Yarn Along time again. Combining two of my favourite things. Knitting and reading.
Knitting
I’ve started knitting a blue jumper. I’ve not knitted anything big in 4 ply for a while (that’s sport for US readers). I wanted a slow, non-fiddly knit, to knit in the evenings when I was about finished for the day. This one is perfect. Saying that, I’ve almost knitted up the front to the point I need to decrease for the raglan sleeves, so maybe it’s not as slow as I thought.
The pattern is King Cole 3755. I’m using King Cole Merino blend, which comes on a cone, from The Knitting Network (not an ad). I love knitting from a cone, as there is no playing yarn chicken at the end of each ball. (translate: do I have enough yarn to finish this knitted row/garment? Should I swap to a new ball of wool now to avoid tying the new yarn in half way through the new row?)
I use the dk version of this yarn and love the merino blend. It doesn’t irritate my hands as I knit and I can wash it on the wool cycle in my washing machine. I’m hoping that I can do the same for the 4ply.
Hopefully, next month I will still be knitting this one, as it requires very little thinking and that is just the type of project I need at the moment.
Book
I’m reading (affiliated links*) The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. I love the Secret Lives of Bees by the same author and thought this might be good too. It’s based on a true story of two sisters that fought against the slave trade in South Carolina during the 1830s. The book is broken into small chapters, with Sarah and Hetty taking turns to tell the story. Sarah, one of the sisters, is given Hetty as a slave on her 11th birthday. Sarah is unwilling to own a slave and Hetty, whose basket name is Handful, struggles to fit the role. Neither have a choice. I’m only part way through at the moment, but it certainly is interesting.
Slow progress at the moment, as I’m spending any spare time in the garden. I still have plants in the greenhouses waiting to be planted outside. Knitting and reading definitely take a back seat at this time of year.
So. What’s everyone else reading and knitting?
Looks like you have made good progress on the sweater and love the color. That book sounds really good I will add it to my list of books to read. It sounds like a very good book to read during these difficult times.
Yes. I started the book a few weeks ago, but now it seems even more topical.
The yarn mill I buy from has either 500g cones or 200g balls. They are great, as you say, as I can just keep on knitting! I love that blue colour. I have The Invention of Wings on my TBR (which like all readers is SOOOO long!)
My first jumper I knitted was off a cone. I think the experience spoilt me!
I love the colour that you have chosen for this project, can’t wait to see it finished.
I’m about to embark on making some curtains for downstairs. Just waiting on the fabric to arrive. I’m that excited it’s ridiculous!
I hope you are all safe and well. x
I can totally understand your excitement. Fabric arriving is a happy day, in its own right.
This all sounds so very wonderful! I’ve never knit from a cone but now that you’ve mentioned it, I might just need to look into it. This time of the year is so hard to find the extra time (and brain power) to knit and read…life is certainly busy outside most days. Happy reading and knitting (as time allows)!!
It is a challenge to squeeze it all in.