Yarn Along July 2019
Hey knitting friends! It's been a while since I posted what I was knitting and/or reading. And it's been a couple of months since I joined Ginny over at Small Things for her monthly Yarn Along. But this is the month! And I have a lot to share with you! Let's get started, shall we?
It's a lot to squeeze into one picture, I know. But let's start with the knitting. I have been very busy lately with commissioned knitted work. I'm almost caught up. My latest commissioned piece is a baby blanket for a very special friend of ours. She and her husband are expecting a baby boy in September and she has been very patient while I work out the details of her blanket. We finally settled on a pattern and yarn! I'm using the pattern Knitted Gingham Blanket by Elizabeth Park Collections. I'll admit it's not the best written pattern. I've really struggled with such a simple concept--anywhere from the amount of yarn I need to the cast off of being left out of the pattern. Of course I had to alter the pattern to suit the actual gingham effect (the pattern calls for just using solid colors rather than making an actual gingham). That's the issue sometimes when you pay for a pattern. You expect it to be test knitted and you can't see the pattern so you don't really know what you are getting. And I don't think the pattern is on ravelry so there's no way to verify some of the information (I could email the pattern writer, but I'm just rolling with it). Hey. Listen. I can't write a pattern to save my life so kudos to anyone who attempts to write a pattern. I've just been frustrated with something that should be relatively easy. But it's working out. So it's okay.
As for the yarn, I'm using Cascade 220 Superwash. Superwash because it's for a baby blanket. I've never used 220 before (gasp. I know!) and it is a really fun yarn. I like how it's knitting up. It doesn't split. And holding the two yarns together is making a really nice gingham effect. My friend picked everything out (as one does when commissioning someone) and I applaud her taste! I can't wait to get more of the panels done and start to see the whole thing come together. It should go pretty quickly now that I've worked out these little hiccups.
As for what I'm reading, that's a whole different story. I haven't found anything lately to hold my interest. I usually read on my ipad since I like instant gratification of downloading something immediately. I don't buy books but rather use my library's Overdrive account (make that 3 library's Overdrive accounts). I search and search until I find something that interests me and is available for download. But no matter what I've downloaded lately, it just hasn't held my interest. Until I found A Man and His Mountain by Edward Humes. It's about Jess Jackson, founder of Kendall-Jackson winery. They are known for their Chardonnay and I'm not a Chardonnay fan. I did learn something interesting from reading the book that explains why I don't like Chardonnay. I find Chards to be too oaky except for the unoaked ones. Most wineries age their Chards in steel barrels with oak chips thrown in. But at Kendall-Jackson, they use real oak barrels. That explains a lot. I assume an unoaked Chard means it's aged strictly in a steel barrel with no oak at all. I definitely need to do more research about this. I love wine but admittedly don't know a lot about making wine. And don’t tell anyone, but I secretly want to be a vintner. As in make wine. On a vineyard. I have a lot to learn though!
But back to this un-put-downable book (and my apologies on this being such a Debbie downer post!). Jess Jackson grew up during the Depression and had to work for everything he got. And then he gambled with making wine and ultimately ended up succeeding. But not before he almost lost everything. He was a hard worker and I'm finding inspiration in his story, especially because I am currently trying to start my own business. Oh. And he was in his 50's when he started the winery. He'd already had a successful career as a lawyer then took his risk(s) on the winery. So that gives me hope that I'm not too old to start a business! Or be a vintner....except Upstate NY isn’t exactly the place for growing grapes. Some grapes, yes, but this isn’t Northern CA.
I'm also perusing the latest Taproot issue since mine seemed to have gotten lost in the mail. They were super nice about sending me out another issue very quickly (see, there...positive. We're back to the positive points). I just received it in the mail today and I'm excited to dive in this weekend! What are you currently knitting and reading? Don't forget to hop over to Small Things and check out what everyone else is up to!
