Now it is October

Hello Gentle Readers. This week leaves turn and begin to fall. The colors, while not as vibrant as some years, are familiar. I don't know about you but these days, seasonal change comforts me. Even though this past week brought 90 degree afternoons, the mornings were pleasant. As I walk, I listen to the sounds made by the wind and visit the white rose bush that blooms along a neighbor's fence. Yesterday clouds blew in as temperatures dropped. Rain is in the forecast. 

Although Kat is not posting a link-up today, it's Wednesday and I'm here. I completed the pouch embellished with small scraps and embroidery. This was a project with low stakes made to try something new. Choosing tiny scraps, some with strong memories, others with none, and plunking them down in a square was fun and absorbing. Somewhere I heard a tip to use a tapestry needle to bring the yarn for the grid up from the wrong side, lay it on the line, and push the tapestry needle back down to the wrong side. Then I couched it (attached by stitching) onto the fabric. Threading the ends back to the wrong side allowed me to adjust the tension as I couched it down and also to tie a knot on the wrong side that kept the ends from popping loose. 

I machine sewed the sides of the lining but otherwise constructed the project by hand. I find hand-stitching much more peaceful and less anxiety producing than machine stitching. 

Because one project is never enough, I'm working on a cover for another stitch journal. Perhaps "circles" will be the theme for most of the stitch pages although that could change.   

My reading has been lack luster. I returned two books to the library that weren't for me. Currently, I'm listening to This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page. It might be another novel I return without finishing which is ironic considering how long I waited for the book. Before the husband of the main character died, he arranged for her to receive one book per month for a year after his death. I thought the nod to books and the way they affect our lives might be enough for me. However, I'm finding it a little predictable and syrupy sweet. At another time or for another reader, it might be just the story.  

I hope you are enjoying some fall or spring color and these October Days. 

Zinnias and lavender continue to bloom.

Early Autumn

Hello Gentle Readers. Early Autumn sun streams in the south windows. After two and a half weeks of on again, off again rain and cloudy skies, the sunshine is welcome. Here the mornings are cool while the afternoons warm up into the seventies and later this week, the eighties. As I walk, I watch for signs of autumn. Leaves on the ash trees begin to turn to copper and dark purple. Tuesday morning I spied a flicker, a red-bellied woodpecker, and two little nuthatches. I love the way nuthatches chirp softly to each other as if to day, "here I am, where are you?" A few monarchs visit the zinnias and many weeds grow. I hope to pull a bunch of them this week. If only I didn't have to cook dinner, right? 

On Wednesday, I link with Kat and the Unravelers. I had one brief stint of unraveling after casting on a gift knit and then snipping the working yarn instead of the excess length of tail yarn. At least that was a simple fix for a silly mistake. Still, these fingerless mitts knit up quickly. They are a Christmas gift for my daughter-in-law. The yarn, Cashmerino Bloom from Purl Soho, is so nice to work with and made pretty mitts. I think I can get another pair from the same skein. The free pattern was fun and easy. I knit the cuff in 3 x 1 ribbing switching to broken rib at the top of the wrist. My notes on the modifications I used are on Ravelry. 

Since last writing about this project, I stitched the squares on the front of the pouch. They will be partially covered by the flap when the pouch is in use but closed. Then the front will look like this. 

Originally I planned to machine stitch the side seams but now I'm considering seaming by hand from the right side. I want the grids to line up on the front and the front flap. Or I could baste them together by hand, turn them right side out, to check for accuracy and then machine stitch. Time will tell. I need a quiet afternoon to work on it but on these nice days I should work on the weeds. 

I am rereading These Precious Days by Ann Patchett. After returning a couple of library books that weren't for me, I needed something well written and thoughtful. I first read this book when it was published in 2021. I recalled the subjects of some essays but not all. It was fun to rediscover Patchett's essay on Eudora Welty as well as the one on book covers. They are all worth a reread. 

The light on these late afternoons is so lovely. I happened to look out the window last week and saw this sight. The Linden leaves begin to turn bright autumn yellow. Whether the yellowy gold is from the light or the leaves, it's a beautiful reminder of the beauty of early autumn. Wishing you warm autumn days to savor and enjoy. 

