Tag: the things i make

yarn along

MarthaKimball3 Comments

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Joining in with Ginny today to share what I’m knitting and reading.  I finished Hannah’s Choice last night, and I really loved it!  I read Almost Amish a couple of years ago and learned a lot about the Amish lifestyle and how much we can learn and appreciate from their simple ways and values.  Hannah’s Choice was a really engaging novel about an Amish family and their attempt to raise their children apart from an increasingly encroaching world of outsiders.  I grew up in a “Brethren” type of gathering/meeting, and I found it interesting, reading about this family and the way they viewed those outside of their faith.  I found certain aspects reminded me of my upbringing.  Also, the author mentioned that this story, though fiction, was based on her own family’s history, an attempt for her to fill in the gaps after doing a bunch of genealogical research.  So it was definitely a story very rooted in place and history.  It was a really interesting read, I loved being hooked on a story again and unable to put it down.  And it’s the first book in a series, so book two will come out this fall.  Yay!

Anyway, I’ve started The Life-Giving Home by Sally + Sarah Clarkson.  I have read a couple others by Sally Clarkson before and have really been helped by them.  I was surprised to find that this one starts off with her on a writing retreat in my very own town, Asheville, NC!  It’s fun to see her perspective on this little town I’ve grown up in that seems so ordinary to me.  So far, though I’m only barely into it, it reminds me of The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer, which is a FAVORITE read of mine.  So I think I will really enjoy this one as well.  I find it super helpful to regularly read things that encourage and inspire me in my role as wife and mother and homemaker.  Creating a home that is cozy, inspiring, happy, and life-giving is a huge priority of mine!

As for knitting, I’ve been working on finishing up some knits this week, but just about to graft the toe of Brandon’s first sock and cast on sock #2 this morning.  He tried them on last night and really liked them, and he’s fairly picky, so I was pleased!  I also need to secretly knit a hat before his birthday next week.  I have a few more gift-y items to finish up and then I feel like I should knit myself something!  I have yet to knit anything for myself.  I’m wanting to try something beyond socks and hats.  I feel like it’s time to attempt my first shawl?  But also.. I want to make some more baby knits.  So many things!

yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I’ve finished all the kids socks (pictures below) and am working on Brandon’s now.  But I seem to need a couple projects going at once, so when my wooden circular needles came in the mail (late christmas gift from brandon) I got to work on a hat.  I’m just making up a pattern as I go, and have never worked decreases on a hat before or knitted a hat in the round, so I’m hoping it turns out okay!  I’m just about to start the decreases.

Also, I seem to keep multiple books going at once, too.  I picked up  I Capture the Castle from my shelves this week, just in need of some fiction lately.  I remember enjoying it years ago and can’t quite remember much about it, so it’s been interesting to get back into it.  I’m about a third of the way through.  I think my perspective as a single girl reading it (before) is quite different now, almost 10 years of marriage and three children later.  Love stories just read differently when your love story has mostly been written rather than being a blank page of wonderment before you, if that makes sense?

Anyway, it’s a nice diversion.  As promised last week, here are some pictures of Philippa’s finished socks and the three kiddos all together.  I see lots of mistakes in these socks, but I learned a TON and really had fun making them, and I prefer character over perfection anyway.

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What are you knitting or reading?  (Joining up with Ginny today.  Go check out what lovely things others are making/reading for some inspiration!)

yarn along

MarthaKimball4 Comments

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So I’ve finished philippa’s first sock and onto the cuff of sock number two!  I’ve been really loving working with this color yarn (Semolina) and her sock is so darn cute on her, I can’t wait to see them both on.  Once everyone’s are finally done I will snap a pic with them all wearing them!  Philippa keeps snagging the finished sock and I catch her trying with consternation to get it on her foot.  So I think she will like them.

I’m still working through a few books but haven’t gotten in much reading time the last few days.  I have started this condensed version of Little Women with Phoebe.  I found it at the Target dollar spot (along with a bunch of other bantam classics!) before Christmas for $1 so I couldn’t pass it up.  This one looks similar.  Plus it has great hand-drawn illustrations on almost every page which she loves in a chapter book.  It is very condensed but it’s a good introduction to the basic story line and I will probably read her the longer version soon.  She and I used to always read a chapter book together, one chapter a day (we worked our way through most of the Little House on the Prairie Books) but I’ve had a harder time squeezing this reading time in with her lately and want to get back to it.  She is such a reader and it’s a way she and I can have just some special mommy/daughter time together.

Here are the socks for each child so you can see the sizing.  The pink are Phoebe’s, blue are Noah’s and yellow are for Philippa.

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Joining in with Ginny Sheller’s yarn along today.  Happy knitting, friends! What are you working on?

yarn along

MarthaKimball5 Comments

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I have finished Phoebe’s second sock, just need to weave in the ends.  Should I block them?  I haven’t done that before but was waiting to weave in the ends if you fellow knitters would recommend blocking?  Buying more supplies right now just makes me feel weary.  I am super happy with how quickly sock #2 went, it gives me hope that I can finish Noah’s pair before Christmas.  MAYBE even Philippa’s if I’m crazy. 🙂  I’m also making a big soft cozy bonnet hat for Phoebe with a pink pom-pom and tassels to match her socks.  It’s the same pattern as this one, just white with pink.  She has been asking for one for awhile now.  And a scarf.  Any recommendations for a good, fast, chunky knit kid scarf?  I may just do a basic stockinette stitch scarf or something fast that I can have done by Christmas also.  She already picked out her yarn for it awhile ago.

I’m still reading a couple of Advent books and The Things of Earth (slowly!) but have been quickly reading through Audacious by Beth Moore. She has been somewhat of a spiritual momma to me for many years now, and I will probably read anything she writes.  I admit I thought this one might be cheesy (not sure why), but it has been dead on.  The Lord has been using this one mightily to work some things in my heart in this season.  I will always love that kooky Texas lady with the big hair.  The fruit her labors have borne in my heart are immeasurable!

And here’s a picture of Phoebe’s socks, for those of you who were curious. I can’t wait to see her try them on!  I’m keeping them hidden until Christmas, though.

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Joining with Ginny Sheller’s yarn along today.