Project Planning: what to do with a skein or two of Origin

Wondering what you could do with just one or two skeins of Origin? Personally I think you've got a ton of options- our yarn is a dk weight, and I've found through knitting with it personally that it actually lends itself quite well to a wide range of projects and patterns. Here's a little round up of what I've been knitting (and am planning to knit!) using Origin:

One Skein Projects:

Obviously some of my very VERY favorite projects are the patterns my friends designed specifically for Origin. You may remember the Lahn Hat, designed by Verena of The Wool Club for our shop launch. I absolutely adore my Lahn hat- it's the warmest, coziest hat I've ever knit and I wore it all winter long. You can view and purchase that pattern here.

And then there are of course the Waveform Mittens which were designed by Becky of Soprano Knits. These simple mitts are so cute and functional. They've quickly become a wardrobe staple for me. You can view and purchase that pattern here.

While we're on the subject of mittens, I also think the Moorland Mittens are a great match for Origin. This is a pattern I designed myself a few years ago and then knit up this fall using r&s mill spun yarn dyed with walnuts. It's another simple "workhouse" mitten pattern- just the thing to pair with our yarn.

If you've got children (or are interested in knitting for a friend's little one) I've also seen some really lovely versions of the Naturkinder Cough Shirt and I think our cream color way would be soft enough to make this for a toddler or young child. I've got to get one on the needles for my own little one soon! 

Another good project (one that my friend Simone of Ink & Soil made with her skein of Origin) is the Middle Fork hat, a pattern available in the Tolt Yarn and Wool Ravelry store here.

And finally, something I discovered when working on my Arboreal pullover (pictured above) is that Origin lends itself super well to mixing in with other dk or worsted weight yarn in color work. This is a really great way to use our yarn with something you already have in your stash to create something amazing! (In my sweater I've paired it with Gilliat from one of my favorite yarn companies- De Rerum Natura)

Two or more Skeins:

One project I'd really like to knit out of a skein of Origin is the Winter Morning socks by my friend Jess from Shop La Mercerie. Ever since Jess published this pattern I've been itching to cast it on. I think the cream colorway would be a perfect main color, with a second mini skien naturally dyed for the contrast? (I'll be offering naturally dyed skeins in the shop coming up soon, or you could try your hand at it yourself!)

Personally I am DREAMING of a shawl in Origin. There are several that I think would work really well and one of my very favorite options is the Regen Shawl designed by Shannon Cook. This shawl takes just 3 skeins of dk weight yarn so if you've got a skein or two already, you could consider stopping by our next shop update to get a few more to make the project. 

And finally- sweaters! I'm planning to make both Waldi and I a sweater out of this first run of Origin. Waldi's will be the Fort sweater by Jared Flood in grey (pictured above). For myself I'm dreaming of Sauvabelin (from WOODS) in cream. Can't wait to cast on.

If you've got a skein of Origin (or are thinking about purchasing one in our shop update next Thursday) and are wondering what projects would be good, or just want to chat about what to cast on please do get in touch with me (hello@raincloudandsage.com) I'd love love LOVE to chat project planning with you. 

My Year in Books

every year I do a little reflection here on the blog of my favorite books that I've read this year. This year I set a goal to read 24 books (2 per month) and was a little more intentional- I aimed for 50/50 fiction & non-fiction. I managed to meet this goal, and quite enjoyed picking the books for each month, though I did find it a little restricting at times- I didn't read any series this year, which is something I certainly missed. I also was sharing over on Instagram using the hashtag #whatruthisreading2017 which was fun, but not something I think I'll do again (I'll probably just share the highlights...) This year I'm also going to shoot for 24 books as it feels like a good number for me right now (not easy, but not unrealistic either) though I think I'm going to plan less and absolutely let myself read (and finish!) some series... and maybe do a bit more re-reading (Harry Potter audio books anyone..?)

