The Knits of the Week


If my knitting needles could catch on fire from all the knitting I've been doing, well wouldn't that be a sight to see?  I've photoed what I was knitting all day yesterday.  The socks, the socks that have been languishing in my bag, the socks that I want off the needles, the socks that are nearly nearly done.  They are for my husband, he needs at least three pairs so I can toss the pairs that are unmendable (not a word but it describes the socks).  I am also knitting away on my shawl and my sweater.  I'm enjoying all three projects equally for different reasons.  The socks and the sweater can be knit while reading, and the shawl is my more involved knit that requires my attention.

I finished a book yesterday that you must read.  The Postmistress by Sarah Blake, was captivating.  During the start through the finish I could not figure out what was going to happen next, so I kept on reading.  Truly a sign of a fantastic book.  The novel was also a quick read for me.  I seem to be in a WWII kind of mood since the fictional book I finished was during that time period and my current evening read-Nella Last's War-is as well.  Nella keeps a journal during the whole war period of what she experienced and thought.  She is around my age and I find her entries thought provoking.  This memoir transports me to another time and place of a woman and a mother defining herself and attempting to make sense of a war that touches every one she knows.

What are you reading and knitting this week?

Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

Comments

  1. AndeeJanuary 29, 2014 at 8:42 AM

    I hope you get the socks finished up. Sometime I feel like I need a cheering crew to motivate me to finish a second sock :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJanuary 29, 2014 at 8:44 AM

    I have a pair of socks in my bag right now that are just like yours. They are for my sister and I NEED to get them done. They are haunting me. I won't allow myself to start another project until they are finished. BUT instead of getting me to finish them...the knitting has slowed to a crawl. I've added your book recommendations to my huge list of "must reads" :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnkeJanuary 29, 2014 at 9:03 AM

    I think I need to start a simple knitting project to go along with my shawl as well. Normally I'm a "one project at a time gal", but the shawl really needs my undivided attention. Lots of times I just don't have that in me anymore in the evenings. The sock look great and the books sound very interesting. Have to remember those...

    ReplyDelete
  4. amyJanuary 29, 2014 at 9:13 AM

    I know how you feel about those socks!
    I just started reading The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian, which is also partially set in WWII. I'm not knitting anything at the moment! I need to weave in ends on a baby sweater, sew on buttons, and start the matching hat. And then figure out where I left off on a sweater for myself way back before the holiday knitting began...

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 29, 2014 at 9:17 AM

    Just what I need, more book suggestions! ;-) Great colorway for your husband's socks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. MelonieJanuary 29, 2014 at 9:29 AM

    The socks look wonderful. I love the colorway!

    I'll have to add these titles to my library list - they sound very interesting.

    Thank you for popping by my blog and taking the time to comment. :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Corrie BJanuary 29, 2014 at 9:32 AM

    Love those colours! I won't make my OH socks anymore because he complained so much about the last pair...

    I'm working on three sweaters, switching out as I get bored of different sessions...

    ReplyDelete
  8. DonnaJanuary 29, 2014 at 10:00 AM

    Those socks are getting so close to being done. It's nice to have at least one project on the needles that is simple. It's even better when you have a sweater like that too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. stephJanuary 29, 2014 at 10:08 AM

    another book to add to my list!!! (I loved the postmistress, too!!!) Those socks are sooooo close to being done---looks like your hubby has big feet like mine!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lisa UotinenJanuary 29, 2014 at 10:12 AM

    What a fun "assignment" : three pairs of socks, for your honey :) I am going to check out The Postmistress...

    ReplyDelete
  11. SarahJanuary 29, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    Lovely socks, the color is really nice! Your husband is a lucky man.

    I wish my needles were on fire; I have had a slow knitting week since sometimes it takes me a while to figure out what my next project will be.

    ReplyDelete
  12. CloudberryJanuary 29, 2014 at 10:30 AM

    I'm knitting socks for my hubby too.
    The second sock is on the needles and I am trying to get them off the neeedles this week.
    Love the colour, perfect for man socks ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. margeneJanuary 29, 2014 at 10:32 AM

    I cannot knit and read unless it's an audio book. You knit and read more than I do. I read the Postmistress a couple of years back and liked it very much.

