Grey Days.

The weather around here has been pretty grey lately… lots of rain. I actually quite like fall weather but it does get a bit tiresome after a few weeks. At least I’ve got knitting that matches the weather! I’ve just finished the first few rows of the baby cardigan I mentioned yesterday. I’m making it for my cousin’s baby who was born at the end of September. I’m making the 3-6 month size, because I won’t be seeing her until Christmas, so hopefully it’ll fit then. The yarn is Begere de France Caline in a really pretty grey, and it’s so soft! Like I said in yesterday’s post- since the yarn is so plain, I want some nice buttons to make the cardigan really special- do you have any suggestions?
(Rav link)

I’m still working my way through Lord of the Flies (by William Golding) and The Beggar’s Garden (by Michael Christie). I’m enjoying both of these… hopefully I’ll be able to read a bit more of the short story collection this week. Most of my reading time right now is being eaten up by academic readings.

What have you been knitting and reading this week?

Linking up with Yarn-Along.

Socktober.

In the (hopefully triumphant?) return of the weekly knitting posts, this week, I’ve been…

Knitting :: My October socks for Liesl’s sock challenge! I finished my September socks last month and I’ll be sharing photos of them later this week. The October socks are another pair of my favourite plain sock pattern and the yarn is Lana Grossa Meilenweit. I love this colourway… it might be my favourite self-striping colourway ever.
(Rav link)

Reading :: The Birth House by Ami McKay. This is a historical fiction novel based in Nova Scotia about a young midwife, and I’m loving it so far! I’m reading it on my kindle when I have a moment between classes or waiting in line somewhere, so it’s going a bit slowly, but I can’t wait to finish it!

Lord of the Flies by William Golding. This is one of the classics that I somehow missed out on reading in high school. I’ve just begun, but I keep hearing such strong reactions to this book that I’m excited to see what I think of it.

What have you been knitting and reading lately?

Linking up with KCCO and Yarn-Along.

In the backyard.

This week, I’ve been…

Knitting :: A simple pair of socks for Liesl’s Monthly Sock Challenge. I was going to try to do a pair for the challenge in August, but it ended up being a really busy month, so I’m starting the challenge in September instead. The pattern is my current favourite plain sock pattern, Plain Vanilla Socks by Keri McKiernan.
(Rav link)

Reading :: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. I’ve heard that both this book and the film adaptation are fascinating and well written, so I’m giving it a try even though the premise isn’t the happiest. I’m only a few chapters in, but it’s quite captivating so far, and the narrative voice is really interesting.

Enjoying :: Having a backyard at my apartment this year… such pretty light for pictures and so nice to have some outside space!

What have you been knitting and reading this week?

Linking up with Yarn-Along and KCCO.

Lately

Lately, I’ve been…

Knitting :: A tiny baby cardigan for H’s brother’s baby (nicknamed the blueberry). The pattern is Linnie (thanks for all of your input about patterns last week!) and the yarn is Viking Baby Ull in colourways 368 and 369. I realised after I had chosen the yarn that the colours are rather reminiscent of blueberries… so it’s a blueberry cardigan for a blueberry baby!
(Rav link)

Reading :: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I’ve been really enjoying non-fiction books about food and gardening/ farming/ preserving lately, and this one seems to be highly recommended. I’ve just started it but I’m enjoying the writing style so far.

Drinking :: A surprising amount of tea, considering current temperatures! Favourites recently include plain English Breakfast and Just Peachy and Saigon Chai from Davids Tea (Just Peachy is sold out online, but some stores still have it if you want to try it!).

Watching :: Season 1 of Flashpoint. Most of you know by now that I’m a sucker for crime shows, and this one is fairly well done and filmed in Toronto! I don’t know if I’ll watch all 6 seasons (the show ended a few years ago), but I’m enjoying working my way through season 1 at least. I also picked up Lark Rise to Candleford at the library awhile ago- I’ve heard great things about it and I can’t wait to start watching it.

What have you been knitting, reading, drinking, and watching lately?

Linking up with KCCO and Yarn-Along.

Lately.