So as per usual- here are my own personal "book awards" for this year. (If you're curious to see all the books I read this year, I've listed them all under my reading challenge on Good Reads- there were certainly some duds, but I did read a good many more that didn't make the below list that are worth checking out!) 


best re-read: Anne of Green Gables (LM Montgomery)

most surprised to love: Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier)

hardest to put down: Murder on the Orient Express (Agatha Christie) (though I feel like I also have to mention John Krakauer's Into Thin Air here, which was definitely most likely to send you down a Wikipedia rabbit trail...)

most likely to change my daily life: Present Over Perfect (Shauna Niequest)

most quoteable: Big Magic (Elizabeth Gilbert)

most in my wheelhouse: The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern)

most heartbreaking: Everyone Brave is Forgiven (Chris Cleave)

best memoir/biography:  Lab Girl (Hope Jahren)

best crafty related book: WOODS (Making Stories)

the one that kept me up at night: Half of a Yellow Sun (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) 

the one I'm still telling everyone about: Wonder (RJ Palacio)


So what's up next? Well, I'm currently reading Little Women for my bookclub and am hoping to finish before the new year. Then I'm planning to read The Crosswicks Journals by Madeleine L'engle (and maybe also re-read A Wrinkle in Time to get ready for the movie...) What about you guys? Read anything good lately?  

Summer Book Report

So I actually don't have quite as long of a list of Summer Reads as I had hoped to. A few abandoned books definitely found their way into rotation and I just ended up reading a little less than I had thought. BUT that being said, I read some real gems this summer- some of the best books I've read all year, and I wanted to share a little round up with you today of what I did manage to read.

So, here goes:


Present Over Perfect // Shauna Niequest
This has been on my TBR list for what feels like ages and ages (it only came out last summer...) When I saw it was a pick for the Solly Baby book club, I was reminded of it and am so glad I was! It was a perfectly timely read for me. I mistakenly thought going in that this topic was one I had already wrestled with and had a handle on- NOPE. Still so much to learn. This book was written with so much wisdom and grace- I cried my way through and will definitely be picking it up for a re-read in the not too distant future.

Murder on the Orient Express // Agatha Christie
Our book club summer read. I breezed through this in 3 days and really enjoyed it. I didn't have much prior experience with Agatha Christie and after reading this, I'd love to pick up a few more titles.

Wonder // RJ Palacio
Another book club pick. Wow you guys- this book. Not only is it a great story well told, but it's also a great conversation starter (and would be an excellent book to read with kids, or to discuss with them...) This is the sort of perspective-giving book that can really make a difference. 

Big Magic // Elizabeth Gilbert
So I basically highlighted and bookmarked and dogeared my way through this entire book. So much good stuff- this is the sort of book that makes me wish I still kept a physical quote book so that I could jot down all the wisdom I gained from it! 

Yes Please // Amy Pohler 
A bit of a bonus pick, I read through this quick, fun read while in Berlin. I wouldn't say it was the greatest book I've ever read (not even my favorite comedian/celebrity memoir) but I did enjoy it and appreciated Pohler's perspective at several points throughout. 

So that's a wrap. I am ALL about Fall reading and closing off this year of books strong. I'm on track with all my reading goals for the year and have a few picks for the next few months that I'm really excited about (I'm currently reading the books in the photo above) How about you, fellow bookworms? How's your reading life these days? 

Let's Talk About Hats!

After a summer full of fingering weight shawls, I have completely embraced the start of Fall and with it- HATS! 

You guys, hats are awesome. First of all, they are so fast to knit, it's unbelievable. You can just crank those babies out one after another...well, not quite. But that's the feeling I have after all those miles and miles of fingering weight...

I have big plans for hat knitting over the next few weeks and months. The truth is, I haven't had the best of lucks with hats in the past. I've chosen the wrong yarn or the wrong pattern or made the wrong size and I actually have very few hats that I'm completely happy with. So my goal this year is to change that. I've been on the hunt for patterns and have found some gorgeous ones. Today I thought it would be fun to share a little list of those with you all- my hat queue, if you will: 

1. Braddock
This is a super lovely chevron-y hat with a double brim, knit in dk weight and designed by Christina Danaee. I'm seriously in love with the photos- if you haven't seen them yet, you really must check it out. I've got a skein of dk weight in my stash, from Mineville Wool Project that I've been hanging onto for ages, in search of the perfect project. Perhaps this is it...? 

2. Vanilla Fog
This is a two-tone hat, knit in squishy brioche designed by Andrea Mowry. I've been itching to knit more brioche after finishing my shawl and a hat seems like the perfect thing to make next. I love the two tones that the sample is knit up in and actually have the perfect yarn in my stash for this- colorwise but not weight-wise sadly. I'm wondering if I can make a worsted weight version of this pattern...?

