Unraveled, Week 23/2025

Could someone please check in with Mother Nature? She appears to have turned spring off the last few days. Yesterday it was actually snowing while I walked into the office! Obviously I have plenty of wool to keep myself warm, but I'm tired of feeling cold.

Today, at least, it looks like the worst of the cold is over -- and today is Wednesday, which means it's time to link up with Kat and the Unravelers! If that doesn't lift my mood, I don't know what will.

There has been knitting and spinning chez Knit/Wit these past several days. I'd pulled out another braid of FatCatKnits fiber to spin a while ago but only actually split it up and started spinning last Friday afternoon. I did another fractal spin, though this time one bobbin was spun from the fiber as is and the other from three strips (the fiber was naturally breaking apart into thirds, so I decided to go with it). I spun the first bobbin of singles over Friday and Saturday and the second over Sunday and Monday, and I was able to get the whole skein plied yesterday afternoon. Winding it off and washing are on today's to-do list.

I've been knitting more on my Sugar Maple in the evenings, though I don't have a progress photo to share today (frankly it's slow going, so it doesn't look much different). Instead, here's the sock and sock-adjacent knitting I've done over the last week or so:

Once I'd finished the socks for my sister-in-law, I knew I needed to cast on another pair so I'd have something to work on those days I go into the office, so I got out the very last skeins of Knit Picks Felici (unless there are more hiding somewhere!) and cast on a pair for my mother-in-law. They'll either be for Mother's Day or her birthday in June, depending on how fast they get knit. On the left is a new pattern/design I've been meaning to cast on for months. The yarn is Ross Farm Funky that Amy asked me to use for a design back when I saw her in late November. I was originally going to use it with a neutral for some kind of colorwork, but the longer I looked at it, the more I realized that I was better suited for something else. So now it's becoming a pair of slipper socks that will be pretty easy and fast to knit up; what you see here is the work of Monday afternoon. It looks like the two will end up being different due to the colors in the wool, and I kind of like that.

There has been reading this week as well -- not great reads, but good ones.

First, a bit of necessary reading ahead of Ruthie's arrival: The Puppy Primer. I did a search for books about training puppies and this one was recommended frequently -- and now that I've read it, I can recommend it as well. The primary author is animal behaviorist, so she knows what she's talking about. And if all I've read is to be believed, training a puppy is hard work but not nearly as hard as raising a child; I'm certainly feeling much better about my abilities after reading it. I'm going to have Molly read it as well so that we can be consistent in our training and so that we can get started from day one. We are already well stocked on training treats! I gave this one 4 stars -- very helpful and informative.

I wanted some escapism next, so I went for some romantasy. Divine Rivals came highly recommended by Katie, and I was really looking forward to it. It tells the story of two rivals (you're shocked, I know) at a newspaper in a world where ancient gods are at war. Iris's brother has gone off to fight and her mother has sought comfort in alcohol. To deal with her grief, she's been typing letters to her brother on her grandmother's old typewriter and slipping them under the door of her wardrobe -- and then, one day, someone writes back. I liked the premise of the magic in the letter writing, but I felt confused about where and when the story was taking place and thought the characters were a bit one-dimensional. I also noticed at least three grammatical errors, which you all know get on my nerves. So it was an okay read, not great but not horrible. I gave it 3 stars.

Finally, I picked something light to listen to while running, cleaning the bathroom, and folding laundry. Margo's Got Money Troubles is a bit of an understatement. At 19, Margo finds herself pregnant after having an affair with her (married) professor. She decides to keep the baby but is forced to drop out of college and then gets fired from her job due to a lack of childcare. Then two of her roommates move out and she has a bigger rent bill than anticipated. And then her ex-pro wrestler father, fresh out of rehab, shows up on her doorstep needing a place to live. In need of cash, fast, Margo turns to OnlyFans, where it seems there's money to be made. As you would expect, problems arise and life gets even more complicated. I thought this was entertaining enough (especially as I listened -- Elle Fanning does an excellent narration) and I liked Margo's spunk, but much of the book made me feel a little icky. I also didn't understand why it kept shifting between first person and third person; it seemed it had something to do with the writing class Margo was taking with the professor who she had the affair with and made some sense at the beginning, but I think it went on too long. I gave it 3 stars.

I'm currently reading Time of the Flies on paper and Once There Were Wolves digitally, and I expect I'll be ready for another audiobook by the weekend.

What are you making and reading this week?