It's good when you have a pattern so indelibly ingrained in your mind, that you never (well hardly ever) have to look at it again. It means that you can travel light. Especially when that pattern is for something minuscule like socks. You can take your mini project with you wherever you go. And the best bit, if the yarn is randomly dyed, is that you never know how they'll turn out. Each one is a little surprise. I can't stop making them.
I like small surprises but I'm hoping that my latest read doesn't have too many big ones. Now that H has finished writing her paper on gothic literature, I've borrowed The House of the Seven Gables by Nathanial Hawthorne. I picked it up one day whilst she was writing and read the first few lines:
"Halfway down a bystreet of one of our New England towns stands a rusty wooden house, with seven gables, facing towards various points of the compass, and a huge, clustered chimney in the midst."
The house sounded lovely. Big,old and rambling. Maybe it's because we're moving soon that the description of the old house drew me in. I've only just started reading and I know that there may be some ghoulish happenings shortly. Maybe I should stop or I'll be looking for ghosts in our new home...
I wonder what you're reading and making...I'm sharing with ginny are you coming too?
debx
i'm the same way with socks…..i certainly don't need any more for the family, but they are just the thing to turn to for 'purse project knitting'!! yours are lovely
ReplyDeleteThank you Steph. I'm so heavy on socks...always running around in stocking feet. I wear them out so quickly but also have three sisters who love hand knitted socks but don't make them, so the one pair will accompany a birthday gift.
DeleteI love knitting socks. I always end up knitting them for everyone else, though.
ReplyDeleteOh, you must make yourself a pair. But I know what you mean.
DeleteIf I can memorize a pattern it instantly becomes a favorite~
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have something memorised for busy times.
DeleteThe House of the Seven Gables is on my list of books to read. I think it may be my next read. Being from rural New England, I have always taken a special interest in Hawthorne's books.
ReplyDeleteIt's the first of his novels that I've read. Hopefully it won't be too scary!
DeleteI have never read that book and it will make my to read list now! love your description of memory knitting, it never fails you does it?
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen. It so good to have something simple to do at busy times because I really miss knitting if there isn't something on the needles.
DeleteOh maybe I need to put that book on my to-read list! Your socks are so pretty!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah
DeleteThe house that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's book is in a town quite near to where I live and is a museum. I have visited another house where Nathaniel Hawthorne lived his wife early in their marriage. His wife wrote tiny notes on the window glass with her diamond ring. The etchings look like frost patterns, but you can read them--they are lovely.
ReplyDeleteOne of the few knitting patterns I have memorized is for socks. : )
How fascinating. I must tell my daughter Hannah about the little notes, they sound wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
Deletedebx
I'm very intrigued by old houses and their stories too. They seem to be real personalities with a long history and well kept secrets. I especially love listening to their sounds - so unique and individual like human voices. Thank you for this addition to my reading list! Lena
ReplyDeleteMe too, we are looking at a couple of old houses at the weekend as we're planning to move. I'm fascinated to find the history of them. I always imagine who lived there in days gone by.
DeleteSuch beautiful colors.. Socks. Must learn to knit socks!! Popping by via Ginny..
ReplyDeleteOnce you get the hang of them Leigh they are so easy to make.
DeleteI love the yarn you're using! May I ask what kind it is?
ReplyDeleteI love knitting socks for myself and my husband ... although my husband has looong feet so I'm usually sick of his socks by the time they're finished. ;)
Hi October Rose. It's Sirdar wool rich DK. I choose it because previously I was knitting all the socks with 100 percent wool and they would wear so quickly. This has a little Acrylic in it as well so hopefully will last a little longer.
Deletedeb
Love the socks! That book is on my shelf. My third daughter's undergrad is English/Spanish lit. She has left me quite a livery until she gets settled. I will have to pull it out. I too love old houses!
ReplyDeleteThat should be library! :))
DeleteIt's nice to have another little stash of books in the house.
ReplyDeleteThe colors you're using are just lovely!
ReplyDeleteMy friend gave me the yarn to make her a scarf last winter, and since i had leftover yarn I decided last week to make her matching fingerless mittens. But I'm crocheting, I don't know how to knit yet.
Have a great weekend!
Unfortunately my knitting has gone into a bag somewhere and I am struggling to get it started again, where does the time go? Loving those little surprises when making something with graded wool. I got some lovely books for christmas and have just started Colleen McCoulough's "Bittersweet" only on page 39 and so still setting the scene of two sets of twins in one family and their struggles, against all the restraints, prohibitions, laws and prejudices of 1920s Australia - sounds promising.
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