Summer Knitting and Reading

"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit, either."
~Elizabeth Zimmerman

The above quote from Elizabeth Zimmerman is so wise and true.  And sometimes the heat definitely “troubles our spirits”, doesn’t it?  This has been a HOT summer in Maryland, so there are probably a lot of troubled spirits out there who could use some restful knitting time…

Along with plenty of knitting this summer, dear husband Max and I have been doing a lot of reading.  He is currently reading a novel A Well Behaved Woman’s Life by Susan McGeown, an author who actually knits (although her books are not about knitting).  He is finding the main character very appealing and likes the way the pastor of the church that the “well behaved woman” attends uses various women from the Bible as his sermon topics.  And, I’ve been reading Susan’s novel Rules for Survival which I love.  I especially like the definition of charity versus mission.  You will have to read the book to discover what that is!  If you would like to learn more about this dear and wonderful author check out her website at: www.susanmcgeown.com/. 

What’s been on my needles recently:  a “Plump”…

Doesn’t she make you want to smile?  I’ve named her “Purple Polly Plump”.

What’s been on my students needles: the Cable Yoked Jacket.

I originally knit this jacket to wear on the trip to Charleston when my dear niece Lucy was graduating from college.  For some reason, I either did not make notes of how I made it or I lost my notes somewhere.  So, a couple of years ago when a student saw me wearing it, she wanted to make one.  She and I pieced together the pattern and now a number of my students are making it.  Here’s Virginia modeling hers: 

This is the time to start any Christmas knitting that you’re planning to do.  Getting it started now will prevent staying up all night on Christmas Eve to finish a knitted gift, saving you much anguish!  The internet is full of great patterns such as the free patterns on my blog at http://tinyurl.com/4ghnuom  .  One of the quickest projects from an earlier post  is my pattern for my “Leaf Bookmark & Necklace”:

Use as a bookmark

 

Wear as a necklace

Another great source for patterns is http://www.ravelry.com/invitations .If you are not a Ravelry member, I urge all knitters to go to the website and sign up immediately! 

As August continues to “simmer on”, find a quiet cool spot to sit and knit, read, dream, or renew your spirit.  One of my favorite places to do this is our pond that my son Chris built for us:

With cooling and calming thoughts for all my readers,

Mary