Hello Gentle Readers. This October week in southeast Nebraska brings warm days and cool nights. Either the autumn color will be subdued due to extreme heat or the peak colors are late in arriving. Somehow I sense the temperatures will drop and most of the still green leaves will wither and fall all at one time. Late last week, we had a light frost that barely nipped the zinnias so they begin to fade and dry. I also haven't watered them for several weeks so they could just be dry.
At any rate, here I am on Wednesday, linking with Kat and the Unravelers. My knitting this week is brought to you by the color gray. The socks are a Christmas gift knit. I wasn't sure if I'd like the KnitPicks Stroll yarn but it seems fine. I had the dark green heather in the same base and wanted to knit this pattern so I ordered the soft gray. I jiggled around the stitch count for the circumference, knowing the sock would fit better with a few more stitches in the color-work area. After finishing the color-work, I decreased a couple of times on the leg. Notes are on my Ravelry project page. In between the socks or when my hands needed a break, I knit this cardigan down to the sleeve separation. I'll knit another inch or so of the body, then block and try on the piece. It should fit as I have knit this sweater previously in this yarn base but better to check and make sure.
This week I read The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins. This debut novel is a heartwarming story of three generations of women of Italian heritage living near New York City. Although the story isn't written in the lyrical language of a seasoned author, it is an outstanding first novel. Character rather than plot drives the narrative. The three Graces, in their individual seasons of life, grow and change. None are without flaws and make mistakes but all learn to extend grace and kindness to others and each other. Although all three characters are well developed, the oldest "Graziella," who takes on the establishment as she offers food, monetary assistance, and a helping hand to her neighbors is my favorite. The descriptions of food are an integral, mouth-watering part of the story. Once again, I find myself wishing the wisdom and strength of women was more widely recognized. I very much enjoyed this novel and look forward to more work by Rollins.
I wish you a good week filled with the grace and stories of wise women.
Ravelry Links
I'll be interested in seeing what the leaves ultimately do here. Most of ours are still green, with only some spots or isolated branches showing signs of color. I'm not quite sure why, but nature will take care of things. I do like both of your grays, especially the way you combined it with dark green in the socks. Your description of Three Graces has me anxiously awaiting my turn in the hold queue. Thank you for all the wisdom (books, knitting, and life) you have shared with me.
ReplyDeleteHi Jane. I like your knitting projects. That book sounds like one I would like. We have had a rainy fall here and our winter is predicted to be quite snowy. Autumn in Nebraska is beautiful! I hope you continue to have a good October. See you again soon!
ReplyDeleteI've noticed the same thing about the leaves here, though I just heard that we're maybe 1-2 weeks away from peak color, so I'm hopeful we will get some red and orange before we get brown. Stroll isn't my favorite sock yarn, but it's soft and a good price point, so it's a good option for gifts. I appreciate the book recommendation -- it sounds really good! I'm off to see if my library has it.
ReplyDeleteAutumn colors seem a bit delayed/subdued here as well. We were in Erie last week and there were pockets of color but most trees were still green... albeit faded green. I don't think there is anything wrong with Grey Knitting! I am hoping to begin another Mercedes... with some Grey Plutolopi!
ReplyDeleteThe gray --I rarely want to knit it but I always want to wear it! Love the socks with the green leaves.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very pretty sock pattern. Getting colorwork to go over the heel can be a challenge. That was a good idea you had about upping the stitch count.
ReplyDeleteGray is always a great option, in my mind. Love the socks AND the look of the cardigan. We're having a real mixed-bag kind of fall here, in terms of the leaves. But we've also had the most lovely weather I can remember for October, so that's a nice gift! Enjoy the weekend, Jane.
ReplyDeleteYour socks and sweater are nice. I love the pattern on the top of the socks. It's been great weather here. Upper 60's and very colorful. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteLol to the sesame street reference! I love gray and wear a ton of it. I finished hedgehog knitting and am now down to a hat and a pair of socks. It's been nice knitting this week.
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