    ReplyDelete
  14. debby emadianJanuary 29, 2014 at 10:56 AM

    I love when I travel through books to a different location or time. I'm doing that with both books at my bedside at the moment. Jumping continents and ages. I've finished all my socks for a little while now and back on my Annabel jumper.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Judy S.January 29, 2014 at 11:01 AM

    You are such a productive knitter, Karen! Great socks in a great color. Thanks so much for the link to the Little House shawl; it's very cute and would be perfect for GD #1. Your book sounds like a perfect accompaniment to Winter World which our book club just read. That is one very long book but good. At least I liked it!

    ReplyDelete
  16. LeanneJanuary 29, 2014 at 12:44 PM

    your socks are inspiring I may just try and learn sock knitting this winter. Thanks for book recommendations, I've put them on my to read list. Love Leanne

    ReplyDelete
  17. DeliaKnitsJanuary 29, 2014 at 1:08 PM

    Socks look great .. hope they don't catch on fire!

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousJanuary 29, 2014 at 1:08 PM

    I really need to get back to the pair of socks I have on the needles. I love the ones you're making for your hubby. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Deborah HamiltonJanuary 29, 2014 at 1:16 PM

    I'm reading the Book Thief which is also about WWII. I just finished a pair of socks, too. Yours are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  20. BonnyJanuary 29, 2014 at 1:31 PM

    Those look like wonderful warm socks and thank you for the book recommendations! When I was adding Nella Last's War to my Goodreads list I was excited to see that there is also a prequel (The Diaries of Nella Last) and a sequel (Nella Last's Peace). These sound so interesting to me that I'm braving the cold (11 degrees!) and heading to the library this afternoon to pick them up. Thanks for my next good read!

    ReplyDelete
  21. azwoolgirlJanuary 29, 2014 at 2:11 PM

    Oh I'm liking your socks!! I really need to work on my socks. Great books too :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. SueJanuary 29, 2014 at 2:24 PM

    Hey, I have The Postmistress on my bookshelf--I'll have to move it up in my reading queue! And, Nella Last's War looks like a good one, too.

    Those are very handsome socks. I really love the rusty stripe mixed in with the blue.

    ReplyDelete
  23. JanetJanuary 29, 2014 at 3:17 PM

    Love the color of your socks. I have a pair in the basket for my husband too. I've had a copy of The Postmistress for a while now. Not sure why I keep skipping over it. Nella Last's War sound interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousJanuary 29, 2014 at 3:56 PM

    Wow - you are a knitting machine!

    ReplyDelete
  25. kathy bJanuary 29, 2014 at 4:04 PM

    Knitting a prayer shawl for our friend . THe knit group is trying to finish it by the 5th of Feb when we meet again. Im readying Atchinson Blue, a book given me at Christmas. I will pass along your Good read review to my daughter!

    ReplyDelete
  26. CathieJJanuary 29, 2014 at 4:12 PM

    It sounds like you are going to be knitting lots of socks. I have yet to try them. Your description of The Postmistress has me adding it to my list of future reading.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Darcel {MahoganyWayMama}January 29, 2014 at 4:17 PM

    Those socks are super cute. I could use a pair of nice warm, wool sock right about now. Suppose I could knit a pair for myself, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Erin @ Wild WhispersJanuary 29, 2014 at 4:44 PM

    The colorway on those is lovely! I've started The Postmistress but couldn't get into it. I think I need to give it another go...

    ReplyDelete
  29. simonaJanuary 29, 2014 at 4:54 PM

    Looks like you're almost done with this pair! Yay :)
    Admittedly, I've not done any knitting/crocheting and no book reading, just some mags... I's like to say that one of the reasons is the beautiful snow we've gotten, I need to savor these moments of white beauty around us and look up, not down. Snow doesn't happen often around here and it never stays long.

    ReplyDelete
  30. UnknownJanuary 29, 2014 at 5:05 PM

    Unmendable is a very good word I think lol. The socks look great :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Tracey ~ CloverJanuary 29, 2014 at 5:54 PM

    I have been wondering about The Postmistress so now I feel comfortable buying it.

