~ 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


Good morning! It’s March 20th, snow is in the forecast for this evening, but we are thinking spring around here! I finished the Spring is Sprung shawl last week and will be posting the pattern soon … here it is on Ravelry and on Craftsy what do you think? It’s done with Spring Gate Farm’s cashmere/merino/silk blend in three colors and is so soft and floaty.

Spring is Sprung shawl

Spring is Sprung shawl

Yarn-along:  March 20, 2013

Yarn-along: March 20, 2013

And, I’ve started a new fascination … with knits for the home. Here in this yarn-along you can see the nearly-finished blanket that I’m working up in Knit Pick’s Wool of the Andes tweed. It’s worsted weight and I love the dark turquoise/teal color with the bits of tweediness. This one is a version of Ciarnan’s Cover that will be an entrant in the Knit Pick’s Independent Designers’ Program.

My next project — the yarn in the lower right corner of the picture — will be a cotton shawlette. This uses Wolle’s Yarn Creations color-changing cotton. This particular colorway starts with a light pink than moves swiftly to darker pink than into the greens to finish in a dark leaf-green. That particular pattern will remain secret until AFTER the Dog House Yarn’s Spring Knitting Workshop, where the design will be included in the participants’ goodie bags.

But then it will be more home-furishings … including pillows, throws, footstool covers, etc. I just wish I could knit faster!

On the book front, I’m still researching books for Kit’s home ec course next year. The two shown in the picture are really good — Making a Home: Housekeeping for Real Life from Better Homes and Gardens is a very well-done, basic book for all things home: organizing, cleaning, caring for surfaces and furniture, washing, maintaining house systems, entertaining, etc. This will be a great resource. The other book, Little House in the Suburbs: backyard farming and home skills, is excellent for self-sufficiency and growing/producing much of your own needs. Packed with great recipes and suggestions, this book is definitely going in the shopping cart!

For personal reading, I’ve picked up a fiction book (just a fun read that I have to review) titled A Matter of Trust; it’s a murder mystery by Lis Wiehl and April Henry that had me from the get-go. I’m really enjoying reading this at night, when all are in bed, sipping my mint tea!

The family read-aloud is going GREAT! The first Brotherband Chronicles is really an enjoyable read and read-aloud. I love the way Flanagan spins a tale … and he uses such beautiful language to do it! Definitely recommend this read for all … or start with his Ranger’s Apprentice series, that is fabulous reading, too, especially for boys.

So … what’s on your needles and reading table? Wanna come play ….

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