3. Picos de Europa 
Designed by Verena Cohrs (of The Wool Club) for the WOODS crowdfunding campaign, this is also a dk weight pattern, with a really lovely woodsy stitch pattern. It's been on my list since the crowdfunding went live, and I'd really like to get it knit up in the next month or two.

4. Mizzin 
So- colorwork. I've not done much of it, but I absolutely fell in love with this hat, designed by Claire Walls and I'm thinking I'm going to have to give it a go. This is knit using fingering weight- and I must say, I don't know that I've ever knit a hat using anything lighter than a dk weight, so I'm excited to try it! 

5. Skiff
This is a bit of an older pattern and I've seen some seriously lovely versions floating around on Instagram and Ravelry. Would love to make one myself, maybe in Quince & Co Lark, since I've got a few skeins in my stash. 

Bonus: Dubliner Hat (pictured above)
So this is my own pattern but I'm sharing it here because I really genuinely love it. I've just finished one for a friend and am thinking that I might need to make another for myself! 


So those are at the top of my queue right now but I also really love this this and this!! What about you guys- any hat patterns to recommend?? 

Spring Book Report

Over the past few months I've managed to squeeze in quite a bit of reading time, between the cracks of my days and evenings. I've been sharing (most of) the books I'm working my way through over on Instagram under the hashtag #whatruthisreading2017 but I don't tend to share much of what I thought of a book, and a few of the books in those pictures ended up being swapped out for others. 

I'm still working on my goal of reading one fiction and one non-fiction book per month, with an end total of 24 books for this year, and that has been going really well. A few of these have been picks for my book club and I've enjoyed stretching myself and picking up a few titles I might not have otherwise gotten to. So without any more chatter, here's my Spring book report! 

Let's start with the books from that list:

Anne of Green Gables // LM Montgomery
Read this while in Canada this March and it was lovely. Perfect for Spring and perfect for reading while at home. 

As Always Julia // Julia Child & Avis DeVoto
I did enjoy this but I ended up skimming through parts of it. While interesting, it was just very very long and I slogged my way through the second half. I would recommend it if you enjoyed My Life in France but keep in mind that it's a collection of letters and not a memoir...

Lab Girl // Hope Jahren
LOVED this. Easily the best book I've read this year so far.

The Magic of Motherhood // Ashlee Gadd (Coffee & Crumbs)
I really enjoyed this one as well. It's a collection of essays on motherhood written by different women and I found a lot to relate to in these pages.



And here are a few other titles that I managed to read:

A Monster Calls // Patrick Ness
This is YA short fiction and it totally sucked me in. Read it all in one night.

Rebecca // Daphine Du Maurier
Read this for my book club and (although I suggested it) I was a bit skeptical at first. It took me a bit of time to get into it but then I was hooked. It made for a great discussion!

Half of A Yellow Sun // Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
This one is this month's book club pick and I've not actually finished it yet. Though it's well written I'm struggling a bit, as it's quite heavy reading. I'm definitely learning a ton about Nigerian history that I wasn't aware of before.

At Home in the World // Tsh Oxenreider
Really loved this one. It was perfect summer reading and just a good story. I really related to parts of Tsh's spiritual journey and her thoughts on home as she travelled around the world with her family and even found myself tearing up in a few spots. I did the audio version, which is read by the author, and I'd recommend that for sure.


Got some books currently on my nightstand/coffee table/e reader that I'm super excited about getting to over the next few months. I'll be sure to share a little list soon. What are you guys reading this summer? 

Spring is Sock Time!

Every year as spring comes around, I get a serious itching to knit socks. I think this partly has to do with the fact that I first learned to knit socks in the spring (3 years ago now!) but it's also the perfect season to start working on those smaller projects. Plus socks are great for knitting with colorful yarn- something that's also fun to do as the weather warms up. 

Today I basically just want to share some of the sock patterns I'm hoping to get to- mostly so I can organize them for myself. For most of these I've already got yarn ideas, which I've added as well. About a month ago I started watching knitting video podcasts on Youtube again (something I haven't done in ages) and I must say that I've been getting a whole slew of both sock yarn and pattern recommendations that have me itching to cast on! 

