One of my absolute favorite things about any knitting project is the final step…blocking. From the yarn blooming, to the stitches evening out, to the wonder that happens when you pin out a garment – for me this is the magic of knitting.
I have been secretly working on my Lunar Phases MKAL – I have clues 1 and 2 done. Blocking of each piece was required before the final clue, so I thought it the perfect time to share the images of the first 2 parts. How this will all come together is still a complete mystery to me, but I must tell you – I just love how the colors I picked are working together. I achieved the exact water color effect I was hoping for, and my “pop” of color is so fun!
But, the pièce de résistance is my finished Cluaranach. Yes, I blocked it gently and I am entirely in love with her! She will be my new Clapotis, which I wore everywhere for years. I wish you could feel this yarn. Sadly, Lanas Puras Meloso Fingering is discontinued, but if you look on Ravelry there are some skeins available for trade or sale… just saying! You can see my modifications on Ravelry.
I am back to knitting sleeves for my Strokkur, and this freaking weather has had me wearing a warm sweater every day. While, I long for spring, Mother Nature seems to have different ideas. I am hoping that if I finish this blasted sweater I won’t be able to wear it until late next fall! Ha!
Now the reading… oh, my!
I finished The Beautiful Mystery. SO.Much.Good! 5-stars and I highly recommend it (and all of the Inspector Gamache series)!
I also finished Dan Smith’s The Child Thief. Dan Smith does not disappoint, and I highly recommend any of his books if you have not yet discovered him. The twists and turns in this book were unexpected and the ending has me wondering if there will be another book coming! I also finished I am, I am, I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death, which I found interesting, but there are parts that are more than a bit unbelievable. Both of these books had a short due date from the library and I could not renew them, so they perked to the top of the list.
I am also engrossed in listening to Jason Matthews Red Sparrow. I am more than half way through this riveting novel.
What are you making or reading (or both!) this week? If you wrote a post today, please leave the link to the post in your comment! And, thank you!
That shawl is looking lovely! And the Cluaranach in the top photo is soooo pretty – I love the color with the lacy pattern.
Here’s my contribution for today: https://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2018/04/other-projects.html
Both shawls are gorgeous! Cluaranach looks so delicate, but cozy.
I have been peeking at & enjoying all of the Lunar Phase spoiler photos… since I still haven’t been knitting! I *love* your colors!! I can’t wait to see how it all goes together. Cluaranach is beautiful!
Your Cluaranach is lovely, such a beautiful pattern & color! I will be looking forward to seeing your completed lunar phase, it’s looking good!
Your Cluaranach is just lovely! Good job of getting the lace to show off without removing the texture. Lunar looks interesting and I’ll be watching to see how that turns out.
Your Cluaranach is beautiful, and blocked just right! Enjoy its lovely warmth and beauty around your neck. Your Lunar Phase is intriguing and I’ll look forward to seeing more clues and how it comes together.
http://highlyreasonable.blogspot.com/2018/04/unraveled-wednesday.html
The shawl is quite lovely and I bet it looks, in addition to feels, great on you! Love the colors of the Lunar Phase…what’s up next?
http://honorefrancois.typepad.com/morning_glory_studio/2018/04/unraveled-wednesday-41118-.html
beautiful beautiful finish!! I love the knits we wear year after year! That is one gorgeous plum color and I wish I could feel it too 🙂
Those colors on your Lunar Phases are perfect!
I’m glad to hear that Cluaranach blocked out as you were hoping!
You’ve been knitting and reading SO much! I’ve gotten back to reading this week and just finished An American Marriage and I loved it.
Lovely, lovely knitting, Kat! 🙂
Tom read the Red Sparrow series as the books came out (maybe there will be more? he just read the 3rd in the series). He loved ’em — couldn’t put them down.
XO
Oh, my but that is a gorgeous color and finished product! Wow!
I am on the 4th Inspector Gamache. Trying to savor them and not read them too fast.
http://www.kwizgiver.com/2018/04/unraveled-wednesday_11.html
More progress on reading than knitting for me this past week: http://www.spritewrites.net/?p=7893
The scarf/shawl turned out beautifully. I have listened to the Inspector Gamache series and they were wonderful. Now I wonder if I might read the hard copies. I love the village and also how Penny develops the characters over the course of the series.
Beautiful knitting and you get so much reading done, impressive. My blog post today – Still knitting my Color Shifting Shawl and reading Longmire – http://lovelyyarnescapes.blogspot.com/2018/04/wednesdays-yarns-color-shifting-shawl_11.html
I just finished Red Sparrow a couple days ago myself and have been recommending it to anyone who will listen. So much authentic detail! The second book in the trilogy is on its way to me even as I type.
Your Cluaranach is gorgeous, as is your Lunar Phases. I can’t wait to see how that comes together!
GAH! I got behind, didn’t I?! Cluaranach is beautiful! I read Jillian Moreno’s post on MDK this morning (https://www.masondixonknitting.com/the-why-of-ply/) and thought of you … your lace is a lovely example of why I, too, love knitting lace in singles (and two-ply 😉 Red Sparrow just came up for me on Kindle. A good spy/mystery novel might just get me out of my reading doldrums!
Your projects look great! Loving that purple scarf! Glad you enjoyed your reading this week. Link for the week:
https://needlesandwool.blogspot.ca/2018/04/knitting-and-reading-updates.html
I loved ABM, i have recently finished 2 Pat Conroy books Beach Music and The Prince of Tides. Also finished A Gentleman in Moscow and am currently reading To Die by Once by Jacqueline Winspear and Conroy’s The Great Santini. It’s been a bit all over the place, but have enjoyed each one.