Unraveled, Week 33/2022

Wednesday again! As per usual, I'm here with an update on my making and my reading and linking up with Kat and the Unravelers.

After finishing up my Twofer Tank, I've been focused on some smaller projects, specifically some design projects. I've been very slow with my design work this year, but I'm feeling my mojo slowly coming back. Yesterday, in fact, I finished up a pattern layout for my hat re-release that just needs some photos before it's ready to head off to my tech editor. The coordinating cowl isn't far behind.

I'm also preparing to cast on a new sweater for me! Late last week I applied to be a preview knitter for Kerri Blumer's new design, and on Monday evening, I got word that I'd been accepted. Yesterday I knit and blocked my swatch. It's still just a tad damp, but my stitch gauge is spot on and my row gauge just slightly off.

The yarn is the Lindy Chain that I bought earlier in the summer, and the chainette construction is taking a little getting used to, but I really like the fabric I'm getting. Once I get started on the sweater, it should make for some mindless knitting (lots of stockinette in the round), and I think it will move pretty fast even though I'll be using size 3/3.25 mm needles.

Reading has been a little slower this past week because my knitting has required my eyes a bit more, but I've finished two books.

While I'm not necessarily attempting to read the entire Booker Prize long list, I will probably try to read the short list when it's announced, and because Oh, William! may be on it, I figured it would make sense to read My Name Is Lucy Barton first so I'd be familiar with the characters. This was a very quick read -- I started it at bedtime one night, got about 20 pages in, and then read the rest the next day. I know that the sparse language of this book is often cited as one of its best features, but I constantly felt that I was missing something. I was a bit frustrated that Strout hinted at things in Lucy's past and never actually explained them. I'm still a bit confused. So this was an okay read for me, not great. I'm not sure I'll read Oh, William! unless it makes the short list.

I needed a new audiobook to listen to over the weekend, so I turned to my "to read" list on Libby and found Evvie Drake Starts Over available. I know many of you have already read it, as it came out three years ago; I've had it on my radar and just never got around to it. But this was just perfect for the time. Is it fine literature? No. Is it predictable? Yes. But it was absolutely enjoyable. The writing is witty, with many references to public radio (Linda Holmes works for NPR), and it was an easy listen. It kept me good company on my workouts and while cleaning bathrooms. I gave it 4 stars.

I'm currently trying to make my way through my last unread Maggie O'Farrell book that's been published, The Distance Between Us, which I'm enjoying but is taking longer because (a) I'm reading it on paper and (b) I keep falling asleep while reading (due to my being tired, not the quality of the book!).

Apropos of nothing, here's our latest gardening triumph -- we have a baby honeydew melon!

We'll see if we can keep it alive until it's ready to be eaten -- and if whatever keeps eating our tomatoes gets to it first!

What are you making and reading this week?