~ 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 …

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This particular yarn-along is all about knitting … a bit about reading at the very end … but mostly about knitting!

The item on the left is a secret … it’s a birthday blanket (well, lap rug .. but the alliteration sounded cooler) for dh who turns 60 in October!

I’ve designed a circular throw that has an 8-pointed, cabled star emanating from the center with bits of eyelet designs (including a few triangles) and even some travelling-stitches work (notably the infinity symbol). In the past, when I’ve knitted dh a gift … it’s either been shrunk (and, surprisingly fits me) … or it’s too bright … too big … too small. I think he’ll like this throw — done in worsted weight Shepherd’s Wool (100% wool) in a lovely tonal, mahogany color.

[BTW, the Shepherd’s Wool comes in lovely colors and is so soft for wool … it’s available at Dog House Yarns in Culpeper]. This design will be the September design in The Brigid Collection … so look for it to be posted soon.

The lovely bit of froth on the right is for the 2nd Annual Getting Cozy with Cashmere workshop down at Spring Gate Farm (Barboursville, VA … October 12 & 13). I mentioned the color-work we’ll do we’ll learn. This is the second half of the workshop: exploring lace knitting and the myriad patterns and effects obtained from yarn-overs, knit two togethers and slip-slip-knits. The project we’ll work on is a lace-sampler scarf. Here you can see the two ends where the lace patterns match … but not quite. There are a total of five traditional stitch-patterns worked in this scarf (plus a bit of ribbing). Knit with 100% cashmere, this makes a luscious accessory as well as a marvelous teaching tool.

Books? Reading?

Well, we have started school … the read-aloud we were doing has been schneebed by Hambone as a private read, so I switched to a fun new book titled, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom. A silly, fun, exciting read-aloud that turns the fairy tales upside down by telling the true story of four of the men known as “Prince Charming”. Really fun.

On my book table, I just finished a review of an Advent meditations book and a pre-read of The Prairie Thief … both definitely highly recommended!

Come play with us over at Ginny’s?