Mistletoe socks & Mash Potato socks (the Wool Club)
Sweet Fiber sock & Herbstblatt Regina
Have you guys seen Verena's socks? They are all seriously gorgeous. When I heard that she would be having a Knit-along this month, I knew right away that it was exactly the opportunity I had been waiting for to give toe up socks another try. I've cast on the Mistletoe socks already (in Sweet Fiber yarn I got in Canada back in March) and I've been really enjoying learning the magic loop method. I'm also hoping to knit a pair of Mash Potato socks during the KAL and even ordered some lovely speckled, tweedy yarn from Herbstblatt Regina that I think will work just perfectly with the pattern. Can't wait! 

Morning Light socks (Cabin Four)
Ancient Arts or Quince Chickadee
Okay these next socks have been on my list for ages- ever since I knit up the Irish Oats socks several years ago (also by Cabin Four). I adore this pattern and really the only thing stopping me from casting on is the question of which yarn to use. I do have a skein of Ancient Arts in the sagebrush colorway which would knit up nicely but it's so super tempting to just order the Chickadee, which is what the pattern calls for. 

Pixel Rise socks 
Madeline Tosh // Tosh Light
Okay so this is a bit of a stretch for me- I don't normally go for such colorful mix-matched projects. But after I saw Tammy (from the Hey Sister Podcast) knitting these in such a lovely soft color palate, I got a serious urge to give them a try. I've got some Madeline Tosh that I'm planning to use for a shawl (my summer project) and I know I'll have leftovers- which may just be the perfect thing for this pattern! 

Fine & Dandy socks (The Sweater Collective)
Shilasdair Sock
These socks look so much fun to knit! Jess from the Sweater Collective has really great style and I just adore all her patterns. I'm thinking it would be fun to try this pattern with the sock yarn I bought on the Isle of Skye last fall- it's a lovely mustard yellow (died with Marigold & Onion Skins) and I'm thinking I could do a reverse version of the ones in the Ravelry photo, with white/cream as my contrast color. 

Rye socks (Tin Can Knits)
(Marled Mountain yarn- pictured above)
Okay so I made Caleb a pair of Rye socks last Fall, shortly before we went to Scotland and he has gotten so much wear out of them. I used a lovely marled yarn and I just love how it worked up with the pattern. So I am totally thinking that I'd like to make a pair for myself to match! I'm going to have to get up the courage to finally wind up this yarn though, as it's my most precious skein- it's been in my stash the longest of anything I have! 

I'm sure there will be more added soon to this never ending list and of course, I'm sure I'll sneak in a pair or two of Vanilla socks somewhere in there (I've already started one in Patons Kroy just for some simple evening knitting!). But those are the major patterns currently on my radar. If you're a sock knitter I'd love to hear what you're hoping to make! 

Vancouver Yarn Crawl II

I was so blessed to go to Canada not once but TWICE in the past four months. This has never happened, and realistically will probably never happen again and I am so SO grateful to have had this chance. Of course, while there, I got up to plenty of yarn & fibre related activities, including visiting wonderful yarn stores and attending a fibre festival with my mom. It's so much fun to hunt out these special places on my travels and I'm so glad that my mom was willing to trek around with me to each of them. 

So at long last, today I want to share with you all about the yarn-y places I was able to visit on these last two most recent trips to Canada. Obviously, this is just a small number of the amazing places there are to visit in and around my hometown, but I'm very pleased that we managed to make it to so many! I'll start with the yarn stores and then move onto broader, more "fibre arts" related places. 

Of course, I was horrible at getting any photos, so below are some shots of the yarn I walked away with from each of these spots instead...well, some of it at least, haha! I'm planning a post soon on Canadian yarn, which will talk about a bunch of these in more detail, so stay tuned for that! 

Yarn:

Valley Yarn - Surrey
This was such an amazing yarn store- and one I'd never even heard of until my friend Natasha took me there while I was visiting over Christmas. It's tiny but packed (literally) floor to ceiling with delicious yarn. Lots of Madeline Tosh (some of which came home with me!), Hedgehog Fibers, The Fiber Company, Mineville Wool Project, and various other assorted wonders. Worth stopping by if you're anywhere near the area.