Ravelry Link

Jacque's Mitts

September's End

Hello Gentle Readers. Where did the September days go? Perhaps because we were a week in Connecticut, the days went by more quickly. Here, September delivers warm and rainy days. The zinnias, although bowed down by the rain, continue to bloom brightly. Monday the sun came out so I began fall weeding. After I finished and put my tools in the shed, I stood a short distance from the zinnias and watched the butterflies. The fluttering wings of six monarchs, one swallowtail, and two painted lady butterflies remind me to look for beauty amidst the weeds and raggedy edges. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with our daughter, son-in-law, and family. We celebrated two birthdays. Emmett, the oldest is sixteen and Norah, the youngest is eight. We tagged along to football, gymnastics, and diving. Sadly Emmett's baseball game was cancelled due to rain. We attended church where our son-in-law is the Senior Pastor. Kate and I walked around the "Point" adjacent to Long Island Sound so I came home with a small bag of treasures, including shells, rocks, and sea glass. Norah and I made little beaded bracelets for each other. We caught up with Micah and his baseball card collection. Being part of their ordinary days for a week was such fun. We flew home on Thursday before the Nor'easter landed which was a piece of luck. The day before, we were at the beach with Kate and Jonah to watch the wind begin to churn the waves. Jonah, eleven, is the guy who could beach comb and fish all day so he was game to come with us. 

Wednesday is the day to link with Kat and the Unravelers. Before we left, I cast on a pair of socks. I didn't make as much progress as I usually do because of the fun. I often wonder if a lace design creates a loose fabric for a sock but that isn't the case with this pattern. The pattern is free and well written. Because the yarn is a neutral tonal, I knit an "eye of partridge" heel flap. I have some holiday gift knits to work on so I'm not sure when I'll finish these. 

Since coming home, I mended a quilt that has been waiting for attention. I made progress on this cardigan. Rowan Felted Tweed is one of my favorite yarns and this is the second time I've knit the pattern. The modified saddle shoulder/raglan construction fits me well and I have notes about modifications so the knitting is smooth sailing. (I hope I didn't just jinx myself here.) Once I get past the sleeve separation, I will be able to pick it up in odd moments. The plum colored yarn beside the sweater is destined to be a pair of mitts as a Christmas gift. I generally make two or three smaller knitted gifts for the holidays so it is time get those projects on the needles. 

While traveling, I read The Light After the War by Anita Abriel. This historical fiction is the story of two young Hungarian Jewish women in the aftermath of World War II. After being sheltered in rural Austria, they make their way to Naples and eventually to Caracus. Having been friends from childhood, the bond between the two women is heartening. The novel focuses on their recovery as they rebuild their lives. While the writing is average, the story is remarkable because it is based on experiences of the author's grandmother. It is also a tribute to the human spirit of hope and resilience.

As September turns to October, I wish you well with shelter from the storms. 

Ravelry Links

Autumn Latte

Don't Ask 2

Mid-September

Hello Gentle Readers. This mid-September brings changeable weather with alternating cold and warm fronts. Sunday morning was chilly. Then on Monday, a warm humid day was sandwiched between morning and evening thunderstorms . When the sun shines, the skies are beautiful beyond description. I continue to cut and enjoy bright zinnia bouquets although the rest of the garden looks ragged. Some of zinnia blooms have morphed into slightly different hues. Perhaps they also age. 

Depending on how Wednesday goes, I hope to link with Kat and the Unravelers. If not, I'm there in spirit. This week, as changeable as the weather,  I worked a little on this and a little of that. I enjoy knitting the handspun shawl and have just started a second section of eyelet lace. From the photo you can see I cast on a pair of socks that I hope will be a travel project. 

I stitched on the piece of fabric that I plan to sew into a small pouch. I finished the grid on the back as well as the front flap. Even though it isn't visible in this photo, I couched on the last six square grid that will be the inside front of the pouch. All of this makes sense in my head so I hope it comes together in real life. I don't have a pattern although I have made other pouches following tutorials by k3n (Kathryn) Cloth Tales. 

