Yarn Along: Knitted pumpkin

knitted pumpkin and bookI’ve been knitting. It seems like ages since I last picked up two needles and made something. We’ve reached the stage where the children are happy for me to sew clothes for them, but knitting doesn’t hit the mark. (quietly sobs)

Anyway, we were putting up our seasonal decorations over the weekend. The season’s table and garland. Lovely to see the felt toadstools, knitted acorns and egg carton bats brought out of the box. Something was missing. Standing back, it was obvious we needed more colour and leaves. Bright orange pumpkins seemed to fit the bill. Middling thought knitted rather than crocheted or needlefelted.

knitted pumpkin in handsSo knitting it is. Out came the alpaca orange that I had left over from years ago when I was making pumpkin hats. I love the softness of this yarn and it’s such a bright colour. Cheering up a dark, wet evening.

I added tendrils that double up for leaves and stems. I recycled the cut-off yarn left-overs from when I was sewing in the ends of my first crochet blanket, to stuff the pumpkin.

I’ll be making more of these to hang up on the garland. (instructions for knitted pumpkins here)

As I did this on the flat, with no particular pattern, I could read and knit. I’ve just finished reading Don’t Even Think About It

I like to keep up with the books the Teen is devouring, although I don’t have time to read them all. I thought this one looked interesting. It’s very much a Young/Adult book. It’s written in the first person, although its a collective due to the telepathy that the children all gain after a flu jab goes wrong. Imagine being a teen and hearing everyone’s thoughts.

I liked the story and the characters, although the voice annoyed me at times. As my Teen reminded me, it was the right voice/grammar for the book. I suppose she should know. Worth a read, just to remind you what it’s like to be a  teen.

knitted pumpkin with tendrilsI’ve started to read A Better Man. This one was sent through for review, so I’ll post more on it another time. I’ve read a few chapters and am pretty sure its not the kind of book I’d usually choose. I don’t like any of the characters yet, but I’ll plough on through. Ever the optimist.

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along. Hoping for lots of book recommendations, as I knit up a few more pumpkins.

What are you reading?

38 comments

  1. need to find some orange yarn asap, so cute!
    I am currently reading The Dirty Life (a memoir on farming), and Station Eleven (a dystopian novel). loving both!

  2. Adorable pumpkins!
    I also like to keep current with what the Teens are reading. If nothing else, it gives them someone to discuss the books with. I don’t read every book, but I always read the ones they specifically ask me to.

    1. I agree. I do like talking about her books with her. In fact all three children. I don’t have time for all the books, nor would I want to read them all, but there is nothing like sharing a book to encourage reading. Especially true for older children.

  3. Wow, your pumpkins are so cute! I love them. Your knitting is so nice and neat too. I love Young Adult fiction as well as non-fiction. I’ve just read a great YA book about the last tsar of Russia that was better than most of the adult-oriented books I’ve read on the subject.

  4. Oh those tiny pumpkins are too cute! I’ve been drawn in by all things tiny and autumnal myself 🙂 and it just seems to be the perfect season for picking up your knitting needles!

    1. It definitely is the time for knitting. I like these rojects as they are quick and fit around the bigger projects going on in the background.

  5. Scrumptious Pumpkin!!!!!! you are clever you know. I’m useless at reading the girls books now …I just get as far as the guilty about not reading them stage but no further……one bright spot is they’re starting to read my old books from the shelves “ok mum which Agatha Christie should I read next?” 😀

    1. Love reading Agatha Christie. Keep suggesting to Eldest that she should give it a go. Maybe I should just re-read for the umpteenth time instead. Clever of you to get them on to books you like.

      1. .I can claim no credit …it’s just when you run out of new books on your own shelf …what do you do (especially if your Mum is too idle to take you to the library) …haha

        1. I know exactly which books I’m recommending to Eldest, next time she says she has nothing to read. I do like your strategy.

    1. Some books really don’t appeal, but I do try and read one every now and again. There is only so much teenage angst I can take! (That’s why I need to knit bright orange pumpkins)

  6. hello, lovely to find another UK family through the yarn along. I love the pumpkin! #my autumn decs are still waiting to go up. we’re just too bsy enjoying the season!

    1. I hadn’t planned to do them last weekend, but we had a lull, so I found the box. To be honest the summer ones were looking out of place, with the change of the season. Glad the Autumn ones are up now.

    1. Children can’t resist picking them up and squidging them. I have a whole bowlful of them now, plus the ones on the garland.

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