88 Stitches - Walnut Grove
I was so happy to return this Spring to 88 Stitches (first wrote about this shop here). My mom and I visited on Customer Appreciation day where there were door prizes and deals galore. They've got a great selection of sock yarn as well as plenty of Canadian hand dyed (hellooo Sweet Fiber!) and even some more rustic woolly wools to choose from. 

Three Bags Full- Vancouver
Stopped by this shop quickly while on Main Street with my sister over Christmas. I'd been to this shop before (and got the yarn for my Tamborine cardigan), and while they do have quite a nice selection, it seemed to me that they've started carrying a lot of the more expensive yarns and I couldn't find anything that was in my price point that really caught my eye. (The Woolfolk yarns are simply stunning though!)

Beehive Wool Shop- Victoria
So SO happy to have made it to this lovely gem of a yarn shop on Vancouver Island. I took Caleb on the ferry with my mom and siblings for a mini road trip to Victoria. We had such fun wandering and of course one of the highlights was stopping in here (pictured above). I just spent ages pondering what of the many MANY lovely yarns was going to come home with me. They've got plenty of rustic, sheepy wool (a weakness of mine...), including all the Brooklyn Tweed. We definitely picked up some of that, as well as some Hinterland Watershed and Ancient Arts sock yarn (yay Canadian yarn!)

Fibre Arts: 

Birkeland Bros. Wool - Abbotsford 
This was such a fun little shop to wander around. It's mostly a spinning store and they had wheels & tools and, of course fibre galore. But the coolest part was the giant carding machine they had in the front of the shop (and I mean GIANT). Although we didn't see it in action, it was so cool to get a peek at it up close and to read about it's history- how it made it to the West Coast and where it all was before that. Also if you DO stop in here, make sure you go to Old Hand coffee right around the corner! 

Maiwa Textiles- Vancouver
One of my favorite spots ever and an absolute gem right in the middle of Granville Island. This is a little fibre arts shop full of natural dyes, fabric, yarn, tools and books. I stop in here every time I'm in the area and always enjoy browsing. Over Christmas I picked up some undyed yarn to maybe try my hand at natural dying- we'll see how that goes!

Fibres West Festival- Cloverdale
My mom and I were so excited to learn that there was a fibre festival while I was in town. We took Caleb for the afternoon and it was a perfect early Spring sunny day. We so enjoyed wandering through the stalls, looking at all the local Canadian wool and fibre and making our thoughtful purchases. Such a highlight of my most recent trip for sure! 

So there you have it- if you're interested, here's a post I did about my first Vancouver Yarn Crawl. And you can also read about the yarn shops I visited in Scotland here and my trip to Tolt Yarn & Wool here. 

Springtime Reading List

This year I decided to mix thing up a little and get more intentional about the books that I'm reading. In my pre-baby days I used to average about a book a week, depending on what was going on and what season we were in. Last year I read less than half of that, and honestly, I'm completely okay with it. However I was looking for a way of picking better books- going for quality over quantity I suppose. My hope is, like many a reader I'm sure, to read not only widely & deeply but also interestingly- to choose a variety of things that will help me learn and grow and broaden my horizons. 

So. All that being said, I decided this year to read one fiction and one non-fiction book a month. These past few months, I've found that my picks have been complimenting each other nicely and I'm really enjoying what I've been reading. Here's a little list of what I'm hoping to get to over the next few months: 


Anne of Green Gables // Lucy Maude Montgomery 
I'm a little embarassed to admit that I've never actually read this one. I've seen the movies and even read an abridged young readers edition when I was learning to read BUT I've never actually read the actual novel. When I saw it on my mom's bookshelf while in Canada last month I decided it was time to pick it up. I'm so enjoying it- such a good Canadian classic.

As Always Julia // Julia Child & Avis DeVoto
This book is the collected letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto. I'm enjoying this and would recommend it to anyone who likes Julia Child or who enjoyed My Life in France. It's pretty long though- and I find myself skipping over a few of the sections when they're referring to mutual acquaintances of their's. 

Lab Girl // Hope Jahren
A little out of my wheelhouse but I'm excited to give this a try.

Flight Behavior // Barbara Kingsolver
The newest novel from Kingsolver (though already several years old) that I found in a second hand bookstore on Commercial Drive in Vancouver last month. I've not read anything by her in ages and I'm excited to start this one.

