a satisfying pairing

Maybe the first time ever, this week I  completed a knit while simultaneously finishing listening to the final chapter of a book. 

Sophie Scarf not yet blocked in Lang Premium Cashmere. It is a paler pink than it appears here, the very palest of pink. The stitches along the edge will settle in.It will be gifted to the person it was intended for when I started it in 2022.

If I were one to pair a project and fiber choice with a book I wouldn't have done wrong to match it to Whistler by Ann Patchett, which was also lovely and gentle and engaging and went by fast. Add a nice cool rosé and you'd be all set. Wish I'd though of that! 

Next up in the "finish-or -reimagine-all-the-started-things-in '26" line up is this very lightweight cropped sweater, I am knitting it in a yarn I love, Coast by Holst Garn . Its a lofty, lightweight  cotton wool blend, comes in fabulous shades- I've linked it to my favorite source, The Yarnery in St Paul MN. They ship super fast.

  

This yarn was originally knit into a Lavallette teeby Mary Lou Egan (spoiler alert this pattern uses so-called condo knitting on the faux lace part. SO fun to knit!)

I will honestly say it was a wonderful make however,  I wanted it very oversized, and in 2020 I was larger myself  as I ate and drank my way through the pandemic lockdown so...so it turned out too big to keep in 2021. I never got to weaving in ends and the final touches.  In 2024 I frogged it and cast on for a light airy very simple pullover, using the Vanilla Sweater pattern. I'm knitting it on size US 6 needles even though it is a fingering weight, it's loftiness makes it hang nice and airy. I picture it as a layer with a tank top and shorts in the evening or over a sundress or high waisted baggy jeans.  I may even leave the neckline somethinbg like it is instead of the shallow ribbing suggested in the pattern. Mostly though I am now picturing it finished! 

Now I need a new book. As always I'll be reading through all of the Unraveling posts this week for suggestions (and to find out if anyone has reviewed Daniel Mason's new book).  

finally finally finished with stripes + other recent events

I'm back Unraveling , determined to keep up with the Wednesday habit. On late Thursday (shhh). It's been a constant -motion  couple of weeks. I try to keep it chill in the summer and am failing this year.  I am not mad about it. In the past two or so weeks:

The KnitStars folks came and filmed me and my master class for the new season! (that link is to a flipbook with an overview of all the seasons including "mine" which is still in production, Season 11).  I was dorky and definitely talked with my hands extravagantly.  I had fun, we covered A LOT of material. They were delightful to work with. We filmed a photo shoot of a shawl and a scarf (explaining as I went) , and made yarn still lifes at my local farm, and shot sheep shots (of course!)We filmed  at my house (living room and..kitchen teaching some things, photo things of course NOT kitchen things(!) and we filmed around the neighborhood, I went kayaking with Zoe for local color. I did a little knitting in a favorite neighborhood knitting spot. My flowers behaved perfectly despite torrential rains the day before. 

And in actual knitting news,   I finished my Piilo! This is going to be a fave. I finished it at 11:45 pm on my birthday to give myself the gift of getting'er done!

  Styling? What styling? The next morning it was hot,  I'd just run in from the beach and so you get the sunglasses look and the half down hair selfie. I love how it fits me, it is the same ease-wise as the pattern but cropped in length. I LOVE the funnel style neck, I love the yarn, (Kelbourne Scout) and the muted stripes.

In other styling news: I took Zoe to see Megan Moroney (country pop, huge teen girl fan base)concert in NYC for her 8th grade graduation present. It's a 2 hour train ride for us so not a major trip but it was a happening-- I was coached to wear the right thing (pink! so much pink) and cowboy boots. I am glad I went along with it--the sold out arena was 100% pink. We also went to the Today show taping early early the next morning ans saw her perform right in front of us in the outdoor plaza so had you been watching the Today show last Friday you'd have seen us waving hi to America, we were right in front row. Moral of the story: if a 14 yo suggests you to go to her first concert even if its not your favorite musician, say YES. 

Reading: while I was trying to decide between Ann Patchett's new book or Daniel Mason's new book, my bookgroup chose NorthWoods aka Daniel Mason's last book. 

I'd already  read it a couple of years ago.  Can I recall details well enough to discuss? Not a chance. Thanks to a long drive down to Maryland & back this week listening to it I am in the last chapter -and it is even better the second time. 

In other making: the annual ritual of  a big jar of rhubarb gin cordial happened . It'll sit in the front closet until around Thanksgiving, when we'll remember it and enjoy it in cocktails into the holidays. Recipe (roughly) here.