This week, I’ve been…

Knitting :: Although it’s in the boring, really-long-row stage, I’ve been squeezing in a few rows on my Spring Boneyard shawl whenever I can. I’ll probably do one more colour repeat and then cast off- it’s getting to be long enough.
(Rav link)

Reading :: This House is Haunted, by John Boyne. I read most of this when we were camping a few weeks ago, and I’ve only got a few chapters left. It’s not something I would normally pick up, but I love the historic setting. I also started reading Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry on that trip. I’m only a few chapters in, but since it’s my first Mistry novel, I’m excited to keep reading!
I finished The Feast Nearby by Robin Mather this week, and I really loved it- the combination of essays and recipes was exactly what I needed for a quick summer read, and I have so many of the recipes bookmarked to try!

What have you been knitting and reading this week?

Linking up with Yarn-Along and KCCO.

Pieces.

This week, I’ve been…

Knitting :: A little cream bunny rabbit! I know a few people who are having babies soon and I have seen so many of these adorable stuffed animals, and I think they would make perfect gifts. I’ll pick a softer, machine washable yarn for the ones for the kids, but this is just a test one since it’s the first toy I’ve ever knitted. The plain wool is the gorgeous undyed 2-ply worsted weight from Topsy Farms.
(Rav link)

Reading :: The Backyard Homestead after seeing it recommended by a few different people. This is full of so much useful information! I’m finding the vegetables reference section particularly useful for my garden- it gives basic care info for a huge variety of plants.

What have you been knitting and reading this week?

Linking up with KCCO and Yarn-Along as usual.

Slow progress.

This week I’m…

Knitting :: My Hitofude cardigan… the progress this week has been slow but I’ve gotten a couple of the lace repeats done. I love how the lace looks in this yarn (Malabrigo Sock in Eggplant). I’ve been seeing so many gorgeous versions of this pattern recently, so I’m hoping to have more time to work on this cardigan this week!
(Rav link)

Reading :: The Mysterious Affair at Styles, by Agatha Christie. I read a bunch of Agatha christie books last summer, as you might recall, and I’m trying to read as many more as I can this summer. This was actually her first novel and I’m really enjoying it so far.

What have you been knitting and reading this week?

Liking up with KCCO and Yarn-Along as usual.

Winding.

This week, I’m…

Knitting :: Still working on my Spring Boneyard (such long rows now!) but also winding yarn and casting on for my Hitofude cardigan. I’m using two beautiful skeins of Malabrigo Sock in Eggplant that I got at this year’s fall Creativ festival. Eggplant is such a lovely colour but it’s quite hard to photograph… it’s a lightly variegated gray but there’s definitely some purple in there too.
(Rav link)

Reading :: Planting Dandelions by Kyran Pittman. This memoir caught my eye recently and all of the reviews seemed to be positive, so I decided to give it a try. So far so good… the writing style is really engaging and funny.

Linking up with KCCO and Yarn Along as usual.

This week

It’s been quiet here this week, so I think it’s time for an update! This week, I’ve been…

Knitting :: My Spring Boneyard Shawl… since it seems like the warm weather has finally arrived, I’d like to get this off the needles sometime soon!

Reading :: Still working through In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. I also took The Complete Book of Small Batch Preserving out from the library for the second time and I liked it so much that I ordered a copy for myself.

Choosing :: Fabric for my first quilt! I’m using Laura’s chevron quilt tutorial.

Watching :: G and I started Veronica Mars today… we only watched the first episode but it’s pretty good. Great characters and lots of witty dialogue.

Listening :: To Kina Grannis’ new album Elements. So many great songs. I can’t stop listening to it.

Linking up with KCCO and Yarn-Along as usual!

Still working.

This week…

Knitting :: Still working on my Itaka cardi… I should finish this sometime this week, I’ve just got a few inches for the body and the (short) sleeves left to go. The pattern is now on Ravelry here, for those who were wondering last week.
(Rav link)

Reading :: Finished The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold (pretty good, I was surprised to hear that it got such negative reviews!) and have been reading The House Girl by Tara Conklin and In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. Both are good (but different), and hopefully I can finish at least one of the two this week.

Let me know in the comments what you’re knitting and reading this week. Have a lovely Wednesday!

Linking up with KCCO and Yarn-Along as usual.