The Magic of Motherhood // Ashlee Gadd (Coffee & Crumbs)
So SO excited for this. Seriously.

Wonder // AJ Palacio
Heard about this on a podcast recently. It's a middle grade novel (of which I read few to none) so I thought I'd give it a try.

Everyone Brave is Forgiven // Chris Cleave
Been hearing lots about this one. I've read a few of Cleave's earlier books and found them well written, entertaining and sensitive in dealing with not all too easy subject matter. So I'm exited to give this a go.

Four Seasons in Rome // Anthony Doer 
Have been wanting to read this one ever since I finished All the Light last spring. It's a memoir of the year Doer spent living in Rome, working on that book, with his wife and newborn twins. Fascinating! 


To see all the books I've been reading this year, you can check out the hashtag I've created on my Instagram: #whatruthisreading2017 

here and there

This video was made by my cousin as part of his Biking Around the World trip- and it includes knitting! 

This pattern by Manderine's is just so beautiful. I'm seriously loving crescent shaped shawls right now and this one is at the top of the list!

This interview with the owner of Wollen Berlin (a LYS in Berlin) was a very inspiring read

This magazine is everywhere right now- and for good reason. I devoured my copy. 

This pattern was part of the bonus patterns in the WOODS crowdfunding campaign. As soon as I saw it, I knew I'd be making it. Planning to cast on this week! 

This interview with Andrea Mowry on the Sweet Georgia show was one of the MOST inspiring podcasts I've listened to all year. Seriously. Loved it.

This article from the Wool Days website was so interesting and informative. You can really feel Megan's passion and love for wool!

Loving the look of this project- something for spring maybe? 

Also, not fibre related but I cannot wait to get my hands on this book. So so excited.



And not to be forgotten:
that notebook is probably the thing I get asked most often about and I absolutely love it. I use it for all my pattern writing and any projects/patterns that I improvise or heavily modify.

that yarn bowl was a gift from my mom & is handmade on the Sunshine Coast in BC (sadly, I don't know by whom!)

and... Quince and Co Owl -need I say more? 

Fall & Winter Book Report

Somehow I thought I was really killing it with my reading list, but in looking back over the past 6 or so months, I've really not read all that many books. But still 8 is better than none and so here they are today, all lined up for you in a nice neat list! 

I've been really enjoying doing these little book reports seasonally (well, twice a year) and this year I've set a reading goal for one fiction and one non-fiction book per month. Hopefully those books will start showing up in these lists but if you'd like to see more you can follow along on Instagram (where I set up a handy hastag for the project of course!). 

let's start with the books from that list:

Talking as Fast As I Can // Lauren Grahame
Okay, so this was a fun read. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes Gilmore Girls stuff (both on the original series and the new Netflix episodes), and hearing more about Lauren's story and early days. One thing I did not like however was how she knocked knitting not once but TWICE. I mean... come on Lauren! More Americans knit that golf... get with it! 

Death on the Nile // Agatha Christie
Waldi and I listened to this audio book while in Scotland and it was a lot of fun. The story was engaging and I didn't figure out whodunit until the very end, which is always fun. Such a good memory from our trip. We're hoping to get a few more of her stories in audiobook form to listen to as well.

Longbourn // Jo Baker
I borrowed this from my mom over Christmas, who received it from my dad, who purchased it from Chatsworth house in England this summer (where the BBC Pride and Prejudice was filmed...) which is kind of fun. I'd heard mixed things about this one but I actually quite enjoyed most of it and thought it was a really interesting perspective on a beloved classic.

I Capture the Castle // Dodie Smith
Heard about this on the WSIRN podcast and ADORED it. Seriously. It was lovable and quirky and well written and perfectly British. Also, it's by the same woman who wrote 101 Dalmatians so that's pretty fun. (and it's listed as JK Rowling's favorite book so, you know, there's that...) Very glad I picked this up.



and here are a few other titles I managed to work my way through:

Knitlandia // Clara Parks
Loved this. I thought Clara's stories were a perfect tribute to this community and the fact that it did so well is also further proof that we knitters are presence out there not to be overlooked- this is where I first heard that stat about the golfers that I mentioned above. If you're going to read this, I would recommend listening to this interview after. It compliments the reading experience nicely.

