Yarn along....WIP Wednesday

On the needles are some things that have been lingering a bit....the orange blob is the ethereal triangular shawl by Lakshmi Juneja.  I have quite a bit of the Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace yarn, so decided to make this a full size shawl; I'm on the seventh repeat of chart 1, and will probably do a couple more before the deep lace edging.  I'm in this one for the long haul.

The beige is Java socks for PapaGeek; one sock done and it fits and he likes it.  Too bad I showed it to him, because now he sort of looks at what I'm knitting....not saying a word, but I know he's thinking....what about my sock??  I love the madelinetosh sock yarn, so this one will get done sooner rather than later.

The stripey bright is the Berroco sox I got last weekend; mindless "vanilla-sock" pattern that's good for a read-along; I just started them, but they'll probably be the first of the three finished.  That's just the way things go sometimes. (They are PapaGeek's, too--he'll be happy.)

I finished reading Winter Sea from last week and just loved it--historical fiction with a modern connection.  Highly recommend it.  This week I brought home Almost Amish, and am not loving it quite as much.  It's yet another book on the virtues of simplifying one's life--using the Amish lifestyle as a model.  The writing seems a bit forced, slightly preachy.  I thought I would love this, because one of my all time favorite books is Plain and Simple: A Woman's Journey to the Amish by Sue Bender.  I pulled it off the bookshelf, flipped through it,  and immediately got sucked in once again.  A much better choice.  This is the story of Sue Bender's love affair with Amish quilts--her need to learn more about them--her attraction to the faceless dolls--and how they connected her to the Amish community--and ultimately how she spent a year living with an Amish family.

"Before the visit to the Amish, I was proud to make art--precious objects to be seen in a gallery......"    " (now) I looked at their life and saw it as art."  One woman's awakening to the importance of simplicity as well as a tribute to the community that helped her on her journey.  A really really good read.

joining Ginny for Yarnalong--what are you reading????

Comments

[Tracey]

Do you know Mike had the nerve to tell me I had a whole bag of yarn and why did I need to buy more?!! First off, why was he in my studio poking around my stuff? Too much yarn? Huh!
What is it with husband's and our knitting? Maybe PapaGeek and Mike should get together.
That silky alpace yarn you are using is so pretty!!

[Amy {A Faithful Journey}]

That orange yarn looks gorgeous! Can't wait to see it all knitted up! :)

[Anke]

I'm always in awe of people that have several knitting projects going on at one time. Me? I have to finish one before starting another... Can't wait to see the finished shawl!

[Amber]

Thanks so much for the book recommendation! I'll definitely be adding it to my library request list. I've been going through a bit of an obsession with Gee's bend quilts recently and was just thinking I wanted to learn more about Amish quilts. I've been reading Spontaneous Happiness by Andrew Weil. Non-fiction. Oh, and all the yarns are beautiful!

[swanski]

What a loving wife you are to be knitting two pairs of socks for your hubbie! Love the orange blob ever so much!!! Can't wait to see the deep lace!

[lori]

haha, yes, never tell them what you are knitting. everything looks lovely stephanie, mt sock, swoon.

[amanda {the habit of being}]

i loved the winter sea too!!!

and socks for papa geek remind me my mr. needs a few new pair...sigh.

[Cheryl]

Another book to check out. Your orange shawl looks lovely. I have a WIP sock project for my husband that really ought to be finished. So many great knitting projects to do. Sigh.

[laura@sewknitgrow]

I love that you have so many projects going on! I must always have several knitting projects, sewing projects and books being read going on at all times(not to mention a sock or two that is need of a partner). But what I am really thinking..."Is this your third shawl this month"? My goodness woman you are on fire with all these wonderful yarns!

[tanna]

Oh, I look forward to seeing the "orange blob"!! =D You know I love big shawls! blessings ~ tanna