and stable.
- I have really been doing a lot of cable knitting lately (see finished projects below) and so this just-published book is perfect timing. Little Aran and Celtic Knits for Kids: 25 designs for babies and young children by Martin Storey is a wonderful collection of classic designs with a bit of a modern twist. I am a big fan of Martin Storey’s design work for Rowan (and he’s a dear in real life, too) so what more could I need? With many great-nieces, nephews and other little ones on the way … I need lots of ideas for little knits!
- I’m getting ready to submit a few design ideas to the second Downton Abbey Knits magazine so the final book, Upstairs and Downstairs: the illustrated guide to the real world of Downton Abbey is a great find. It’s a day-in-the-life-of both the landed gentry and the servants of the Edwardian era, WWI and post-war British country life. With loads of contemporary photos and illustrations, this book is a cache of design ideas!
As for the latest read-aloud — we haven’t started one yet and probably won’t until the first week of December when we’ll start our Advent reading. In the past, we have had a theme (Dickensian Christmas, international Christmas, pioneer Christmas) and we have tons of books to choose from … I just have to settle on a theme. Any suggestions?
On the knitting needles: I have the start of a poncho in Rowan Felted Tweed and Kid Silk Haze … this is a companion to a shawl that I finished a couple of weeks ago. It knits fast on 10s so I’ll have to prep more Thanksgiving travel knitting this weekend! I finished the capelet I designed in Duo (a gorgeous acrylic from Swedish Yarns):
Wild Berry Zinger capelet
as well as another in Duo (this time in a creamy, natural color):
Winter Wonderland cape
So what’s on your reading table and knitting needles … wanna come play?
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