I Am Malala // Malala Yousafzai
This was a book club pick and I thought it was moving and well told and inspiring. Malala is a force to be reckoned with and it was a very valuable experience to me to read a bit more of her story. I also learned a lot more about the recent history of this specific region in the world from hearing it told from her perspective. 

All the Bright Places // Jenifer Niven
I picked this up on a total whim and though I don't normally read much YA I must say I really enjoyed this. I thought it was a sensitive and nuanced handling of a difficult subject and it was honestly the type of story that made me want to write. It just felt like a book with weight and meaning to me- but I should definitely give a tear-jerker warning with this one!

Lady Crawford // Julie Cameron Grey
I'm almost finished with this lovely little book (pictured above) and I'm really enjoying jumping back into poetry again. I'm finding the poems to be unique and layered with meaning and often find that I have to pause after reading one and let it marinade for a few days before coming back to it again. If you're a fan of poetry I'd definitely recommend giving it a try! 

I'll be back at the end of the month to share a list of books I'm planning to get to over the next few months, but for now I wanna know- what have you been reading lately? 

yarn crushes: UK Edition

it's been much much too long since I did a yarn crush post (see here and here for previous posts) Recently I've been really into exploring yarns that are local to me here in Europe. I mean, I love Quince and Co as much as the next knitter and will continue to purchase from them for future projects, but while I'm living here, I thought it would be good to try knitting with yarn that comes from a little more close to home. 

I'm in central Germany, but I've decided to start with a list of yarns that are based out of the UK, since I've got them piling up in my stash currently. There will be a post on yarns from elsewhere in Europe (as well as one on Canadian yarn!) soon. But for now, I hope you discover something on this list that you'd be interested in trying too!

Blacker Yarns // Cornwall, England

I am a huge fan of all the yarn I've knit with and purchased from Blacker yarns- I used the Westcountry tweed to make my Moorland Mitts and loved it. And I've got two skeins of the Cornish Tin II (photo at the bottom of this post) sitting in my stash that I can't wait to turn into a lovely shawl.

Hedgehog Fibers // Ireland

So I actually purchased this at Valley Yarn in Surrey, while I was in Canada over Christmas. I've got one skein in the Unicorn colorway, which is lovely and speckled. I'm thinking I'll turn it into a pair of Mashed Potato socks, designed by The Wool Club but for now it's sitting happily atop my yarn basket, patiently waiting it's turn. 

New Lanark Double Knitting // Scotland

This was one of my Edinburgh purchases. I got two skeins in the copper green tweedy colorway, one for me and one for my mom. I think after much deliberation, we're going to make fingerless mitts. This is also the yarn that the Woodland Tales mittens call for, by the way. I'd love to order another skein at some point, maybe in a nice chocolate brown for that project.

West Yorkshire Spinners // Yorkshire, England

Total impulse buy, but I'm glad I went for it. I've got one skein of Blue Faced Leicester, undyed in it's natural neutral glory. I don't have an exact project in mind but I'm thinking maybe (more) mittens. What can I say, I just love mittens! 

Shilasdair yarns // Isle of Skye, Scotland

So, as I mentioned in this post, I've got two skeins of Shilasdair sock yarn dyed with marigold and onion skins. I'm not entirely sure what pattern I'm going to use for them, but I'm thinking something nice and cable-filled. I also picked up a skein of their luxury DK dyed with indigo and tansy (photo at top of post) that I turned into a simple stockingette hat for Waldi- I'm hoping to use the rest and make a matching little hat for C. Better get on that!

Black Isle Yarns // Scottish Highlands

This was a last minute edition to this list, but after swatching extensively with this yarn for my pattern for WOODS, I just had to add it in. It's honestly some of the nicest yarn I've ever worked with, even (dare I say it...) possibly THE nicest. Seriously. I like it that much. Stay tuned for more details of what it becomes! 

so there you have it! a lovely little list. as I've mentioned, stay tuned for more yarn-y related posts coming up soon but for now, I'd love to hear what yarn you've recently been working with and loving!

queue check

after having said in my last post that I've decided this year not to really set any goals, I did come up with one goal for my fiber pursuits: devote more time to them.

whether that means knitting more, or investing the time to really practice spindle spinning or even try my hand at dying yarn (all things I plan to do), my main focus this year is going to be on putting aside distractions and using whatever available time I can find on this craft that is so dear to my soul. 

