This week, I have been completely stumped by my knitting. I have started the next square six times this week. Six times! Three different stitches and each time they have not worked.
Part of the problem is that I am using a double knit yarn that must be the upper end of the scale. Two of the stitch patterns that I tried, were lacy, which just didn’t work with this yarn. One stitch required me to purl four stitches together. After 12 rows, my thumb was hurting and I unravelled the lot.
The instructions for the third stitch pattern must have a mistake in it. I unravelled, knitted, unravelled and tried a smaller square, but it just wasn’t going to work.
That will be three stitch patterns that I won’t be trying again!
So I thought for fun I’d join in Ginny’s Yarn Along. I’ve wanted to join in before, but I tend to dip into lots of technical books and not so much fiction at the moment.
This week I have been drawing up a list of books to put before my eldest daughter. She is a good reader. Sometimes it is difficult to find books that are old enough to interest her, without being too old for her years. She devours books. She will read anything. Her little sister’s school books. The back of cereal packets. Fiction, non-fiction. Although I notice she avoids my technical manuals.
I checked out a few of my old favourites. Starting with “A Wrinkle in Time” . I loved reading it again and then I googled it. I had no idea that it was controversal. When I reread it this week, I tried to see it through the eyes of my eight year old. The parts that caused criticism would wash right over her (and me!) I see it as a good intro to Sci Fi for my daughter. Different worlds. Fantastical creatures. Even discussion on different dimensions. I love Sci Fi. I understand that a watered down version was made for TV. I warmed enormously to the author who when asked whether the film had lived up to her expectations had, supposedly replied, that it had as it was truly awful.
Books are escapism to me. A story to entertain. Maybe to be thought provoking, but a really good yarn is essential. I remember feeling robbed when our school chaplain, one lesson, discussed the connection between CS Lewis’s “The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe”. I just wanted to enjoy it as a story. I didn’t want this book, in my young eyes, being taken from the school’s English department and discussed in the Religious Studies classrooms. The story changed and I felt tricked. I was probably too young for literary appreciation and wanted my world to stay black and white for a bit longer.
Digressing as usual. This book is now on her list. I hope she enjoys it. I’m going to look for the rest in the series as well. Oh, that’s the remains of a cheese straw, resting on the cover. Said daughter made a batch this week. Very scrummy. Even Gwinny the dog agrees.
So what are you knitting and reading this week?
Yes, some patterns can be frustrating 🙄
I am reading … or attempting to finish reading … “Santa Cruise” by the Higgins Clark/Mother-Daughter mystery authors. It is interesting enough; there just aren’t enough hours in my days lately 😀
~Val
Oh, for more hours in the day. In my case, I need to be more efficient, but I’d still go for more hours! 🙂
You must be really frustrated with your knitting not turning out. 🙁 Oh well, I don’t suppose every thing we try in the craft world is going to work out.
If you are looking for some more books for your daughter, you might like to try “The Deltora Quest” series by Emily Rodda. http://www.scholastic.com.au/titles/deltoraquest/author.asp Emily is an Australian author and the Deltora Quest series is fantasy rather than sci-fi. Both my girls loved them and I you might like to have a look and see what you think.
Anne xx
Funnily enough, I wasn’t frustrated about frogging the rows. This project is about trying out more stitches. My failures are part of that process as well!
I just checked out your book suggestion. It does look more Fantasy than Sci fi, but I know she would like it just as much. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve added it to my list to find out more.
I have days like this with knitting too. It will pass, really it will. I love A Wrinkle in Time. We’ve read the whole series and it’s just incredible. So glad you put it on her list anyway. This week we’re reading a really great book which is first in a series called, Here, there be Dragons from the Imaginarium Geographica Series. Really wonderful. Happy Reading.
I’m going to change yarn and stitch to see if I can push passed my knitting impasse. I’ll have to take a look at that series. Thanks for the suggestion.
I remember feeling that way about LWW too! I couldn’t even imagine they were talking about the same book. Later, I read it again and could make the connections myself and then I liked it! lol!
I’m glad I’m not alone. 🙂
No knitting, but reading away. A trilogy called The Awakening Land by Conrad Richter. Story follows the life of a woman pioneer from her childhood to old age. Loving it.