14 May 2014

Yarn Along ~ posted by Melissa

“it is an easy mistake to think that non-talkers are non-feelers.”
― Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose 
 
 
Hello again, new friends!  I can't believe a week has already passed.  I hope to visit with more of you in your spaces this time around ~ I didn't get to as many as I was hoping last week and I'm looking forward to meeting so many of you.
 
The needles have been pretty quiet since last we met.  Little progress was made on either my Coda or anniversary shawl since life threw us yet another curve ball (or two).  I did finish a Purl Soho dishtowel that I've been doing a row or two on occasionally (like many of their patterns, it's free!).
 
 
 I modified it just a little to make it bigger and also added a grosgrain ribbon loop & vintage plastic button so that I can hang it to dry when needed.  I had fun with the finish work since I got to use one of the new sewing pins that Jocelyn sent to me, as well as the needle book that Kelli knit for me years ago (it has been put to much use!).
 
 
I started and finished A Passage to India.  It was wonderful but I wish that I knew more about that time in history than I do.  Many of the period and cultural references were lost on me.  I read it straight through to get a feel for the story (it's so well written) and I will read it again, next time stopping when I need to look things up that I'm unsure of so I get a better understanding of the story.
 
Next up is a reread of one of my favorite books ever (I know I've seen this one on Ginny's shelf) ~ Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner.  I highly recommend it (there's a reason it won the Pulitzer Prize).  I may not get any knitting done in the next week, either, since I already know this book is so hard to put down!
 
Can't wait to see what everyone else is up to!  Have a great week ~ Melissa
 
joining Ginny & friends for Yarn Along
 

32 comments:

  1. I love the simple shades of tan and brown and white in the knitting projects. So clean and crisp! I love how I'm getting good reading recommendations today :)

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    1. you should read 'Angle of Repose' if you haven't already (and again if you have already!), Karen

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  2. Your colors are so soothing, but I am in love with those shoe forms!!!

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    1. thanks ~ it's a reclaimed piece of wood from an old barn with the shoe forms turned into a coat rack

      wish I could claim the idea but I bought it already made years ago :)

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  3. Your cloth is just lovely :) I made two simple ones a few weeks ago and struggled knitting with cotton. I'm relatively new at knitting (a year up my sleeve but still practicing). Your cloth is so neat and stitches so perfect!

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    1. hello, hello crafty :)
      cotton makes my hands sore as well but it's much easier for me to work with if I use really slick needles so there's less friction (maybe that will help you since you're a new knitter...keep at it!!)

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  4. Brilliant idea to add a loop for drying.

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  5. Curve balls oh no. I love your dishcloth and the buttons! Genius!!

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    1. yeah, Andee...can't catch a break ~ another surgery (#4) and switching meds still looking for the perfect cocktail ~ sigh

      (and you can call me 'Genius' anytime...I kind of like it ~ hehe)

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    2. My cousin is working on researching treatments for situations like your husband is in. Too bad we live on opposite sides of the country. I just taught her how to knit. We could have some interesting chats at one of our knitting nights here at my house if you were in town.

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    3. I would love to sit at your table ~ keep the invite open...you never know when I might decide to pop in :)

      good luck to your cousin & mean that with EVERY ounce of my being!!!! keep me posted if she finds some miraculous cure that can get us back on a road to good health in our house!

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  6. Your towels are beautiful. I love the simple colors of brown and creme. The book about India looks good I will have to look it up.

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    1. hi, Laura ~ thanks for visiting ~ too much of my house is brown so I think my next towel might have to have a pop of color in it :)

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  7. Your pictures are really beautiful and clean, they really appeal to me! Lovely knitting, I never have thought of a good way to make a dishcloth photo as interesting as yours!

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  8. What a beautiful hand knit. I too love the shoe forms and how you used them in the photo. I might need to look the books up as well. I love a good read, if you are re-reading it then it must be good! Visiting from yarn along.

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    1. I'm hoping to get just as many book recommends from all of you as well, Anna! thanks for stopping by :)

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  9. I love your dishcloth. Simple but beautiful. Hope the curve balls don't divert you too much.

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  10. I love this dishtowel. I always mean to make myself something like that. But when do I ever knit for myself any more? -_-

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    1. hello, other Melissa :) ~ you never knit for yourself! you definitely are due for a keeper and it should be something more exciting than a dishrag!

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  11. "Crossing to Safety" is a favorite by Stegner for me, Melissa. I recommend it!

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    1. hi, Andrea ~ it's funny you should mention that...I was just wondering to myself why I haven't read anything else of his since I enjoy this book so much (I just got an email forwarded from Chris and was thinking about you & Harold as well ~ hope things are okay ~ take care of yourself)

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  12. Our current paths seem to be taking these left turns. I hope it's the beginning of a straight road for all of us. Hugs!

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    1. just thinking the same thing ~ it's been a rough week (for both our families it seems) ~ I may run into you at the hospital one of these days sooner than I run into you at knit group again (not funny but the thought has crossed my mind and made me chuckle ~ good thoughts only from here on out!!)

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  13. "A Passage to India" got me started on literature on colonial India too. I' looking forward to watching "The Jewel in the Crown" soon.

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    1. I'd gladly take a book recommendation on the subject, Elizabeth, if you have one that you really liked!
      thanks for stopping by :)

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  14. Your button and ribbon modification is brilliant...and so pretty! Thanks for the book recommendation. I love a great read.

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  15. Your dishtowel display is classy, and now I'm intrigued with the pattern. I better scoot over to RAV and put it in my fav's. Not read either book you mentioned, but I added them to my Goodread book list. This way I won't forget. I'm especially intrigued with "Angle of Repose".

    Have a lovely weekend. :)

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    1. I think you would love 'Angle of Repose', Penny ~ thanks for the 'classy dishtowel' compliment ~ give it a week of use and it won't be so classy any more

      happy weekend to you as well ~ you and your shiny clean teeth :)

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