This week I listened to A Line in the World: A Year on the North Coast  by Dorthe Nors, translated by Caroline Waight. This nonfiction is a description of Nors' homeland on the Jutland Peninsula of Denmark. I would classify this five plus hour audiobook as nature writing with a touch of memoir. In a calm but clear-headed voice, Nors explores the connection between inhabitants, environment, geography, and history of the rugged area. She doesn't shy away from controversy or ugly truths but still the narration was peaceful and hearing the pronunciation of names and locations in several languages added to my enjoyment. Nors' purpose in writing the book was to explore a woman's relationship to the land and area and she did so without romanticizing it. I came away with a sense of the rugged beauty and a respect for those who live there.

I also read the mystery, Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd. This is the second in a series featuring Nora Breen, the fifty some year old former nun pursuing a criminal in "Gore-on-the-Sea" along the coast of England. I am enjoying this indomitable woman who is forging a new life for herself in middle age as well as the cast of quirky characters. While it's not a Louise Penny novel, the sardonic humor and plot twists kept me entertained. 

I hear rain on the roof. I need to find a raincoat and run a few errands. Enjoy your making and reading while you stay well and safe.   

A September leaf

Still Summer

Hello Gentle Readers. Even though I begin this post with wool socks, the last ten or so days have been very summery as in extremely hot and dry. Rain is forecast for late this Tuesday evening. Hopefully cooler days will follow. One tomato plant still grows giving us a few ripe tomatoes. Down the street, a neighbor has a glorious patch of sunflowers between the street and the sidewalk. On the other side of that driveway, morning glories twine over and around catmint and the bees hum. I love that little bit of wildness.

On Wednesday I will link with Kat and the Unravelers. The Beach Glass socks are finished. I enjoyed the yarn and the little bow-tie design down the side of the leg. This week, I continued knitting on the "Same As it Ever Was" hat. I am using helical knitting to blend yarns from a mini skein set. It's a great project for spare moments of knitting. 

Once I knit a colorwork yoke sweater with Rowan Felted Tweed. Although I loved the fabric, every time I put on the sweater, I took it off. The fit was wonky. Earlier in the year I reclaimed and washed the yarn. Since I used the same yarn base in the Don't Ask cardigan and it fits well, I cast on another one with the reclaimed yarn. I completed the neck shaping and am happily increasing the modified saddle shoulder portion. I don't remember ever successfully knitting with reclaimed sweater yarn but I'm pleased with this project.

This week I needed a light read so I picked up The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict. Benedict writes historical fiction about remarkable women whose contributions are often overlooked. The narrator of this story, set in 1930, is mystery writer Dorothy L. Sayers. Sayers' cohorts include four other female mystery writers, Agatha Christie, Nagaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. During a humorous but maddening episode, Sayers and Christie elbow the queens' way into a mostly male club of detective writers. While I noted a few instances of too-modern vocabulary, I enjoyed the friendship forged between the women as they set out to become appreciated in the Club by solving a real-life murder. Soon, setting the record straight about the deaths of two young women who were ill-used by powerful men and maligned by the press, becomes their higher purpose. My daughter thought I'd enjoy reading this book and sent me her copy. My mother was an avid reader, including mysteries. I'm sure she read Christie and Sayers so this book is a nice connection for us. Your mileage may vary, but I enjoyed the novel. 

As summer winds down, I wish you a good week with peaceful making and interesting reading. 

Ravelry Links

Bowtie Beach Glass Socks

Same As It Ever Was Hat

Don't Ask Cardigan

  

Hello September

Hello Gentle Readers. Summer has one more story to tell on this early September day. Through next Monday, high temperatures will remain in the mid-nineties. I walk on the shaded sides of streets, shamelessly zigzagging back and forth in order to stay in the shade. If anyone asks, I'm claiming more steps. On one route, a large rose garden with many varieties blooms a second time. It is glorious. Monday I went out to snip parsley and basil for a pasta salad and found three small (monarch) caterpillars in the parsley. Since the two plants are small, I made do with basil. Our salad was plenty tasty. 

Today I link with Kat and the Unravelers. I finished the heel flap and gusset on the second the Bow-Tie socks. I also cast on some new projects. I have admired the "Same As It Ever Was" hats that Sarah knits from the pattern she designed. I gathered some leftover yarns and a pastel mini skeins to knit one from scraps. After completing the increases, I used helical knitting to blend the first two mini skeins. My only regret is, unlike Sarah, I don't have a Ruthie dog as a way to measure progress. I have plenty of yarn to make a nice hat but haven't decided whether I will mix the colors or knit all the pinks on one side and the blues on the other. 

