circle shawl : By Hand, With Heart

Nov

accessories , designing fun , home accessories , Lace knitting , read-alouds , shawls and shawlettes , Spring Gate Farm's cashmere , yarn suggestions , Yarn-alongs

Yarn-along: of cashmere and castles and Chesterton and sparkles

~ 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

First, congratulations to Ginny on the birth of Sebastian (and at 10lbs 4oz, I don’t think there will be much arguing with HIM).

On to the yarn-along:

Yarn-along — November 6, 2013

On my reading table:

In Defense of Sanity: the best essays of GK Chesterton from Ignatius Press. This is an amazing collection of GKC’s most provocative essays. This is definitely a keeper to delve into when (like today) I’m feeling that the world is spinning out of control. He always has the right thing to say …
The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child from Donalyn Miller is a fantastic read about … (wait for it) … reading! Of my five kids … each of them has come to reading, and reading chapter books, from very different paths. It’s actually kind of fascinating what has hooked them. This book is an interesting analysis of the whys and wherefores kids will read. Miller says she has yet to meet a kid she hasn’t been able to turn into a reader. THIS is a great book for all parents, whether homeschooling or not, to ensure that their kids will read.
The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Wintrhop is our current read-aloud. As I mentioned last week, the protagonist is a bit of a spoiled brat 10-year-old, and yet the story is so interesting, we keep reading to find out what happens. I’m just hoping the kid snaps out of it and stops being so self-centered!

On my knitting needles:

ETA: 11/07/13 — I got the pattern written and uploaded onto Ravelry and Craftsy! I finally finished my cashmere circle shawl and it is currently blocking. Here’s a sneak peak at the lovely bit of ethereal coziness:
100% cashmere circle shawl/blanket
I’m currently knitting up a black-sequined yarn to make a shawl with sleeves. Here’s a close-up:

closeup of sequined shawl/shrug progress

It will be stunning for fancy, occasions. The yarn, Marks & Kattens Fame, is the same yarn I used for my Leaves in Winter shawl which gets great compliments from all who have seen it or knitted one up for themselves