A few weeks ago, I asked you all for some help picking what sweater I should knit after my Arctic Cardigan was finished (which is done, and just needs buttons sewn on — which hopefully is happening very soon!) I was all set to cast on my Brookings pullover, which many of you pointed out seemed to be what I really wanted to knit (and I realized it was what I wanted to both knit and what I wanted in my wardrobe right away!)
But then, some other things got in the way. I got asked to do some secret knitting (!) on a pretty tight deadline, so starting a new sweater was put on hold. But on Saturday, I found myself in the very unusual situation of being about to get on a train, and having nothing to take with me — all my projects were almost done, or too fiddly for train travel for the motion sick-prone. And that’s when I thought again of my Woolly Willard, which I’d set down almost two years ago to the day. There are perhaps few benefits to having dozens of unfinished projects hidden around the house — but this is one. Don’t have the perfect project for the moment? It might already be cast on, waiting for you to come back to it! I haven’t made massive progress, but it’s the perfect antidote to the other knitting I’m doing at the moment — a heavy, woolly, scrummy yarn, that will make a wonderfully warm sweater for the winter. It’s been particularly chilly here so far this week (but gorgeous — I’ve popped a few pictures of today’s late morning walk in the bottom of the post) so this can’t get finished quickly enough!
On the reading front: I finished A Stash of One’s Own and enjoyed it even more than I expected. I’ve talked before about the copious amounts of yarn I have and the various feelings I have about it, so I was really excited to hear various people’s take on stash. Some of the essays made me laugh … one brought me to tears (I’m looking at you Franklin Habit), and some just had really smart, articulate things to say about our relationships with yarn and what they mean (I particularly liked Anna Maltz and Debbie Stoller’s thoughts on this). I definitely recommend it — the short essays make for perfect bedtime reading. Now I’m casting around for something new — it’s been awhile since I’ve read any fiction, and I want something I can get a bit immersed in. Maybe I’ll go back to reading the second Outlander book — that seems like about what I need right now!
On the planning front: I’ve really been enjoying the Knit British podcast of late, and was excited about Louise’s announcement of wool exploration for 2018. You can read more about it here, but the idea is that every month, you knit with a new, single breed yarn … the first sheep is North Ronaldsay, which live on the Scottish island of the same name, and are famous for eating seaweed. I got that gorgeous brown skein in the picture above from BritYarn. The brown is warmer and richer than the picture does justice to — and the smell! Sheepy heaven! I’m looking forward to casting on my swatch soon and hopefully share my wool exploring here 🙂 I’m also getting very excited for Christmas as evidenced by my fab new (ready knit) Christmas socks — which will serve me well until I can cast on some myself!
Linking up with As Kat Knits for Unraveled Wednesday — go see what other knitters are up to! What are you working on this week?
fiber and sustenance 
How wonderful to live somewhere where a local walk lets you look out over the sea like that! Lovely to see your photos.
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I feel very lucky to live in such a pretty place and get great views like that. It’s gorgeous here on a sunny day (and pretty in its own way on the many more rainy days we get, ha!)
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Oooh! That sweater definitely needs to be finished. It’s going to be lovely when it’s done. Thank you for the Stash of One’s Own reminder. I’ve been wanting to read it for quite a while but never think to add it to my Kindle que. It’s there now so….
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I hope you enjoy it! You’ll have to let me know what you think! And thanks for your kind words on the sweater 🙂
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I’m working on a sweater for my husband! And then once that’d one I’ll whip up a matching one for one of the dogs and we’ll take holiday photos LOL
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Can’t wait to see those photos! That’s going to be so cute!
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I really love the color combination on your sweater! It will be so lovely. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Kym 🙂
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That sweater is going to be so pretty this winter. Thanks for the photos of your current corner of the world.
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Thanks, Jane! It’ll definitely be toasty and help keep any damp off when I’m out and about 🙂
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I like that colorwork yoke, simple but still a pretty splash of color.
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Thanks very much, Stefanie!
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That colorwork is wonderful. I have been thinking about doing the Knit British wool exploration but not sure if I can get my hands on the yarns since I am in the States.
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Yeah, I imagine some are more and less difficult to come by in the states — the Woolly Thistle might be a good place to check as she specializes in British yarns — and if you decide you want to join and need some help getting yarn from the UK, you can always give me a shout 🙂 I’ve shipped a few things back home to the States and shipping has been pretty reasonable!
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I am so behind on my blog reading! Hopefully I’ll catch up soon 🙂 I’m glad you were able to find something to tide you over while you have that super secret project 😀 I love the yarn, the color work and am looking forward to checking out that book. Looks like you have been getting a little bit of sun in between the rainy weather, which makes for very nice walks.
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I’m behind to Paula! It’s so easy to happen! And it’s not been nearly as rainy here as I thought it would be … in fact, the sun is streaming in as I type (though it’s really only light here from about 8:30-3:30 at the moment, ha so I have to get out and soak up sun when I can!)
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