Yarnalong and WIP Wednesday....

My knitting this week has been rather uninspiring...(unlike my book!!!!!!!), so let me get the knitting out of the way fast.  This is a socks-that-rock club pattern and yarn from some years ago---I've lost track.  It was too big for me--it fit #1 Daughter, but she has declared a moratorium on socks.  I really dislike afterthought heels; it's sportweight yarn which to me is just too heavy.  It went from sock to this......

in no time flat!  Yeah.  That project is done. Check.

I then proceeded to frog a vest I started sometime in the 90s--well, maybe not that long ago, but I don't even wear vests.  I don't know why I started it (cul-de-sac vest) except that it has an incredibly wonderful cable incorporated into it.  Surely, I can find some other way to use that cable.  Check off another WIP that is no more--and I retrieved two favorite stitch markers in the process.  That was definitely a win-win.

So--what is currently being worked on?  I could almost see the yarn trembling for fear that it was going to meet the demise of its neighbors in the closet as I pulled it out....

(those are just plain ole "vanilla socks"--co 64 st. and go--in unknown yarn that I love)....but THE BOOK!!!!  Oh, my--the book!!  Where to  start.  (Just about) everything about this book is perfectly done.  The styling and photography is outstanding.

There are pictures of the food, pictures of the craft projects being made and being used, pictures of the parties, and just plain beautiful pictures.  It's divided into "seasonal" parties (and something like the egg-dyeing spring party and the strawberry picking/jam making party have a specific "window of opportunity") but many of them could be used anytime of the year.  For each party you are given a list of materials you need and a timeline to get everything done.  Natural ingredients/natural materials are obviously used throughout--as the title indicates.  

But, while the title calls this a party book---please be assured it is so much more!  Sure, I would have given my eye-teeth for this kind of book 35 years ago when my kids were party age.  But now, as a grandma to 7 (under the age of 9) this book is a resource guide for all kinds of fun things to do at Grandma's.  (I guess, though, every day at Grandma's is supposed to be party-day, right???  )

And as a recipe book....YUM.  Natural ingredients presented very inventively; there are several I'm planning on making for my dinner club in May.  Lemon-vanilla pizzelles?  Sweet and savory strawberry and apricot tarts?  Grilled peach, blackberry, and granola pafaits with lemon-vanilla whipped cream?  These are seriously delicious sounding recipes!  As I was thumbing through the book, PapaGeek happened by at this page....

and was just about beside himself.....BREAKFAST for DINNER!!!!  (his favorite meal).

 

Join Ginny for yarnalong---and, she's a contributor to the book!!!  

(way up at the top I said the book was almost perfect.....I think they misspelled Ginny's name in the acknowledgements.  bummer. otherwise--perfect.)

Comments

[Erin]

The book sounds great. My kids always have simple little parties, but it would be fun to add some new ideas in for birthday celebrations. Or maybe we'll just have to celebrate that it's Spring!

[Tracey]

I know frogging goes along with knitting, but I am just amazed at how easily you do it. Frogging makes me 'sweat'!
I really must pick up that book, it looks wonderful. I don't want to be the slack grandmom!
I think PapaGeek and my Mike would get along just wonderfully!

[Camilla]

Those socks look so fun- and so does that book.
(thanks for the tip) I have 4 children so that looks very handy.

[little macaroon]

Oooh that book - what you've written makes it absolutely irresistible!! I'm off to Amazon...

[Ellen]

Oh, I'd like to get a copy of that book too. Hope my library has it!

[autumngeisha]

Looks like you are doing some spring cleaning on those WIP's. I keep putting off doing the same. The book sounds wonderful and I bet would be useful for celebrating different holidays throughout the year. I love craft books with great recipes, too.

[swanski]

My goodness. You are getting so much done! Unknitting stuff, starting stuff......I love it. I did rummage through my yarn to start a blanket because of you but then thought....wait a minute I will be HOT if I do that....so I put it away. Now you have me thinking more socks :)

[Jenn C.]

I remember those socks! I took one look at them, and that the kit was medium weight yarn and said no thank you! The colors became a gorgeous stripey shawl instead.

That does look like an awesome book. I shall have to keep an eye out for it.

[evelyn]

Oh dear ... I've had my share of frogging recently, too, but all your yarn looks just too yummy to stay in projects that you don't like! Think of it as recycling, right? What a wonderful book -- I'll have to check it out.

[Cheryl]

All that frogging. Ahh! Except it sounds like it was a good thing. Love the concept of a natural party for children. Definitely my kind of party. I need to look out for this book.

[Emily T.]

What a fun sounding/looking book.

But oh gosh.. that yarn for the current socks? How could you not love it? Oh it so pretty!

[Heather]

That book looks really good! I wanted to let you know that you won a copy of the e-book 321 Stop on my blog, can you please e-mail me at [email protected] so that I can send you instructions on getting the book? Thanks so much! And the sock yarn is lovely :-)

[amanda {the habit of being}]

i love that you said you could imagine the yarn was trembling in fear...made me laugh because i tend to imagine my yarn having human qualities, too ;-)

[cory]

wow. those pancakes look amazing!
& excellent job unknitting!
Xo