going along with my guiding word for this year, I do hope that I will grow in my knowledge and skill level as I try new things, but my main focus is going to be on crafting because I love it.

so, what projects do I have planned? well, thanks to my recent trips to both Scotland and Vancouver, I've got a basket full of delicious yarn just waiting to be turned into special projects. here's what on the list:

Woods Design // Black Isle Yarns 

Back in the Fall, I submitted a design to the book WOODS, which is a pattern collection featuring natural yarns from Europe. I was so honored and a little surprised that my design has made it into the book! I'm going to be working with the incredible Black Isle Yarns (which are from Scotland, how perfect is that?!?) and I honestly can't wait to work more with this yarn.

Arctic Cowl // Drops Alpaca

I received the newest edition of Making magazine as a Christmas gift with my mom and was blown away with the lovely projects and patterns found in it's pages. I especially love how there's such a mix of projects. My sister fell in love with Carrie Hoge's Arctic Cowl and we picked out this yarn together while I was in Vancouver. The pattern calls for angora, but my sister is allergic to rabbits, so we figured alpaca would be a nice substitute. 

Heidie Shawl // Blacker Tin II

I first tried this pattern back in the Fall of 2015, but the yarn I picked was all wrong. It had been on my mind again recently, as a possibility for this very special yarn I bought in Edinburgh. When I visited Valley Yarn shop with a friend over Christmas, they had a version of this hanging in the window and that was it- I knew I had to cast on. So that's what I'll be starting next. 

Woodsy Hat // Brooklyn Tweed Loft

Over the holidays, I ordered a skein of BT Loft (pictured above) because I was curious to get my hands on it and see what it was like. I'm thinking the Woodsy hat from Manderines might be a nice choice for it. Melody's designs are always favorites and I like how only one skein (50g) are needed for this project.

Winding Way Socks // Ginger Twist Studio sock

It's been awhile since I've had a pair of socks on the needles and Spring is coming up! This is a beautiful design from Emily of Tin Can knits, inspired by Edinburgh's old town, which feels especially fitting as that's where I picked up this yarn. I've got no deadline for this project, so I'll probably wait a few months to cast on, but I'm excited to do so.

Lainey Cowl // Lion Brand Hudson's Bay

This is a fun last minute project that I've just recently added to the list. While in Michael's with my mom over Christmas (looking for items for my brother's wedding favors) we found this yarn- the color way is inspired by the classic Hudson's Bay blanket (the same blanket that also inspired this shawl). I love this pattern and I think having this cozy cowl to wear will remind me of home. 

Wild Feather mitts // New Lanark DK

This is also a pattern found in Making magazine that my mom and I fell in love with. I think we're both going to knit them up (using the same yarn, since I bought her some in Scotland as well) so maybe we'll have a little knit-along at some point?

okay, well there you have it: my knitting plans for the next few months (or longer- it'll probably take me awhile to make my way through this list). I'm so excited about each of these projects and to get the chance to work with these yarns! what projects do you have planned for this year? I'd love to hear what your working on, or planning to cast on!

best books of 2016

can hardly believe it's that time again, but here goes:

best re-read: The Paris Wife (Paula McLain)

most surprised to love: The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (Jonas Jonasson) 

hardest to put down: The Rosie Project (Graeme Simsion- not exactly suspenseful but I do remember reading it in two days..)

most likely to change my daily life: Daring Greatly (Brené Brown) 

best non-fiction: I Am Malala (Malala Yousef) 

highest recommended: I Capture the Castle (Dodie Smith)

best memoir/biography: When Breath Becomes Air (Paul Kalanithi) 

best crafty related book: Knitlandia (Clara Parks)

best foodie book: A Homemade Life (Molly Wizenberg)

what's up to be read next: Talking as Fast as I Can (Lauren Graham) 

This year I managed 14 novels, 7 memoir, 2 other non-fiction books, one play and one audio book. That's a whole lot less than most years but a whole lot more memoir than I usually read and I really enjoyed adding it into the mix. I hope to continue that this year, as well as read a whole stack more poetry.

you can see previous book lists here: 2013 | 2014 | 2015
also to follow along with what's on my bookshelves (and night stand and coffee table...and recently, e-reader!) see past posts here.