my to-do list, the bully
While I have “Read” as a perpetual item on my daily to-do list, the rest of the list bullied reading for fun to the side this past week. It’s been incredibly busy for the past month and I just don’t know how to fit it all in. I’m slowly slogging through a few paper books whenever I have a few minutes and listening to Middlemarch whenever I can. I’m almost to Chapter 50. My eyes are tired and look forward to a break.. whenever that will be.
Sock Innovation: Knitting Techniques & Patterns for One-of-a-Kind Socks
by Cookie A
First, please note the errata for this book at Interweave’s site.
Why did I put that first? I don’t want you to try knitting through CookieA’s awesome patterns and become frustrated and angry. This is a marvelous book of interesting and engaging stitch patterns. Some little mistakes are bound to creep in during the publishing process. It happens. Go check them out. Many you probably could figure out but it doesn’t hurt to check.
I don’t know why I’m late to this party. I have loved knitting her previously published patterns (Monkeys and Pomatomus being my two favourites) and have likened them to kettlecorn.. once you start you want more and more, but these have none of the bad after effects. Well, not really, at least you probably won’t gain gobs of weight and rot your teeth out. Once you finish one pattern you’ll need to choose yarn and the next pattern (or the same pattern). So maybe there is a similar sugar high involved. Hmm.. well, there are 15 different patterns waiting for you to choose the yarn and colour you wish…
What I liked best was the display of the socks in different yarns, often a solid contrasted with a variegated, and an explanation of what to look for when pairing a yarn with a pattern. I’ve seen some really bad choices out there (I’ve made a few myself). The reminder to choose wisely is appreciated.
I’ve been away from intense sock knitting for a bit and I think this book offers the inspiration I need to replenish my sock drawer.
The Eye of the Heron
by Ursula K. Le Guin
This book was tucked into my bag for sneaking in when I could. I haven’t read Le Guin in ages and had never heard of this title before. I found it interesting and am happy it ended a bit more positively than much of the rest..