I wanted to knit with this batch of handspun yarn. I ripped out my first attempt as the stockinette pattern didn't suit the yarn. Garter stitch at a looser gauge looks better to me. I cast on a favorite, the Rewilding Shawl. Helen Stewart's row by row pattern provides percentage of yarn used at certain points in the project which will be useful as I figure out where to use the yarns. My plan is to use solid colors to create eyelet sections. It's an adventure.

Today is my birthday and so here I am walking into my seventy-fifth year in my walking shorts and faded shirt. (All of the stuff in the background belongs to my neighbors who like that sort of thing.)  I am very grateful to be in reasonably good health but that could turn on a dime. In the meantime, I try to savor the ordinary days. My plan is to love deeply, enjoy my family and friends, seek beauty, read thoughtfully, write a bit, and engage with making that sparks joy and peace. I remind myself to focus on what I have and be grateful for those things. Every now and then I need to put my feet up in the middle of the day and so I try to accept this with grace. In the last few months, I've come to realize that energy is equally as precious as time.  At this age, every day is a gift to be unwrapped with care. 

I think it is quite warm most places in the northern hemisphere. I hope you can stay cool and take care in the heat. 

 

August's End

 

Hello Gentle Readers. Here, late August days are slightly cooler. While the crab grass and other weeds grow, the zinnias bloom brightly. Yesterday I saw a yellow swallowtail butterfly from my kitchen window. Monarchs flit around the zinnias. Some evenings, a bumblebee snoozes underneath a flower. Today while walking, I noticed ash leaves on the ground and a few maples have an early hint of red. The season begins to turn. 

Today I link with Kat and the Unravelers. As promised, I'll write about the vest I recently knit. I like the fit that gives me a little less than four inches of positive ease. The yarn, Juniper Moon Rambouillet, has a lovely hand. I'd knit with it again in a heartbeat though I don't know for sure how it will wear. By the time I was finished, I had blocked the upper part of the vest at least three times and the fabric wasn't any worse for it. 

The pattern is for either a classic V-neck or round-neck vest with nice attention to detail. The increases along the armhole and neck become a design feature that made picking up stitches for the ribbing go smoothly. The suggested ratio for picking up stitches also worked well. If you recall, I had a slight flaring in the ribbing around the armholes but that blocked out nicely. I chose to do the round neck because I knit the vest with DK instead of worsted weight called for in the pattern. If my row gauge differed from the pattern, I thought a round neck would be easier to adjust. As it happened, that wasn't necessary. I did add an inch length to the yoke/armhole because I often need that modification. The fabric grew a little with blocking so the armholes are slightly deeper than necessary. If I knit it again, I'd knit it per pattern instructions. However it fits well enough. All in all, the pattern and the yarn made for a successful project.  

I read We The Women, The Hidden Heroes who Shaped America by Norah O'Donnell with Kate Anderson Brower. This nonfiction is a collection of short pieces about women trailblazers, including women from a variety of cultural and racial backgrounds. While I learned of several women I had not known of, for example Anna Dickinson, Belva Lockwood, Emily Roebling, and Mary Tape, I found the journalistic writing flat. O'Donnell inserted personal reactions in italics often followed by exclamation points (like this!) that I found unnecessary. One of her often used phrases was "Can you imagine?" Less emphasis on the suffragettes would have left room for writers like Nella Larsen and political trailblazers Shirley Chisholm, Margaret Chase Smith, Bella Abzug, and Ann and Cecile Richards. Although most of the women from previous eras stirred up plenty of controversy, the authors avoided women of our current time whose politics might be seen as controversial. While the premise of the book is admirable, it wasn't well executed. 

Some of the Bruno mysteries are now available via Hoopla audio from my library system, so I listened to The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker. Although about half-way through I identified the culprit, I enjoyed Bruno's romp through the French countryside. Listening to a story of a kind compassionate police officer is a nice diversion from the news. 

Have you noticed the change in the light?  Below is the sky that greeted me as I rounded a corner on Monday morning.