Monthly Recap: November
- kniteweup
- Dec 16, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 18, 2019
Whereas October seemed to stretch on unendingly (with no complaints from me, mind you!), November was over in a flash! Which maybe (along with essays and exams, of course) accounts for my late blog post...
Between uni readings and essay research, there wasn't a whole lot of time for knitting. I still managed to finish a few projects though, and get set up for a knitting marathon over the winter holiday!
Modified No Frills Sweater by Petite Knit -- I whipped through this sweater, obsessed by watching the colours change as my sweater grew! The gorgeous "Kyoko's House" colourway by Grenouille Co. is now firmly in my top 5 yarns. I managed to finish it, ends woven in and all, on the night of the 18th, just in time to hurriedly block it in the hope of wearing it the next day (my birthday!). Did I commit knitting treachery and break out the hair dryer to make it dry faster? I'll never tell...
The North Shore Beanie by Knit Ewe Up -- I was so excited to start another NSB for myself with a gorgeous pairing of Colour Adventures Exquisite Sock in "Sage" and Berroco Andean Mist in "Pantanal," the perfect sea-glass combination! Knitting this was heaven; it is probably one of the softest, plushest fabrics I've ever squished. Unfortunately, since I pulled a gently-used skein of Andean Mist from my stash, I was playing a game of yarn chicken -- and I lost. I did manage to find an old UFO (unfinished object) that contained a tiiiiny bit of "Pantanal," so I'm hoping I can scrounge up enough to finish off this toque! I will be absolutely heartbroken otherwise.
The Feathered Hat by Flock Fibre Studio -- I originally saw this pattern on Lali's Instagram (@_ocean_loops) and was absolutely mesmerized by the chevron effect. I can't believe this was a free pattern! It was such a quick knit, and the repetitiveness of the pattern allowed me to knit while doing research. Instead of using three different colours, as the pattern calls for, I used Cascade 220 in "Pear" for my hat and added a suuuper fluffy Toft alpaca pompom to the top. It was an investment, to say the least, but I am so in love with the floof!
How could I neglect to mention some exciting news?! I was very lucky to receive, as birthday gifts, a yarn caker (winder?) and swift. It was perfectly timed: so far I have been hand-winding my handdyed yarn purchases into cakes, which seriously kills my wrists! And with a recently expanded stash (*cough, cough* Knit City) there are a lot more gorgeous skeins to wind. Watching the swift spin is mesmerizing and a perfect way to relax and meditate.
As I probably mentioned in last month's recap, I'm a pretty slow reader, so while I do my best to get through the novels assigned in my uni courses, I don't always manage to complete them. Unlike last month, I actually managed to finish most of the books listed below!
The Outside Circle by Patti Laboucane-Benson -- This graphic novel deals with incarceration, broken families, Indigenous spirituality and healing, and so much more. It was a super quick read, but the story stays with you long after reading. The art is gorgeous, too.
Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson -- This is a beautifully written novel, and I am definitely looking forward to finishing it. The story fuses the supernatural with the utterly real seamlessly, creating a narrative which reveals more than it says, and captures the reader's attention completely.
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel -- Another graphic novel, Fun Home acts as memoir and confession. It follows the author's remembrance of her childhood, her father's secrets, and her understanding of her own sexuality. The narrative is rife with other literary references, and the panels are wonderfully arranged.
Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon -- While some people view Victorian literature as stuffy or dense, Braddon's novel is, in my opinion, completely the opposite: it's full of intrigue, exciting revelations, and quite a few funny moments that actually had me chuckling. The novel is considered sensation fiction -- focused on secrets, wild emotions, and ambitious women -- with a healthy dose of early detective fiction. It was quite an enjoyable read, and definitely one I'd recommend for anyone looking into a first foray in Victorian literature.
The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy -- Another Victorian novel, but quite different from Braddon's. While still dealing with secrets and ambitious women, The Woodlanders is set in a small rural village, using the idyllic landscape to heighten the individual drama and emotion of the characters. I didn't manage to finish this one but am looking forward to returning to it over the break.
The 'Improper' Feminine: The Women's Sensation Novel and the New Woman Writing by Lyn Pyckett -- This was actually one of the books I discovered while researching an essay I wrote about the pathology of desire in The Mill on the Floss and Lady Audley's Secret. I ended up enjoying Pyckett's book immensely; it offered so much information not only on the changes in fiction at the time, but also on Victorian politics, the rise of psychology, and the role and expectation of women during the era.
When I sat down to write this post, I definitely expected it to be on the short side... but I realize now how productive November actually was! Hopefully I can keep up this level of productivity throughout the winter break; I have a lot of books to finish and even more knitting to get through (did someone mention Christmas presents...?)!
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