    I love seeing your socks. I have a pair of socks that have now been on the needles for over a year and they too are almost complete. Oh well, maybe I'll get to them soon. :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Mary GJanuary 29, 2014 at 7:23 PM

    Love, love, love those socks -- what's the yarn/colorway? I would so wear those ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJanuary 30, 2014 at 9:21 AM

      thank you! it is the lion brand sock ease prints in the color way of taffy.

      http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/lion-brand-sock-ease-prints

      Delete
  33. elnsJanuary 29, 2014 at 7:46 PM

    Can I just repeat what Mary G says? above!! Beautiful socks. I'm sock knitting too. I'm hoping to have an FO on Friday :) I'm also snapping knitting needles. I went to buy another set today, Britanny's succumbed to my butt during laundry folding and the clovers died when my son was reading on the couch. sigh. But now I have trusty visible, less breakable knitter's prides. hehe.

    ReplyDelete
  34. flyingjenJanuary 29, 2014 at 9:25 PM

    I'm fairly certain that I've read The Postmistress. I get in to WWII kicks and read a lot of fiction and history books. Fascinating!

    ReplyDelete
  35. AndriaJanuary 30, 2014 at 1:15 AM

    Thanks for the book recommendations, I've added the Postmistress to my list! The socks are looking great, you really have been busy!

    ReplyDelete
  36. sustainablemumJanuary 30, 2014 at 3:14 AM

    Your socks are lovely I love the self striping of the yarn :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Rebecca WardJanuary 30, 2014 at 12:06 PM

    Hello Karen :) As you are in a WWII mood I was wondering if you have read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, a truly fantastic book and one I will read again... Rebecca x

    ReplyDelete
  38. Kim January 30, 2014 at 3:21 PM

    I am in a WWII kind of mood lately too, reading Sarah's Key, set in the same era. So good.

    So much goodness you are knitting up :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment


Your comments are welcome as long as they are relevant to the post and spread joy, thank you for visiting and sharing your ideas.

Popular posts from this blog

Weekends

Image
My weekend happily contained: -wearing the above woolens all at the same time without being hot -so many walks and taking in the changing leaves. -a leaf shower on Saturday-the wind swirled the leaves off the trees up in the air to float down -changing screen savers to autumn themes! -a craft fair where my husband and I say "we could make that", but we don't. -french fries at the craft fair -scrambled eggs and toast for dinner because we were lazy. -football season has descended in my house. he was in the front room watching whatever is on today -I sat in the family room and watched A Tree Grows in Brooklyn .   Now I want to read it again. -Oh! I finished the socks!! So I wound up about six skeins of yarn and have three projects ready -started a cowl for me in fall colors (I hope to finish before fall ends) -enjoying Spirits of Joy .  Hannah graciously had a one day free sign up for her birthday at the end of September which I luckily saw on Twitter.  Than...
Read more

Happy List

Image
  - neighborhood pumpkins - my oak trees showing off - new friends at 'school' - Tai Chi hour - lunch out with my husband - cold morning walks - an unexpected warm up - all the fall knitting (imagined and real) - wearing wool - browsing knitting patterns - sister outings - dark chocolate - blue skies - neighborhood dogs - the kids coming to visit next weekend - the to-do lists that I am creating - afternoon reading (possible snooze) - apples! - soups! - hearing the breeze whisper through the trees - setting intentions - giving myself grace when I need it the most - solitude - grandchildren laughing - Holly being Holly - Blue skies - phone calls from family and friends - the kindness of others - assuming everyone is doing their best - drinking water and staying hydrated - hot decaf green tea in a BIG mug - first sip of coffee - geese flying in V formation and honking all the way (delightful!!) - Focusing on gratitude - focusing on joy  What would make your happy list?
Read more

Weekends

Image
  Good morning! How are you? How was your weekend? I had a great weekend but I didn't take any great photos. I've been wrapping presents a little bit each day instead of doing it all in one massive long day. This has made a difference in my joy as I wrap. Do you wrap all at once? Or do you do a little bit at a time? Miss Holly has been finding the sun spots and getting her 'tan' going. She is a sweetie. I have no idea what she is watching outside that window. She does that every day. My guess is probably birds or chipmunks but chipmunks should be resting now that it's super cold outside. Sadly I did not take any photos of my knitting, but I have been knitting! I continue to work on my husband's hat and I ripped out a pair of mitts I started (couldn't see the dark yarn with cabling) and started a much simpler pattern instead. Sunday was church then the laundry. I am getting excited for the upcoming holidays. The kids are coming back with the grandchildren and...
Read more