Monthly Recap: January

Well, I didn't think it could get any less exciting than a few of my posts have been in the past... but January has proven to be devoid of much excitement, at least in terms of knitting and reading reports. Not that I haven't been actively working on projects -- it's just been slow going, and nothing ended up getting finished.

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In terms of knitting, I am sad to report no FOs (finished objects)! I am still working on my most recent patterns, trying my best to get the math figured out so that I can send out a testing call. At the same time, I'm working on finishing up the match for each sock design so that I can properly photograph them for the pattern instructions.

The Brough Shawl by Donna Smith - I started this shawl off at the end of December, and made steady progress on this massive shlanket (shawl-blanket). I love the leafy motifs and the delicate cat's paw design. It's on a little break while I borrow the needles for another project, but as they are only needed for some ribbing I'll be back on to this shawl in no time. I also came to the realization that I accidentally miscalculated the yardage and subsequently bought the wrong amount -- I'm short of the recommended yardage by about 100 yards. This will be a game of yarn chicken that will have you on the edge of your seat...

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I do have one finished object to report on though! If you follow me on Instagram, you know I've been learning how to weave, and have been experimenting more and more. This month, I wove a small tapestry for a dear friend's birthday, and I love how it turned out! I had a super strong urge to keep it for myself, but my friend loved it and I am so happy to have made her something special.

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After a super productive reading month in December, I was keen to keep up that momentum for my 2021 Goodreads reading challenge. This year I'm aiming for 38 books, which is 2 more than in 2020. But of course, being me, I decide to take on an absolutely massive tome in the first month...

The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel - [Although I technically finished this the first week of February, I'm including my final thoughts here so that you at least have *something* to read about.] The last of Mantel's Cromwell trilogy arrived at the library for me, and I immediately set into it, having only 4 weeks to make my way through the 870-some pages. Easy right? That's what I thought too, especially since I had so thoroughly enjoyed the previous two instalments.

This final novel, however, encompassed a larger time span than the others, and followed an ageing Cromwell through the final years of his life. I found myself slogging through the political aspects, not helped by the repetition of scenes already experienced in books one and/or two. Although this repetition does draw you into experiencing Cromwell's slipping hold on the present, and how he can no longer keep the past under lock and key, I found that it slowed the story. Overall, the novel was enjoyable, though a bit sluggish.

Dogs at the Perimeter by Madeleine Thien - I started this novel, which delves into secrets, memories, and friendship, prior to receiving Mantel's novel. I hadn't made much headway in it though, and so set it aside to get through the book with the time limit. It's still off on the side, but I'll return to it soon (maybe March?). To be continued...

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And that's it for January's recap! Not much got done this month in terms of actually finishing things. However, I was very active on the Knit Ewe Up Instagram page, experimenting more with the new Reels function. You all loved my joke on knitting productivity! That reel, at the time of writing, has 105K views -- an incredible achievement, especially for someone as quiet and wallflowery as me. I am overwhelmed by your support and hope you continue to enjoy my work!

As always, you can follow along with my knitting updates on Instagram and Ravelry, and follow my reading process on Goodreads! Want a brain break? Check out the Knit Ewe Up YouTube account, where you'll find process videos backed by chill Lofi tunes!